Photo of: Posted
A conceptual design plan for Stone Hawk Square near Clinton Parkway and Inverness.
News and notes from the city:
• It would almost be unfair to Lawrence parents’ pocketbooks to open an ice cream shop practically within sight of four schools. But that could actually be a plan for a developing shopping center in west Lawrence.
Construction is well underway on Stone Hawk Square, a new shopping center near Clinton Parkway and Inverness Drive. If you’re not sure where it will be, it’s about a mile west of the Hy-Vee grocery store at the corner of Clinton Parkway and Kasold.
But I know that many of you have no problem imagining the place because you spend half your lives driving past it to pick up children, drop them off, look after them, and of course, give them the ever-popular task of delivering forgotten items.
That’s because there are a variety of schools around the intersection of Clinton Parkway and Inverness. For example, there’s Bishop Seabury Academy, which is practically across the street from the site. About a block to the west is Raintree Montessori, and just a few blocks to the south are Southwest Middle School and Sunflower Elementary.
So why not open an ice cream shop in the new mall, too? Or how about a coffee shop? (Is it the parents or the caffeine that gets the kids to school? It depends on the day.) Both options, as well as some neighborhood restaurants, are likely tenants for the center, says J. Taylor, the commercial real estate broker at Colliers International who is serving as lead leasing broker for the project.
Photo of: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World
Construction is underway on a new multi-tenant retail building near Clinton Parkway and Inverness, pictured here on August 8, 2024.
Photo of: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World
Construction is underway on a second multi-tenant retail building near Clinton Parkway and Inverness, pictured here on August 8, 2024.
Taylor said the project has received several letters of intent from companies to locate at the center, but they are still in the process of finalizing the first leases for the center.
“We really try to identify high-quality businesses in the neighborhood,” Taylor said.
In addition to the business types mentioned above, Taylor said breakfast joints and bakeries are definite tenant targets. He also said the right kind of “neighborhood bar” could be a good fit, along with a long list of service businesses.
Shops that are attractive to people looking for housing would also make sense. In addition to numerous schools, the site is surrounded by numerous apartments. There are about 1,000 housing units within a few blocks, according to data from the developer, which is led by local businessman Glenn Lemesany.
Two multi-tenant buildings – one with a drive-thru – are under construction and Taylor expects them to be completed by the end of the year. Between these two buildings is a vacant lot that is being marketed to companies looking to build their own space. Two more custom lots are located behind these buildings, closer to Clinton Parkway.
Once fully implemented, the project could easily accommodate ten or more companies, depending on the configuration of the future buildings.
“This area has a lack of some services and it’s pretty densely populated,” Taylor said. “It’s kind of a tiered density. There are students around there and higher-end housing as well. It throws up a really nice grid for a lot of different people who are basically within walking distance.”
Photo of: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World
The future location of Los Guapos Latin Food, 1500 W. Sixth, is pictured on August 8, 2024.
• There is also a certain density along Sixth Street these days: armies of orange traffic cones. A new restaurant is about to open behind one of these cones. Signs for Los Guapos Latin Food were recently put up in the vacant building that years ago housed Panda Garden at 1500 W. Sixth St.
The business isn’t open yet and I haven’t spoken to the owners yet. But I got a tip that it’s connected to another Latin American restaurant in town and will actually try to offer Central American and South American dishes in addition to Mexican cuisine. I’ll let you know as soon as I have more information.
Photo of: Chad Lawhorn/Journal-World
Taco Zone in downtown Lawrence has announced the closure of its restaurant operations.
• I also have to report on the closing of a longtime downtown Mexican restaurant. Taco Zone, 13 E. Eighth St., closed a few weeks ago. The business was sold to Bates Co. — owners of Burger Stand and other establishments — and that group made the decision to close most of Taco Zone’s operations, according to a sign on the door.
I say most of the operation because the sign and social media posts say Taco Zone will continue to offer catering and host some pop-up locations as well. However, the days of heading downtown to sit down for a dozen tacos or so (and then maybe lie down) seem to be over.
