Leaders of a Lawrence homeless shelter haven’t given up on the idea of relocating their downtown shelter to a former nursing home site in southeast Lawrence.

Loring Henderson, director of the Lawrence Community Shelter, said his organization is now in a “wait-and-see” mode regarding the former Lake View Manor nursing home, 3015 W. 31st St.

“We’re still enthusiastic about it in many ways, but we feel the price is too high on it,” Henderson said Tuesday, about one month after city commissioners balked at a $50,000 request from the shelter to help secure an option to purchase the property. “We’re going to keep an eye on it and see if the price comes down.”

If the approximately $2 million asking price does drop, the shelter likely would have competition from another major Lawrence social service agency – DCCCA.

Bruce Beale, executive director of DCCCA, said the nonprofit that provides treatment for people with substance abuse problems also has an interest in the now-vacant property.

“This definitely is the type of facility that we could use,” Beale said.

Beale said the 22,000-square-foot building – which sits on 7 acres – could serve as a good location to provide transitional care services for women and children who are recovering from substance abuse issues. DCCCA operates First Step House at Fourth and Florida streets that provides transitional living space for women and children.

Beale said DCCCA had been looking for new space to consolidate First Step House with another DCCCA-operated center in Topeka. The new building would give DCCCA the room to double its service to about 50 women and children, although Beale said the service likely wouldn’t need to expand to that size for a number of years.

DCCCA, though, hasn’t been successful in entering into negotiations with the owners of the former nursing home, which closed this summer after regulators terminated its Medicaid and Medicare contracts.

Beale said he had been unable to contact Charles K. Pomeroy, a Topeka resident who leads the ownership group.

“I lost some interest when I heard the price,” Beale said. “I have a Realtor out looking for some other locations. But if the price dropped and we could get a chance to go look at it, we would still be interested.”

Attempts to contact Pomeroy on Tuesday were unsuccessful.

Henderson said the shelter remained interested in the property because it would allow it to expand from serving about 20 people per night in its current location at 214 W. 10th St. to about 100 people.

Henderson said the additional bed space would be necessary because the Salvation Army – once it completes a proposed facility in East Lawrence – is expected to begin turning away some homeless individuals as it focuses on serving families in need.

Henderson said the large amount of land that comes with the building makes it well-suited for a homeless shelter.

“The 7 acres of land, I think, would provide a comfort zone for the neighbors,” Henderson said. “I really cannot imagine any better setting for a homeless shelter in an urban environment.”

Neighbors in the area, though, brought a host of concerns to city commissioners last month when the idea emerged. Several nearby residents expressed concerns about safety issues the shelter might create.