To the editor:

I am glad the Lowe’s store got a “no” for locating on West Sixth Street. I recently moved to Lawrence, upon retirement. The town has the rare mix of a progressive atmosphere and a feet-on-the-ground sense of reality. Lawrence has enough of the big boxes, including the “older” Walmart! If there must be a Lowe’s, it should be at Sixth and the SLT, further out. The gorgeous area west of the new Walmart should be reserved for public uses: parks, recreation and culture. Film and drama production activities, now lacking in Lawrence, can be coordinated near the new theatre.

A recent survey placed Lawrence below some other college towns as a desirable community. I would give the nod for first place to State College, Pa., No. 2 on the list. However, Lawrence is better than several towns listed, especially Ithaca, N.Y., which was given the top spot.

Think about it! Why do people move here, if they could go anywhere they wished? What is valuable about Lawrence is fragile and takes effort to keep and build! The most secure jobs and development to work at providing are those that facilitate services at all levels, including intellectual and cultural growth. These areas of life are already the strengths of Lawrence. Let’s get to No. 1 on the lists, and stay there!

Connie C. Price,

Lawrence