It’s unfortunate that this issue is landing in court, but leaders of the Lawrence Community Shelter are doing what they need to do to move their plans for a new facility forward.

On Wednesday, attorneys for the shelter filed a lawsuit in Douglas County District Court that hopefully will clear the way for a new facility to be located in a warehouse in the Franklin Business Park east of Lawrence. Investors in the business park contend that convenants on that property prohibit the shelter from locating there. Shelter leaders say the convenants only pertain to how the project is designed and they have met all the necessary conditions.

Before the Lawrence City Commission approved plans for the shelter, business park officials implied they would pursue legal action to stop the project. That was four months ago. According to an attorney for the shelter, business park officials have refused to budge from their position despite repeated attempts to address their concerns. They haven’t filed a lawsuit, but they apparently also haven’t said they won’t.

The shelter can’t afford to wait. Its leaders have made an impressive start on fundraising for the new facility, raising more than half the $6 million that will be needed. However, some of that money must be spent within about a year. Plans need to move forward but they can’t move forward with the threat of a legal fight looming in the background. The only practical course for shelter officials was to be proactive, file their own lawsuit and get the matter settled.

Attorneys for the shelter say they hope that seeking a declaratory judgment on the issue will allow the issue to move more quickly to resolution. We share that hope. Supporters of the Lawrence Community Shelter have worked hard to come up with a location that will satisfy the community and a facility that will better serve the area’s homeless population. Hopefully, the lawsuit filed Wednesday will quickly clear away any legal roadblocks that could slow down progress toward their goal.