Owners begin to tear down Boardwalk Apartments, make way for new complex

One building was site of deadly 2005 fire

Workmen for King’s Construction of Oskaloosa demolish the former Boardwalk Apartments complex Thursday at 524 Frontier Road. All nine of the 1960s-era buildings will come down to make way for a 0 million apartment project.

The end has come for a northwest Lawrence apartment complex that was the scene of a deadly 2005 fire.

Crews on Thursday were working to demolish the former Boardwalk Apartments complex, 524 Frontier Road, to make way for a $10 million apartment project.

“It has to be one of the older apartment complexes in Lawrence, so it is just good to get it on the ground and move onto something much better,” said Paul Werner, a Lawrence-based architect who is leading the development.

All nine of the 1960s-era buildings at the site will come down. Five buildings will be built as part of a first phase. A second phase could include another six buildings.

Werner said the buildings are being designed to be energy efficient, and plans call for them to meet LEED energy efficiency standards by using high-grade insulation and high-efficiency appliances. The complex also will be unusual in that all the buildings — which will be three stories — will be served by elevators.

Construction on the new complex — which will have 39 fewer units than Boardwalk — is expected to begin in mid-May. The project likely will take about 10 months to complete.

Owners of the Boardwalk complex last year announced to residents that they would need to find new living arrangements as their leases expired. The announcement came shortly after the Boardwalk owners settled a $12 million lawsuit with victims of the 2005 fire.