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The first 'pillar' goes before the council

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By DEENA WINTER / Lincoln Journal Star

Tuesday, Feb 13, 2007 - 08:51:26 am CST

The first of 10 pillars proposed by the 2015 Vision group was being edged into place Monday when the City Council approved plans to convert a Haymarket District block into an Arts & Humanities Center.

It’s not a done deal by any means, but the council’s approval was a step toward converting the block bounded by R, S, Eighth and Ninth streets into a collection of art galleries, performance spaces, specialty shops and condominiums.

Not only would the block get an extreme makeover, but the plans envision a new north entrance to the Haymarket District being created at Ninth Street.

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The block is now occupied by the former Central Plains Millwork (which is already being privately renovated), two University of Nebraska Press book warehouses and the offices of the Nebraska Press Association and Nebraska Press Advertising Service.

All of the buildings would have to be extensively renovated, except for the university press’s Bison Books warehouse at 800 R St., which would be demolished.

Legislation approved by the council envisions converting the brick University Press building at Ninth and R into a satellite of the Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery.

The Bison Books warehouse to the west would be torn down and replaced with an up to five-story building with about 40 condos, parking and first-floor commercial space.

The Nebraska Press Association building and parking lots would become a sculpture garden and other arts-related areas.

In a statement to the Lincoln City Council, UNL Chancellor Harvey Perlman expressed support for the project, saying the Bison Books building is “relatively non-descript and, in my judgment, adds little to the environment of the Haymarket.”

But he called the University Press building on the east end of the block a “wonderful red brick, two-story warehouse” whose open space and high ceilings could be ideal for displaying art. He suggested the first floor could be used for poetry readings, small musical performances and writing clinics.

But he said development of the rest of the block would probably be necessary for the university to proceed.

“We would not want to be the sole pioneer in an area and then have to wait for additional development to take place,” he said in a statement to the council.

The downtown area was declared blighted in 1984, making the block eligible for tax increment financing. It’s expected to cost an estimated $17.2 million to redevelop the block. The increased value would be used to leverage $1.2 million in tax increment financing, an urban renewal financing tool that diverts the increased property tax revenue back into the project, usually through public improvements.

According to city documents, the TIF could be used to buy property, demolish it, prepare the site and spruce up the surrounding area.

The block now generates about $19,000 in property taxes annually, and while those property taxes will continue to be paid at that level, additional property tax revenue generated by the revitalization would be used to make payments on a bond that will help fund the project.

The Nebraska Press Association’s executive director, Allen Beermann, was not at the council meeting but said his association has had about a half dozen briefings on the Arts & Humanities plan since August, with another scheduled next week.

If the plan goes through, he assumes his building would have to be bought by the city or university and then demolished.

“We want to be good neighbors,” he said. “We’re interested in having a nice entryway to the city too… but we have to protect our association, our members. We have a big investment in this.”

The formerly Central Plains Millworks, a shop for sawing and milling lumber on the corner of Eighth and S, is already being converted into an office and retail building called The Sawmill Building by WRK, a development firm headed by brothers Will and Robert Scott.

“It’ll probably be one of the nicer buildings in town,” Robert Scott told the council. “We’re very excited about what’s going to be happening on this block.”

The city will now invite developers to submit their redevelopment proposals. Once developers are chosen to do the projects, their plans will go back to the council for approval.

Reach Deena Winter at 473-2642 or dwinter@journalstar.com.


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hummm wrote on February 13, 2007 6:59 am:
" See bit by bit it will be rammedd down your throat until it all done. And there is no turning back. gig deep taxpayer. "

 2015 needs glasses wrote on February 13, 2007 7:14 am:
" So we have a few public meetings but then we do our own thing anyway... that's how Lincoln's elite work. Show your opposition for 2015, all they want is a hand out! "

 Alan wrote on February 13, 2007 7:19 am:
" Yeah, and for what? A sculpture garden? Not very useful. "

 YUP wrote on February 13, 2007 7:55 am:
" you could have stopped this wasteful spending, but you didn't. so...yup, dig deeper taxpayer "

 Please Lincoln wrote on February 13, 2007 7:57 am:
" This project is about as much of a no-brainer as there could be. Being debated in the public arena, moving forward a project at a time, I don't see ANY heavy handedness with this project, only the ability for the City to work in partnership with a Private Developer and the main asset the city has to offer - UNL. "

 Taxes wrote on February 13, 2007 8:34 am:
" Tax increment financing? Hmmm, sounds like we are all going to finance a "Vision" for Lincoln's wealthiest. Where is Jon Camp on this one? Oh yeah, directly profiting from neighboring properties being renovated on our dime! Way to go City Council! Our dated infrastructure is crumbling, our roads and traffic flow are terrible, and we have a large budget deficit. But we sure will have a great Haymarket area...with almost no parking! "

 Sean1 wrote on February 13, 2007 9:57 am:
" Remember the old saying: "The reason most people become politicians is because they're too lazy to commit armed robbery". Looks like the City Council qualifies. "

 Beth wrote on February 13, 2007 10:39 am:
" Perlman is moving ahead without support of the regents ? The costs of retrofitting the brick building to match or exceed environmental conditions at Sheldon would be very very expensive, ehat happened to the former Sheldon expansion plans? Is the University being placed in an ackward position with less accountibility than the Raikes bills requires of the Fair board? This seems a site potentially very noisey...9th and 10th St aren't drag strips but neither are they quiet zones. "

 DT wrote on February 13, 2007 10:48 am:
" It appears the city council is acting with assumptions of University participation when that should first be approved by the Board of Regents, what are projected costs and would the legislature have the right to prioritize UNL budget line items? Would this affect faculty salaries? "

 Wyonna wrote on February 13, 2007 11:05 am:
" Are two public (state entities) being treated equally in the requirement for due diligence? LB131 calls for input from UNL on its possible use (not actual?) of State Fair Park and adjoining property as a technology showplace. LB435 requires state fair leadership to file an updated master plan before undertaking any major construction . Has UNL presented a "Master Plan" equally as important in the public eye as the Fairboard would be required to show? Are some "pillars" and UNL Planning under a different standard than others? Why would UNL or the ciity be responsible for a demolition developers would profit from, is UNL in the development of real estate business or education? "

 Chicken Farm wrote on February 13, 2007 11:21 am:
" Who would want to relocate to that location? Brothel rooms would be a great sporting addition to the area...but would that "small business" be legitimate or legal? "

 Hanna wrote on February 13, 2007 12:31 pm:
" UNL is far from "an asset" the city can offer, it remains an asset of the State. While a "partnership" might be interesting, there are many processes that shouldn't be circumvented. While the Arts and Humanities are important in the mission of UNL, the Unicameral and governor have placed tyrannical restrictions on UNL's budget and exemplary faculty has been lured away from UNL. It would be foolish to build research facilities without expertise needed to drive R&D forward whether in the Arts or Sciences. "

 Linda wrote on February 13, 2007 12:51 pm:
" Community out reach of Arts and Humanities might be more relevant if opportunity were extended to neighborhoods with support of Weslyan, Doane and Union programs. The geriatric population is growing and by 2015 many citizens will be seeking venues closer to their homes, not in the Haymarket. This should be a "no brainer", people want and desrve neighborhood facilities and that should be the mission of the council...not isolationist agreements with rogue groups. "

 Great Idea wrote on February 13, 2007 2:47 pm:
" Please Lincoln City Council - Show some wisdom and help this private sector led, University supported project see the light of day "

 Arthur wrote on February 13, 2007 3:50 pm:
" The UNL art collection deserves better than what is proposedd, so does UNL. A tacky proposal is far beneath the dignity and honor a superb collection has to offer. Supporters of the Nebraska Art Association should realize world class museums are not divided and left in a warehouse environment, the collection is too valuable. Use common sense, flawed intelligence looks for the best, not band aid solutions. "

 Phil wrote on February 13, 2007 4:00 pm:
" Where is the nearest grocery store or pharmacy to/for the Haymarket residents? Vision? "

 Two Words: Tax Revenue! wrote on February 13, 2007 4:07 pm:
" Councilman Dan Marvin read the numbers outloud during the Council meeting: current tax revenue from that block $19,000, expected future tax revenue from that block $190,000 a year, even with Sheldon II tax exempt. I would be willing to forgo additional tax earnings in the short term to get ten times the property taxes that wouldn't be generated without tax increment financing. "

 Billy Bob wrote on February 13, 2007 7:57 pm:
" Just get it over with. Blight the whole county and Tiff everything. Get rid of the County Board and just merge with the city. Better yet, Let Vision 2015 run everything. "

 Ralph wrote on February 13, 2007 8:02 pm:
" Thsts right. The elite will make THEIR plans and RAM it down everybodys throats and the middle and poor class will pay big time. And taxes will pay for it because sure isn't anybody coming in with these high taxes. Nebraska's high taxes . NE is laughing stock from coast to coast, believe me!!! Won't be my taxes, because I'm on my way out!!!! "

 LB wrote on February 14, 2007 9:18 am:
" Let's see, what does downtown Lincoln need? Grocery store, parking, retail stores, parking, family-oriented activities, parking... "

 Blind people wrote on February 14, 2007 10:31 am:
" Before spending money on "pleasure" before any revenue is coming in, it would be wise to build the jail THATS NEEDED instead of raising the property taxes again for bonds for the jail! Good grief, take care of what is a priority FIRST. But no, those rich guys gotta buy and build so their pockets get to bulging. Like the city council member that will benefit big time from the Haymarket glorification!!! Why wasn't the jail built, instead of buying the theatre and buildings and sinking more taxpayer money into more parking garages and buildings that will probably set empty. Peoples judgement in this town is absolutely horrifying!!! If those rich people want to build all the stuff they want then donate the money like alot of citys wealthy do and keep the taxes half Nebraskas!!!! Grocery or pharmacy?? Well that shows you the kind of 2015 Vision thinking, if it doesn't benefit the 2015 Vision people, ITS NOT IN THE PICTURE!!!!!! "

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