Improving the availability of parking in downtown Lawrence is likely on the to-do list of the next City Commission, but candidates on Tuesday werent of the same mind on how to get the job done.

At a candidate forum hosted by Downtown Lawrence Inc., the six candidates floated ideas such as zoning changes, public-private partnerships, additional parking garages and increased availability of free parking as options.

Commissioner Terry Riordan said it may be time for the city to reconsider its zoning laws in downtown. Currently, much of downtown has a unique zoning designation that allows projects to be built without providing off-street parking. But as downtown has continued its trend of multistory office and apartment buildings, concern has grown that the district may run short of parking.

I think we have to re-look at the idea that people can put something in and not have to provide parking, Riordan said.

But Riordan said the city also should be prepared to be part of public-private partnerships that could add parking in downtown. He noted the city owns numerous surface parking lots in downtown and said the city has a lot of opportunities to be creative with that property.

Candidate Leslie Soden said she thinks an additional parking garage may be needed in downtown, but she cautioned against the public-private partnership model. Instead, she said the city could stop giving tax breaks to many of the new downtown projects and then invest a portion of those tax dollars into building new garages. She said if the city hadnt approved a tax break for a pending expansion of the Eldridge Hotel which is not providing new parking as part of its plan the city perhaps could have built a new public garage at Seventh and Vermont or perhaps Ninth and Vermont.

Then we would have public money being spent on public parking, Soden said. We need to use taxpayer dollars for straightforward public projects.

Candidate Stan Rasmussen said he expects another parking garage and perhaps additions to existing garages will be needed in the foreseeable future. But he said the city also needs to rethink its parking strategy in downtown. He said a shortage of free parking may be hurting the downtown district, especially since other shopping districts such as The Legends and Zona Rosa dont require shoppers to pay for parking.

Whenever we give someone a $3 ticket (for over-parking) we really have soured someone on their experience in Lawrence, Rasmussen said.

Candidate Matthew Herbert stopped short of saying he would support another parking garage in downtown but expressed concern about allowing development to occur without providing off-street parking.

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City Commission candidates debate downtown parking issues at forum

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LEGENDARY English rockers The Darkness are gatecrashing this summer's Brownstock Festival in Essex, organisers have announced.

The event at Morris Farm in Stow Maries, near South Woodham Ferrers, has a host of new acts to add to a line-up, which already features Basement Jaxx, Example and DJ Fresh..

Amongst the plethora of dance and pop on offer at this year's Brownstock, The Darkness, complete with the resplendent high-pitched frontman Justin Hawkins, and The Hoosiers will crash the party, bringing with them a heady slice of rock and indie.

To keep the dance floor packed are yet more new names from the electronic world, including Shadow Child, Bondax, Friction, MJ Cole and more.

After a 2011 reunion, quadruple platinum selling rock outfit The Darkness returned to our stereos and stages, and now they are headed for Brownstock.

The glam four-piece, fronted by falsetto-reaching frontman Justin Hawkins have bagged BRIT, Ivor Novello and MTV EMA awards during their high-octane international career.

DJ and producer Shadow Child is known to many via his shows on BBC Radio 1 and Rinse FM.

Also appearing will be Lancashire future garage duo Bondax and Indiana, a singer making waves with her single 'Solo Dancing'.

With a number one debut album under their belts The Hoosiers will offer up indie rock to the festival's menu.

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PaulDentJones published BROWNSTOCK FESTIVAL: The Darkness and The Hoosiers added to...

BUILDING PERMITS

PMT2014-03449 1025 15th St.; $15,000; Theta Beta; Zucchini Construction; Construction of a new 560-square-foot pergola attached to the south side of an existing sorority house (Delta Delta Delta).

PMT2014-04701 901 Pearl St.; $1,500,000; 901 Eldridge; Deneuve Design, Inc; New TI for a restaurant of 4,990 square feet. Scope of work includes associated MEPs. see LUR2013-00047 and TEC2013-00074 approvals.

PMT2014-05590 500 Iris Ave.; $270,000; Timothy Shea; Boulder Zed Design Build; Two-story addition and remodel to single-family dwelling. Scope includes additions to the front and rear of the main level and a new upper story. Main level will be remodeled and upper level will have three bedroom, two baths, and laundry. Additions include front and back porches.

PMT2014-05665 1043 Pearl St.; $175,749.21; Snyder Family; Pine Construction Co.; Tenant interior remodel for a restaurant finish, main level only Oyster Bar/Fish House. Scope includes some structural work on both main level (floor support) to open up lower level storage area. (see associated cases LUR2012-00038 and ADR2014-00244) (Tenant finish on lower level for conversion of the storage area to restaurant seating by separate building permit and separate review contingent upon approval of LUR 2015-00002).

PMT2015-00133 1310 Ithaca Drive; $200,000; Catherine Bolton; Odom Construction Co.; Single-story addition off rear of residence with new master bedroom and full bath, remodel of 1068 square feet of existing residence, 360 square feet of new/replacement covered patio in front and rear of residence. Scope of work includes associated electrical, mechanical and plumbing.

PMT2015-00139 1130 Alpine Ave.; $70,000; Warren Hern; New parking canopy in the rear parking lot. No new interior floor area is being added. Change of scope: New retaining/support walls added to plan.

PMT2015-00406 2005 Dartmouth Ave.; $180,000; Andrew and Jessica Torbin; Jefferson Builders LLC; Interior remodel of existing residence, 2,490 square feet. Remodel of basement to include family room, bathroom and two bedrooms. Remodel of main level to include living room, dining room, kitchen, bathroom, and two bedrooms. Includes associated MEP.

PMT2015-00475 1601 29th St.; $365,430.56; Charlotte Ball; Dugan Building Company; Unit 1296: Tenant interior finish with exterior modifications for a new J. Crew store, including mechanical, electrical, and plumbing scope. Storefront changes approved per minor modification review ADR2014-00274.

PMT2015-00631 275 Fox Drive; $63,431; Timothy and Heather Bulk; Trimac West LLC; Addition of 248-qsuare-foot attached garage to single-family dwelling.

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Boulder building permits: March 30, 2015

I have been wanting an addition on the back of my shop for some time for the lawn stuff. Its finally becoming a reality. Here are some pics of it

Well it started with this

I decided to have the slab poured end to end for 2 reasons. I needed a pad for soon to be pool equipment, and I didnt want to cut grass between the addition and back of the shop, figured I could use the concrete for something. So a 25x10 slab was born with footings on 2 sides and the front.

My lean-to plan was for 10x16. You can see the 10x16 area is smooth, the other 2 outside areas are broomed. The 2 outside areas have a slope to keep water where it should.

We start framing it up and then thought why not use the extra 4'x10' on the end for a little room. So my carpenter buddy made it happen and its great, gave me more room for not much more money. So now its about a 20x10 addition.

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My "Lean-To" Addition Finally - Pic Heavy - The Garage ...

The city Urban Design Commission approved changes to a rented property on Monroe Street and considered additions to a new engineering operations building and a multi-family apartment development in a Wednesday meeting.

The Madison Theatre Guild requested the committee review an application to make changes to a sign size on rented city property at 2410 Monroe St., originally denied because a 16.5-square-foot sign exceeded the citys maximum of six square feet on a non-residential building in a residential zone.

Vice President Betty Diamond explained in a letter six square feet would not be adequate for the purposes of the Guild.

She said that although the property is located in a residential area, it is very close to commercial areas. There is a functioning gas station next to the rented property, which includes an old firehouse. A commercial area is only a few blocks away.

We believe the current design satisfies the criteria for the [Comprehensive Design Review] process, Diamond said.

The motion for the new sign passed unanimously, and was not discussed further in depth.

Kay Schindel of the city engineering department then presented a proposal for a new addition to the current vehicle storage and maintenance facility at 1600 Emil St.

He said the plan would almost duplicate the area of the existing garage.

Commissioner Tom DeChant raised concerns about the facilitys proximity to a waste dump site, especially whether it would affect traffic flow. Shindel said his company has been negotiating with the city streets department to address the issue.

Several committee members also brought up the varying colors of the building. Their hope for the design was to bring some unity to the color scheme.

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Urban Design Commission reviews design plans for southern Madison buildings

New additions add to the excitement of this already highly anticipated Nottingham festival.

No Tomorrow Festival 2015 welcomes a handful of further additions to their already exciting line-up; Milky Chance, Gorgon City and Nick Mulvey are the latest to join the ever-growing bill for Nottingham's most unmissable weekend of the Summer.

They will be joining with the likes of already announced artists James Bay, John Newman, Jessie Ware and MNEK for the second year of No Tomorrow Festival, which is taking place at Nottingham's Wollaton Park from June 6th to 7th. Other new announcements were SOAK, Karen Harding, JP Cooper, Zak Abel, My Nu Leng, Justin Martin and Grades.

German electro-pop duo Milky Chance are a welcome addition, having this year already won a European Border Breakers Award for their 2013 debut album 'Sadnecessary', featuring Platinum single 'Stolen Dance'. The band, who performed on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' in October last year, have been touring around the UK and Europe since February and now plan to hit the US before returning in the Summer.

Milky Chance join the festival line-up

Gorgon City re-unite with MNEK, whom they collaborated with on their first major hit 'Ready for Your Love'; we're expecting a seriously awesome live reunion! The London garage twosome hit the top 10 in the UK Albums Chart with last year's debut 'Sirens' and have most recently found themselves working with Jennifer Hudson on the single 'Go All Night'.

More: Read our review of 'Sirens'

Mercury Prize-nominated Nick Mulvey brings his uplifting folk rock to No Tomorrow - and a fair few other places because the London singer/songwriter is looking at a non-stop of run of shows this year. He'll be touring across the UK and Europe throughout the Spring and Summer months, with further festival appearances at Kendal Calling, Wilderness, Boardmasters, Y Not Festival and Pinkpop. Mulvey released his debut album 'First Mind' in May last year.

More: Watch Nick Mulvey perform single 'Cucurucu' live

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Milky Chance, Gorgon City And Nick Mulvey Liven Up No Tomorrow Festival 2015

Red Bull announced this week that Red Bull Flugtag, the event that features teams building human-powered extravagant crafts and then flying off into the water, will return to Waterfront Park on Aug. 1.

The first 500 team applications before May 12 will be considered. The brave and brainy teams of five can enter their crazy flying concepts through an application found at redbullflug tagusa.com. Pilots must be 18 years or older. Past applicants have used inspiration such as their favorite food, pop culture, technology and mythology.

On competition day, each team takes a leap off a 28-foot-high flight deck, trying to fly as far as they can, powered only by team members. The world record stands at 258 feet; teams will be judged on distance, but also creativity and showmanship.

Red Bull Flugtag previously stopped in Portland in 2004 and 2008, drawing crowds in the many thousands.

More info can be found at http://www.redbullflugtagusa.com or on Twitter (@redbullPDX, #flugtag).

World rep

Brett Burmeister, owner/editor of the Food Carts Portland website (foodcartsportland.com), will be heading to Singapore, along with food cart Churros Locos and owners Daniel Huerta and Isabel Sanchez-Huerta, for the World Street Food Congress, April 8 through 12.

Therell be several mobile food vendors from Europe, Asia and elsewhere.

Burmeister has been writing about Portlands street food scene since 2008. He will speak at the congress as part of the World Street Food Dialogue on April 8 and 9. Hell relate how the city of Portland and Multnomah County have supported mobile food vendors to create vibrant community spaces while supporting the growth of small and local food businesses.

Churros Locos will showcase its specialty, the Churro and Churro Sundae while using Singaporean ingredients.

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Bits & Pieces: Flugtag returns

Visitors to the Coronation Street Tour can now pop into the Kabin and visit Kevin Websters garage after bosses opened up a raft of new attractions. Bolton News reporter Kate McMullin hit the cobbles to find out more.

ONE of Weatherfields most famous landmarks has been added to the popular Coronation Street tour . . . and its likely even grumpy character Norris would approve of the latest attraction.

For the Kabin - where Norris sells newspapers - is one of the new additions to the famous cobbles. Visitors can also take a sneak peek inside Websters Auto Centre and Devs takeaway Prima Doner. Fans can even go inside and have their pictures taken behind the counter.

The Quay Street tour which launched a year ago after filming of the popular soap was moved from the Old Granada Studios to Media City in Salford - has had more than 420,000 visitors in its first 12 months.

The cast filmed their last scene on the Quay Street set on December 20, 2013, after 33 years of production at Granada Studios.

The 50-minute guided tour takes fans behind the scenes of one of the nations best loved soaps.

They can follow the path that the stars would have taken, starting in the green room and moving down the corridor to see dressing rooms belonging to some of the shows longest-standing cast members.

Fans can also see some of the iconic outfits worn by the cast before going in to the studios where filming took place.

Tour general manager Andy Begg said: We are really excited to include The Kabin as part of the tour. It is one of the sets that fans really want to see and now they can.

We are also sure that they will love the experience of going inside Prima Doner and getting to see what it looks like on TV.

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Our Kate hits the cobbles to check out the Corrie tour

Last year, homeowners spent nearly $19 billion on home improvements, reports Scarborough, a consumer trend research group. If you're thinking about joining this club by building a garage addition to your home, there are a few important things to consider. These tips will get you started in the right direction before you start hammering nails or calling contractors.

Before you do anything else, find out what the zoning laws are in your area. They will state such things as where a garage can be located on your property and the size limitations. They will also specify any special requirements such as roofing materials and drainage considerations. Based on the zoning information, you'll know whether you can even build a garage on your lot and what types are allowable.

The Housing Forum recommends an attached garage if you just need something in which to park your cars. This is a less expensive option because one wall will already be in place. A detached garage would be the choice in which to have a workshop where you want to shield the house from the noise of power tools.

If you're planning on a single-car garage, House Logic says to start with a 14 feet by 20 feet addition. For a two-car garage, go 20 feet by 24 feet. This will just let you get your cars in and open the doors. If you want additional space for storage or a workbench, you'll want to add 6 or 8 feet.

If you already have a carport and are planning on an attached garage, your existing driveway may be sufficient. If not, for a single car garage, you'll need to plan on a 10 feet wide driveway from the garage door to the street. If there are obstacles, such as trees or a wall on either side, you may want a 14 feet wide driveway to make sure the car doors clear the obstacles when opened.

For a two-car garage, you'll want a 20 feet to 24 feet wide driveway. If you need space to turn the car around so you can pull forward out into a busy street, you'll need to plan on a 10 feet wide by 12 feet deep space right in front of the garage.

You'll want to make the garage look like a part of the house and not detract from it. An attached garage placed with the doors opening to the side with some windows in the front looks like just another room addition. This will likely increase your driveway expense since it may not be a direct line into the garage.

If the doors must face front, consider using two one-car doors for better eye appeal. Blend the roof overhang into your house's roof, too, for continuity.

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Things to Consider Before Planning a Garage Addition from ...

Published: Saturday, March 14, 2015 at 11:00 p.m. Last Modified: Saturday, March 14, 2015 at 11:11 p.m.

Through the years, the Drish House has changed hands several times, serving at various times as a public school, a garage and a meeting place for a church. Local legend has it that a ghost once roamed its halls.

The story of the historic house on 17th Street, built in 1837, has been one of deterioration followed by renewal.

Now, Nika McCool, who bought the vacant house in 2014 from the Tuscaloosa County Preservation Society, hopes the time is ripe for resurgence again.

"I feel really strongly in private enterprise having a role to play in the preservation of historic buildings," said McCool, who lives in the Birmingham suburb of Mountain Brook. "There are only so many period restorations that can be done, and after that, if you want them to be saved, they need to find a place in 21st-century society. They need to become part of the day-to-day life of society again, and that's what my business is dedicated to doing."

Ian Crawford is director of the Jemison-Van de Graaff Foundation, a nonprofit that helps take care of the Jemison-Van de Graaff Mansion on Greensboro Avenue. Crawford says McCool's effort is vital to Tuscaloosa.

"No city has a successful rehabilitation program without including historic preservation, and that's been shown time and time again," Crawford said. "We're hoping that things like the Drish coming back will help people understand how important historic preservation and building conservation are."

McCool's renovation has been organized into two phases. Her first objective was to restore the outer facade. Repairs were made to the roof, stucco and masonry. The woodwork and windows were replaced, and more than 100 gallons of paint were used. Now she is conquering the interior, with plans to have it completed by fall. Then she hopes to locate someone who could find a good use for the building.

She sees the space, with its mostly open floor plan downstairs, being used as an event venue for weddings and parties. The upstairs has been sectioned off into smaller rooms that once held Sunday school classes and now could be used for office space.

"It's right next to the new brewery and the new gym," Crawford said. "It could be a great restaurant, it could be offices, a little cafe, artists' lofts. We've talked about everything under the sun."

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Tuscaloosa's historic Drish House coming back to life