From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Jan. 11, 1972:

After a record-setting year in 1970, the number of permits for new construction issued in Lawrence in 1971 had fallen to the lowest level since 1967. Construction had appeared to be booming for the first half of 1971, but a sharp decline had begun in August and the figures for the rest of the year had dwindled to a December low. Part of the difference was a lack of a huge building contract such as the $8 million Kresge warehouse which had increased 1970’s figures. The largest projects begun in 1971 were the $2,178,750 Edgewood low-rent project at 17th and Haskell, the $1,180,000 addition to the Meadowbrook apartment complex at 15th and Crestline, the $1,009,000 city library at Seventh and Vermont, and the $94,800 addition to Lawrence Memorial Hospital.