News and notes from around town:

• Could it be Take 2 for Lowe’s in Lawrence? It is too early to say, but there have been a couple of changes in the environment worth noting. Multiple sources tell me that the Lowe’s executive responsible for evaluating the Lawrence market has changed. That means a new set of eyes would be looking at any proposal. The other significant development is a change in ownership in a key piece of West Lawrence property. A vacant piece of ground immediately west of Wal-Mart at Sixth and Wakarusa has been taken over by an area bank. My understanding is that an out-of-town development group had owned it and had plans to build a retirement housing complex on the site. But financial difficulties caused the bank to take the property. That has created speculation in the real estate community that the property may be available for a much lower price than previously was possible. I know Lawrence architect Paul Werner previously was working behind the scenes to convince Lowe’s of some other options in the city, after the retailer’s plans for a store near Sixth and Folks Road were rejected at City Hall. This west of Wal-Mart site was one that was presented to the company, but little interest was shown. But, was that because the price wasn’t right, or does the company truly not like the location? We’ll wait and see.

It also will be interesting to see how neighbors near that site would react to a Lowe’s. Several neighbors expressed concern with Lowe’s previous proposal at Sixth and Folks Road, which is just up the street. The site west of Wal-Mart is not zoned for retail activity currently. It would have to receive several approvals from the City Commission. But my sense is that the site would be much better received by city commissioners than the previous plan. For example, during the recent campaign City Commissioner Bob Schumm mentioned the site west of Wal-Mart as a location that might be appropriate for Lowe’s.

The one spot in West Lawrence that is zoned for such a large commercial development is the northeast corner of Sixth Street and the South Lawrence Trafficway. Lowe’s officials previously have said that site is too far west at the moment, but perhaps a new set of eyes will think differently.

• As we previously reported, a major project to improve traffic flow on 23rd Street is on the way. City commissioners at their Tuesday evening meeting are set to accept a $150,000 grant from the Kansas Department of Transportation to connect the traffic signals on 23rd Street to a fiber optic network. The project will run fiber optic cable from Iowa Street to the East Hills Business Park. By connecting the traffic signals to the cable, the signals can be better synchronized. It also will give the city more ability to change the signals for special events, like graduation or KU athletic events. The project also will include cameras at many key intersections (not red light cameras, they’re illegal in the state) that can help city officials monitor changing traffic conditions. The city will provide $30,000 in matching funds for the project. The project should not create major construction delays for motorists because the conduit to house the fiber optic cable was installed years ago.

The city’s traffic signals on parts of Sixth Street and Iowa Street already are connected to fiber optic cable, courtesy of a previous state grant. City officials have some money left over from that first grant, and now believe they can use it to extend the fiber optic network to the traffic signals in North Lawrence. I’m checking to see how far down North Second/North Third Street such a project may travel.

• Speaking of the state, I hear Lawrence officials anxiously are awaiting word on two funding fronts. An announcement from KDOT on what projects will be included in a new comprehensive transportation program is expected in the near future. I believe community leaders are optimistic that completion of the South Lawrence Trafficway will be on that list. Of course, that doesn’t mean the project would have clear sailing through the inevitable legal process. But it would be a good indication that state transportation leaders believe the project could prevail in a timely manner.

On the second front, local leaders are keeping their fingers crossed about funding to rehabilitate the Poehler building in East Lawrence. A development group is seeking state tax credits from the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation. The tax credits would be used to convert the four-story building at 619 E. Eighth Street into 49 units of affordable housing. I know some folks at City Hall had sent another round of letters supporting the project to officials at the Housing Resources Corporation. Competition for the tax credits has been more robust than usual.

• Mark you calendars for band music in South Park. The Lawrence City Band has announced its schedule for its Wednesday night summer concerts in South Park. They are:

1. May 25 — Grand Opening: Another Op’nin’, Another Show
2. June 1 — A Parade of Marches
3. June 8 — Old Fashioned Sing-A-Long
4. June 15 — South of the Border
5. June 22 — It’s Summer In South Park
6. June 29 — An American Salute (A 4th of July Show)
7. July 6 — Annual Children’s Concert
8. July 13 — A Star Spangled Finale

All concerts begin at 8 p.m. There is no charge for admission.