From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Oct. 15, 1989:

A front-page article today described the progress being made on the Lawrence Riverfront Plaza. The unfinished outlet center had already been dubbed “Wescoe on the Kaw” by some, an unflattering comparison by those who considered Kansas University’s Wescoe Hall to be an uninviting, cold expanse of concrete. However, David Lawrence, a local businessman representing the Chelsea Group, developer of the center, disputed the criticism. “There’s a lot of interest out here,” Longhurst said as he stood on the plaza’s unfinished deck overlooking the tree-lined Kansas River. “This is not a straight line. You can’t see the expanse of this center, because of the cornering of its design. Besides, when people are out here they’re not going to be looking at the building. They’re going to be drawn to the river. That’s the intention.” Construction on the 200,000-square-foot center was progressing on schedule, Longhurst said.