RITTER CONSTRUCTION WORKERS help guide a roof for part of the North Town project at 725 N. Second St. A former asphalt plant used to be at the North Lawrence site.

Rick Combs is ready to move his motorcycle shop and customizing business into town.

“It’ll be more convenient,” said Combs, owner of Combs Custom Cycle, which he’s operated full time for seven years north of the Kansas Turnpike.

Combs is the first business owner to buy a fraction of North Town, a “business condominium” project on 5 acres at 725 N. Second St., the site of a former asphalt plant in North Lawrence.

Construction continues on the $3 million project, a 58,500-square-foot business center that will be separated into sections for owners looking to hold down costs by buying into a larger building.

Combs plans to have his new shop and showroom – occupying 2,400 square feet at the south end – ready for business by the end of April, and a Lawrence church has signed a letter of intent to occupy another 2,100 square feet.

The rest of the space remains available for others interested in a collective approach to ownership by sharing costs of the site, its building and ongoing maintenance.

“It could be retail, it could be subcontractors – a Sheetrock contractor could have an office and warehouse space all right there,” said Steve Glass, president of LRM Industries and a partner in the development. “Right now it looks like a big, metal monolith, but each space will receive a storefront appearance unique to that owner’s desires.

“It will end up kind of looking like a block downtown once it’s done.”

Combs’ current shop is just up the road, alongside U.S. Highway 24-40, and he is looking forward to having improved traffic flow and a better-organized space. He spends his time building bikes and working on Harley-Davidsons, and looks to expand his ability to sell apparel and parts.