The City of Manhattan will not receive the much anticipated $25 million STAR bonds from state government to fund improvements along the north campus corridor around Kansas State University.
City officials announced this week that the state had reversed course and is not supporting the proposal. According to City Manager Ron Fehr, the primary reason was the separation distance and the expanded district not being adjacent to the original STAR district in downtown Manhattan. That original area includes Third and Fourth streets as well as the tourism generating Flint Hills Discovery Center.
Because it is projected the city would have its debts paid down earlier than expected, with the district performing well, it had hoped that the $25 million generated in the redevelopment district could be diverted to fund improvements along Kimball, North Manhattan Ave., College Ave. and Denison. Part of the project would also create a proposed museum honoring K-State coach Bill Snyder.
(Read more: 1350 KMAN)