Tuesday, January 13, 1998
The University Daily Kansan
Section A · Page 5
The Stoneridge Plaza shopping mall, which will be located at Clinton Parkway and Wakarusa Drive, is expected to bring a downtown flavor to West Lawrence. Plans for the new Plaza were approved last week by the Lawrence City Commission and construction should be completed by late 1998. Art by Northstar Venture Group, LLC.
West Lawrence to develop its own downtown plaza
By Jeremy M. Doherty
Kansan staff writer
Last week, the Lawrence City Commission approved a preliminary development plan for Stoneridge Plaza.
Some local downtown merchants say it is unlikely that they will be hurt by nearly 50,000 square feet of commercial development that will reside in Lawrence's west side.
Stoneridge, a proposed fiveacre site at Clinton Parkway and Wakarusa Drive, is intended to bring downtown flavor to the residential area of western Lawrence.
Construction will begin after a contractor is selected this spring. Stoneridge is expected to be completed in late 1998 or early 1999.
"Right now, you've got to drive miles to get to the stores and restaurants," said Art Cromer, a broker with Lawrence-based American Real Estate & Investments Inc."This center will help fill that niche."
Some downtown merchants do
not foresee problems from the potential competition.
Brad Parsons, owner of Marks Jewelry, 817 Massachusetts St., said he did not expect trouble.
"With all the housing and growth developing, I don't think there's any jeopardy to downtown Lawrence," Parsons said. "It makes Lawrence more of a package."
Gary Toebben, president of the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, said he supported Stoner idee.
"This will not affect downtown at all," he said. "It's going to be an office complex with a restaurant and retail facilities for the neighborhood."
Developer Stephen Wilson arreed.
"Our belief is that it won't even compare to the type of business going on downtown," he said. "Given the amount of retail downtown, we won't even be a blip on the screen."
Cromer is the leasing agent for North Star Venture Group, the company developing the plaza.
and must bring in prospective tenants.
Only 12,700 square feet will be made available to retail and dining outlets, which Wilson said will give homes to about five or six establishments.
Space in Stoneridge has not been leased yet, but a European-style cafe, a personal project of Wilson's, is a high priority.
Cromer said the developers were interested in opening specialty stores such as gift shops, beauty salions and jewelry stores.
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