The Choice Is Yours.

Sometimes the most important decisions are not about whether to move forward, but how.

On March 5, 2024, the Lawrence City Commission approved the rezoning requests necessary for New Boston Crossing to move forward, establishing the legal framework for the development after months of public review and Planning Commission consideration.

Then a new opportunity emerged.

This Week’s Topic: Two Paths.
One Future for Southern Lawrence.

When Kirsten Judd of Sporting Kaw Valley approached me about establishing a permanent home for its growing programs, it sparked an idea.

Rather than simply incorporating athletic fields into the west side development, what if the entire vision for the southern property evolved?

That question led to many more conversations, engineering, environmental analysis, and community engagement. The result is The 1059, a new vision centered on recreation, tourism, hospitality, and environmental stewardship.

The 1059 was not created because New Boston Crossing could not move forward. It was created because an opportunity arose to pursue a different vision while responding to many of the priorities and needs expressed by the community.

By moving forward with this new direction of The 1059, we were able to make significant changes, including:

• On-site wetland impacts were reduced from approximately 14 acres to less than one acre.

• More than 70 acres of open space were preserved within the development.

• Natural stormwater management and DarkSky lighting principles were incorporated into the design.

The project also creates a permanent home for Sporting Kaw Valley, expanding the organization’s capacity to host regional tournaments in Lawrence.

That means more families visiting local hotels, restaurants, retailers, and other small businesses. It also means more local families spending weekends competing in their own community instead of traveling to tournaments in other cities.

As our community continues this conversation, one important point is worth remembering.

The discussion is not about whether this property has an approved future. It does.

The discussion is about which vision will shape that future.

New Boston Crossing and The 1059 were both created to contribute to Lawrence’s long-term success. They simply represent two different paths toward that goal.

We invite you to explore both visions and decide for yourself.