Local developers set sites on Vermont Street plans
Another local developer will ask the city to participate in their plans to build in Vermont Street. Enlarge video
A Lawrence developer hopes to strike a deal with city leaders to allow for a downtown building to be expanded into a city parking lot.
Thomas Fritzel, a Lawrence developer and construction company executive, is asking to take eight parking spaces in the city-owned lot south of Eighth and Vermont streets. Fritzel wants to add an elevator and office space to the building at 123 W. Eighth St.
Commissioners will discuss the request at their 6:35 p.m. meeting today at City Hall, Sixth and Massachusetts streets.
Fritzel has told commissioners that he'll replace the eight parking spaces in a new parking facility in the northwest quadrant of downtown within the next five years. If that doesn't come to fruition, Fritzel would pay the city $25,000 per space.
City staff members support the idea but are alerting commissioners that an agreement with Fritzel could open the door to similar requests. City Manager David Corliss is recommending that the city issue a request for proposals to get a sense of whether other developers are interested in using any of the city's downtown parking lots for development.
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OldEnuf2BYurDad (anonymous) says…
Here's your answer: No. I have to drive around and around for 20 minutes to find a parking space every weekend night (Friday, we gave up and drove to La Tropicana in N. Lawrence). NO, NO, NO.
average (anonymous) says…
Seriously, when do you people drive? I have never, not on sidewalk sale, not on Nebraska gameday, ever been unable to park downtown. Most of the time, I just aim for the garage, and don't waste time driving around hunting.
OnlyTheOne (anonymous) says…
"replace the eight parking spaces..... If that doesn't come to fruition, Fritzel would pay the city $25,000 per space."
Excuse me but anybody want to conjecture how much the elevator and office space derived from these eight spaces will increase the value of the Fizzle project? I'll wager it's a wee bit more than the offered $200,000.
delta77 (anonymous) says…
"Excuse me but anybody want to conjecture how much the elevator and office space derived from these eight spaces will increase the value of the Fizzle project? I'll wager it's a wee bit more than the offered $200,000."
So?
fletch (anonymous) says…
I say make him put up the money first as a bond and require the spaces be paid back 2-to-1. Once the spaces are put back, the bond can be repaid to him.
Centrist (anonymous) says…
Interesting that he gets 5 years to wait and pay the money ... or build another lot.
Shouldn't he be paying them at the time of the expansion?
And these dumbasses run your city.
Keith (anonymous) says…
"(Marion Lynn) says:
You can start kissing Downtown goodbye!"
Yeah, but at least we got rid of all those hippies who were ruining Lawrence by not giving away the store every Tuesday. Thanks for your help with that.
merrill (anonymous) says…
Whats up with this? I say get the money now! $25,000 a space sounds like taxpayers are being robbed by the development gun point. Nothing like giving valuable real estate away to influential
developers..hmmmmmmmm.
merrill (anonymous) says…
I thought downtown parking space was at a premium and there was never enough. Are we working are way towards a $10,000,000 parking area?
ihatejohntravolta (anonymous) says…
give them those spaces but make them build a parking garage.
vinividivici (anonymous) says…
F***ing Fritzel...
vinividivici (anonymous) says…
hahaha........i decided to google Thomas Fritzel to see what the jerk looked like. GeneFritzel.com. Check it out...thouroughly enthralling. With all the money they have, you'd think they could afford to pay someone to make a website that's not under construction in the midst of all his publicity.
Did you know that TFritzel is making Yello Sub repair all of the damages to the building, despite their insane intent to tear it down and build their Elderidge expansion? Think of all the things that could be done with that money. Maybe he could donate it to all the whiny parents who are angry the pool is increasing its fees?
Yabut (anonymous) says…
This is a really bad idea. Why didn't he include these items in the site plans for the building's interior before he completed it? If the city allows this, it sounds a loud and clear message that the commission can be bought. And then its only a matter of time until all parking spots downtown become privatized. I can imagine stores downtown would LOVE to have some parking spots in front of their stores that they can then reserve only for their customers.
The_Original_Bob (anonymous) says…
This is the way the Fritzels do business. I'm just surprised the LJ World decided to carry an article they knew would show these guys in a negative light.
pelliott (anonymous) says…
it sounds good to me and a good price. there is usually places to park in the garage. This is on vermont street.
karensisson (anonymous) says…
What a truly stupid idea.
akuna (anonymous) says…
8 spaces for 1 elevator? That doesn't seem right to me. Is he gaining office space as well? There should be another way to get an elevator into that building. I seem to remember an outdoor stairway that goes to a mechanical room. There might be a way to finagle an elevator into that spot. It might lose an office or two, but that is the cost of upgrading a building.