Archive for Monday, September 22, 2008
Block of Indiana Street may remain closed another year because of Oread Inn construction
Drivers should expect another year of street closures near KU.
September 22, 2008
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Motorists near Kansas University should expect another year's worth of street closures related to the Oread Inn hotel project.
City commissioners on Tuesday will consider a request to keep Indiana Street from 11th to 12th streets closed through August 2009 to accommodate construction crews working on the $37 million hotel project.
"There's just no room to work up there," said Paul Werner, one of the architects leading the hotel project at 12th and Indiana streets.
The one-block stretch of street has been closed since May, but originally developers were hoping that the street could be partially reopened this fall.
Now, engineers say it is obvious that motorists and pedestrians should be kept out of the area. Construction crews have opened up a hole 30-feet deep as part of the process of building the underground parking garage for the hotel. A large crane also is operating just a few feet from Indiana Street.
"From a site safety perspective, from a public safety perspective, it would put traffic really close to where the excavation is at," said Chuck Soules, the city's director of public works. "We don't think that is a good idea."
The extended closure means Kansas University buses will continue to be rerouted through other parts of the neighborhood. KU buses will continue to use Louisiana Street for northbound routes and Mississippi Street for southbound routes.
Soules said he had heard from at least one neighborhood leader who has expressed concern about Indiana Street being closed during snowy or icy conditions. Typically, motorists use Indiana Street to access campus in order to avoid very steep hills on 11th and 12th streets.
Soules agreed that could be problematic. He said the city would be sure to provide extra plowing and ice treatment on the two streets during winter weather. The development group also has agreed to have equipment in the area to immediately plow streets during winter weather.
The development group - which includes Lawrence businessmen Thomas and Tim Fritzel and Todd Sutherland - hope to have the seven-story, 106-room hotel and condo development open by January 2010.
Commissioners meet at 6:35 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall.
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22 September 2008
at 5:10 p.m.
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KUweatherman (Curtis Lange) says…
I personally can not wait until all the extra stop signs are gone from this (11th and Indiana) area. They are just a nuisance as it is since the majority just roll through them. I'm glad the city knows and is willing to do something about the fact that 11th St is going to be a disaster (car accident/not being able to get up the hill wise) this winter. Time will tell if they keep their promise throughout the winter season to keep it as drivable as possible.
22 September 2008
at 6:11 p.m.
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Danimal (Anonymous) says…
What a waste. I'm glad I won't be here to see it. This whole project reeks.
22 September 2008
at 7:53 p.m.
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ashmole (Anonymous) says…
The developers should have to pay to rent the street from the city, as well as for the extra winter maintenance costs. Since our city commissioners are nothing but whores for developers, I can't imagine this is going to happen.
22 September 2008
at 8:19 p.m.
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nobody1793 (Anonymous) says…
“There's just no room to work up there,” said Paul Werner.No shot shirlick. That's why so many people were against it in the first place. Too big, bad location.
22 September 2008
at 9:10 p.m.
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lance1jhawk (Anonymous) says…
Quit whinning… enough already! The developers and builders are just trying to leave in place as much as possible to keep the stupid hippies of this town happy. They should have cleaned off twice as much of the hill as they took. Be Thankful whiners.
22 September 2008
at 11:05 p.m.
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avaholic (Anonymous) says…
I live at Carson Place right next to the project. I think it is fine that they keep the street closed. What bothers me is that several times I have been stuck in my apartment complex parking lot because of the equipment. I am tired of trying find parking spots because the construction crews take spots from the parking lot.
23 September 2008
at 1:41 a.m.
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FormerCentralKansan (Anonymous) says…
I can't wait for this big eyesore to open up and THEN the complaints will really start coming in. People will wonder how it was even approved and all neighbors will hate looking at it. It will probably be out of business within 2 years and the University will buy it and turn it in a dorm for the football players.
23 September 2008
at 11:09 a.m.
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royalpain (Anonymous) says…
FormerCentralKansan,This building will be a beautiful upgrade to the eyesore that was there to begin with. Have you seen the renderings? If you have seen these (in color), then there is no way that you could argue that the new building will look worse than what was there. As for the success of the hotel - look around. Most other universities have a hotel in close proximity to the campus. They're all still open. Imagine that?
23 September 2008
at 11:29 a.m.
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avaholic (Anonymous) says…
Royalpain,I agree that the building will look nice, I think the problem that the students have is that it doesn't benefit them. A hotel is not something that the everyday student can take advantage of. I was never even a fan of the crossing but several students were. I was a fan of Yellow Sub and was sad to see it go. Students can't relate to a hotel that they can't afford to stay in. I think some of the negativity that stems from the project is from that fact. I also think the location and its surroundings draw negativity to the project. The surrounding buildings (my apartment complex included) is not in the best shape. I'm fine with that because I'm a student and I don't need a fancy place. But the addition of a nice hotel will be somewhat of an eyesore from the perspective that the surroundings already had it's own little nietche and this will dwarf them in comparison.
23 September 2008
at 12:14 p.m.
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tolawdjk (Anonymous) says…
I've seen several articles on other sites discussing the looming shortage of road salt already. If this projects overruns would be leading to increased city maintainence costs, the project should pay for those costs. The taxpayers should not be on the hook because of developer delays.
23 September 2008
at 12:40 p.m.
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Clancy99 (Anonymous) says…
Does anybody have a link to the renderings? Just curious to know exactly what we're talking about.
23 September 2008
at 12:54 p.m.
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MattressMan (Anonymous) says…
FormerCentralKansan (Anonymous) says: I can't wait for this big eyesore to open up and THEN the complaints will really start coming in… As if the student ghettos aren't an eyesore to look at, and talk about complaints there will still be plenty of people that complain about slum conditions and landlords even after the hotel is open.avaholic (Anonymous) says: Royalpain, I think the problem that the students have is that it doesn't benefit them. A hotel is not something that the everyday student can take advantage of.But it does benefit the students, prospective students can stay within walking distance of the campus, students parents can stay at the Inn while visiting Buffy and Jody on parents weekend, visiting scholars can stay, visiting lecturers can stay, meeting attendees can stay etc. I'm just not sure what the advantage is that you wish everyday students to be able to get.
23 September 2008
at 1:16 p.m.
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royalpain (Anonymous) says…
http://www2.ljworld.com/photos/galler… to that link for the renderings.
23 September 2008
at 1:22 p.m.
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Prairielander (Anonymous) says…
The development group also has agreed to have equipment in the area to immediately plow streets during winter weather.???What kind of equipment and who will pay if the developers take out someone's car? I think the City should add extra crews to plow and salt and then bill the developers for the extra cost. Somebody needs to spank these guys for their incompetence. A hit to the pocketbook may be all they would understand.
23 September 2008
at 1:37 p.m.
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easmith14 (Anonymous) says…
Lawhorn…this makes about as much sense as swimming for gasoline!!
23 September 2008
at 1:47 p.m.
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supercowbellninja (Anonymous) says…
Why all the hating on this project? I agree with the above commenter who said this is an upgrade over the previous ramshackle eyesore. That Yello Sub started to go down years ago, and it's not like there are 50 other dive bars in town for students to get cheap draws of Bud Light from.This is the price of progress, and this town can certainly use some once in awhile. I have no idea why so many who have lived here for so long are so intimidated by change.We need more hotels close to campus. And this will be a hotel as well as a mixed-use retail area below. I can only imagine what chain stores will end up in there to the chagrin of some of our more hyperlocal residents.Growth and change is not always a bad thing, and sometimes a few extra stop signs and road closures is not too much to ask for that. Let's all just wait and see how this turns out before we pass judgement on it.I think those who are afraid of it appearing as an eyesore are just too accustomed to looking at street after street of dilapidated “historic” homes that should have been razed years ago to know what a new building of any kind should look like.
23 September 2008
at 1:59 p.m.
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KU_Dude (Anonymous) says…
….or maybe he's been too busy worrying about the water that's going to flood his house once the new LHS fields are built?
23 September 2008
at 3:44 p.m.
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KU_Dude (Anonymous) says…
I just don't get it LJW. My first post gets removed because I mention a former posters many names but nobody1793's post that calls out the architect by name stays?
23 September 2008
at 7:52 p.m.
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swan_diver (Anonymous) says…
The developers lied to the public, and city officials about the time line on their construction of this travesty. You'd have to be a dope not to understand that. They're all Republican business people. They lie for a living.
23 September 2008
at 7:59 p.m.
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avaholic (Anonymous) says…
MattressMan,Maybe it's different for me, I don't know. I would consider me like most students and I my parents like most others too. I do know that my parents couldn't afford to stay in a hotel on campus so how does that benefit me? Should I be happy that a hotel that my family can't afford or enjoy be built on something that we did enjoy? I'll give you that lecturers can stay there. I guess I was just unaware of the growing need for lecturers to stay so close to campus. I mean its not like their here all year long.
24 September 2008
at 11:59 a.m.
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deskiedennis (Anonymous) says…
I can't wait for the hotel owners and patrons to complain about the beer cans and rowdy neighbors in the area once it opens. Maybe that's why the contstruction is being “delayed.” They don't want anyone who is bitter about the Crossing and Yello Sub to still be around when it opens.