WRITER: Chad Lawhorn

New reasons to question whether major shopping center at SLT and U.S. 59 will ever get built

Plans to build one of the largest shopping centers in Lawrence are now in doubt after a local judge this week dismissed a lawsuit against the city. At issue is a proposed shopping center at the interchange of U.S. Highway 59 and the South Lawrence Trafficway in south Lawrence. The shopping center would add about 600,000 square feet — at least eight new stores and that many additional restaurants, plus a ...

Home sales continue to slump in Lawrence, although home prices not yet going down

We’ve heated up, evidenced by the fact that I expect to be doused with a Gatorade bath even for minor victories like getting out of my chair without pulling a muscle. But with half of the year in the books, Lawrence’s real estate market still hasn’t even warmed. We’ve been reporting all year that Lawrence’s real estate market is off to its slowest start — at least in terms of sales — in a long ...

Group that wants to spur tech startups in Lawrence says the community has a lot to learn

I once wanted to be an “angel investor,” but then I realized how much halos cost — and you had better have really good credit if you plan on writing a check for one. OK, so maybe I am confused about what an angel investor is, but so are a lot of other area residents. That was the key takeaway from a local tech startup founder who is trying to create an organization that will help Lawrence become a ...

A different type of development planned for what once was going to be the city's research park

Plans have been filed for a $1.5 million office development on the west Lawrence property that long has been designated to become Lawrence’s first true research park. But this development likely won’t produce a lot of research. Lawrence businessman Roger Johnson has filed plans at City Hall to construct three office/warehouse buildings on vacant ground at 1717 Research Park Drive, which is just a block ...

Hopes for a new grocery, west Lawrence shopping center are still alive, but a big new apartment complex would help

Summer is for catching up, like on that book I never got around to reading or the garage I never got around to cleaning. (In fairness, the book is “Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance,” so I’m confused whether I should clean the garage before or after reading the book.) Regardless, now also is a good time to catch up on a development project that has been long talked about but not yet built. We ...

Multimillion-dollar airport project expected to make catching a charter out of Lawrence easier

A multimillion-dollar construction project at Lawrence Municipal Airport is expected to open the door to more charter jet travel options for area residents. City officials recently issued building permits for $2.1 million worth of construction for a new aircraft hangar and office building just east of the terminal building at the Lawrence Municipal Airport in North Lawrence. The building will house at least ...