It’s not a new concept, but the term “New Topeka” itself is rather new. It’s a term that is used precisely and carefully, but always carries a nuance of revolutionary sentiment. It’s a phrase with a purpose. And it’s becoming an oft-used part of the lexicon of our city.

Do you know who Chad Manspeaker is? If you don’t, you probably don’t live in District 6 (encompassing the entirety of the College Hill District near Washburn’s campus) where Manspeaker is a newly elected City Councilperson. The fellow is a relatively young man, in his thirties, with a glimmer in his eye, two young and sassy daughters, an opinionated and intelligent wife and a son on his way into the world equipped, even in utero, I imagine, with orator skills that are inherent in a genealogical line carrying the name “Manspeaker.”

Watching Manspeaker’s city council campaign unfold on social networks, the Twitter, the Facebook, was like seeing an Obama-like figure climb the status ladder. He became an icon of liberal-minded 20 and 30-somethings in Topeka. They kept saying those words when they spoke of him: “New Topeka, #newtopeka, this [he] is the New Topeka.”

Manspeaker ran on a “New Topeka” platform. His campaign buttons declared it. Is this a new political party? A movement? An ideology? Yes, yes and yes. Sort of. Depending on your perspective.

Manspeaker, along with activist and man-about-town Karl Fundenberger and local architect and outspoken proponent of “New Topeka,” Zach Snethen, coined the phrase in 2009. It started as a joke, says Manspeaker.

“We were going to change Topeka,” he says. “It’s supposed to be more about imagination, not concrete. It’s not about living within confines, but getting outside the box. It’s a little complicated, but not really.”

One thing is for sure: the phrase “New Topeka,” if you use it, implicates the user has a pride in the city. It’s a trained eye on the city. The discovery of a new gyro joint, is New Topeka. An afternoon on the porch on a block in the central part of the city where old homes radiate the city’s storied history, is New Topeka. A packed dance floor on a Thursday night, is New Topeka. The bio on the Twitter account with the handle “@newtopeka” states ambiguously, “It starts anywhere and ends everywhere.”

“It’s a mentality – a community that is built from all over creates a diverse, proud and vibrant Topeka. It’s as much sitting on your porch with friends and family as it is any place or structure,” explains Snethen. “It’s different for everyone, but it’s a collective mindset as why one has chosen to put down roots and not just call Topeka home, but make it home.”

Members of Think Big Topeka, an organization founded to lure Google and its fiber project to Topeka, messaged me on Twitter to explain their ideas of “New Topeka.”

“To me, #newtopeka is a progressive state of mind. It’s not being told ‘that’s not the way we do it,’ ” says Alissa Sheley.

“#newtopeka is something we can all be proud of –  old, young, conservative, liberal, all races. It’s defined by a new zeitgeist,” says Marc Limon.

The Boobie Trap, which I think deserves “New Topeka” status although its doors have been open since the old days of 1993, has a dance night called “Resistance,” which was started in the summer of 2010 and is raging every Thursday night with electronica/DJ music, drinking, dancing and general carousing. I thought I’d get some good answers to the question of “What is New Topeka?” – this ethereal label – among the city’s youth.

The answers I got weren’t always informed. A 22-year-old brunette Washburn student with dangly earrings who declined to give me her name, said that New Topeka is “all that stuff they’re trying to do downtown, like making it artsy and narrowing the street.”

The brunette continued on, telling me that Topeka is trying to be like Lawrence, which is impossible.

“My worst nightmare is getting stuck in Topeka for the rest of my life.” In the background, a teeming dance floor rolled with the beats issued forth by DJ Josh “LeTrouble” Luttrell. “There’s nothing to do here,” she finished.

That, I can say with confidence, is not New Topeka.

Let’s step out of the bar and into the City Council chambers. Here is what a few of our city leaders think about “New Topeka”:

“To me, it means the new approach many Topekans are taking about their city. They are no longer looking what Topeka has been in the past, but appreciating what it is today and what it can become,” says Larry Wolgast, District 5 City Councilperson. “There is an excitement among many folks as they learn that there is a new attitude and confidence about our city. We have pride in what Topeka is today and will become tomorrow.”

Karen Hiller, District 1 City Councilperson, referenced Topeka’s ascension in a Gallup poll of small cities on overall well-being of the citizens:

“Topeka jumped from the 178th city in the country to 30th in overall sense of well-being in one year.  We finished 3rd in the country in emotional health…physical health, 5th…and life evaluation, 14th.  Those numbers are not only great, but they demonstrate the momentum and great spirit we have right now.”

“To me, ‘New Topeka’ means several things, but above all, it means visionary leadership.   Leadership that is focused on accountability and transparency in city government. We want leaders that serve as role models who reinforce ethics, values and results,” says Bob Archer, District 7 City Councilperson.

That idea of transparency has been labeled “New Topeka.” Here’s a tweet from Chad Manspeaker’s City Council handle on Twitter:

“@Topcity6: Don’t forget to tune into Channel 4 tonight at 6pm to watch the first live broadcast of a JEDO meeting. Transparency delivered. #newtopeka”

The Joint Economic Development Organization (JEDO) meetings had never been televised before, and some called this “#oldtopeka.”

Criticism of the city government came heavily on social networks and online after the handling of “Scrapgate,” the burglary and sale of scrap metal from a construction site by city employees. The details of the crime weren’t initially issued to the public, and much of the handling of the case, and the fate of city manager Norton Bonaparte’s job, took place behind closed doors in private city council “executive sessions.” When the “Topeka Capital-Journal” requested documents concerning the “scrapgate” case, they were denied, told that the documents were classified as private. The whole scandal was as murky as the Kaw.

Manspeaker, newly elected to the District 6 seat, says he’s trying to battle an “Old Topeka” mindset, the closed doors, the tendency to leave some out of the conversation.

“We frame the discussion in “New Topeka” when we talk about things now. The barriers are what drove me to run for office,” says Manspeaker. “New Topeka is not singular, it encompasses everything. If we’re going to grow as a community, we need to have everyone at table. It should be an all-inclusive resort.”

Don’t be deterred by the politics – “New Topeka” can be used to describe things that are a lot more lighthearted, too. Jim Ogle, general manager of TV station WIBW, wrote this tweet last year during the ReThink Topeka event, High Noon: “Downtown Topeka is alive with music! Way to Go ReThink Topeka! Musicians on every street corner! #tbt #newtopeka #wibw #1G4Topeka”

When news that Bobo’s Drive-In would open a second location off Wanamaker surfaced, some on Twitter labeled that event #newtopeka. A discussion about public art being a crime deterrent, had the hashtag, #newtopeka. New Topeka is #swag, it’s cheap beer and old neighborhood bars. It’s making Kiplinger’s Top Ten list, it’s eating and shopping at locally-owned establishments.

“Big development is not New Topeka,” says Manspeaker.

People aren’t ready to pin the phrase down with a definition. It’s still fluid. But from my little foray into the world of people who acknowledge and sometimes use the label, I’ve found that it is twofold: New Topeka is pride in the city and a determination to change it for the positive.

On April 9 this year, according to Hashtags.org, the use of the hashtag “#newtopeka” spiked. On that day, during the 2nd Annual ReThink Topeka exhibition, the label “New Topeka” was tossed around like a handmade banner in the winds of change on the corner of 7th and Kansas, with people walking by in droves, enjoying the city, swelling with pride.

[ republished from June 1 - July 15 print issue seveneightfive | story by Leah Sewell | photo by Zach Snethen | illustration by Aymen Ghali ]

The game is simple:  Your name goes into one bucket and your song pick is dropped in a second.  Hobbs, the K-DJ will than pick out a name from bucket A and draw a song from bucket B.  The gamble: Combinations like a 6’5’’, 250 lb. man singing “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.”   The reward: An evening of wildly hilarious entertainment paired with good singers stretching their repertoire.

Everyone that comes by College Hill on Friday night is encouraged to participate, and so far – everyone has, explained owner Page Dickeson.  It doesn’t matter your skill level and the good singers are jumping on stage and helping those who aren’t so good. Team participation is encouraged, and there are several seasoned karao-ekers who will help out novices.

Take a gamble, put it all on red and head out to College Hill this Friday night.  Perhaps it might land to be an odd night, or you might just cash in with friends and memories.

Karaoke Roulette

College Hill Tavern

Every Friday @ 9:30 pm

Hosted by Hobbs

Food served ‘til midnight

[January 2011 | Kerrice Mapes | photo provided ]

They are looking for your input. Community volunteers are asked to donate their time to the future of Kansas Avenue by attending one of the upcoming KS Ave Design Workshops.  (dinner provided).

“The Capital District Project is hosting three workshops to gather community input for the future design of Kansas Avenue. Please come to one, or all, and share your ideas. We need everyone’s help to shape the new face of our community! Each workshop will be lead by a different nationally renowned expert in downtown redevelopment.”

Please RSVP to receive for complementary meal: Info@HeartlandVisioning.com or 785-231-6006

The first workshop is this Tuesday, September 28 from 3 to 8 pm.  800 SW Jackson, First Floor [former US Bank Building]

Bring your ideas let your voice be heard at this workshop that will help change the face of Topeka. Phillip Walker, a community visioning and town center planning specialist from the Walker Collaborative will be here to facilitate a design workshop.

Dinner will be served. Please email your RSVP to Erin Mohwinkle: info@heartlandvisioning.com or call 783-231-6006.

The design workshop is sponsored by private citizens dedicated to the growth and future of Topeka. Absolutely no tax dollars were invested. View contributors

Read more about Phillip’s qualifications:

Walker Collaborative:

Other workshops are also scheduled on October 6 and October 13.  Find out more about these upcoming sessions.

This week, join in the fun at College Hill Tavern, 17th and College, on Thursday, June 3 starting at 5:30 p.m.  Check in with the Twet Up hosetess and get a coupon for a BOGO 1/2 Off special on all menu items.  View their menu.  Exception to special is the Ribeye, which is already on sale.

Follow College Hill on Twitter @CHT_TheHill

And after you’ve had your fill of Twitter-liciousness, stick around because Deejay Jared Starkey will keep the party going with the regular Thursday night Neon Dance Party.  Dance to the latest mash-ups and enjoy the drink specials which include $3 huge PBR draws, $2 whiskey and cokes  and $1 shots. Once the Neon Dance Party starts you must be at least 21 y.o. to stay.

Don’t forget to check in with Foursquare, Gowalla, or any other location app and the hashtag is #tttu and #seveneightfive so we can follow your crazy, fun – live, social night.

[Rio Cerventez-Reed + Kerrice Mapes]
topekatweetup.com

“Our plan is to bring in artists,” said John Hunter, co-chair of the Quality of Life Foundation, and lead voice in the project, along with co-chair of C.R.E.A.T.e alliance, Anita Wolgast. “When artists come in, economic development follows.”

Heartland Visioning and others involved in the NOTO project will recruit artists to occupy studio spaces in renovated buildings between the river and Gordon street along N. Kansas Avenue. The idea is that the artists will create a community that will attract tourists and Topekans down to the district to take in art, attend exhibitions and patronize other service-type establishments that will inevitably follow. It is an ambitious plan, and today marked the transition from the planning stage to the action stage.

The new web site includes information for artists interested in acquiring studio space in NOTO to apply to obtain a studio in the area. The move comes with incentives like studio space subsidies and general business start-up expenses. Heartland Visioning is trying to market to artists from all across the country as well as local artists and art groups. The district won’t just be for traditional visual artists, according to Stan Herd, internationally renowned artist who has publicly shown his support for the project.

Stan Herd, Kansas artist, shows his support for the project

“I think that the visual artists and painters will be here, but there should be film here, there should be designers here, landscape architects, writers and poets,” said Herd.

Although the large assembly of reporters, news media and supporters drew a wary look or two from a couple of regular North Topeka pedestrians, business owners like Jim and Charlene Robuck of Robuck’s Jewelers and president of North Topeka on the move, Gary Slimmer, were more than enthusiastic about the project.

“Jim and I have always said this would be a great place for an arts and entertainment district,” said Charlene Robuck. “Truthfully, I didn’t think I’d see it in my lifetime, but unless I die today or tomorrow, I think it just may happen and I may get to be a part of it.”

The excitement over NOTO has extended to several arts organizations in town, including Chords and Oil Artist Collective. Andrea Engstrom, a member of the group, spoke at today’s conference about what the district could mean for younger members of the arts community.

“When we heard about this project, and the opportunity to bring studio space and art into this district, we were very supportive,” said Engstrom. “This will provide our young people with a great opportunity to find a place to belong and be proud of.”

Mayor Bill Bunten conveyed the hope of the city for the success of the project, but also reminded the assembly that the North Topeka business district was a viable and thriving corridor in the city’s history, before the 1951 flood devastated the community and contributed to its downward spiral.

“It was at one time a very special place, and it can once again be a part of our city,” said Bunten.

With the backdrop of whistles from coal trains at North Kansas Avenue’s end, the river within spitting distance, the stone faces of dozens of century-old facades looking over the scene and the vision of a vibrant arts community floating in the minds of all who stood outside Bradley’s Corner Cafe today, it is quite apparent that NOTO will be a very special place, indeed.

“It will be… a jewel in the crown for North Topeka,” said Hunter.

[Leah Sewell | photos by Ande Davis]
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There’s been a banding together of the community like most have never seen, spearheaded by Think Big Topeka and—although he doesn’t quite understand what it is —the mayor’s throwing his support behind it.

But despite all the hoopla, we keep finding that some people may not fully grasp the whole concept. So, the editors of seveneightfive have stepped away from the clamor of the bandwagon for a few moments to bring you a list of five things to know about the Google Fiber Experiment.

1. This is really fast internet. Like, game-changing fast. Google is touting this network as bringing internet speeds in excess of one gigabit per second. A gigabit is equal to 1024 megabits which means, to put it in perspective, it’s approximately 200 times faster than the 5 Mbps internet that you have at home, or up to 50 times faster than the really high-speed “Powerboosted” broadband that some of you Richie Rich types might have. That means you can download a whole movie in about two minutes. You know, if that were legal.
   But forget about your home internet—that’s just a bonus. Where this is really going to make a difference is how it can be applied in the different industries around Topeka—retail, tech companies, government, IT systems, education and especially health care—that could bring new companies and opportunities to the area. This opens a hell of a lot of doors.
2. Not everyone’s going to be happy, and rightfully so. It would be stupid on everyone’s part to expect that providers like AT&T and Cox would welcome Google with open arms. This is competition. And for a few reasons besides that, too.
   First, these are companies that have sunk millions—and probably billions—into their existing networks, and are continuing to do so. It’d be a little like an arts group from across the country walking into town and saying they want to erect a mural wall, complete with sculpture and interactive pieces and maybe even a video screen, and put it right in front of the Great Mural Wall. The community would probably think something like that would be fantastic, bring in all kinds of positive attention to the city and establish a great foundation for arts to take off from. But the folks over at Chords & Oil and all those others who put in countless hours and resources into the current wall would understandably be pretty upset at all their work being negated. So, I wouldn’t expect either of those companies to like this. (For the record, we love the Great Mural Wall and everything Chords & Oil has brought to the community. They were just a handy example.)
   Second, Google’s a big proponent of net neutrality, and most big corporations aren’t. Not because they want to censor stuff coming over the internet—most companies, in fact, comply with most of the tenets of net neutrality in practice—but because it means government-mandated regulations requiring them to do so. You know—it’s a political thing.
   Third, even though Google says they’re going to let other providers use their network to provide service, they haven’t said if or how much they plan to charge those companies to use that network. That would make those big companies a little jittery when they take a glance at their bottom line.
   Last, there’s the possibility that it could result in some people losing their jobs. Chances are that, should Topeka be selected, this could result in a big net gain of jobs for the community. But that doesn’t take the sting out when AT&T and Cox start cutting people because they no longer have as large a volume of customers or a bunch of lines that need maintained. This is that side of progress people tend not to linger on. When the telephone entered into the American mainstream, there were a whole lot of telegraph operators that were suddenly out of work. Employees at AT&T and Cox—not the suits in the office, but the guys on hourly wages—are likely a little testy and a little worried about it, and we can’t blame them.  This is the nature of change.
3. Google isn’t being entirely forthcoming with the details. Their initial release is extremely skimpy on the details. Their FAQ page is even skimpier. Granted, their announcement was for a Request for Information from municipalities, which means they’re just trying to gauge interest, see which communities are willing to work with them and the infrastructure obstacles in installing their network. In all likelihood, the cities that are accommodating when there’s a lack of information might tend to be the easier places to work with, so Google’s keeping their cards close to the vest, as it were. But still, there’s no indication that this will come at no cost to whichever communities they choose, and the actual rate they charge consumers hasn’t been announced yet. As Grandpappy used to say, there’s no such thing as a free lunch, and if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Which means that, while this is an exciting prospect, don’t place it on par with manna from heaven just yet.
4. There’s a lot of competition out there. Google didn’t just request information from a select list of places. They sent this out to the whole country. Places like Pittsburgh and Seattle quickly threw their hats in the ring as contenders, so the competition is going to be stiff. And like with the rest of the info, Google isn’t completely specific about what they’re looking for in a city. In addition to things like infrastructure, government cooperation and private sector interest, are they looking at things like population density? Quality of life? Number of tech companies? Who knows?
   

   One thing is for sure, though. Topeka’s getting more headlines and catching more attention than any other community in the country. With the announcement that the city will be known as Google, Kansas for the rest of the month, we made national news. The question remains: Will it be enough?

5. You should be very, very excited. This is a huge opportunity for the city and region, and the more support it gets from the community, the more chance Topeka has of seeing it become a reality. Let’s face it: there could be any number of variables involved in Google’s selection process that we can’t control. But community fervor is something completely ours to manipulate. So get involved with Think Big Topeka, nominate our city and join us as Top City’s biggest cheerleaders.