Commissioners on the Lawrence City Commission voted 5-0 on Sept. 16 to waive a rebid and award a construction contract to Kings Construction for the Connecticut Street ADA sidewalk reconstruction project in East Lawrence.

The move follows repeated public appeals from East Lawrence residents worried that the project would replace most historic brick sidewalks with concrete. The commission added a condition that staff must mail homeowners the contractor-based material and installation prices by the end of the week and allow property owners until Monday, Oct. 6, to confirm material choices.

The vote came after several residents and neighborhood leaders urged the commission to delay the award so property owners could consider the contractor prices for brick versus concrete. "I'm here because, we have some brick sidewalks on Connecticut Street that have been there for over a hundred 30 years, and I've got 3 minutes to try and save them," said Barry Shalinski, president of the East Lawrence Neighborhood Association, during public comment. Shalinski and others told commissioners that earlier cost estimates used by staff or engineering reports made brick appear more expensive than the actual bids.

City staff and project leads responded that the bid prices for brick came in lower than earlier national-average estimates. "The brick square footage prices came in lower than anticipated," said Evan Currant, the city's ADA compliance administrator. Currant explained that once the contract is awarded property owners would receive a letter with the final square-foot prices and the total square footage of their responsibility; property owners could then notify the city if they wanted to change materials and city staff would issue a change order with the contractor. He added, "My original plan was if it got approved tonight, then I would work on getting them to our admin staff tomorrow to get them sent out by the end of this week."

The adopted motion — to waive the rebid requirement for solicitation number 2500056 and award the contract to Kings Construction in the amount of $556,031 — was offered by Commissioner Finkeldei and seconded by Commissioner Littlejohn. The motion included explicit direction that the city manager execute the construction contract and that staff send homeowner letters on material selection by the end of the week, with owners given until Oct. 6 to confirm their material choice. The motion passed, 5-0.

Staff noted the project area includes about 78 properties, many of them rentals, and reiterated that property owners may elect to use a contractor of their choosing (subject to city sidewalk standards) but that those owners would forfeit the city's cost-sharing allowances if they do so. Currant also described two city financial-assistance programs in the ADA transition plan: income-based financial aid that can cover 100% of concrete repairs (the policy defaults to concrete when the city pays 100%), and a 50% city contribution for owner-occupied corner lots that can be applied to material and installation. Staff said they had individually contacted many property owners during inspections and offered in-person meetings.

Commissioners and residents repeatedly emphasized the neighborhood's interest in preserving historically significant brick sidewalks while also acknowledging accessibility and cost concerns. The City Commission's approval lets construction proceed under the awarded contract while giving property owners a short window to confirm material choices based on the contractor's final prices.

Clarifying details: the contract award amount is $556,031; the homeowner letters must be sent by the end of the week; owners have until Oct. 6 to respond; staff said roughly 51 of the 78 properties in the corridor are rental properties; material-selection costs will be borne by property owners except for demolition, grading and other items the city covers under the cost-partnering program in the ADA transition plan.

Speakers quoted or cited in this article are listed below.