To the editor:

I am responding to a June 9 Journal-World article where Greg DiVilbiss is quoted, “Lawrence citizens don’t have to drive across town to get goods and services they should be able to get close to home.”

In a traffic count done by the city in 1994, there were over 16,000 cars a day on North Second Street in North Lawrence. This count was done before the major road improvements were made, including new sidewalks and street lighting. Of the 16,000 cars a day, some would be North Lawrence citizens. However, there are commuters from south of the river and from north of Lawrence.

The North Lawrence community has been told there were not enough households to support a grocery store. Out of those 16,000 cars a day, how many of those drivers live in East Lawrence, adjacent to downtown, Old West Lawrence, the Pinckney neighborhood? What about the people who live near the airport, the Wellman Road area and Highway 32? These people must drive to some store. I question how many of these people would support a new, modern grocery store on the north side of the river.

A store with easy access, competitive prices and a pharmacy, post office and banking facility would support itself. It’s just not the North Lawrence people driving across town but the other 14,000 cars a day that would make an immediate impact on a new store.

Friends, neighbors and business associates, maybe it’s time to start another co-op!

Jeff Joseph,

Lawrence