WRITER: Chad Lawhorn

Local commercial property values take biggest dive in decades; estimate shows $70M loss in value to bars, restaurants, other commercial buildings

Rising property values are sure to create some higher property tax bills in Douglas County this year. But one group is less likely than others to see them: owners of buildings that house restaurants, bars, storefronts, offices and other commercial property. Commercial property values in Lawrence and Douglas County have taken their largest decline in decades, according to new estimates from the county ...

New numbers show how much an average home is worth in each Douglas County city; rural homes see values rise the most

Whether it is to be nearer to where the deer and the antelope play or simply to be farther away from pandemic crowds, a home on the range seems to be growing both in popularity and price in Douglas County. While there has been a lot of attention on the shortage of available and affordable homes in Lawrence, a new set of statistics from the Douglas County appraiser’s office shows that rural homes in the ...

Pending closure of Brandon Woods nursing home is expected to create crunch for families looking for care

Up to 100 Lawrence nursing home residents will have to find a new home following a surprise announcement that the longtime retirement facility Brandon Woods at Alvamar is closing its nursing home unit. Already, family members are worried about the scene that may play out as they begin searching all at once for scarce nursing home beds. “I think it is going to be like a land rush,” Jeff Blair said of his ...

Longtime dental practices merge to construct new west Lawrence building, open sedation dentistry center

I have a hard time believing that I ever would fall asleep in a dentist’s chair. (I make sure I eat a pound of candy beforehand because my dentist’s selection, quite frankly, stinks.) But in the field of sedation dentistry, getting someone so comfortable that they fall asleep in the chair is a sign of success. A pair of longtime Lawrence dental practices have merged and constructed a new west Lawrence ...

From functional to funky, local fabricator hopes to set up new shop in North Lawrence

When you work with 6-foot tall chickens, having the right amount of space is important. Considerations like those are behind plans filed by a Lawrence businessman and artist to set up shop in a North Lawrence industrial location. Mike Riggs is seeking a special permit from Lawrence City Hall to locate Riggs Fabrication at an existing industrial space at 912 N. Third St. in North Lawrence. For the past five ...

Dumplings, fried chicken and a mashup of Chinese and American favorites are on this new restaurant's menu

Will Soo, owner of Lawrence’s new Lucky Seb’s Dumpling Bar & Grill, is the mastermind behind a Chinese-style dumpling stuffed with a traditional loaded American baked potato. What’s going on in that mind to create that combination? “I’m Chinese American,” Soo said. “I was born here and grew up in the Midwest with an identity crisis. This food is just a mashup of what I liked growing up.” ...