Downtown Lawrence Inc.’s new leaders said they want to attract more Lawrence residents to the area.

Maria Martin and Melodie Christal recently took over as co-directors of the association after Jeremy Douglas resigned from the director’s position to pursue other job opportunities.

Downtown Lawrence Inc. co-directors Melodie Christal, left, and Maria Martin aim to attract more Lawrence residents to the downtown area. The two, who posed Tuesday on Massachusetts Street, said one of their goals is to create more specialty events, like the annual downtown sidewalk sale.

Martin owns Southwest and More, 727 Mass. Melodie Christal is a former downtown business owner. She sold Savannah Lingerie, 735 Mass., in April.

Both said they were surprised at how many more out-of-town shoppers visit downtown than Lawrence residents.

“As a business owner, when I look at my monthly books and realize 65 percent of my customers come from outside Lawrence, that can be a little bit concerning,” Martin said. “But it seems to be pretty typical. In talking with other owners, they see that sort of thing as well.”

Christal said one of the group’s goals should be to make Lawrence residents better understand what the downtown area has to offer.

“I think people think it is too much trouble or they won’t be able to find a parking spot,” Christal said. “They forget how easy it can be. They forget the type of service they can get at a small, locally-owned store. I have always thought of going to downtown Lawrence as a mini-vacation. I think we have too many people who think they have to go to Kansas City to do that.”

Downtown Lawrence Inc., which represents about 175 downtown businesses, will try to change that attitude by running local advertisements highlighting parking improvements the city has made and reminding residents of the variety of downtown businesses.

“Our point is you are still going to have to walk when you are at a Kansas City mall, so you might as well stay home and walk in a five- to six-block area and experience all the shopping and entertainment you want,” Martin said.

The group will continue to attract out-of-town shoppers by advertising in regional publications as well.

Other goals for the organization include creating more specialty events such as the annual sidewalk sale, recruiting unique businesses to increase downtown’s ability to attract visitors, and laying the groundwork for the downtown to be designated as a historic district by the National Parks Service.

The group already has had one meeting about applying for the designation, which would make it easier for property owners to apply for tax credits to renovate their buildings. Martin said Downtown Lawrence Inc. will submit a formal letter of application to city commissioners within the next few days.

In addition to her co-director duties, Martin will continue to operate Southwest and More with her husband, Don. She also will continue her public relations work as coordinator of the Lawrence Indian Arts Show. Martin is a former board member of Downtown Lawrence Inc.

Before coming to Lawrence in the late ’90s, Christal worked for an association dealing with planning and management of higher education in Boulder, Colo. Christal is a former president of Downtown Lawrence Inc.

Martin and Christal approached Downtown Lawrence’s board of directors about running the group as co-directors after Douglas left on May 1. The board agreed to try the co-director system as an interim solution through the end of the year, and then evaluate it to determine whether to permanently give the jobs to Martin and Christal.