Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday agreed to let developers keep a one-block portion of Indiana Street closed well into next year, despite last-minute concerns from neighbors.

Commissioners at their weekly meeting said they did not think it would be safe to reopen Indiana Street between 11th and 12th streets while heavy construction work is under way at the adjacent Oread Inn hotel project.

Commissioners, though, said they did understand concerns expressed in a pair of letters received Tuesday from neighbors. Philip Harrison, an owner of rental property in the 1100 block of Indiana, said in a letter to commissioners that the closure of the street – which began in May – has hurt his rental business.

A representative with the Beta Theta of Phi Kappa Tau at 1100 Ind. also wrote a letter to commissioners asking that the development not be allowed to keep the street closed.

The development group – which includes Lawrence businessmen Thomas and Tim Fritzel and Todd Sutherland – plans to have the street shut down until August 2009.

Commissioners, however, said they want to review the progress of the project in February to determine whether the street can be reopened sooner.