Lawrence city leaders were considering this morning how a group of new retail centers will affect the city’s existing shopping areas.

City commissioners were studying a report from Development Strategies Consultants that found almost a million square feet of retail space could soon be built in Lawrence with the Bauer Farms, Mercato and Northgate projects.

The report also surveyed 13 cities in Kansas and six nearby states.

It found that despite Lawrence’s 6.5 million square feet of retail space, a large percentage of Lawrence residents travel outside the city to shop.