The Rundown – RHID financing tool approved for 3 new housing projects

Published on June 24, 2026

The Rundown is prepared by the City of Newton Communications Office to summarize the City Commission action and does not represent official Commission minutes.

7 p.m. June 23, 2026, Newton City Commission meeting

At Tuesday’s meeting, the City Commission established Reinvestment Housing Improvement Districts for three new housing projects:

• Near Southwest 24th and Anderson in Sand Creek Station Addition, for about 60 single-family lots, with houses planned in the $400,000-$600,000 range.
• At Southeast 10th and Blaine in Fox Ridge Addition, for a two-story apartment complex of 75-100 units. The project will also include a dog park, walking paths, and community green space. 
• At Southeast 11th and Kansas in Fox Ridge Addition, for 18 single-family lots on the perimeter and about 50 two-family lots. 

The Commission’s action is the first step in the RHID process. An RHID is a financing tool that provides the developer a rebate on the newly generated property tax revenue for up to 25 years to help pay for construction costs of public improvements such as utilities, streets, etc. For single-family homes, an RHID is used in lieu of spreading special assessments to the properties, which helps keep costs down for homebuyers.

There is no cost to the City for an RHID; the City will continue to receive the existing property tax rate for the properties, which are undeveloped. 

Depot District redevelopment

The Commission received a report from consultants PEC and Gravity Works on a building assessment of the Newton Depot. They reported that the building, built in 1930, is in remarkably good condition for its age, but its finishes and mechanical systems are at the end of their useful life.

City staff are working on a Request for Proposals seeking qualified development teams who have the experience and capacity to finance and redevelop the Depot District, which includes the depot and 320 N. Main. That RFP will come back to the Commission in the coming months. 

In other action, the City Commission: 

• Approved a request to close West First Street and Grandview for the Harvey County Free Fair Parade on Aug. 8 and for use of City services during the fair.
• Accepted the resignations of Newton Housing Authority board members Deborah Kingsley and Amanda Buffalo, and appointed Peter Miller and Amber Koehn to fill their positions.
• Received a report from Aline Albrecht from Harvey County Health Department and Dana Shiflett from Walk & Roll Harvey on a recent survey of Newton parents about walking and biking to school. Parents reported the biggest barriers to allowing their children to walk or bike include weather, inadequate sidewalks and crosswalks, and concerns about bullying, crime, and dangerous driving. 84% of respondents said they currently drive to school.

The full agenda packet and meeting video are available online. For more information, please contact Director of Communications Erin McDaniel at 316-284-6055 or emcdaniel@newtonkansas.com.