Section D · Page 14
The University Daily Kansan
Monday, August 21, 2000
Locals: 'National retailers threaten downtown integrity'
By Brent Wasko Special to the Kansan
Lawrence is going through some major growing pains.
Local business owners, such as Win Campbell, have been closing their doors at an alarming rate this year. Small-business owners, long-time residents and members of the KU community fear the recent boom in development both downtown and on the outskirts of town will ruin Lawrence's college town atmosphere.
There are some who say expansion projects like "Downtown 2000" are beneficial for the city, but others believe Lawrence is losing its uniqueness with each day.
"I think the character of the town has changed," said Kurt Thurmaier, associate professor of public administration. "It's looking more and more like any other town. There seems to be disjunction between the people who live here and sleep here. The town is starting to have two faces."
Lawrence has seen a substantial 2.3 percent a year increase in population since 1990, which has caused nervousness among area residents and independent business owners.
Campbell, who now owns the Winfield House, a furniture store at 835 Massachusetts St., recently closed his previous downtown establishment. Campbell's Clothing, after 35 years of business. He says it's tough for small businesses to survive downtown.
"The economic atmosphere downtown has made it difficult for independents like myself to succeed in Lawrence," Campbell said. "The area is healthy right now, but I would not recommend that any independent
retailers move their business here."
Campbell said he thought that development projects in the South Iowa Street area initially hurt business downtown but that most places have adjusted to the growth.
"What has happened in Lawrence hasn't been enough to derail the city's economic stability," he said. "However, it has really divided the economic pie."
Earl Reineman, vice president of Weaver's Department Store, 901 Massachusetts St., said his clothing store had changed to stay competitive in the downtown retail market. Weaver's has been open downtown since 1857.
"The growth in Lawrence has caused us to gradually upscale our selection," Reinman said. "We no longer try to be all things to all people."
Even though some local business owners dislike the recent increase in national retailers starting businesses downtown, Brian Paley, store manager at Abercrombie & Fitch, 647 Massachusetts St., thinks it's an advantage.
"I think we have supportable growth," said Jim Henry, Lawrence
The downtown area is growing and expanding, primarily due to the interest of large national retailers. The Gap and Abercrombie & Fitch came to town while other retailers, including Eddie Bauer and American Eagle, prepare to enter.
mayor, "To some extent, all of the growth is enhancing the city."
"The bigger chain stores bring in more traffic into the downtown area," Paley said. "Companies like Abercrombie are helping the area. It is a lot better for small downtown businesses that we are where we are rather than someplace in south Lawrence."
Retail growth on the 900 block of New Hampshire Street, along Massachusetts Street, and South Iowa Street gets mixed reactions from businesses and residents. Photo by Aaron Lindberg/KANSAN.
The biggest new project beginning in Lawrence is "Downtown 2000." It is a planned redevelopment of almost the entire 900 block of New Hampshire Street. The idea is to make New Hampshire Street similar to Massachusetts Street. The estimated $29 million plan is the largest mixed-use project in downtown since 1863, when Lawrence started rebuilding after Quarill's Raid.
"This project ranks right up there as one of the largest ever in Lawrence," said Jeff Schmalberg, "Downtown 2000" lead partner. "If the downtown remained static, then it couldn't compete, but we're lucky there are so many people that care about this area."
The "Downtown 2000" project will create a complex of up to 20 street-level retail stores, several professional office spaces, 24 loft-style apartments, a new Lawrence Arts Center and a four-level parking garage with about 540 spaces.
we just weren't ambitious enough," Campbell said. "We really weren't doing that badly, but we also weren't changing with the times."
While some local business owners are concerned about the closing of places like Campbell's Clothing, Bottenfield said downtown was thriving.
Jerry Bottenfield, executive director of Downtown Lawrence Inc., said the project would fulfill the city's needs. He said there were more people than ever coming from Kansas City and Topeka to shop downtown.
"A lot of our retailers say that half of their business comes from out-of-towners," Bottenfield said. "We've become a day trip for some people who are looking for a small-town shopping experience."
All the growth downtown hasn't been without its victims. Chet Johnson Furniture, formerly at 722 Massachusetts St., closed last year. It was replaced by Danish Inspirations Furniture and a future bistro-style restaurant. The Varsity Theater, formerly at 1013 Massachusetts St., was turned into Urban Outfitters. Also, Campbell's Clothing closed to make room for The Toy Store, a children's shop from Topeka.
"Lawrence is one of the fastest growing communities in the country right now," he said. "There are thousands of other cities that would like to be where Lawrence is economically."
Growth in Lawrence has not been restricted to the downtown area. South Iowa Street, where the community rejected a proposed mall in 1984 on the basis that it would draw traffic away from downtown, now is home to several large retail shops. SuperTarget, Wal-Mart, Pier 1 Imports, Kohl's, Sears and JCPenney all are located on South Iowa. Old Navy and Office Max are coming soon.
"When the box stores out south moved in, it created a traffic pattern away from downtown. That caused nervousness among downtown retailers." Campbell said. "Now those stores are battling each other more than they are downtown businesses."
Other areas of Lawrence also are expanding. Three major strip malls have been erected — two in west Lawrence and one in east Lawrence.
Greg Cromer, executive vicepresident of American Real Estate and Investment, said the strip malls in west Lawrence were still being filled. However, a jewelry store, an appliance outlet, and the Hereford House, a Kansas City-
area restaurant, already have committed to fill the space.
"They wouldn't build these new shopping centers if there wasn't a need for them in this city," Cromer said. "There are so many different marketing needs. You can cater to a lot of different clientele and be very successful here."
Dennis Enslinger, head of the recently formed Lawrence Design Guidelines Task Force, said the population within a mile of Sixth and Wakarusa streets has nearly doubled during the past decade.
Kurt Thurmaier, KU professor.
doesn't like the residential changes taking place in west Lawrence either.
"people don't have porches out there," Thurmair said. "There's just not the same degree of interaction between residents in west Lawrence as there is in the old part of the city."
Henry, on the other hand, said the city's growth was definitely a good thing, but he also has some concerns.
"Lawrence is a popular place to live right now," he said. "However, I don't want it to become a true bedroom community."
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