The starter’s pistol now has sounded on the Rock Chalk Park project.
Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday gave approval to a pair of rezoning requests and a special use permit that will allow Kansas University and its private partners to move ahead with plans for a new track and field stadium, soccer field, softball stadium and other amenities on about 90 acres just north of Sixth Street and the South Lawrence Trafficway.
Now, the race is on to have the project ready to host the Kansas Relays in 2014.
“That is definitely our goal,” said Jim Marchiony, an associate athletic director for KU. “We’re very excited. This is an exciting time for both Kansas Athletics and the city of Lawrence. This will provide facilities for KU that can compete with facilities across the country.”
Tuesday’s votes, however, do not resolve all issues with the project. The votes do not yet commit the city to build a $25 million recreation center in the park. Commissioners won’t vote on that portion of the project until mid-February, when development agreements are finalized among KU entities, the city, and a group led by Lawrence businessman Thomas Fritzel, which will provide financing and construction services for the KU-related facilities.
But commissioners generally were enthusiastic about the project. The rezoning requests — which included 90 acres for the proposed Rock Chalk Park and another 20 acres that could be developed in the future — were approved unanimously. The special use permit was approved on a 4-1 vote, with City Commissioner Mike Amyx opposed. The special use permit plans showed the city’s proposed recreation center at 181,000 square feet with eight gyms and other amenities. Amyx has said he thinks that the city’s facility needs to be significantly smaller, and perhaps at another location.
Commissioners heard from several members of the public who urged the city to approve the project. The Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, the Lawrence Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Lawrence-based Kansas Licensed Beverage Association — which represents bars and restaurants — issued formal endorsements of the projects.
A few parents of youth athletes also threw their support behind the project.
“Let’s take Lawrence recreation from good to great,” said Heidi Simon, who told commissioners she had a son practicing basketball in Tonganoxie on Tuesday evening because there wasn’t enough practice space in Lawrence. “This project is big and it is bold. There is always risk when you do something great, but there is great reward in what we’re trying to do here.”
Commissioners also heard from people who questioned the project. Both the League of Women Voters of Lawrence-Douglas County and the Lawrence Association of Neighborhoods expressed concerns about the project.
Some of those concerns may come up again in February when city commissioners consider agreements between KU entities and Fritzel’s Bliss Sports.
As it's currently proposed, Fritzel’s company is the presumed contractor for the KU-related facilities — which his company will own for the first 30 years and lease back to the university, which KU officials contend will save KU millions of dollars compared to financing the project itself.
It also is proposed, though, that the city’s $25 million recreation center would go through a bidding process that deviates from the city’s standard bidding policy. Under the proposal, the bidding could be limited to three companies, and Fritzel’s firm would have the chance to match the low bid on the project.
Commissioners did not get into any of those details at Tuesday’s meeting, but rather said they will be addressed in the agreements they will consider in February.
“All those agreements will be open and available to the public before we take any action on them,” Mayor Bob Schumm said.
On Tuesday, though, the focus was on the KU portion of the project clearing a major hurdle. Marchiony said it is hoped construction could begin in either February or March.
He said the Rock Chalk Project will allow the university to work on a plan to remove the track from Memorial Stadium, which would allow for upgrades to the football amenities offered in the stadium. But Marchiony said no timeline or specific plans have been developed for that project.
“But now that this piece of the puzzle seems to be on the way to being solved, we’ll be able to focus on that more,” he said.
Comments
lawrencemom2 4 months, 1 week ago
Good job to all involved in bringing these much needed facilities to our community!
merrill 4 months, 1 week ago
Keep your tax dollars at easy access because the city portion will not pay back and will need further tax dollar injections.
No one knows if any major traffic will come through this new project. KCMO/Johnson County and Topeka are in the mix and have been for several years. Which is to say more speculation than substance is on the tax dollar table.
This matter deserves a vote by the tax payers. It is somewhat troublesome to observe local taxpayers willing to accept a large tax dollar item to move forward without question. As if sports facilites are some golden goose. When in fact they are truly tax dollar money holes.
Cant_have_it_both_ways 4 months, 1 week ago
Are you talking about the empT, Library, Bus Repair facility, or the bicycle paths? No wonder you don't have anything Merrill. This facility, at least in some kind of way has the ability to generate revenue. From what I have seen, none of the things you support do.
cheeseburger 4 months, 1 week ago
+1
DennisReynolds 4 months, 1 week ago
Is there a way to block merrill so that I don't even accidentally scan his nonsense?
KRichards 4 months, 1 week ago
That would definitely be nice.
bad_dog 4 months, 1 week ago
It's simple. Use a little self discipline rather than try to silence another. Just read the poster's user name then decide whether you want to peruse what is posted. If not; scroll on!
flyin_squirrel 4 months, 1 week ago
Love it! We need new facilities for KU Track, Softball and Soccer. And now with a new Track Stadium on the way, we can start looking at how to remove the track from Memorial Stadium.
somebodynew 4 months, 1 week ago
“All those agreements will be open and available to the public before we take any action on them,” Mayor Bob Schumm said.
Yep, read all you want. Then we are going to sign them whether you like them or not. It does meet the definition of transparent, I guess.
flyin_squirrel 4 months, 1 week ago
Grandma, please use your glasses when you read. This has nothing to do with your tax dollars. KU Endowment and KUAC are paying for this project. The Rec center is what your tax dollars will be used for, and it hasn't been approved YET.
distant_voice 4 months, 1 week ago
Politics and public opinion on campus and in Lawrence remain unaltered: sports first, education somewhere further down the line. Your future tax dollars at work.
KRichards 4 months, 1 week ago
Read again. This is being paid for by KU, not with your tax dollars? How hard is that to understand.
Not to mention 50% of the state budget goes to education, and Lawrence is close to passing a second education bond issue in 10 years, this one for nearly $100 million dollars.
minimadoff 4 months, 1 week ago
Tax dollars will be used to build the infrastructure on and off site for this project. There will be tax abatement issued so no real estate taxes paid by Fritzel, there will be no sales tax on construction materials paid by Fritzel. The taxpayers will be spending money on this project.
KRichards 4 months, 1 week ago
Growing city infrastructure would have happened whether it was this or a new apartment complex, so that doesn't really matter. When a city grows, infrastructure does as well.
I have never seen anything about a tax abatement for this project. If you have kindly show us where.
swunruhawk 4 months, 1 week ago
Great news. Good work Dr. Zenger.
rtwngr 4 months, 1 week ago
Well, if Merrill is against it, I must be for it. @Number_1_Grandma - The Fritzels have a good 'track' record. I suspect you're just another low information voter that thinks if someone is a good entrepreneur then they must be dishonest but thanks for your left handed slander.
KU79 4 months, 1 week ago
That sums it up well. There are lots of CAVE people in Lawrence...citizens against virtually everything. If you want to find them, just read the comments after almost any article here. This is a great project for Lawrence and for KU!
KRichards 4 months, 1 week ago
My only hope is that with KU involved it forces the city to alter the design of their uglier than sin rec center. Currently it looks like a manufacturing plant or a distribution center.
LarryNative 4 months, 1 week ago
I hope the county planners do a better job of traffic control. The current issues at the K-10, Hwy 40 junction are no turning lanes in either direction for the church on the nw corner where 55 mph cars are locking up their breaks because a car has come to a complete stop on a hwy to turn left. Even worse is the current traffic that backs up to the hwy every day on the k-10 exit ramp from cars turning left onto 40 hwy from 5pm to 6 pm five days a week.
How is this current hwy going to handle an influx of 10,000 people coming to this intersection all at one time? I hope a cloverleaf interchange is spec'd for this job.
KRichards 4 months, 1 week ago
I thought there were plans in the works to improve this intersection already. I could be wrong.
Joe Hyde 4 months, 1 week ago
From the news story:
"It also is proposed, though, that the city’s $25 million recreation center would go through a bidding process that deviates from the city’s standard bidding policy. Under the proposal, the bidding could be limited to three companies, and Fritzel’s firm would have the chance to match the low bid on the project." (Italics added)
Using this method to solicit bids for the construction of a public facility would be a textbook example of collusion between city commissioners and a private construction firm.
patkindle 4 months, 1 week ago
ok, you folks with money listen up.
get those check books out and start writing its all about the kids, and ku is for it so it must be good the rest of the people will enjoy what you paid for hope and change, share the wealth
oxymoron 4 months, 1 week ago
And it still looks like the hideous K-mart distribution center.
LarryNative 4 months, 1 week ago
I dont hate KU sports, it just seems this project is a waste of tax payer dollars. KU seems to have been operating just fine for decades without this complex. KU admissions have been declining for about 6 years and with higher restrictions on in-state admissions coming down the road, one can only assume a larger decline of new students is in the near future. Why does KU need more space? KU already owns all that vacant land at 15th & Kasold. Why not develop that land for their needs?
lawrencereporter 4 months, 1 week ago
Could investors be baling out Fritzel and themselves by driving this project from the inside. Thomas Fritzel under Fort Development LLC. developed a residential subdivision called Olivia Farms in Junction City. Fritzel is currently running from paying millions of dollars for three years of delinquent real estate taxes and special assessments owed Junction City. Two members of the Fort Development LLC group are well positioned within KU Endowment, one as a KU Endowment Executive Committee member and another as a KU Endowment Trustees.
Conflict of interest?
JackMcKee 4 months, 1 week ago
Great news for KU. Great news for Lawrence. Good job City Commission!
toe 4 months, 1 week ago
Required taxes and spending and knowing what is best. Yes, normal outcome. To have expected any other outcome would have been misinformed. The LNA has always been irrelevant.
Commenting has been disabled for this item.