Well, with the current JCPenney site soon to be available, maybe some of the retailers which considered the proposed K-Ten Crossing may find this a good alternative location. Academy Sports & Outdoors, Old Navy, and Books-a-Million would especially be a good fit here. Just a thought...

Furthermore, in regards to the former Hastings space, maybe this could be remodeled and redeveloped into an indoor roller skating rink. Sure, this isn't retail by a long shot, but as far as recreation goes, you really could use something like this in Lawrence.

Bringing more of what Lawrence already has = fruitless venture? No imagination.

Lawrence,kansas is in reality a small retail market surrounded by many many choices with larger selections not that far away.

One way to help control sprawl in this city would be to require that all new retail development include residential square footage. it works downtown and it will work other places in the city.

This requirement would help create density, reduce run-off, utilize empty parking stalls, control sprawl, improve transit and traffic flow, improve walkability and help ensure that these buildings had a more durable future.

Drive up 6th from Mass to Wakarusa and imagine if this rule had been in place before. It's easy to visualize how much more vibrant our city would be with more residential square footage packed into the city core by turning these small strip centers and stand-alones into two and three-story multi-use buildings.

I have never shopped at Pennys.....the closest I have ever gotten was the parking lot when I was training for bus driver.

First it was K-mart. Then Sears.... then Radio Shack (the sign in the window sent me to the Topeka store). Now Pennys. Others are likely planning to move, just look at the empty store fronts on 23rd street.

Yeah the internet has a lot to do with it. And customers too lazy to go shop to make sure the items they bought are correct and fit well. It is a sign of the times. The drive-like-fool, payday loan crowd who voted for Trump is having a very real effect on our shrinking culture. And it is not going to get any better.

I do believe I forewarned of the store in Lawrence closing. Now the next step for the Journal World is to find out how the 138 store closings affect the Penney Distribution Center in Johnson county.

The next step will be some grand scheme from the Chamber of Commerce, the city of Lawrence, and the county to develop a money funded scheme from the taxpayers for the JC Penny building.. Does the Journal World want to comment about ownership of the property.

But then again, it would make a mighty fine , dandy storage unit facility especially with the trailer park to the west. Folks need storage.

Mr. Fritzel has screwed up the entrance on McDonald road with storage. Screwed over the hotel operator , screwed the entrance into Lawrence to a hotel circle that includes the Holidome and the hotels at 6th and Iowa. Have to say..this Scott McCullough is no genius in working with developers to enhance Lawrence.

Penney's is an outdated model for retail. It is our parents store and those who are in their 70s, their store growing up.

Plus, Lawrence has NO population to support the size of the builidngs that the mass retailers want.

But Thank You John Stavros for having the guts to build downtown for JC Penney.

Why doesn't the Journa World write a story about John Stavros. Did he have to do backdoor deals with commissioners to funnel money for homeless and affordable housing? Did he have to kiss the behinds of the then historic persons. I doubt that Elin Stene would have fought Mr. Stavros.

Lawrence isn't going to get much of anything for a while.

And Mr. Foley may not be too far off in his prediction. Will the Journal World reveal who owns the property?

And if the police station went there, the city commission would endorse millions of dollars for spending to "fancy it up".

Face it, Lawrence is losing and the leadership is behind the loss on every item.

Pennys is a casualty of online retailers, Walmart, Target, etc..

They are a casualty of their times and it has nothing to do with our local government .

This won't be the end all of retail stores that will either downsize or simply go out of business and that is not the fault of the Federal Government or anyone else .

The corner grocery is gone, put out of business by chain grocery stores .

This is capitalism, the clash of business models that is bound to destroy some retailers, here or there, on a regular basis .