Converting dilapidated Oread Neighborhood houses for new uses preserves the city’s history and historic charm.

One of a group of developers said it: It probably would have been less expensive to knock down an old house and build something new than to renovate the 100-year-old house in the 1300 block of Ohio Street.

But the effort, vision and concern for Lawrence’s architectural history is leading his group and at least one Lawrence couple to return some dilapidated Oread Neighborhood houses to productive life as new-style boarding houses. The idea, which helps maintain the nature of historic Lawrence while finding innovative uses for often-dilapidated housing stock, is a welcome development.

And it seems to be a bit of a trend.

Since September, four boarding house proposals have been submitted to the Lawrence Planning Department. Three have been approved by the City Commission, with one more expected to be approved in August or September.

This new use for old housing stock is positive on many levels.

For groups of students sharing an academic endeavor, living in a group setting can make higher education a more enjoyable, productive experience. The students can support each other while enjoying the renovated splendor of some of the city’s grand, old homes.

For neighborhoods, it’s a welcome effort to preserve the housing stock. Certainly, neighbors would rather see families in the homes, but many of the houses in the area simply are too big for a modern family, and the new use is better than the alternative wrecking ball.

For the city, it’s the sort of infill development planners would like to see, and may reduce traffic by giving students a place to live next to campus.

Good luck to all involved in recycling old houses for new generations. We’ll be watching for the next new idea to keep historic property in private hands and serve a productive use.