Cornerstone News
What's new at Cornerstone of Topeka? We're glad you asked!
Please join us for our 2025 Annual Housewarming Party.
June 25th at Kay McFarland Japanese Garden Venue.
Order your tickets today!
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We are thrilled to announce that as of Monday, all four units in our two duplex development on SE Alkire are occupied! Construction was completed in late December on these 2 and 3 Bedroom units. They are just North and East of 6th and Golden. Construction on these affordable homes was financed by SORT Grant funds from The City of Topeka, an American Rescue Plan Grant from the City of Topeka and a loan from Community Bank, Topeka. With these duplexes, our Southern Hills Senior Homes Development at 37th and Adams and the 3BR Home at 1355 SW Fillmore, In 2024 Cornerstone of Topeka brought a total of 29 new construction, affordable rental housing options to our community. We are so happy with the construction done by Shirley Construction on all of these homes. Special thanks to our Housing Director, Dora Coronel who led our lease up efforts as well as our board of directors who, lift us up and support our organization as we grow!
Last week our staff and board of directors hosted our annual Christmas Party for families who live in our transitional/homeless units. Roughly 15% of our housing benefits the recently homeless. Each of the 44 kids received gifts and a book from Santa and everyone had a wonderful catered meal from G's Catering. Each family also received a gift card and a ham to take home. Most of the funding for this event comes from a generous grant from the 20/30 Club of Topeka!
We are excited to announce the completion of of a Three Bedroom Single Family Home at 1355 SW Fillmore. This is our first design with an Kitchen Island and a Pantry! Those familiar with the area may remember this site previously had two empty, dilapidated houses which sat vacant for more than a decade. Financing for this project was provided by HOME and American Rescue Plan funds administered by the City of Topeka and a loan from Community Bank, Topeka.
The bronze plaque was recently installed at the Kuner house at 506 SW Fillmore. Since we cut the ribbon on this addition to our Transitional Housing Program last December, this duplex has been the home to four families on their journey to break the cycle of homelessness.
We cut the ribbon on Southern Hills Senior Homes. A 24 Unit Affordable Rental Housing Development for those 55+ in our community. Construction was financed by The US Department of Housing and Urban Development HOME Funds and Low Income Housing Tax Credits administered by The Kansas Housing Resources Corporation. The project is located on the South West Corner of 37th and Adams across the street from the old Jostens plant.
On June 26, 2024, Cornerstone had another successful fundraiser to raise money for our Transitional Homeless Program. We also recognized Pat Michaelis with Midwest Housing Equity Group with our Otto and Jane Schnellbacher Lifetime Service to the Cause Award. Thank you to all our sponsors and to all of those that attended and donated.
On December 7th, we cut the ribbon on Kuner House. A new construction duplex for transitional housing. Cornerstone has 188 Homes, and now 18 of those are dedicated to transitional housing. We are proud of the expansion of units that serve as the bridge between homelessness and permanent housing. All of our tenants, including those in transitional, must have income, and over 80% of our tenants receive no rent subsidy.
After working at various jobs in my younger years such as delivering the newspaper, waiting tables in a restaurant and stocking produce in a grocery store, I began my career in banking a couple of weeks after high school graduation in 1971.
In Kansas City, Kansas I was hired by Home State Bank to handle processing mail and supplies for the staff, and within 4 years I had moved up to processing loan transactions for the lenders.
I then transferred to an affiliate bank, The Wyandotte Bank in KCK, where I worked for 4 ½ years becoming Vice President of Operations and Security Officer.
We lost one of our guiding lights. Jane and Otto Schnellbacher were key to the founding of Cornerstone of Topeka and for years, they worked tirelessly to build our organization. We deeply appreciate everything Jane and Otto did for Cornerstone. Our annual lifetime service award is named in their honor. Please join us here at Cornerstone in celebrating a life well lived in the service of others!
https://www.kevinbrennanfamily.com/obituaries/Jane-Schnellbacher/
Cornerstone of Topeka has received the Ad Astra Award for New Housing Development for our senior housing duplexes on SW Harrison completed earlier this year! The award presentation took place last week at the Kansas Housing Conference in Wichita. It's the first statewide award for Cornerstone in our 30 year history! Special thank you to our wonderful partners; Aaron Elwell from Shirley Construction, Joe Hoytal from Capitol Federal and Mike Kuner, our Board Vice President for being on hand for the ceremony!
Thank you to the Topeka Community for making our Annual Housewarming Party Fundraiser such a success! Together we raised more than $23,000 to benefit Cornerstone of Topeka's Transitional Housing Program! Special thanks to Dee Newbery, the recipient of the Otto and Jane Schnellbacher Lifetime Service Award and Topeka JUMP, the recipient of the Martha Stanley Volunteer of the Year Award. Enjoy these pictures from the event.
Great story about Cornerstone of Topeka on KSNT!
March 29th, 2016 breaking ground for a new duplex to be built at 517 SW Fillmore. This will add two more two bedroom units to our homeless housing program. The construction is financed with HOME funds from the City of Topeka’s Department Neighborhood Relations and a private loan through Community Bank. When completed, Cornerstone’s housing stock will be 144 units in our Affordable Housing Program and 25 units in our Homeless Housing.
Please join us for a fun evening with great food and drink as we celebrate the mission of Cornerstone of Topeka and support our Homeless housing program!
5:30 – 8:00pm at Heritage Hall at the Kansas Expo Centre. Tickets are just $35. Call 232-1650 for information or to buy tickets. 23 of of our 175 housing units are dedicated to housing the homeless and this fundraiser supports that program.
May 14th, 2015 was a big day for Cornerstone! Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for three newly constructed three bedroom single family homes in the 1100 Block of SW Mission Ave, (One block west of 12th and Gage). An important component in Cornerstone’s mission is to revitalize Topeka neighborhoods and these beautiful homes fit the bill.
It was great to have the new tenants on hand for the ceremony and cut the ribbon with the red coats from the Topeka Chamber of Commerce and Cornerstone board members.
September 18th, 2014 was a special day for Cornerstone of Topeka We broke ground on our next new homes project! Mayor Wolgast even assisted us with a golden shovel. These three new three bedroom homes will be built on previously undeveloped land on SW Mission one block behind 12th and Gage.
The three homes while still being in a low to moderate income neighborhood are the new Western boundary for our 160 housing units in Topeka. We are excited to be “breaking ground” in new territory for Cornerstone of Topeka! The project is financed by the City of Topeka’s Housing and Neighborhood Development Department and Capital City Bank.
Community Leader to be Given Award at Cornerstone’s Housewarming Party
TOPEKA— June 5, 2013
Today at the inaugural Cornerstone Housewarming Party, Cornerstone of Topeka, Inc., will recognize Frank Sabatini with the Otto and Jane Schnellbacher Award. The event is scheduled for 6:30 at Topeka’s Ward-Meade Park
Sabatini and the late Otto Schnellbacher recognized a need to help the homeless get back on their feet when they donated the first property to Cornerstone in 1986. Since then, Cornerstone’s properties have grown to 156 units in approximately ninety building throughout the community.
In addition to the award, Cornerstone will award the Martha Stanley Volunteer of the Year Award and three tenants are scheduled to speak and tell how Cornerstone has made an impact in their lives. Approximately 150 are expected to attend the event.
For more information, press only:
Chris Palmer 785-845-9589
