Retailers to discuss downtown’s homeless

A coalition of downtown businesses has agreed to form a committee aimed at addressing issues involving the homeless.

“A number of concerns have come up: hanging out, loitering, panhandling and the effect they’re having on the image of downtown,” said Maria Martin, director of Downtown Lawrence Inc.

“We’re interested in finding out what other communities have done to address these issues,” Martin said. “We want to keep downtown a safe, pleasant environment for everybody.”

As yet, the committee members have not been named.

“We’re just getting started,” Martin said.

Plans call for the committee to eventually present proposals to the Lawrence City Commission.

Update

Pedestrian hit by car now in fair condition

The Baker University student struck last week while crossing Sixth Street was listed in fair condition Tuesday at University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kan.

A Lawrence Police report released this week said officers believed alcohol was a contributing factor in the wreck both for pedestrian Blake Pearson, 23, and the driver of the Chevrolet Caprice that struck him, Christopher Brownell, 22, Lawrence.

No charges have been filed in connection with the wreck. It happened at 1:58 a.m. Friday as Pearson was crossing Sixth Street near Crestline Drive.

Courts

New lawsuit filed against security group

A Lawrence man has filed a lawsuit claiming security workers assaulted and beat him at a country-and-western bar.

Jeremy Penix alleges in the lawsuit filed in Douglas County District Court that workers for Mil-Spec Security Group assaulted him “without provocation” on Nov. 30, 2003, at Coyote’s night club, 1003 E. 23rd St.

Donald Strole, an attorney representing Penix, said the incident happened when Penix’s wife was being removed from the bar.

Phone messages left at Mil-Spec and Coyote’s were not returned Tuesday.

Earlier this year Mil-Spec and Coyote’s successfully defended a similar lawsuit in district court brought by a man who alleged bouncers beat him as he lay on the ground in handcuffs. The man sought $250,000, but jurors awarded him nothing after finding there wasn’t enough evidence to prove bouncers caused his injuries.

Kansas University

Architecture project named Home of Year

A house designed and built by Kansas University students has been named Home of the Year by Architecture magazine.

The house, built by the 20 students in KU’s Studio 804 class, will be featured in the magazine’s November issue and on its Web site, www.architecturemag.com.

The home was prebuilt in Lawrence and trucked to Kansas City, Kan.

The course is taught by Dan Rockhill, professor of architecture.