To the editor:

In the April 23 Public Forum column entitled “Retail trends,” well-reasoned points were made concerning our failed attempts in the past to attract shoppers to Lawrence using large retail developments. I will refrain from repeating those items but will instead support the premise that major retail developments are neither necessary nor successful by reporting on the observation made by a guest of ours in downtown. We ate and shopped to the delight of us all.

If we want a “new entrance” from the west, I suggest we enhance the corner of Ninth and Iowa. The two defunct gas stations there greet in a most dreary way the large numbers of persons entering from the turnpike, destined for shopping and our regular athletic and cultural events. The North Lawrence entrance to our city is now made more attractive by both our visitors center and downtown itself.

Mary Burchill, Lawrence