LAWRENCE, Kan.-The abandoned parking lot on 9th and Pennsylvania is currently home to broken down buses and cars. The lot, which is currently owned by Chris Ogle, is a holding ground for decaying buses and beater cars.
The lot has become a breading ground for homeless people and animals to lurk. Not to mention the area is not fenced in despite being located only three blocks from Hobbs Park. The land was originally purchased by Frances M. Ogle and her husband, Duane E. Ogle, in 1994, and leased out to Lawrence Bus Company in 2000. “After Lawrence Bus Company lost the University of Kansas transit contract, the buses were left on the lot and now it is my job to clean up,” said Chris Ogle.
The buses and cars have been moved out of the building in hope that they will be auctioned off in the next two to three weeks. While Ogle is hesitant about people taking interests in the buses, he has said that he might sell the lot to Bo Harris, president of Harris Construction, if the price is right. “If Bo has a plan than I wouldn’t mind looking into it,” said Ogle.
Harris construction started acquiring and bringing forth information they had to the East Lawrence Neighborhood Association in November of 2005. The project would bring dozens of apartments, stores and businesses to 9th and Pennsylvania. Duplexes would be located on the west side of Pennsylvania, with commercial anchors at the corners, and commercial office lining the east side of Pennsylvania.
“The overall idea for the development was for a mixed-use development that was pedestrian and environmentally friendly,” said Korb Maxwell, an attorney at Polsinelli, Shalton, Welte and Suelthaus law firm. The proposal, if carried out by Harris Construction, will turn one mans garbage into another mans treasure.
Comments (3)
I found problems in this same area and it needs to be done away with. The whole block of Pennsylvania between 8th and 9th streets in East Lawrence is an under utilized area of decaying buildings and clearly buses and cars as well. This block is not really serving any type of public purpose and I understand plans are in the works...but let's get going on this.
Posted by Sarah Weston | November 26, 2007 12:30 PM
Posted on November 26, 2007 12:30
i think that it is a good thing you are doing by trying to get that problem fixed! that could be very dangerous for little kids playing near by not to mention how unattractive it is. i think that it would be great if they could turn it into apartments!
Posted by Kelly Potter | November 26, 2007 2:40 PM
Posted on November 26, 2007 14:40
Although this area is not one that is familiar to University Students, it is not only hard on the eyes, but quite dangerous for the people and children living in the homes adjacent to the broken down bus site. That land could be put to better use by cleaning it up, removing the usless bus, and making a park or community garden. Lawrence prides itself on trying to be a green area, but with areas like this one, it makes the task difficult.
Posted by Brittani Johnson | November 26, 2007 5:24 PM
Posted on November 26, 2007 17:24