Lawrence local news summary

Commission denies controversial Jayhawk Club apartment plan

Oread neighborhood rezoning approved for higher density

City approves $4.8 million change order for watershed project

Storm tunnel discovery forces changes to city pool

Ninth Street construction closure extended into summer

Affordable Housing Trust Fund awards $1.2 million

Commission approves $425,000 land purchase to expand Lone Star Lake Park

County eyes temporary ordinances for World Cup rentals

Commission denies controversial Jayhawk Club apartment plan

LAWRENCE, Kan. - In a 4-1 vote, the city commission upheld the planning commission's recommendation to deny a preliminary development plan for a 200-unit apartment complex near The Jayhawk Club. The proposal for "Lot 5" faced significant opposition from neighbors regarding stormwater runoff, traffic safety on Crossgate Drive and a single access road for emergency vehicles. While city staff advised that the plan met minimum code requirements, the commission majority cited concerns over safety, density and the developer's history of unfulfilled promises regarding the golf course preservation. Mayor Brad Finkeldei was the sole dissenting vote.

Oread neighborhood rezoning approved for higher density

LAWRENCE, Kan. - The commission voted 5-0 to rezone properties at 1430-1432 Louisiana St. and 1423-1433 Ohio St. from high-density (R4) to very high-density residential (R5). The rezoning facilitates a redevelopment project in the Oread neighborhood, which supporters argued aligns with the city's goal of increasing density near the University of Kansas campus. Opponents, including State Sen. Marci Francisco, raised concerns about parking shortages and the scale of the proposed "student-oriented" development encroaching on the neighborhood's historic character.

City approves $4.8 million change order for watershed project

LAWRENCE, Kan. - Commissioners unanimously approved a $4.8 million change order with Kissick Construction Co. Inc. for the Jayhawk Watershed Middle Reach project, bringing the total project cost to $22.3 million. The significant cost increase addresses a major scope expansion, including extending a storm tunnel to Ninth and Mississippi streets to accommodate the future KU Gateway District project. City engineers stated the expansion is necessary to avoid tearing up Ninth Street for a second time in 2027.

Storm tunnel discovery forces changes to city pool

LAWRENCE, Kan. - As part of the Jayhawk Watershed project update, engineers revealed that a massive, failing storm sewer tunnel was discovered running directly beneath the zero-entry portion of the Lawrence Outdoor Aquatic Center. This discovery explains recent structural settling at the pool and necessitates rerouting the tunnel through Watson Park. The repair work is scheduled to be completed before the pool opens for the summer season, though the adjacent basketball court in Watson Park will be removed and not immediately replaced.

Ninth Street construction closure extended into summer

LAWRENCE, Kan. - During the update on the Jayhawk Watershed project, staff confirmed that Ninth Street will remain closed to through traffic well into the summer of 2026. While the city initially hoped for a shorter timeline, the complex utility work requires a phased approach moving west from Indiana Street to Mississippi Street. Project managers noted they are exploring options to create temporary parking and signage to assist businesses in the construction zone, which are suffering from reduced access.

Affordable Housing Trust Fund awards $1.2 million

LAWRENCE, Kan. - The city commission unanimously approved $1.2 million in Affordable Housing Trust Fund awards for 2026, distributing the money among various local housing initiatives. The funded projects focus on retention of existing affordable units, voucher programs and construction of new affordable housing. The allocation process was highly competitive, with requests totaling over $4 million, forcing the Affordable Housing Advisory Board to deny funding to several applicants to stay within budget.

Commission approves $425,000 land purchase to expand Lone Star Lake Park

LAWRENCE, Kan. - The board of county commissioners unanimously approved the purchase of 23 acres of property adjacent to Lone Star Lake Park for $425,000. The property, located at 579 N. 600 Road, will be acquired using remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds designated for open space projects. County staff noted the acquisition will protect environmentally sensitive land within the lake's watershed and provide connectivity to previously inaccessible areas of the park, potentially allowing for future trail expansion.

County eyes temporary ordinances for World Cup rentals

LAWRENCE, Kan. - County Administrator Sarah Plinsky and staff discussed the need to prepare for an estimated 650,000 visitors to the region during the upcoming World Cup. Officials are considering temporary ordinances regarding short-term rentals in unincorporated Douglas County to align with similar measures being developed by the city of Lawrence. While a short-term rental process currently exists, staff indicated that regulations may need modification to manage the temporary housing demand safely and efficiently.

Found a mistake? Have a news tip or feedback to share? Contact our newsroom using the button below:

citizen journal offers three flagship products: a daily national news summary, a daily Kansas news summary, and local news and school board summaries from 15 cities across Kansas. Each issue contains 5 paragraph-length stories that are made to be read in 5 minutes. Use the links in the header to navigate to national, kansas, and local coverage. Subscribe to each, some, or all to get an email when new issues are published for FREE!