Baker University Opposes Ten59
Baker University Opposes Ten59
Embedded Files
We expect the Planning Commission to evaluate this project in June. However, the developer has stalled the project multiple times.
NBC Letter to Lawrence Douglas County Officials_ FINAL.pdfBaker University has published a letter opposing the New Boston Crossing/Ten59 development. Published in the public comment section of the April 7th City Commission agenda, this letter details Baker's position and the potential negative consequences the development will have upon the Baker portion of the Wakarusa Wetlands. Although we believe the letter should mention the history of how Baker got the wetlands and the direct tie to the government's willingness to steal and give away Indigenous land, how the land Baker now owns was worked by children (Haskell students) under force, an acknowledgement of their previous silence on this project for the past two years, and how the letter should have a harder anti development stance instead of weakening their argument at the last minute, we acknowledge that any official publication is miles above the silence endured for the past two years.
We know that the previous administration is no longer in charge and hope that Baker will take the correct next steps to bridge the gap between our communities.
Read the article posted by the Kansas Rural Center, written and edited by Debbie Baker and Charlotte French-Allen. You can read the article here, starting on page 12.
Call to action – If other organizations visit the Baker Wetlands, please write letters to let the city and county commissioners know that you come to Lawrence for the wetlands. Express why it is important to you and your members that a buffer of open space (non-developed land) remains around the wetlands. Watch for the amendment to be included in meeting agendas on the city and county websites and submit letters directly to the meetings. It will be called “Consider a comprehensive plan amendment, AMDT-25-0006, to Plan 2040, Chapter 8B; Specific Land Use Plans: Revised Southern Development Plan.”
At this time, there is no date for this item to come before the Lawrence City Commission or the Douglas County Commission. However, we encourage all individuals to send emails as general public comment whenever you can and as many times as you can. We will collect any public comment emails we see on the agendas and resubmit them when the item comes before the commission. The email for the general public comment for the City Commission is ccagendas@lawrenceks.org. Comments must be received by noon on the Monday prior to the meeting.
The email for general public comment for the County Commission is publiccomment@dgcoks.gov and public comment must be received by 5:30 the Tuesday prior to the meeting.
ALEX KIMBALL WILLIAMS, COURTNEY KING, AND DR. DAN WILDCAT HOST PANEL ON THE WAKARUSA WETLANDS
ALEX KIMBALL WILLIAMS, COURTNEY KING, AND DR. DAN WILDCAT HOST PANEL ON THE WAKARUSA WETLANDS
MARCH 7, 2026
Dozens of people attended a forum on Saturday hosted by the Kansas City branch of the Party for Socialism and Liberation, bringing together students, educators and activists from Haskell Indian Nations University to discuss the cultural and environmental importance of the Wakarusa Wetlands.
Much thanks to our friends at PSL KC for the video of this meeting!
2 Courtney King.MOV3 Daniel Wildcat.MOV4 Panel Discussion.MOV
The Wakarusa Valley Wetlands Threatened by Development
The Wakarusa Valley Wetlands Threatened by Development
MARCH 3, 2026
Read our article in the Kansas Sierra Club's Waypoints Newsletter!
A project called "New Boston Crossing" or "Ten59" has been proposed in Lawrence, KS. It will irrevocably destroy over 60 acres of Wakarusa River floodplain and 3 acres of Wakarusa wetlands.
The Community Speaks Out
The Community Speaks Out
OCT 22, 2025
In October, the Lawrence-Douglas Planning Commission held a meeting about the Comprehensive Plan Amendment that the developer proposed. This is one component of the many steps the developer has to complete before they can actual break ground (to learn more about the process click here). Despite over 25 public speakers and an hour and 20 minutes of passionate advocacy, the Planning Commission voted to approve the Comprehensive Plan. Community members brought up concerns including: flooding, pollution to the Haskell-Baker wetlands, the historical and cultural significance of the Wakarusa Wetlands, the breaking of our local floodplain regulations, and the fact that the plan being altered is over 18 years outdated. While the representatives for the developer attempted to dismiss these concerns, the truth remains: they are bulldozing acres of wetlands, they're filling in the floodplain and they're introducing light, noise, and physical pollution into a delicate and endangered environment. These negative effects of development cannot be sequestered to just the plot of land they want to develop and no level of mitigation can right this and historical wrongs in this region. Numerous groups have voiced their concern about this project over the past 3 years-read their testimonies here.
Recording of the 10/22/25 Planning Commission meeting. To better understand all the moving heads of the hydra known as New Boston Crossing, visit our overview page.
"It is important in the current conversations about developments along the South Lawrence Trafficway … to have a better appreciation of what the Wakarusa Valley represents to the larger community of wildlife," Ken Lassman writes in this column.lawrencekstimes.com/2025/12/18/lassman-wakarusa-valley-oped/Ken Lassman: Wakarusa River Valley is a key wildlife corridor
Ken Lassman: Wakarusa River Valley is a key wildlife corridor
DEC 18, 2025
After the Wakarusa River Vision Plan Open House, Ken Lassman, the author of the Kaw Valley Almanac, penned a column about the importance of the Wakarusa River Valley as a wildlife corridor. He also created a boundary within iNaturalist that follows the boundary that the County has identified for the Wakarusa River Valley. We encourage all to download iNaturalist on your phone and take pictures of flora and fauna. You'll learn our about our natural world and provide very important citizen science data.
Douglas County to host open house on Wakarusa River Valley conservation plan
Douglas County to host open house on Wakarusa River Valley conservation plan
NOV 13, 2025
Even though this meeting has passed, community members were able to review and provide input on Douglas County's developing Wakarusa Vision Plan.
A Majority of Wetlands Left Unprotected
A Majority of Wetlands Left Unprotected
Updated: June 3, 2025
The majority of the wetlands on the property were assumed under the jurisdiction of the United States of Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) after they were first identified. However, following the Sackett decision of 2023, where the Supreme Court severely reduced protections for wetlands that have no continuous surface water connection. In short, wetlands that were previously under the USACE's regulations are no longer under these protections. The state of Kansas has no additional regulations for wetlands and the City of Lawrence only has regulations about wetlands that are considered under the USACE's jurisdiction. These wetlands highlighted in orange to the left are now unprotected and can legally be destroyed any day without any oversight or consequence. To understand more information about the Sackett decision, please click here.
Wetlands advocates say developers are now using affordable housing as a 'red herring'
Wetlands advocates say developers are now using affordable housing as a 'red herring'
MARCH 29, 2025
SWRV hosted a community informational meeting on March 29th to discuss the newest plan the developer had submitted [NOTE: this plan is no longer current].
Advocates in a Lawrence group protesting a proposed development south of town believe developers have added subsidized housing to the project to distract from its environmental and other consequences.
Haskell regents, professor call for radar search of development site for unmarked graves
Haskell regents, professor call for radar search of development site for unmarked graves
Developers seek approval to locate businesses, housing in Wakarusa River floodplain
Developers seek approval to locate businesses, housing in Wakarusa River floodplain
OCT 31, 2024
Brittany Hall, president of the Haskell National Board of Regents, said in an interview the Haskell board demanded developers make use of ground-penetrating radar to search for the bodies of children who could be buried in unmarked sites within the construction zone. The exploratory investigation should be overseen by the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs in collaboration with tribal nations, the board said.
“Indigenous children utilized the Wakarusa River corridor as a means to escape Haskell Institute,” Hall said.
Dan Wildcat, a professor of Indigenous and American Indian studies at Haskell, said the Wichita-based developers had a responsibility to engage with hundreds of tribes — not just the four recognized tribes in Kansas — to gather information about children who never returned home from Haskell Institute.
Those conversations should occur before city, state and federal officials allow heavy construction equipment to transform that part of the river valley, he said.
“We heard stories, you know, about children who went missing,” Wildcat said. “We don’t know if they ever made it home. We have received, in the past, information from tribes. They believe they have children, or people associated with their tribes, who may be in that area, obviously in an unmarked burial.”
He said he was skeptical government agencies would direct the development company to deploy radar technology to look for possible burial sites unless pressured by tribes.
Environmentalists dodge wetlands threat, but larger floodplain development lurches ahead
Environmentalists dodge wetlands threat, but larger floodplain development lurches ahead
Lawrence, Douglas County officials clash on revisions to floodplain planning guide
Lawrence, Douglas County officials clash on revisions to floodplain planning guide
MAY 30, 2024
A Win for SWRV!
A Win for SWRV!
May 28th, 2024
The Baker University Board of Trustees "voted" not to sell the 17-acre wet prairie ecosystem north of the Discovery Center, "[f]ollowing extensive data gathering and deliberation."
Though this news has put SWRV and the greater community at ease, Baker never responded to the Haskell National Board of Regents' opposition letter, asking for Historical Haskell Lands back, once again, disrespecting the Indigenous community.
More on the story here.
Haskell Board of Regents 'will not stand silently', opposes wetland-area development
Haskell Board of Regents 'will not stand silently', opposes wetland-area development
MAY 16, 2024
Members of the Haskell National Board of Regents have voiced deep concerns about the planned New Boston Crossing development as well as the possible sale of land near the Baker Wetlands Discovery Center for affordable housing development.
Lawrence City Commission approves rezoning requests for New Boston Crossing project
Lawrence City Commission approves rezoning requests for New Boston Crossing project
MARCH 5, 2024
Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday approved eight rezoning requests connected to a project that aims to expand Lawrence southeast of the Iowa Street and Kansas Highway 10 interchange.
Lawrence city commissioners approve next step for New Boston Crossing development
Lawrence city commissioners approve next step for New Boston Crossing development
FEB 6, 2024
The Lawrence City Commission approved on 4-1 vote Tuesday a comprehensive plan amendment that brings a development south of Iowa Street and K-10 one step closer to fruition.
Listen to our member Melinda and Michael discuss this project with Teresa Wilke on EcoRadioKC! Teresa reminds us that this fight is historical in nature, the fight for the Wakarusa Wetlands has spanned decades. She also speaks from personal experience about housing and continued foundational problems living in the Yankee Tank tributary. Micahel reminds us that this developer, Phil Bundy, has attempted to develop this plot of land for over a decade and how the permit is questionably violating our current floodplain regulations. Melinda also explains the process that allowed the illegitimate permit to be approved and the concerns with putting subsidized housing in the floodplain.
To open in browser, click here.
Planning commission approves early steps in New Boston Crossing project that could expand Lawrence to the south
Planning commission approves early steps in New Boston Crossing project that could expand Lawrence to the south
NOV 15, 2023
New Boston Crossing, a planned development southeast of the K-10 interchange at Iowa Street, took the next steps toward coming to fruition with votes from the planning commission on Wednesday.
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