From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for May 15, 1988:

A Cleveland developer last week had filed lawsuits in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Kan. and in Douglas County District Court asking for a reversal of the decision of the Lawrence City Commission regarding the firm’s suburban mall plans. On April 12, the city commission had again unanimously voted to reject a rezoning application from Jacobs, Visconsi & Jacobs that would have allowed the construction of a shopping mall at Iowa Street and Armstrong Road. This had been the fifth attempt by JVJ to build a mall in Lawrence; the firm was now seeking $250,000 in damages in its federal suit as well as a reversal of the decision. Meanwhile, city commissioners were scheduled to hold a public hearing this week on whether to establish a $5 million benefit district, a move recommended by the Downtown Improvement Committee.