To the editor:

This is an open letter to the Lawrence City Commission asking that they declare a moratorium on all present and future development plans within the footprint of downtown Lawrence. With several major projects looming (Vermont Street condos, Massachusetts and Sixth Street convention center and New Hampshire Street condos, and whatever the Ninth Street corridor turns into), it would seem that perhaps the leaders might want to take a step back and take a deep breath before proceeding. It also might be good to work out the plan for downtown before these three developments happen.

Also, past city accounting and tax payments issues at City Hall indicate some thought should go into how to proceed in the future. Of course, the chamber of commerce will cry foul and the developers, lawyers and other players in the building game known as “Let’s get all the taxpayers’ money possible to pay for our developments” will holler … but that is OK. They can wait. If the city leaders really do appreciate and respect our original town site, then they really should stop the rapid erasure of it. Thank you for listening.