A city advisory group has been working hard to address concerns about the East Ninth Street arts corridor. Hopefully, the revised East Ninth Work Plan Draft that will be considered by Lawrence city commissioners tonight will allow this project to move forward with broader community support.

Two additions to the draft plan respond specifically to the concern of East Lawrence residents that the project is intended to create a high-traffic entertainment district on Ninth Street between New Hampshire and Delaware streets. An amendment to the plan forwarded to the commissioners defines the project as “a right-of-way improvement project that includes integrated artworks and new multimodal transportation strategies.” It states clearly that the goals of the project do not include turning the street into an “entertainment corridor; that diminished the authenticity of East Lawrence’s rich, cultural history.”

Although the Citizens Advisory Committee didn’t think it was its role to make zoning decisions about property in the area, it nonetheless added to the draft plan a specific “statement of support” for neighborhood efforts seeking downzoning and conservation overlay districts “to address development concerns and maintain the character of the neighborhood.”

Including the two statements in the project plan should clarify the intent of both the citizens group and the City Commission and provide some support for East Lawrence residents who may see a need to seek protections for their neighborhood in the future.

The other concern addressed by an amendment to the plan is the desire to ensure a role for local artists in the Ninth Street project. The citizens group proposes the creation of an “associate artist” program that would pair artists from the county with professional artists so the associates can gain experience in the field of public art. Funding would be set aside for at least three associate artists to participate and be paid for their efforts.

It’s natural for residents along this corridor to be concerned about its impact on their neighborhood. The amendments to the plan may not alleviate all of their concerns, but the changes should clarify the city’s vision for a project that, if handled properly, should be an asset to both East Lawrence and the community as a whole.