The underlying story of strong demand and modest supply that has characterized the municipal market so far this year continues unabated into the summer, said Alan Schankel, managing director at Janney Montgomery Scott. “Investors have added $53 billion to muni mutual funds plus almost $5 billion to muni ETFs so far in 2019,” he said. “In theory the $58B total of new 2019 cash is enough to absorb more than a third of the first six months of municipal new issue volume of roughly $166.8 billion.” He continued to say that this illustrates the shifting trend in how investors seeking tax-free [...]

City leaders will soon consider a new growth policy that encourages infill development as the most cost-effective way for the city to grow, but some local organizations are concerned the plan’s growth restrictions would make housing in Lawrence even more expensive. The Lawrence City Commission will soon consider the new comprehensive plan, Plan 2040, which lays out policies that will shape how the city grows for the next 20 years. Plan 2040 prioritizes development within the city’s boundaries and requires developers to meet several requirements to annex land to expand those boundaries. The city maintains that growth needs to be focused [...]

Lawrence city leaders will soon consider two requests related to the city’s first proposed development of small homes. The city already allows the 3,000-square-foot single-family lots the project requires, but the proposed site requires a rezoning from industrial uses to that zoning type as well as an amendment to the comprehensive plan. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will consider both requests, as well as a letter of opposition from the neighborhood. Read more: LJWorld.com.