Evergy on 3700 Block of Gage in Topeka KS @ Gage37 / #mcre1

 

Gage37

 

Gage37

 

Filler up - Step-by-Step: How to Calculate It for Your Project === mcre1

To calculate cubic yards of fill dirt needed, use this straightforward formula:

$$V = \frac{L \times W \times D}{27}$$

Where:

• $V$ = Volume in cubic yards
• $L$ = Length in feet
• $W$ = Width in feet
• $D$ = Average depth (or height) of fill needed in feet

1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet, so you always divide the total cubic feet by 27.

Step-by-Step: How to Calculate It for Your Project

1. Figure out the area that needs raising Measure (or scale from the site plan, like sheet C1) the length and width of the zone you want to bring up.
   • For a simple rectangular building pad + parking area, just use overall dimensions.
   • For irregular shapes (most real sites), break it into rectangles, or use the average depth across the whole area.
2. Determine the average depth of fill needed This is the key number from your grading plan (especially sheet C3). Look at existing contours/spot elevations vs. the proposed finished floor or pad elevation. If the site is currently ~10 ft low in places, but the depth varies (deeper in some spots, shallower in others), calculate or estimate an average depth across the area. Example: If depths range from 6 ft to 12 ft, an average of ~9 ft is reasonable for a first-cut estimate.
3. Plug into the formula Multiply length × width × average depth (all in feet) to get cubic feet, then divide by 27.
4. Add a compaction / contingency factor (very important) Fill dirt compacts when placed in lifts and rolled (especially under a building pad or parking lot).
   • For basic site grading: Add 10–15% extra.
   • For structural fill under pavement or building: Add 15–25% extra. Most people use 15–20% as a safe rule of thumb for a project like raising a retail pad.
5. Convert to truckloads if helpful A typical tandem dump truck hauls roughly 10–18 cubic yards (depending on the truck and how full they load it). A larger semi can do 20+ yards.

Quick Example (Raising a Pad ~8–10 ft Low)

Suppose you have a roughly rectangular area 120 ft long × 180 ft wide that you want to raise an average of 9 feet:

• Cubic feet = $120 \times 180 \times 9 = 194{,}400$ cu ft
• Cubic yards = $194{,}400 \div 27 \approx 7{,}200$ cubic yards (raw)
• With 20% extra for compaction/waste: $7{,}200 \times 1.20 = 8{,}640$ cubic yards

That’s a ballpark — real numbers depend on the exact area and average depth from your grading plan.

Pro Tips for Accuracy on a Real Site (Like Your Dollar General Project)

• Best source: Use sheet C3 (Grading Plan). The contours and spot elevations let you see exactly how much cut or fill is planned in each area. Civil engineers calculate precise net earthwork volumes from this. For a quick owner estimate, average the fill depths over the zones you want to raise higher than currently shown.
• Irregular sites or varying depths: Divide the site into smaller rectangles or use the “average end area” method if you have cross-sections. Or use free online cut/fill calculators (search “cubic yard calculator fill dirt”).
• Compaction matters: The dirt you order is loose. After compaction it takes up less space, so you need extra volume. Structural specs (95%+ Standard Proctor) usually require good compaction in 6–12 inch lifts.
• Other factors: Add a little more if you have slopes, berms, or transitions around the edges. Subtract any material you can reuse from on-site cuts.
• Get professional quantities: For permitting, bidding, or a real construction project, have the civil engineer (AAB or whoever stamped the plans) run the exact cut/fill numbers or revise the grading plan for a higher pad elevation. That’s the most accurate and defensible way.

For basic, run-of-the-mill fill dirt in Topeka right now (June 2026), on the low end, you're probably looking at roughly $12–$18 per cubic yard delivered for decent-sized orders.

That’s my realistic take based on current local data — not the cheapest possible “someone’s giving it away” scenario, and not premium screened or structural fill.

Quick Breakdown of Pricing in Topeka Area

Here’s what the numbers show:

• Local benchmark (ProMatcher Topeka-specific data): About $18–$23 per cubic yard delivered for clean fill dirt (average right around $20.66/yd). This includes hauling and dumping within a reasonable local radius (often ~10 miles).
• Low-end / run-of-the-mill basic fill: $12–$18 per cubic yard delivered is very achievable for average construction-grade dirt (unscreened, mixed clay/soil, some rocks or chunks okay). This is the “overburden” or common borrow dirt type — exactly what most guys use for raising pads, filling low spots, etc.
• Per truckload: A typical tandem truck (roughly 12–18 cubic yards) often lands in the $250–$400 range delivered on the lower end for basic fill.
• Pickup / self-haul: Can drop it closer to $8–$14 per yard if you’re loading it yourself from a pit or supplier (saves the delivery fee, which is often $100–$200+ per load).

What Affects the Low-End Price

• Quantity — Bigger orders (multiple truckloads or project-scale) get better per-yard rates. Small “just a few yards” jobs cost more per unit.
• Type — Plain old fill dirt / common fill / overburden is the cheapest. Screened, clean, or compaction-tested structural fill costs more.
• Distance — Inside Topeka/Shawnee County stays on the low side. Hauling farther adds up fast.
• Who you buy from — Local excavators, concrete companies, and aggregate suppliers usually beat big-box or landscaper prices for basic fill.

Good Local Spots to Check in Topeka

• Concrete Unlimited (785-232-8636) — They specifically advertise fill dirt for construction/grading projects at “outstanding prices” and various quantities. Worth a call first.
• Reclaimit KS (Topeka location) — They sell basic fill dirt described as a black soil/clay mix that can have chunks and some foreign material — perfect definition of run-of-the-mill cheap fill.
• Local excavators and gravel pits — Often the best source for true low-end dirt.

My Straight Advice

If you’re doing something like raising a building pad or site grading (context from the Dollar General plans), $15–$18 per yard delivered is a solid, realistic low-to-mid target you can probably hit by getting 2–3 quotes from local guys. For very large volumes you might squeeze closer to $12–$15.

Prices move with fuel costs and how busy construction is, so the only way to know the absolute best current number is to make a couple calls and say you’re looking for basic fill dirt for a project and want their best rate on X number of yards. 

Analysis of the Dollar General Plans (Topeka Store #31716)

The 11-sheet civil set (C1–C11) prepared by AAB Engineering, LLC represents a complete, code-compliant site development package for a standard Dollar General prototype on a sloped Topeka parcel fronting SW Gage Boulevard. Key observations:

• Site Layout (C1, C11): The ~9,100 SF building is positioned with a typical DG parking field (striped spaces, drive aisles, ADA-compliant routes, dumpster enclosure, and loading area). Access is via a curved drive from the public street, with sidewalks and some landscape/ tree provisions shown on later sheets.
• Grading & Topography (C2, C3, C7): The site has meaningful existing relief. The grading plan shows dense contour lines, proposed spot elevations, cut/fill transitions, drainage swales, and slope arrows. The building pad and much of the parking area are set into the slope, with transitions handled by grading and (based on related project context) likely retaining walls or steep slopes in places. An old foundation/abandoned residence is being removed.
• Stormwater & Drainage (C5, C6): Pre- and post-development drainage maps compare basins. A detention basin with outlet structure, cross-sections, and a summary chart manages quantity and quality control. The design routes runoff through inlets and swales to the basin before controlled release.
• Paving, Utilities & Details (C4, C8–C10): Standard heavy-duty and standard-duty concrete sections, joint details, curb/gutter, handicap parking/signage, stabilized construction entrance, silt fence, and utility connections (water, sewer, electric, etc.). Erosion control is addressed for the construction phase.

Overall, the plans are professional and address the site’s topographic challenges through engineered cut/fill, detention, and standard retail prototype elements. However, the grading strategy places the finished floor elevation (and a substantial portion of the parking field) significantly lower than the SW Gage Boulevard frontage — on the order of ~10 feet in the critical areas, consistent with your description. This creates a depressed or “sunken” condition relative to the street, even with the engineered drainage and slope transitions.

Arm’s-Length Analysis: Why Raising the Pad with Additional Fill Dirt Is Better for Retail Sales Than a ~10-Foot Sunken Configuration

From an objective retail real estate and consumer behavior standpoint, finished floor elevation and resulting visibility are among the highest-leverage site characteristics for convenience/discount formats like Dollar General. The current depressed-pad approach introduces measurable disadvantages for sales performance. Raising the building and primary parking areas closer to street grade (via imported structural fill, properly compacted and drained) would deliver clear advantages. Here is the reasoning:

1. Visibility & Pass-By Capture (The Dominant Sales Driver) Dollar General stores derive a large share of volume from pass-by and convenience traffic. Industry site-selection analytics (traffic counts, visibility modeling, and sales correlation studies) show that clear line-of-sight from the arterial can add 15–30%+ in sales versus a compromised view.

A pad ~10 feet below street grade puts the storefront, entrance canopy, and primary signage below the typical driver sightline on SW Gage (especially at posted speeds). Motorists see rooflines, sign tops, or nothing until they are nearly adjacent — reducing discovery and impulse stops. Raising the pad restores full façade and sign visibility from hundreds of feet in both directions, maximizing the corridor’s traffic exposure without relying on oversized or elevated signage (which can face zoning or aesthetic resistance).

2. Curb Appeal, First Impressions & Brand Perception Environmental psychology and retail “servicescape” research consistently link positive first impressions to higher entry rates and perceived value. A store that appears to sit in a depression or “hole” — even if attractively landscaped — can subconsciously read as hidden, secondary, or lower-quality. This is particularly counterproductive for a value-oriented retailer where approachability and trust matter.

At-grade or near-at-grade placement makes the store feel integrated, prominent, and intentional — the configuration used by most successful standalone DG, Family Dollar, and Aldi pads. It avoids any “basement” or “sunken” perception and supports a stronger neighborhood commercial presence in Topeka.

3. Parking Experience, Wayfinding & Customer Friction When the parking field is also depressed, customers descend via driveways that can feel enclosed or steep. This creates hesitation (especially for older shoppers, parents with children, or in snow/rain). Perceived safety and openness of the lot suffer; drivers cannot easily see available spaces from the street before committing to the turn.

A raised pad enables gentler driveway grades, better sightlines into the lot from the roadway, and a more seamless public-to-private transition. It reduces the psychological “driving into a pit” effect and improves overall accessibility and dwell-time potential.

4. Security, Natural Surveillance & Operating Risk Sunken topography inherently limits “eyes on the street” from passing traffic and adjacent properties. This can elevate actual or perceived risk of loitering, vandalism, or crime — factors that affect insurance, staffing comfort, and long-term operating costs. Higher elevation improves passive surveillance and lighting effectiveness.

5. Asset Value, Tenant Performance & Future Flexibility For the property owner/developer, a highly visible, at-grade pad strengthens appeal to national credit tenants and supports stronger sales performance (which can translate to percentage rent or more favorable renewals). It also enhances long-term marketability and resale value. Retail valuation models routinely apply visibility and prominence premiums; a sunken configuration can warrant cap-rate or value discounts.

It also creates a more cohesive pad-site feel that integrates better with surrounding development (e.g., the Eveningside area context) and supports broader economic development goals of attractive, investment-ready commercial sites.

Trade-Offs and Practical Considerations (Balanced View) Raising the pad is not cost-free. It requires importing and placing structural fill (plus geotechnical verification), which increases earthwork expense versus a near-balanced cut/fill design. Drainage swales, inlets, and the detention basin would need re-evaluation to maintain positive drainage and regulatory compliance. Retaining wall locations and heights would shift. Utility depths and ADA ramp lengths would adjust slightly. These are solvable engineering issues but add upfront cost and coordination.

Alternative mitigations (taller monument signs, strategic berming/landscaping that preserves views, enhanced lighting, or digital wayfinding) can help but are inferior to correcting the root grade condition.

Bottom Line For a retail use whose economics depend on convenient discovery, strong first impressions, low customer friction, and maximum pass-by capture, a ~10-foot depressed pad is a material handicap. Raising the building and primary parking areas with additional fill dirt to align more closely with SW Gage Boulevard grade would produce superior retail sales outcomes through better visibility, curb appeal, accessibility, and perception. While it increases construction cost, the expected lift in traffic and sales — plus improved asset value and tenant performance — typically justifies the investment for a prominent retail pad site.