The director of Downtown Lawrence Inc. is leaving the organization in July, and although the board was set to discuss dissolving DLI, that option is no longer on the table.
DLI Board President Blaine Allmond, who owns Kizer Cummings Jewelers in downtown Lawrence, said the board will likely hire someone to fill the role.
DLI board members were set to discuss four potential paths forward, including potentially to dissolve the organization.
Other options were to keep the current structure and hire a new director; hire two part-time staffers, one focused on advertising and one on advocacy and member growth; or hire a part-time director focused on advocacy and member growth and contract with an outside marketing firm for advertising services.
Allmond said the board is considering its options, but it won’t be dissolving the organization.
“Anytime you have a board meeting or a transitional situation, you know, you lay out all options,” he said. “We think it’s really valuable for Downtown Lawrence to have this organization and this voice, so we’re going to continue with that goal.”
Andrew Holt came to Lawrence from Yakima, Washington. He became the DLI director in April 2023 and resided in the area where he worked for the next two years.
“I lived the downtown life, and I absolutely loved it,” Holt said. “Such a special mix of retail, restaurants, bars, entertainment, live music. It’s just a special place.”
His final day is July 7, and on July 9, he’ll begin similar work as the president and CEO of Downtown Topeka Inc.
Holt called his time with DLI rewarding as he and the board developed committees to tackle big projects, including an early-stage cleanup project meant to make alleys viable commercial corridors or art destinations.
He said a new website, development of Midsummer Night on Mass — which replaced the Downtown Sidewalk Sale and is set to return Friday evening — and other staple downtown events, and increased membership and communication all helped strengthen DLI’s presence.
“I enjoyed working with the businesses. They were terrific to me,” Holt said. “And DLI, I think, is positioned to take the next step.”
In a news release announcing Holt’s departure, Allmond said the board is grateful for Holt’s leadership during a “period of growth” and reenergized support of Downtown Lawrence and wishes him the best in Topeka.
The board will share organizational updates in the coming weeks, according to the release.
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Maya Hodison (she/her), equity reporter, can be reached at mhodison@lawrencekstimes.com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
