News and notes from around town:
• This, unfortunately, seems like an even safer bet than wagering on my golfing buddy missing a four-foot par putt. (Who are we trying to kid? A four-foot double bogey putt.) The city is betting gasoline is going to become more and more expensive.
As we have previously reported, city officials have been studying converting Eagle Bend Golf Course’s gasoline-powered golf carts over to electric golf carts. Well, they are done studying and have moved into the purchasing phase.
City commissioners at their Tuesday meeting approved a four-year contract to lease 62 golf carts and eight utility carts for the Eagle Bend Golf Course at a price of $56,714 per year.
The new electric carts will show up on the course in January.
“I think golfers will notice a difference,” said Mark Hecker, parks superintendent for the Parks and Recreation Department. “They are very quiet. They’re going to produce a very quiet ride.”
How much the new carts will save the city is still a bit of an open question. Previously the city had estimated anytime gasoline is at $3.25 a gallon or more, the electric carts pencil out positively. No problems there. Hecker currently is estimating about a $13,000 to $15,000 per year savings on fuel for the carts.
But Hecker said the price of the electric carts did come in a bit higher than expected. The cart contract came in about $10,000 higher than the last prices the city received for gasoline carts, but Hecker notes those prices were based on cart prices of about eight years ago. The city didn’t ask for bids on gasoline carts this time, so it is difficult to know how much of a premium the city is paying for the electric carts.
There also are about $35,000 worth of start-up costs to convert the cart system over to electric. The city had to run a larger power supply to its cart barn in order to accommodate the approximately 20 charging stations.
No word yet on whether the city will have another start-up cost to deal with: Speed limit signs.
“Supposedly the electric carts go a little faster than the gas carts,” Hecker said. “So, we’ll see about that.”
No need to worry about my buddy. At 10 yards at a time, he won’t build up much speed.
• I’ll tell you what is building up with me: a hankering for aisle after aisle of Craftsman tools, products and other goods that will allow me to build everything but a decent golf swing for my buddy.
Well, the Sears sign has gone up near 23rd and Iowa streets, and it appears Lawrence’s new Sears Hometown store is close to opening in the former Rod’s Hallmark Shop at 2329 Iowa.
A good number of the shelves are already stocked. I stuck my head in the door and an employee told me he believed the store was scheduled to open in about a week. That’s unofficial word, so take it for whatever you think it is worth. Previously, Sears officials told me they hoped to have the store open by Oct. 10.
The store is pretty good size. I’m uncertain of whether it is taking just the Rod’s Hallmark space or whether it is a little bigger than what that store used to be. It stretches all the way down to the Bed Mart store, and I’m not sure if there was something in between Hallmark and Bed Mart. (I usually just cowered in a corner every time my wife drug me into Rod’s to watch her buy shopping carts full of Hallmark ornaments.) But the new Sears seemed to have tools, appliances, lawn and garden and several other items that the larger store carried before it closed its 27th and Iowa location.
• New retail definitely was a hot topic of discussion at Tuesday night’s Lawrence City Commission meeting.
As we reported, commissioners directed staff members to hire some architects and engineers to study the feasibility of joining forces with Kansas University to build a new recreation center as part of a sports complex on about 110 acres north of the northeast corner of Sixth Street and the South Lawrence Trafficway.
But most of the discussion on Tuesday night revolved around what to do with the 146 acres on the northwest corner of the Sixth and SLT intersection. Commissioners for quite awhile were all but certain they were going to use a portion of that corner to build a proposed $24 million recreation center. As a result, commissioners a few weeks ago annexed the property into the city limits.
Now that KU has said it is no longer interested in that corner, the deal has fallen apart. That brings us to Tuesday night, and the commission’s struggle to figure out what to do with the newest addition to the Lawrence city limits.
Not surprisingly, the property’s ownership group — led by Lawrence developer Duane Schwada — argued it ought to be zoned for retail and commercial uses. But a surprising twist is that the neighbors who live directly north of the site, also argued for the retail zoning. Originally, the neighbors had expressed concern about how much new retail development may be allowed on the site. But it appears the neighbors have now had a change of heart, and are concerned that the property could end up being zoned industrial, which would create a new set of concerns.
The argument got interesting on two fronts. First, the neighbors tried to withdraw a protest petition they had filed related to the retail rezoning request. The protest petition required the rezoning request to receive at least four positive positive votes from the five-member City Commission in order for it to be approved. But city attorneys said they could find no provision in state law that would allow the neighbors to withdraw their protest petition.
The second argument I found interesting is the argument the Schwada group made. Schwada’s attorney, Jane Eldredge, one of the top land use attorneys in the city, argued the city was flirting with failure if it built a new $24 million regional recreation center and didn’t allow Schwada’s 146-acre site to develop with retail uses.
She said the city previously recognized there will have to be a variety of uses — think hotels, restaurants, gas stations — develop around the recreation center/youth fieldhouse, if it truly hopes to attract regional and national tournaments.
KU’s new proposal calls for none of that. The entire 108 site will be zoned institutional, which won’t allow for any retail development next to the sports complex.
“Let’s make this regional recreation center a success,” Eldredge told commissioners. “Don’t fail to provide the commercial entities needed to make it a success. We need to do it right.”
The argument didn’t get far with commissioners. Mayor Bob Schumm was particularly pointed in his opposition to the idea of zoning the northwest corner for retail uses. He said the needed commercial uses for the sports complex can be located on the northeast corner of the intersection. That is ground that is already zoned for about 360,000 square feet of retail uses, and it happens to be owned by a group controlled by Schwada.
And Schumm said there was one thing he couldn’t help but notice about that northeast corner.
“What you are saying kind of defies logic,” Schumm told Eldredge. “You go out there and there is not a single building built out there,” Schumm said of the northeast corner, which is known as the Mercato development.
But Eldredge said just because there is vacant retail-zoned ground next to the proposed sports complex site, that doesn’t mean it will develop with the type of uses needed to support the sports complex.
She noted that it took years to win planning approvals for the Mercato site. The approved plans call for two big box stores of up to 175,000 square feet a piece. Those two big box stores take up most of the retail square footage allotted to the site.
Eldredge indicated Schwada was not going to be willing to give up those hard-won approvals for big box stores in order to accommodate hotels, gas stations, restaurants and other smaller users needed to support the sports complex.
But Schumm pointed out that what Schwada has gotten so far is a whole bunch of nothing on the site. Schumm indicated it would be unlikely that the development plans wouldn’t change to accommodate the sports complex.
“I can’t buy that,” Schumm said. “That goes beyond belief.”
We’ll see. A layman would think a development that has sat empty as long as Mercato has would be willing to change its plans to accommodate a new direction for that intersection. But Duane Schwada is no ordinary developer. And he’s correct in that it is very difficult to win approval for big development sites in Lawrence. At the moment, he has the only two approved sites in Lawrence. It would not surprise me — nor anyone who knows Schwada — that he would not budge from his position.
What is certain, though, is the city is going to have to make some sort of decision. The 146 acres on the northwest corner of the intersection is officially in the city limits. But it has no city zoning designation. That’s not the way it is supposed to work. The city will have to zone it something. That means this is a long ways from over.
Comments
oneeye_wilbur 8 months ago
There is no reason for retail to be part of a rec center complex. That is the dumbest thing yet!
I cant buy that Schumm would have Downtown as dirty as it is.
merrill 8 months ago
This whole sports center mess reveals how much no one knows about much of anything. It's support is built around a whole lot of speculation and little to no substance. None of this plan appears to be well thought out which of course requires a lot of time and patience. Very sloppy and reckless indeed.
That is why this fiasco should NOT be approved without voter consent on the April ballot.
jhawkinsf 8 months ago
No one knows much of anything about anything, but the voters will somehow make an informed decision? Why would you believe that?
oneeye_wilbur 8 months ago
No one needs to vote on this rec center at all if: KUEA finances it, owns the land, runs it, profits from it. solicits donors for ongoing maintenance, etc and etc. Mr. Hugh Carter commissoner now needs to put the Good Neighbor program into effect for the entire city and KUEA is going to be the good neighbor.
Merrill, if any vote is to be taken it is to replace these five mumo jumbo commissioners and get some new group that will fire Corliss and/or direct him to clean house with City Staff.
Moles and gossips at City Hall and backdoor politics will not make for a good Lawrence.
There is no planning department. ONe most recent proof of that is the undenialby , absolutely screwed up -parking lot at Dillons on Mass. Why two entranc/exits? Crazy. Sue Hack's new urbanism, and McCullough's resume building. Such a disaster it is.
But back to the rec center. It is NOT in any way shape or form a community center. It has even been noted that KU wants the facility? Then KUEA builds it.
Hey, has anyone seen that big fancy KUEA building on Rainbow Blvd in Rosedale. Wow. and all of the construction around the Med Center. I bet those developers didn't have to screw around with HRC. Lawrence is so podunk now compared to other cities. These commissioners have a job to approve projects brought before them. Now it seems, they are being the brokers and deal makers. That happens when the rustics have no power but want to seem as such, ask merrill and the Traffic Safety commission. BTW, Brookcreek Neighborhood Group needs a bailout. They cannot afford the $25.00 LAN dues, and if they pay it from their mandatory "dues" to belong to Brookcreek, the treasury won't have enough money to buy Fried Chicken for their picnic.
Anyone want to vote to put that to a vote Send money now!
You see, everyone in town is hurting! We are all the 47% Romney speaks of and that includes the Fritzels with their "giving" of a gift with no bow. How dare give a gift without at card or proper wrapping.
Just waiting for the day at a commision meeting that Schumm blows his stack like he did some years ago, when the Eutin folks were in town.
KRichards 8 months ago
Keep telling other people how to spend their money. I am sure that will go a long ways.
oneeye_wilbur 8 months ago
You bet. It's betterbthan "them" telling us how much. they want from others. why should you care?
merrill 8 months ago
My speculation tells me much garage space could be converted to very effective year round exercise space for less than homeowners shell out in tax dollars for space the greater majority will never use.. Throw in sidewalk/street space for walking,jogging or cycling = bingo a full blown exercise program.
That is why this Field House concept should NOT be approved without voter consent on the April ballot. The greater majority of taxpayers will never use this facility.
merrill 8 months ago
Build an ice skating rink in the Sears Building!
KRichards 8 months ago
Nice edit
jesse499 8 months ago
I'm thinking those suport posts every 20 foot could hurt if you hit one but go ahead if you want!
consumer1 8 months ago
Now that KU has said it is no longer interested in that corner, the deal has fallen apart. This stinks of lining the right pockets. Did the Schwada's not pony up enough for the Atheletic dept???
merrill 8 months ago
Yes let we voting taxpayers decide how reckless or how fiscally responsible we wish to be. We are after all the largest body of stakeholders in Lawrence,Kansas.
Lawrence has massive retail failures in Riverfront Plaza and Tanger Mall. Look down the street from 6th and K-10 and you see a massive failure in Baur Farms. Retailers are simply not running to Lawrence,Kansas to lose their butts on a town of about 68,000 population.
Why do local politicians keep throwing billions of tax dollars at this massive failing retail market aka fantacizing? Why not make downtown Lawrence their country club plaza by way of remodel/restore and making use of existing infrastructure?
"Now, in this country right now, we are spending $2 billion a year subsidizing the big four sports: baseball, basketball, football and hockey. It accounts for all of the profits of that industry and more." - David Cay Johnston
Face it sports requires tons of tax dollars to keep the industry functioning. It is not a winning ticket.
bellhop 8 months ago
How about the people who call themselves "golfers" get their fat butts out of the carts and play golf the way it was meant to be played, walking.
The city would save a ton of money on cart leasing because we all know they don't make it back in a years time from people paying for them.
Have a couple of carts around for the old guys who can't get around or the disabled who need one to play, but other than that get out and carry your clubs and enjoy the walk.
beatnik 8 months ago
i like the old saying "golf is a good walk ruined"
consumer1 8 months ago
The faster you move golfer's through the course the more golfer's you have paying. If they walke they will be slow, and therefore less revenue produced. Think of the carts as a conveyor belt.
bellhop 8 months ago
Ah, the age old myth that you can play faster in a cart. I will put my foursome of guys who walk up against carts anyday. We will at least keep up and most likely be asked to play through.
They're not a conveyor belt, they're a crutch. It's called laziness.
absolutelyridiculous 8 months ago
So let me get this right? The carts will recoup the cost ofconversion in 2 1/2 years. By then, most of the freaking carts will have to be replaced. And we'll go spend more money.
And when the fair citizens of Lawrence are working 22 hours a day to pay the taxes, put $6 gas in the car and groceries on the table, they won't have time to play golf.
Are you freaking serious?
KRichards 8 months ago
They are leased carts not purchased.
kc0idf 8 months ago
how much does it cost to charge those batterys,why not use solar?and wind power?
KRichards 8 months ago
Because that would be even more expensive.
merrill 8 months ago
The cost of lease to the city is close to $1,000 per year per cart. These carts cost about $5k-$6k new and with careful use might get 8 years out of a set of batteries. Replacing batteries would run $300-$400. These eliminate the need for maintaining electric start gasoline engines which will quit for no reason at all. Electric carts appear to be low maintenance in comparison.
I would imagine battery replacement is part of the lease agreement. They need to be charged everyday they are used and if they have been idle charge before heading out.
These vehicles would make excellent inter neighborhood and downtown vehicles..... on neighborhood and downtown streets. They can be set(chipped) to about 11 mph.
KRichards 8 months ago
You are even crazier than I thought.
flyin_squirrel 8 months ago
Stick to mowing lawns, complaining during LAN meetings and City Commission meeting, and copy/pastes because you know nothing about running a golf course or golf carts. All golf courses lease carts because in the long run it is cheaper.
somebodynew 8 months ago
"It would not surprise me — nor anyone who knows Schwada — that he would not budge from his position. "
You got that right !!!! I see two things here with Schwada - He will sit on this big box thing until the rec center goes bust AND he will then push for the most obnoxious Industrial zoning for the other parcel. I think Schumn 'POd' him with those comments (even though Schumn is correct) and now he will just upset as many people as he can.
bornherelongago 8 months ago
Schwada is about as smart as they come, so it would not surprise me a bit if he has orchestrated this at least in part. He and Thomas Fritzel don't like one another, so he didn't want to be a part of the deal with him in it, I'm guessing. This gets the rec center right next to his Mercato project which he thinks will spur big boxes to go there, (it won't.) But now, he can push for his other parcel to be retail as well, put some motels on it, and wait for future development to reach him, or more likely his son Steve.
Fritzel isn't unhappy because he'll still get to build the KU (and probably the city) project, because his daddy in law is giving a trailer full of money to KUEA. Everyone is happy. I understand that Schwada won't be happy unless he gets his NWC zoned for retail, which to me is crazy. Maybe he should have 20 acres commercial there maximum. But big box retailers are not going out that far in Lawrence right now...just not going to happen.
consumer1 8 months ago
This reads like a good mistery novel. How about one of the award winning journalist at LJW do some real digging and find out just exactly what is going on, then inform the public?? Is it because Dolph and co are friends and playmates? Don't want to P off the wrong person? Could this be why news is always so limited and fed to its readers like baby food?
The_Big_B 8 months ago
"The city didn’t ask for bids on gasoline carts ..."
Seriously? How do you make a decision based on cost, without knowing the cost of both alternatives?
oneeye_wilbur 8 months ago
Will those electric golf carts have a snow plow attachment so they can be used to clean streets downtown and around town? Such a waste to have them sitting in storage all winter.
57chevy 8 months ago
Golf carts? I am OK with my tax dollars paying to let people go outside and play golf. But golf carts? Really? All they do is make fat people fatter (the one thing they don't need help with). Why don't we make the city-owned golf course walk only? You say that makes it take to long? I thought it was supposed to be fun. Why are you in a hurry? Instead of spending tax money to ruin the health of the citizenry, why don't we save money and set an example of how to help people be healthier.
KRichards 8 months ago
Sure and I am okay with tax dollars for a library but not for computers and movies. Roads but not sidewalks or roundabouts. Pools but no chairs, water slides, or concession stands. Football fields but no lights. Rec centers but no locker rooms. Shooting range but no targets. Downtown Lawrence but no flowers, sprinkler systems, or parking.
Pywacket 8 months ago
That would be very clever if your examples were analogous to 57's approval of a golf course but disapproval of carts. Unfortunately, they are not. Rec centers need locker rooms, roads need sidewalks, libraries need computers, and football fields need lights but golf courses do not NEED carts to be functional. Additionally, the cost differentials also keep your examples from being analogous. The golf carts cost more to buy (or lease), fuel, and maintain than, say, locker rooms cost to install in a structure that's being built anyway.. And once installed the locker rooms should stay functional for many years without new tires, tuneups, etc.
oneeye_wilbur 8 months ago
Sadly tisi center wii get built and it will be crapped out in 10!years or less and need millions more like the schools, like Babcock Place, like south park wadingool was fixed up only to be bulldozed later. And the list is extensive.
John Stavros never expected his town to be so dumb in the 21st century.
lawrencereporter 8 months ago
As long as Paul Werner Architects is allowed work on the city's recreation center project it will be tainted with conflict. His master is and always will be Fritzel. The city can not rely on his efforts to be independent of his masters. The city knows this is true but chooses to ignore the conflict. Fritzel must have his hired hand in the middle to train Gould Evans to roll over on command. Gould Evans is also designing the KU sports facilities for Fritzel again with Werner in tow. KU and Fritzel can use whoever they want on their private projects but the city's project is public. It's now time to cut the conflict chain and hire an architect that will design the recreation center for their only client, the city.
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