Full credit and thanks to This Is Topeka for the thorough reporting. Check their site for the original article and ongoing local coverage.

Lauren’s Bay Finally Moving Forward: Unpaid Taxes Lead to Auction and New Builders By Henry McClure | MCRE, LLC

In the spirit of transparency and keeping Shawnee County informed on local development news, I wanted to share a strong summary of recent reporting from This Is Topeka (thisistopeka.com). All credit goes to This Is Topeka Staff for their July 21, 2026 article: “Years of Unpaid Taxes End With Lauren’s Bay Sold to Three Builders.” I highly recommend reading the full piece for the complete details.

Key Developments at Lauren’s Bay

After years of stalled progress, unpaid taxes, and debates over special assessments, more than 100 vacant lots in the southwest Topeka subdivision (near SW 47th and Wanamaker, Auburn-Washburn School District) were sold at a Shawnee County judicial tax foreclosure auction on June 10, 2026.

The buyers include three reputable local builders:

• Diamond Homes of Topeka (formerly Dultmeier Homes) – approximately 40 lots.
• Drippé Homes – approximately 12 lots.
• Skill Pro Group – approximately 52 lots.

Builders have shared optimistic timelines with This Is Topeka, with clearing already underway and foundations potentially starting after August 1. Plans call for 10–15 homes from one builder and around six from another in the coming year, with potential for more phases.

The Backstory

As This Is Topeka explains, Lauren’s Bay was planned as an upscale neighborhood. Unusually, the city invested in full infrastructure (roads, sewers, utilities) upfront about 15 years ago— an “experiment” not typically repeated. Development lagged, leaving infrastructure in place but insufficient homes to support the costs. This led to massive accumulation of delinquent property taxes, penalties, and special assessments (reportedly exceeding $7 million at one point for properties tied to developer Jim Klausman).

Special assessments, as detailed in the article, are a mechanism to fund improvements benefiting specific properties rather than the entire tax base. When unpaid, they can trigger foreclosure.

City leaders had explored deals to forgive portions of debt in exchange for payments and commitments to build, citing housing needs. These efforts faced significant public opposition over fairness and were ultimately set aside, allowing the county foreclosure process to proceed.

Auction Strategy and Results

To promote actual development over speculation, the county grouped lots into larger packages. This approach worked, landing the properties with established builders ready to construct. While the auction generated less than $1 million against millions owed, the focus of such sales is returning land to productive use, future tax revenue, and community benefit rather than full past-due recovery.

Looking Ahead

For existing residents, this should reduce overgrown vacant areas and bring more neighbors. It represents a fresh start for the subdivision, leveraging existing infrastructure in a strong school district. As This Is Topeka notes, questions remain about accountability in the original agreements and handling of public investments, but the sale opens the door to new homes and growth.

This outcome underscores the importance of timely development, fiscal responsibility, and transparent processes in local projects—topics central to making Shawnee County a place where families want to live and build.

Full credit and thanks to This Is Topeka for the thorough reporting. Check their site for the original article and ongoing local coverage.