Post updated at 6:04 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4:
Developers have announced a massive new project aiming to bring a second Checkers grocery store, a hotel, housing and more to Vermont Street in downtown Lawrence.
The project, dubbed 826 Vermont, is being developed by Rise Up LLC, a local team consisting of JR Lewis of Checkers, Adam Williams of Williams Management and Paul Werner of Paul Werner Architects. They are asking the Lawrence City Commission to accept an application for the ability to pursue incentives. It is one early step of many for the project to receive approval.
The city posted a request for information seeking proposals for projects to redevelop three downtown parking lots — including 826 Vermont St., the largest lot downtown — in November. The lot stretches most of the east side of the 800 block of Vermont Street.
At the heart of the development is a downtown location for Checkers, a locally-owned grocery store. The store will provide easy access to fresh produce, groceries and ready-to-eat meals, according to a Friday news release from the project team.
The development will offer a range of housing options, including an “affordable housing component” to provide “quality, accessible downtown living options for low- and moderate-income families,” according to the release. Market-rate apartments and condos will also be available. A project representative did not immediately respond to an email seeking to clarify how the project was defining “affordable.”
The project also features an 80- to 100-room hotel, which developers say will enhance the city’s appeal for both business and leisure travelers.
A multistory parking garage will double the number of parking spaces currently available on the lot, intended to alleviate downtown parking challenges.
The red pin on the map shows the location of the lot:
“We are excited to unveil this ambitious project that will bring multiple benefits to our downtown area,” Williams said in the release. “826 Vermont represents a significant investment in our community’s future, increasing accessibility to groceries, parking, affordable housing, and hotel rooms.”
The development is expected to add 134 new jobs with an average estimated salary of $46,000, according to the city commission agenda item.
In a report given to city commissioners, the local group said they have “a proven track record spanning over 3 decades.” The project is estimated to cost $58 million and take two years, according to the agenda item.
“Our local development team stands as a pillar in the transformation of downtown Lawrence,” the group said in the report.
Tiffany Asher, office manager with Paul Werner Architects, said the group plans to do community outreach with door-to-door conversations, mailings, open houses and more.
The commission’s approval during their meeting Tuesday would only open the door to the city exploring giving the project tax breaks. It would require multiple approvals from local governing bodies before receiving incentives.
The commission will begin its regular meeting at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8 at City Hall, 6 E. Sixth St. See the complete meeting agenda at this link.
Meetings are open to the public, broadcast on Midco channel 25 and livestreamed on the city’s YouTube page, youtube.com/@lawrenceksvideo.
The commission accepts written public comment until noon the day of the meeting emailed to ccagendas@lawrenceks.org. The commission also hears public comment in person during meetings as well as via Zoom. Register for Tuesday’s Zoom meeting at this link.
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Cuyler Dunn (he/him), a contributor to The Lawrence Times since April 2022, is a student at the University of Kansas School of Journalism. He is a graduate of Lawrence High School where he was the editor-in-chief of the school’s newspaper, The Budget, and was named the 2022 Kansas High School Journalist of the Year. Read his complete bio here. Read more of his work for the Times here.
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