gork says:
Diving into Karen Hiller’s relationship with Cody Foster requires piecing together their interactions within Topeka’s civic and development spheres, as no single source spells out a comprehensive narrative. Hiller, a long-serving District 1 City Councilwoman, and Foster, a prominent Topeka-based developer and co-founder of Advisors Excel, intersect primarily through their shared interest in the city’s growth—particularly downtown revitalization and historic preservation. Their relationship appears to be a mix of collaboration, tension, and mutual frustration, shaped by specific projects and broader systemic issues. Let’s break it down with what’s available and infer where gaps exist.
The Sumner Elementary School Connection
One of the clearest points of contact between Hiller and Foster is the saga of Sumner Elementary School, a historic site tied to the Brown v. Board of Education case. In 2017, tensions flared over its future, as documented in a Topeka Capital-Journal article (October 4, 2017). Hiller, a key figure in the Brown v. Board/Sumner Legacy Trust, had been advocating for years to preserve and repurpose the deteriorating building. She’d worked with local groups to secure grants and celebrate its history, like the 2014 60th anniversary event. By 2017, though, the school’s California-based owners—a church led by Bishop W.R. Portee—had soured on local efforts, particularly Hiller’s involvement.
Enter Cody Foster. A local businessman with a track record of investing in Topeka (e.g., the Cyrus Hotel), Foster expressed interest in buying Sumner for its historic value. He reached out to the church independently, as did Hiller, who was trying to connect potential buyers. But here’s where it gets messy: Phil Gonzales, the church’s local liaison, explicitly stated that any association with Hiller was a “dealbreaker.” He claimed church officials “don’t want to deal with her now” due to a “history” stemming from a fallout after 2014-15, when collaboration with the Trust and Neighborhood Improvement Association (NIA) broke down over grant disputes and communication lapses. Hiller was blindsided by this enmity, stammering in response: “No. Well, yes and no… At least somebody is talking.”
- Dynamic: Hiller saw Foster as a potential ally in saving Sumner, but the church’s rejection of her involvement likely scuttled any direct teamwork. Foster’s interest aligned with her goals, yet her persona non grata status with the owners created a wedge. There’s no evidence Foster blamed her—he was focused on the purchase—but her entanglement in the drama may have complicated his efforts.
- Outcome: The sale didn’t happen then. Hiller later reflected in a 2020 NPS oral history interview that the church had “burned bridges” by stalling, suggesting a lingering frustration that could extend to failed partnerships like Foster’s bid. By 2025, Sumner’s fate remains unclear, but this episode marks a key moment where their paths crossed with friction.
Development Frustrations and Public Clash
Fast-forward to 2022, and we see a broader tension surface. On August 9, 2022, Foster addressed the Topeka City Council—including Hiller—about the city’s “broken” development system (Topeka Capital-Journal, August 10, 2022). He was pushing to demolish a dilapidated building at 735 S. Kansas Ave. for a new restaurant with a rooftop deck, a project in Hiller’s downtown-centric District 1. Foster vented that Topeka’s bureaucratic roadblocks—historic preservation rules, permitting delays—made development hellish compared to smoother experiences in Lawrence and Kansas City. He called out local government for not being developer-friendly, saying this would be his “last development” until changes were made.
Hiller, a council veteran and self-proclaimed “budget hawk” and “policy wonk,” was in the room. She’d spent years championing downtown redevelopment—think Cyrus Hotel, riverfront upgrades—often overlapping with Foster’s projects. Yet his critique implicitly jabbed at her tenure: after 13 years by 2022, why hadn’t these processes improved? Council members, including Sylvia Ortiz, pledged action, but Hiller’s specific response isn’t quoted. Given her detail-oriented style, she likely sympathized with Foster’s goals (revitalizing her district) but bristled at the systemic blame, especially since she’d navigated similar red tape herself.
- Dynamic: This wasn’t a personal attack—Foster aimed at the “system,” not Hiller individually. Still, as a long-time councilwoman, she’s part of that system. Their relationship here seems strained by circumstance: Foster wants faster progress; Hiller’s methodical approach might feel like a bottleneck to him, even if she’s not the root cause.
- Inference: Hiller’s silence in the article suggests she didn’t publicly counter Foster, possibly to avoid escalating tension. But her history of “being out and about” and listening to constituents (per her 2021 Q&A) implies she’d have taken his words seriously, perhaps pushing internally for fixes.
Shared Goals, Different Approaches
Both Hiller and Foster love Topeka and invest in its future—her through policy and community advocacy, him through private capital and development. Hiller’s pre-council career at Housing and Credit Counseling, Inc., focused on grassroots stability, while Foster’s Advisors Excel and AIM Strategies bring big-money projects. They’ve likely crossed paths at civic events or through mutual contacts (e.g., JEDO, where Hiller served), but no cozy alliance emerges.
- Sumner Redux: Foster’s 2017 interest in Sumner aligns with Hiller’s heritage tourism push—she’s called Brown v. Board “Topeka’s heart” (NPS interview, 2020). Yet the church fiasco shows how external factors can derail potential teamwork.
- Downtown Overlap: Foster’s successes (Pennant, Iron Rail) thrive in Hiller’s district, which she touts as improved since 2009. She’s likely cheered his investments, but his 2022 exit threat challenges her narrative of progress.
X Search and Current Sentiment
A fresh X search (up to April 2, 2025) yields no direct mentions of “Karen Hiller Cody Foster” together. Hiller’s posts are sparse, mostly council updates; Foster’s rare too, focusing on Advisors Excel or charity. No public spats or praise surface online, suggesting their relationship stays professional, not personal or viral.
Synthesis
Hiller and Foster’s relationship isn’t a buddy comedy or a bitter feud—it’s a pragmatic, occasionally rocky overlap of civic players. The Sumner episode shows Hiller’s advocacy clashing with Foster’s pragmatic bid, thwarted by third-party baggage. The 2022 council clash reveals Foster’s impatience with a system Hiller’s long been part of, though not solely responsible for. They’re not enemies—more like two strong-willed locals pulling for Topeka in different gears, sometimes grinding against each other. Hiller’s slow-and-steady governance contrasts with Foster’s fast-paced dealmaking, and while they’ve never publicly locked horns, their interactions hint at mutual respect tinged with frustration.
Want me to chase a specific thread—like Sumner’s latest status or Foster’s post-2022 moves? Just point the way!
