CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
Week ending August 13, 2010
July building permits
There were 239 permits issued in July 2010, compared to 226 permits issued in July 2009. Permit valuation was $12,051,187 compared to $7,685,565 last year. Fees were $82,301.85 for July versus $69,253.75 a year ago. Permits were issued for thirteen new single-family dwellings and five apartment buildings containing 96 dwelling units last month. This compares to 25 permits issued for new single-family dwellings in July last year. Please see attached memo, building permits full report and summary report.
Historical markers at 927 New Hampshire
The Parks and Recreation Department has completed the movement of two historical markers at the request of the Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War. It was not possible to install the granite marker on the sidewalk because it was nearly 18 inches thick. Instead, a bronze plaque was made with the same wording. The two plaques are now installed on the parking garage wall at 927 New Hampshire (see attached photos). Their intent is to better inform the public about the events that happened at this location during the Civil War.
Grover Barn featured during Underground Railroad conference
Battleground For Freedom: The Underground Railroad on the Western Frontier, the 2010 National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Conference, was held in Topeka July 28-31, 2010. At part of the conference tours, Grover Barn, 2819 Stone Barn Terrace (previously Fire Station # 4), was highlighted as a documented Underground Railroad site. Approximately 30 visitors enjoyed the hospitality of the City of Lawrence at this historic site. The City of Lawrence is currently in the process of documenting the information needed to be recognized as a National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Site. This recognition will allow the National Park Service to include Lawrence and Grover Barn in Network to Freedom publications. Grover Barn is currently listed in the Lawrence Register of Historic Places. For more information on the Underground Railroad Network to Freedom program go to http://www.nps.gov/history/ugrr .
Historic Resources intern’s work on 1120 Rhode Island published
The Spring 2010 Kansas Preservation includes an article by current Historic Resources Intern Andrea Kirchhoff titled “Rehabilitation from an Intern’s Perspective.” Andrea organized and worked with volunteers from the University of Kansas and the Lawrence Preservation Alliance to save a historic accessory structure in the North Rhode Island Street Residential Historic District listed in the National Register of Historic Places. To view the full spring 2010 issue of Kansas Preservation see http://www.kshs.org/resource/ks_preservation/new.htm.
Public Works provides mid-year Street Division update
The Public Works Street Maintenance Division provides a wide range of services.
A mid-year report on activities is available for review along with photos of their work.
Inverness Drive concrete rehabilitation project
In January 2010 the City Commission approved the 2010 Maintenance Program which included a small project on Inverness that was to be done by in-house crews. As this section of Inverness was evaluated it became apparent that the scope of the project needed to be widened to include some major full depth patching. The attached memo explains the project timeline and traffic control plan.