40 years ago: Downtown beautification project on hold

From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for May 3, 1973:

Bids for Phase II of the federal neighborhood development program (NDP) had come in higher than expected from Constant Construction Co. of Lawrence and M. W. Watson Co. of Topeka, leading City Manager Buford Watson to advise the Lawrence City Commission to delay awarding the bids until further study could be made. The second phase of the NDP project was to include beautification along the 600 and 1100 blocks of Massachusetts, improvement of traffic patterns at the Sixth and Massachusetts intersection, and the creation of a welcoming “entryway plaza” just south of the intersection. In other business this week, commissioners investigated the possibility of installing a shelter with restrooms at Woody Park and authorized investigation of ways to improve the public address system in the city hall meeting room.