Plans filed to build new retirement community near 23rd and O’Connell in eastern Lawrence

The corner of 23rd and O’Connell may be the latest to try to lure retirees to Lawrence. Plans have been filed to build a 90-unit, independent senior living community near the intersection.

Olathe developer Dave Rhodes has filed a plan to develop about nine acres of vacant ground at 2101 Exchange Court, which is just south of the 23rd and O’Connell intersection and on the west side of O’Connell Drive.

I’ve put a call into Rhodes, but haven’t yet heard back. But the plans filed at City Hall describe the project as independent living retirement community. It will be a sizable one at that. The proposal calls for 15 buildings with six living units per building. Each building will have four two-bedroom units and two one-bedroom units. The development also will include a 2,000-square-foot leasing office.

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We’ve previously reported that Rhodes had sought affordable housing tax credits to help finance the project. I haven’t gotten word on whether the project has received those tax credits, but I’m working to get that information. If the credits were received, that would mean that the project would be rent-controlled, and residents would have to meet certain guidelines. Rhodes previously has said the project would be limited to residents 55 years old and over. I’ll let you know when I hear more. He’s previously described the project as being about a $16 million investment.

When we reported on the project in November, Rhodes said his development group owned five other affordable “garden/ranch style apartment” developments in Kansas, and also owned or managed about 350 conventional apartment units.

The property already has the necessary zoning in place to allow for the development. City officials now need to approve a site plan for the project to proceed.

It will be an interesting development to watch for a couple of reasons. One is that it continues a trend of Lawrence trying to become more of a destination for retirees. But the other reason is because the new living units could help spur additional commercial development at 23rd and O’Connell.

The southeast corner of 23rd and O’Connell is zoned for commercial uses, but other than a Tractor Supply store, retail development hasn’t yet come to the corner. The general thought on why retail has been slow to develop there is because retailers want to see more homes in close proximity to the intersection. I’m not sure 90 new units will push the area over the top, but there’s also residential zoning just to the south of the retail area, and work to install roads and other infrastructure to accommodate future residential development has occurred on the site.

That’s all for Town Talk today. I know, it was short, but I have an excuse. I have to go weigh pigs. Really, I’m not making that up. It is Douglas County Fair week, and this morning is the day we find out how fat my kids’ 4-H pigs have become. In fact, I’ll probably be near the corner of 23rd and O’Connell to visit the nearby Tractor Supply store. I might be there to buy feed, but it may be too late for that. Perhaps they sell a brick I can put on the scale.