City approves incentives for Q39 restaurant to redevelop former Journal‑World building

The Lawrence City Commission on May 6 approved incentives for a private redevelopment of the former Lawrence Journal‑World building at 639 New Hampshire for a Q39 barbecue restaurant, adopting a first‑reading ordinance to form a community improvement district and authorizing industrial revenue bonds for construction material sales‑tax exemptions.

Assistant City Manager Brandon McGuire and the city’s financial advisor, Tom Calico of Baker Tilly, told the commission the proposed incentives met legal and policy requirements and were necessary to make the rehabilitation feasible. Tom Calico said the project budget is roughly $5.6 million; the requested CID would be a 2% sales tax within the district for up to 22 years and is proposed to reimburse “core and shell” rehabilitation costs. The IRB authorization would allow the developer to claim sales‑tax exemptions on construction materials; staff estimated that exemption at about $177,000 depending on where…