Historic Karlan building getting revamped

By Peggy Mooney
Metro News

The old Karlan building in downtown Topeka is making a comeback and will soon be returned to its former glory.

Three local businessmen recently purchased the unoccupied, deteriorating building at 900 S. Kansas Ave. The deal was closed on May 6 and construction began the very next day.

Completion of the project is scheduled for March of 2010.

Michael Fox, Fox Builders, Daryl Craft, GTrust, and Mike Wilson, Architect One, formed 900 kansas llc to purchase the building.

Fox calls the building the “jewel of downtown.”

“This is a gorgeous building,” he said. “And we are going to restore it back to what it used to look like when it was built in 1910.”

Fox and Craft looking at a building that they both wanted spurred the 900 kansas llc partnership. However, each found the building to be too big of a project for what they had in mind.

“It was kind of a combined effort,” Fox said. “I own several buildings in downtown and had looked at the building…and it seemed like such a huge project, so I kicked it around for over a year.

“Then, I learned that Daryl Craft had also looked at the building and thought it was too big for him, so we met one day for lunch and decided we would go together and buy it.

Fox continued, with a chuckle, “Then we hired Architect One and got to talking to Mike Wilson and he expressed an interest in becoming involved in the project, the three of us joined forces.

“It’s really a great partnership. We all three have unique things that we can bring to the table.”

Fox says that renovating and restoring the historic building is good news for downtown Topeka.

“I think that bringing this many people to downtown will reinforce what downtown is trying to do,” he said. “And, Daryl’s company is a class act, so I think it will set a precedence for other buildings … it’s going in the right direction.”

Susan Mahoney, Downtown Topeka Inc. executive director, says that she is pleased that the old Karlan building is being renovated and agrees with the partners that it will be good for downtown.

“Absolutely!” she said, excitedly. “If anything, it is occurring in a block of Kansas Avenue that could definitely use an improvement of that nature. We (DTI) look forward to having GTrust move downtown.”

Mahoney said that by having GTrust located downtown, it could inspire other financial businesses to do the same.
Mahoney added that she believes Clayton Financial Services played a role in Craft’s decision to relocate his financial business downtown. Last year, Clayton Financial Services moved from the Bank of America building into a historic downtown building in the 700 block of Kansas Ave.

According to the 900 kansas llc partners, the first level of the Karlan building, as well as a portion of the lower level, will be leased to GTrust. GTrust is currently located at 1129 SW Wanamaker Road.

Certus Engineering has leased approximately one-third of the fourth floor and other spaces are available for lease.
The partners are also considering turning part of the fourth floor into executive office suites with one common conference room. Currently, a lobbyist is considering one of the suites, Fox said.

While working on the interior of the building, the partners have not forgotten about the exterior. They plan to restore and refurbish the exterior to look as close as possible to the original building.

The original building, which housed Karlan Furniture until 1989, was constructed in 1910. It was constructed on the old Copeland Hotel site. The Copeland Hotel was destroyed by fire in 1909.

As old and historic as it may be, one would think that the Karlan building would be listed on the historic register. But, it’s not. However, Fox said that the partners are currently working on getting it on the list.

But it hasn’t been easy. The (2009) Kansas Legislature made a last-minute change in state law on allocating tax credits for historic preservation projects.

“The state has changed their policy on tax credits,” he said. “It is still not resolved, but we are proceeding with historic preservation on the state and federal level. We’re just not sure how it will end… there has been such an uproar about it that hopefully it will change as soon as the Legislative session begins in January.”

What about the future? Is this just the first project for the partners?

“For right now, we want to get this one (project) done and completed and leased,” Fox said, with a laugh. “But you never know… I have a real passion for rebuilding downtown.”

Who is 900 kansas llc?
Fox began his career in the construction industry in 1969. And, he’s been successful and busy ever since.
During a 20-year time span, Fox built more than 700 Payless Shoe stores throughout 20 different states.
With a chuckle, Fox says he now specializes in downtown renovation projects.

Craft chartered GTrust in 1981 after working in bank trust departments for more than a decade.

GTrust, which changed its name from Guardian Trust in 2008, is one of the Midwest’s premier providers of investment, trust and financial planning services.

GTrust currently has 25 employees and manages approximately $400 million in assets for other people.
GTrust also has offices in Overland Park, Larned, Marysville and Wichita.

Wilson founded Architect One in 1988. He founded the firm with the notion that a small firm could compete with larger firms by utilizing technology; yet provide a closer working relationship with its clients and consultants.