The site of a former fertilizer plant in southeast Lawrence may be an optimal location for a new business park, but that doesn't mean the community can afford to wait around for it to become available for redevelopment, members of the Lawrence-Douglas County Economic Development Board agreed Monday.
Board members, meeting for the first time since last year, acknowledged that the Lawrence area continued to miss out on potential projects because of a lack of available sites and buildings to satisfy prospects.
It's a message that board members promise not to lose sight of, even as attorneys continue working to make an offer for the former Farmland Industries site on the north side of Kansas Highway 10, just west of the East Hills Business Park.
The 467-acre site is envisioned as accommodating industrial projects, welcoming other businesses and including recreational or other so-called "green space" features. But the property remains under the jurisdiction of a court trustee, charged with disposing of Farmland property left behind by the former cooperative's bankruptcy.
"We could be in conversation with Farmland forever," said Mayor Sue Hack, a member of the board. "I don't think we can hang our hat on that. : We need to be active in other issues."
Beth Johnson, vice president for economic development for the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, told board members that of the past 30 leads received for potential employers looking to locate in Lawrence, 18 had been closed.
Of those closed inquiries, she said, 10 were because the Lawrence area lacked the necessary buildings. Another three dropped out because of a lack of suitable land, and two had issues with infrastructure needs.
"We're very limited, to say the least," Johnson said.
Board members agreed that efforts must continue for developing business parks elsewhere, such as near Lawrence Memorial Airport, west of the intersection of Sixth Street and the South Lawrence Trafficway, and in southern Lawrence as the city prepares to bring a new sewage treatment plant online in 2011.
Board Chairman Jason Edmonds, a vice president for Morgan Stanley in Lawrence, convened the meeting attended by fellow board members Lavern Squier, president and chief executive officer of the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce; Randy Weseman, superintendent of Lawrence public schools; Bob Stephens, chairman of Douglas County Development Inc.; Trudy Rice, chairwoman of ECO2; and Hack. Also attending was ex-officio member David Corliss, Lawrence city manager.
Not attending were Mike Dever, Lawrence city commissioner; Charles Jones, Douglas County commissioner; Robert Hemenway, KU chancellor; Linda Warner, president of Haskell Indian Nations University; and Patricia Long, president of Baker University. Ex-officio member Craig Weinbaug also did not attend.
The board plans to meet again at 3 p.m. Aug. 6, at the chamber's offices, 734 Vt.
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mommaeffortx2 (anonymous) says…
mini vegas
Godot (anonymous) says…
"Not attending were Mike Dever, Lawrence city commissioner; Charles Jones, Douglas County commissioner; Robert Hemenway, KU chancellor; Linda Warner, president of Haskell Indian Nations University; and Patricia Long, president of Baker University. Ex-officio member Craig Weinbaug also did not attend."
I guess they decided it was not a very important meeting.
Godot (anonymous) says…
"Board members agreed that efforts must continue for developing business parks elsewhere, such as near Lawrence Memorial Airport,"
Would that be the helipad at the hospital?
b_asinbeer (anonymous) says…
Please...............stop..............writing...................... like.....................this..................
lunacydetector (anonymous) says…
isn't it about time these companies that supposedly rejected lawrence are brought forth and revealed? what would the harm be?
they should make the names known, especially when they want to jack up our taxes. it would go a long way.
JOEHAWK (anonymous) says…
Oh right and truly embarass those companies so they won't ever come to Lawrence. They so love negative publicity. Do this just to prove a point to a bunch of sticks......in the mud. It just is another indicator of the backward thinking in Lawrence.