Lawrence Journal-World opinion section

Recent confirmation that developers are closing in on an agreement to locate a grocery store in the former Borders bookstore building in downtown Lawrence is welcome news.

Residents of central-city neighborhoods long have lobbied for a downtown Lawrence grocery store. Demand for such a store also is being fed by several new apartment buildings along New Hampshire Street. Other locations have been discussed, but the Borders building at the corner of Seventh and New Hampshire seems best suited for the project. It’s large enough to accommodate a full-service grocery and has more available parking than most downtown sites.

Bill Fleming, an attorney for the development group led by Doug Compton and Mike Treanor, told Lawrence city commissioners at their March 1 meeting that the group expects to have a lease for the property in place within the next six months.

“We’re going to have a grocery store,” Fleming said. “It’s just a question of whether it’s going to be 20,000 square feet or 40,000.”

Developers initially were working with the owners of the local Checkers supermarket to expand into the Borders building, but the group has confirmed it also has been in discussions with the Price Chopper chain about the project. Regardless of who locates in the Borders property, it’s important that the store has services and prices that are competitive with major supermarkets in other parts of the city. The convenient location of the store will draw many downtown residents, but if they see better prices or services elsewhere, they are likely to make only small purchases at the downtown store and go elsewhere when they have a longer shopping list.

Providing a major amenity like a full-service grocery store is an important service for neighborhood residents and helps support the residential development that adds vitality and energy to Lawrence’s downtown. Hopefully, the future tenant will have a great business plan that will ensure a successful long-term venture in the Borders location.