From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Jan. 14, 1987:

Overriding a petition-backed opposition drive from the Old West Lawrence Neighborhood Assn., the Lawrence City Commission had voted unanimously to approve a rezoning request from the Douglas County Bank. The bank, located at Ninth and Kentucky, requested that bank-owned land on the east side of Tennessee between Eighth and Ninth be rezoned from residential and off-street parking uses to the residential-office category. The eight lots in question included four houses, some vacant lots, and a parking lot. OWL members voiced their strong opposition, saying that the tearing down of the houses and expansion of the bank would threaten the neighborhood. Bank representative John Lungstrum said, “The bank has experienced such growth and success that the facility is overcrowded. It must be expanded. And we’ve pledged at all the stages to work with the neighborhood to create a project that everybody can be proud of.” Oliver Finney, 821 Ohio, one of many OWL residents at the 2 1/2 hour long debate, responded, “This is not a prairie. This is an area that already contains structures and an ambiance of real value.”