The project proposes to do about $135,000 worth of renovations to the site, which previously housed warehouses and a surplus store that sold tools and other similar items. Plans call for new restrooms, new landscaping, a covered patio, parking improvements and interior renovations.

Don’t expect the center to host huge events, though. The plans filed by Lawrence-based Allen Belot Architects indicated that the indoor space will be about 5,000 square feet, and capacity for indoor events would be about 300 people. The property, though, is being arranged to host outdoor events too. But those also look like they won’t be Woodstock type of affairs. The facility is proposing to have only about 115 parking spaces.

I’ve got a message out to Westheffer to get an update on the project, such as a timeline for opening. When I chatted with Westheffer in April he told me music concerts would be the bread-and-butter of the facility. He’s had a few years of experience in the music production business, and he said the facility would seek to attract a variety of acts, including rock, country, bluegrass and other genres.

Back in April Westheffer said he hoped Northern Sands Venue would ultimately become something similar to Knuckleheads, which is an event venue in an industrial district near the Missouri River in Kansas City, Mo.

“We want to create a place that is not just your everyday place,” Westheffer said at the time. “We want a place where you can come eat some food, have a good time. We want to create a next-level environment.”

The facility will have a chance to draw some regional crowds. It will be just a couple hundred feet away from the turnpike exit in North Lawrence.

Westheffer said the facility would seek a liquor license.

I’ll let you know if I hear more from Westheffer about the project.

In other news and notes from around town:

• Office meetings aren’t quite as loud and as exciting as a music concert — except for that unfortunate time I downloaded the wrong PowerPoint presentation. But an eastern Lawrence business wants to do its part to make sure small businesses have a place to meet.

Dee Bisel, the longtime owner of Lawrence-based Minuteman Press, has opened a new meeting center called The Garage. The facility is next door to the Minuteman Press print shop at 1404 E. 24th St. Bisel is making the space available to small businesses free of charge to use for events such as training sessions, board meetings, referral groups and other such functions. She’s also open to hosting some nonprofit and charity groups, although she said business-to-business functions are primarily what she had in mind when she recently opened the space.

Bisel decided to offer the service after the space next door to her print shop became available for lease. She didn’t have a particular need for the space currently, but she thought she should secure it now for possible expansion in the future. In the meantime, she set it up with six moveable tables and 24 chairs.

“I admire how businesses like Sandbar, Crown Automotive and several banks have provided meeting rooms to the community,” Bisel said. “I just think that is a really nice service to offer, and we were in a position to do it, and I think there is a need for it on the east side of town.”

The meeting room is available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Interested businesses can call Bisel at Minuteman at 842-2656.

Town Talk column