WRITER: Rochelle Valverde

Lawrence City Commission approves incentives for pretzel facility that will add nearly 300 jobs

City leaders have approved tax breaks and other economic incentives for a project that will bring a pretzel production facility and close to 300 jobs to Lawrence. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission voted unanimously to approve an approximately $4.4 million economic incentives package for VanTrust Real Estate for an approximately 150,000-square-foot production facility for Indiana-based ...

Lawrence City Commission to consider tax breaks, other incentives for pretzel facility; project would add nearly 300 jobs

Updated at 5:57 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19: City leaders will soon consider tax breaks and other economic incentives for a project that would bring a pretzel production facility and close to 300 jobs to Lawrence. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will consider an approximately $4.4 million economic incentives request from VanTrust Real Estate for an industrial and light manufacturing ...

Lawrence City Commission to consider first step in project that would build road along dog park

City leaders will soon consider taking a first step in the extension of a road near the Mutt Run Off-Leash Dog Park that more than 1,300 Lawrence residents say they oppose. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will consider authorizing the city to issue a request for qualifications for public engagement and design services for the extension of West 27th Street adjacent to the city dog ...

Lawrence City Commission to consider contract for outside study of police department

City leaders will soon decide whether to move forward with an outside study of the Lawrence police department that will help inform potentially fundamental changes to police operations and priorities. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will consider authorizing a professional services agreement in the amount of $117,833 with Citygate Associates for a comprehensive study of the ...

City seeks input from residents regarding how pandemic affects long-term plan for downtown

Though obviously not planned when the process first began two years ago, the city’s master plan for the downtown will now account for how the COVID-19 pandemic and related changes affect the future of downtown. The city hired a consulting firm, Houseal Lavigne Associates, to complete the Downtown Master Plan in August 2018. So far, the consultants are on the sixth of seven steps in the process, which have ...

Drop in special alcohol tax collections could affect funding for Lawrence social services

Health orders related to the coronavirus that closed bars and restricted some alcohol sales have significantly decreased the money the city collects from taxes on alcoholic drinks, potentially affecting the social service organizations funded by that money. Under state law, bars, restaurants and other public venues that sell alcoholic drinks must charge a 10% liquor drink tax — which is different from the ...