Shelter granted more time to seek new home

A downtown homeless shelter will have more time to look for a new home.

City commissioners Tuesday agreed to give the Lawrence Community Shelter, 944 Ky., a three-year extension on its operating permit.

Shelter leaders told commissioners they still are looking for a more neighborhood-friendly location for the homeless shelter and drop-in center. But commissioners also were told by shelter leaders that it likely would take the shelter more than a year to find a new location.

Commissioners heard a little more than an hour’s worth of public comment from supporters and opponents of the shelter.

Commissioners approved the three-year permit on a 4-1 vote. Commissioner Mike Amyx voted against it. He favored a one-year permit.

Lawrence finalist for All-America City

Lawrence is in the running to be one of 10 communities named as an All-America City in 2007.

City leaders announced Tuesday that the National Civic League has chosen Lawrence as one of 20 finalists for the award program. A city delegation will participate in a competition for finalists June 6-8 in Anaheim, Calif.

Lawrence will be highlighting its efforts to strengthen downtown, affordable housing work done by the Lawrence Community Land and Housing Trust, and youth activities related to the Success by 6 program.

One other Kansas community, Shawnee, was selected as a finalist.

Retail project approved, called ‘good gateway’

Plans for a new retail area at the northeastern corner of Sixth Street and the South Lawrence Trafficway were approved by commissioners.

Commissioners approved the plan on a 4-1 vote, with the majority of commissioners saying the project would serve as a good gateway into the community.

Commissioner Boog Highberger voted against the plan. He said he had concerns that the community’s retail market was becoming overbuilt.

The plan would allow for one big-box store of about 175,000 square feet, and two smaller retail or restaurant locations of about 5,000 square feet each. The project also would include seven office buildings ranging from 5,700 square feet to 60,000 square feet.

The project, which will be called Mercato and built in a Tuscan architectural style, will be built in phases.

The big-box retail store should be completed by 2009, and the final office buildings by 2014. A tenant for the big-box store has not yet been found, according to members of the development group.

City engineer introduced

Commissioners were introduced to Shoeb Uddin, who has been hired as the new city engineer.

Uddin joins the city’s public works staff after spending about 10 years with the Topeka engineering firm of CP Engineering, said Public Works Director Chuck Soules.

Uddin replaced Terese Gorman, who left the city to take a similar job with Douglas County.