From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for July 23, 1986:

Acting on a recommendation of the Urban Renewal Agency, the Lawrence City Commission announced the 600 block of downtown met a majority of statutory requirements to be declared “blighted.” The declaration cleared the way for the city to condemn the land and use tax increment financing to help develop a proposed shopping mall. Commissioner Mike Amyx had raised the only objections, saying that he had several questions about the financing and wanted a study session to be held.