12
University Daily Kansan
Wednesday, December 7, 1977
Neighborhood changes
From page one
CONSOLIDATION WITH THE sister city of Lawrence, in Douglas County, came in 1870, reportedly because of the influence of the railroad and railroad from what was then Jefferson County. The status of North Lawrence declined as the area became increasingly urbanized.
Today, remnants of the past still exist—the people are poor, much of the area is still industrially zoned and the area lacks a major voice in city politics.
The Mud Creek project, a recently completed wind control system, has at least covered the 70-mile stretch.
The city allocates community development funds through neighborhood associations. Paul said she thought the city used as an excuse to limit development funds the fact that two associations represent North Lawrence.
THE FACT THAT there are two neighborhood associations has further clouded the issues, although only one, the North Lawrence Improvement Association and the New Jersey federal governments. Reorganized last week, the NLA deals with complaints and problems, while the other association, the North Lawrence Planning Council, strives to implement long-range goals. However, these relationships have not had a working relationship.
"we don't have one issue per se in North Lawrence," Rice said. "It's all a lot of little things, like no curbs and gutters. When you've got a problem and can prove it, you scream loud and hard enough the city will fix it. But, you've got to be persistent."
Rice, a member of both groups, said the city commission partially caused the split between the groups because it had decided that the council could not be represented by both.
"Well. we say 'why not?' "' Rice said.
THE MAJOR PROBLEM, Paul said, was that North Lawrence has no representatives on the city commission or other city boards. The board's staff had been in North Lawrence was in office during the 1940s.
"There is only one problem from which all the others flow." Paul said, "and that's a lack of power and representation. That's how we have to represent power to have input in the centers of power."
Using what power it does have, the Planning Council is working for an extension of a road to make a second entrance leading to a small trailer court off of North Second Street. The only existing entrance is sometimes blocked by traffic from a nearby bar.
"If they have a fire and can'r, get a fire truck out there, you can just kiss the whole woman."
THE CITY COMMISSION referred the problem to the traffic and safety commission two weeks ago in which Rice said of the city commission "passing the buck."
However, North Lawrence has received some city aid in the form of development funds and Housing and Urban Development programs housing in the area up to minimum code.
However, development funds totaling $10,000 in the NLIA treasury have remained unspent for two years because of disorganization in the NLIA. Previous funds were used for a stoplight at Second and Third Avenues, installing houses and installing streetlights.
Paul said priorities for money should be reconsidered. She said a need for adequate streets in North Lawrence should be given more weight than an East Lawrence recreation center, which the commission approved this fall.
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Despite its problems, North Lawrence plods slowly forward. Land values have increased, some new houses are being built and many others are being repaired.
'I MOT NOT SAYING they (the city) discriminate in how funds are given. I'm just saying the funds are wrongly appropriated in terms of priorities.' she said
"Earlier just this year, I had a terrible feeling about the future of North Lawrence, but I've had an 180-degree turn since then," Paul said.
She said the next step was to improve Woodland School so that young families would stay in North Lawrence. Enrollment at the elementary school has dropped more
MANY NORTH LAWRENCE residents ardently support their neighborhood. A survey taken by a KU architecture class last year indicated that residents liked the area because of the open space, garden room, neighbors and quiet.
than 100 pupils in the past 10 years. Current enrolment is 185 pupils in six grades.
Art Geller, owner of Big G' Antiques, 444 Locust St., said there was no other place in the city where you could prove his point, he is expanding the store and renovating the small commercial district to resemble a 19th century western town, complete with a jail and a general store.
"I like it here," he said. "I'll stay."
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