photo by: Sylas May/Journal-World

Work is underway to remove the existing structures on the former Veritas property at 256 N. Michigan St., where the City of Lawrence is expecting to build the Pallet Shelter Village for people experiencing homelessness.

Demolition work began Monday at the future temporary shelter site the city plans to open on North Michigan Street, the City of Lawrence announced Monday afternoon.

As the Journal-World reported, the city in June delayed the construction of the Pallet Shelter Village — set to comprise prefabricated 64-square-foot cabins and other support structures — by approximately six months due to delays in several components of the project. But as of Monday, utility clearing work and the installation of a temporary safety fence is underway at the site at 256 N. Michigan St. Work is also underway to remove the existing structures on the property, according to a release from the city.

Per the release, the city anticipates that the entirety of demolition will take about three weeks, after which the site’s permanent fencing will be installed.

The city is also working with engineers and the pallet team to develop a final site concept, showing the precise layout of the future Pallet Shelter Village. That’s the next step following demolition, the release reads, but it’s not clear exactly when that information will be released once demolition is complete about three weeks from now.

photo by: Douglas County

The property at 256 N. Michigan Street, which is the former site of Veritas Christian School, is pictured on the Douglas County Property Viewer.