To the editor:

Lawrence’s civic center is downtown, specifically the six blocks between the Kansas River and South Park along Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire Streets. Almost everyone coming to Lawrence visits downtown. The City Hall is at the northern entrance to the city, followed by Liberty Hall, Lawrence Public Library, Senior Center, Carnegie building, Lawrence Arts Center, Watkins Museum of History, county and sheriff’s offices and South Park. In those six blocks there are numerous interesting restaurants, shops, entertainment venues, businesses and offices. It is where all celebrations of KU sport victories and all parades such as St. Patrick’s Day, Veterans Day, Old-Fashioned Christmas Parade and Band Day Parade occur.

The suggestion to move the City Hall to a remote neighborhood, miles away from our downtown civic center is ridiculous.

For more office space for city employees, rent or buy some of the empty spaces in the former Lawrence Journal-World building, Reuter Organ, or the riverfront mall. Or build an adjacent building to the City Hall that will house 30-50 more employees.

As other writers have noted, it took years of work and organization to secure a strong downtown. Let’s keep it going strong.

Pat Kehde,

Lawrence