To the editor:

I realize that all property owners and developers that made library proposals have been great contributors to our community, but it was the comment of one, whom I generally respect, that really motivated me to write.

The comments basically said that we need to compete with the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City. I completely disagree!

The Country Club Plaza is not what we want to become. It may be OK for them, but I would hate to see our downtown become only upper-scale chain stores. In my business, I talk with visitors who come to Lawrence from all over the country and the world and they always comment on how refreshing our downtown is and how they didn’t think places like this existed anymore. This is still a place where independent mom-and-pop shops thrive. This is what we have to offer that the Country Club Plaza cannot! Let’s not build a bunch of retail space that has nothing to do with a new library that only national chains can afford downtown!

Additionally, the proposals had really modern-looking structures. Shouldn’t we try to keep some sort of historical context to our civic buildings? I guess City Hall is pretty modern, but I would like to see more historical references rather than ultramodern.

As far as location, let’s keep it simple. The lot next to the Lawrence Arts Center is a great location. An arts center next to a library – that makes sense to me. Or is it possible to renovate the current site?

Constance Wolfe,

Lawrence