" Whoa. Blue is not THAT cool of a restaurant. "

" What a bunch of hicks. I suppose we're going to raise property taxes so they can turn the downtown into one huge drunken' brawl for all the 25 yr olds!!! Vision my eye!!! Everything is surrounded with bars and drinking and hip and more bars and drinking. Why not see if you can't get a big Coors or Budweiser brewery to take over the downtown. I'm outta here and theres alot that agree and are going to follow. Its bad enough to be recognized as living in the "taxed to death" city and state and I don't care to be labeled as living in the drunkenest city in the U.S. Its plain to see, all the decent people have left this town. "

" I can't believe what I'm reading! This "vision" group is just saying throw more money and do more of the same! What kind of vision is that? All this is is just more of the children of old money in this town trying to make something out of what's now useless real estate. "

" No, all the intelligent people have left this town for larger cities with actual amenities in their downtown districts--amenities that cater to people with college degrees. You can paint it as a "drunken' brawl" all that you like, but if you've ever actually been downtown--to a Lied Performance, an art gallery, Jazz in June, a concert, for coffee, dinner or shopping--you understand that there is much more to it than bars and alcohol. "

" The Blue may not be that cool of a restaurant but Lincoln has nothing that compares to it. "

" Its a sad thing, Lincoln & Nebraska worship their college degrees. The city I moved from people didn't exploit their college education. Its always been that way here, I grew up with it, have it in my own family. If you don't have a UNL degree your trash. Just a bit sick of it. My friends aren't into art, jazz and dinner downtown?? Your kidding! Went to Pershing to see Andre and wasn't sure if I'd gotten into somebody's hog barn or what. Even Andre acted like he was embarrassed because people milled in and out right in the middle of the concert. People were so rude he even stopped playing and waited and waited and waited til they set down. The city I came from people didn't act like that. But then Lincoln is me first and I'll do what I damn please. "

" What's the point of having anything DT when you can't get to it. Omaha's old market is so easy to get to and has plenty of free parking, but there is never anyplace in DT Lincoln to put your car without having to pay. God forbid you want to stay all night. What DT needs is some sort of decent public transportation that can take people to certain stops in the haymarket easily.I don't know how many times I've driven DT and just turned right back around to go somewhere else because I can't find a place to park within walking distance to where I was headed. "

" Remember this visionary goup is only looking out to 2015. Must be when they retire cause it's not long range. "

" I guess people will just never figure it out, most people in this town could care less about downtown. Downtown is a thing of the past. In todays society it is all about what is convenient. Nothing in Downtown is convienient. I didn't like downtown 20yrs ago and I don't care for it today. Just Please stop wasting money!!!!! "

" I really like downtown and think it would be great if we could get a city square and a few more non-Brother's type bars. As for parking, I've had an easier time finding parking in Lincoln than in the Old Market (Check R and N St. there are always spots). For those criticizing the 2015 Group, what are your ideas for downtown? Should we not allow citizens to voice their ideas for the area? And yes, Lincoln is a college town, it will always be a college town. Therefore, appealing to college grads is vitally important to our economy. "

" It is interesting that there are comments relating the "blue" restaurant, and that as this article makes it out to be so nice or hip, but what about the small local fare of Wassabi? Though I know that it may not be the fancy glamour location, but the owner is doing the best that he can and seams to be doing quit a business. I am there at least once a week and am going to be disappointed when the building comes down and he is forced elsewhere. "

" I would have to agree with the general tone of this article. The downtown scene in Lincoln is pretty sad! Yes, there are a few things downtown like the Lied Center and a few nice coffee shops and restaurants. But unless you're a 21 year old college kid the downtown area has little to offer. I would definitely love to see something more along the lines of the Old Market in Omaha. However, we live in Lincoln...not Omaha. There is a reason that all the bars and businesses cater to college kids!! We are a college town and the downtown area is right next to the university!! Businesses come in to do one thing and that is to make money! You cater to the market that is accessible to you and, in Lincoln, the market is dominated college students and families with 2.5 children. The demographics of Lincoln are, in my opinion, quite a bit different than what is found in Omaha. Lincoln really lacks that mid 20's to mid 30's professional crowd. Maybe Lincoln can support something a little more metropolitan feeling and maybe not. But, if at all possible, I would love to see it. I just won't hold my breath. "

" The only successful place downtown is the HayMarket. Its always doing well. So the idea is to build around it and expand. I cannot believe there is unused real estate down there. Parking?? What do you people want? Free Valet service? You can always find parking. but (horrors) you may have to walk a few steps and lose a few pounds of ugly fat. "

" Lincoln has been trying to reinvent downtown for at least 30 years. I don't have the answer, but Lincoln isn't the town it once was. The high paying blue collar jobs are gone, the birth rate in Lincoln is fairly low, so this is an older less vibrant population now. Most people I know that are under the age of 30 are either leaving Lincoln, or trying to figure out a way to leave Lincoln. Many I know over the age of 40 who stayed in the area wish they would have left because Lincoln has fallen so far. Some that have left would like to return, but the Lincoln they knew is gone and likely never to return, so they have no Lincoln to come home to. I guess the "answer" or "explanation" is that for so many years, even though Omaha has always been a larger city, Lincoln was always the "center" of Nebraska. That simply isn't the case anymore. I think more people think of Omaha as the center of things, both politically and economically more than they once did. I think Lincoln's business and political leadership is just beginning to realize that. Omaha has the Qwest Center, Lincoln has a vision. Omaha has Warren Buffett, Lincoln has ???, Omaha has both Creighton and UN Medical Center, Lincoln has ??? In western Nebraska, I think people are even more oriented to a Colorado or Wyoming "mindset" than they ever were, because Omaha and Lincoln are just so removed from their daily lives. Let's not forget the wrestling tournament, this was a MAJOR blow to Lincoln, but Lincoln simply doesn't have the facilities to get the tourney back. Redeveloping downtown, building an events center are great goals and Lincoln is damned if it does, damned if it doesn't. Don't build and redevelop and Lincoln will further decline. Build it and "nothing" happens the citizens will be burdened with even greater taxes, thus accelerating the downfall. Most of Lincoln's growth the past 10 years has been through immigration with a different vision, retirees and young professional families with comparatively few children. This isn't the sort of demographics that lead to economic vitality. These are just a few thoughts I have, maybe it'll light up an idea or a new way of thinking. I miss the old Lincoln, but it is long gone and will never return, but a new Lincoln can be born. "

" Downtown rentals a bargain? HA! The condos going up at 7th and R start @ 270k! Maybe the Lied, Hayden, Roccoco, stretch limo crowd think that's a bargain but I certainly don't "

" The so called powers to be or the influencial people need to wake up; We are not OMAHA and as recently suggested if Indianapolis can do it why cann't we? We we are not Indianapolis either. Stop and look what the population base and the economics base of those communities. "

" If you want to go somewhere and have a good time and not hang out with a bunch of college kids....vision driving to Omaha or KC "

" Lincoln is dying and downtown is dead. Pull the plug and call Wyuka. "

" Downtown is only good for companies and it's workers. I hate downtown and I don't really care what gets put in downtown. Unlike others, I won't come downtown just to worry about expensive parking meters, 10 dollar parking tickets, packed parking garages, gum and trash on the sidewalk, crappy sreets, bad views, ugly and outdated buildings, stupid bike lanes in the middle of the road making the whole biking situation worse and homeless begging you for money just to yell and curse at you when you ignore them if you paid me!! "