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Get ready to celebrate Innovation Park

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Wednesday, Apr 02, 2008 - 12:50:52 am CDT

Lincoln leaders aren’t just putting on a brave face about the Ag Committee’s vote Monday to move the state fair to Grand Island.

They truly are excited that the way is being cleared for creation of a new research and development campus for the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

And they should be.

Innovation Park is a big, bold, exhilarating plan.

It’s also realistic.

The more study that was given to the proposed Innovation Park, the better it looked. Those who have thoroughly researched the concept concluded, as Gov. Dave Heineman put it, that the proposal is “the opportunity of a lifetime.”

It’s almost unimaginable that a major university could have a 251-acre tract available right next to campus.

Its location is the key. As UNL Chancellor Harvey Perlman wrote last year in a Local View column, “It has been demonstrated around the country that the single most important factor in the success of these types of developments is their location.

“Private sector technology companies want to be on a university campus with easy access to faculty who share research interests, to students who can serve as interns and to classes that can provide continuing education to their employees.”

Creating Innovation Park will attract hundreds of millions in private investment and will result in the creation of hundreds or thousands of quality jobs. Its development will create a new, thriving, attractive area in the heart of the city.

There should be no second thoughts about the decision to move the fair from the existing fairgrounds.

There should, however, be some reflection on how the decision was made to chose the Grand Island site.

The dynamics of the decision-making bother us.

Grand Island put together a good package and pursued the fair with focused zeal.

Lincoln had a tougher time putting together its pitch. Lincoln officials had to concentrate on the No. 1 objective, getting State Fair Park for UNL. Hard feelings on the part of some fair board members apparently made it difficult to evaluate the merits of the alternatives objectively.

Also troublesome was the role of Lancaster Event Center officials. State Fair Director Barney Cosner said Monday that Event Center officials didn’t want to board horses during the horseracing season now held at State Fair Park. After that declaration on Feb. 26, Cosner said, “it didn’t take long to narrow the field.”

From this perspective, that seems like a case of the tail wagging the dog.

In addressing the bill that came from the Ag Committee, members of the full Legislature should assure themselves that they are choosing the site that will best serve the future of the fair and all Nebraskans.

And if the answer still is to move the fair to Grand Island, then Lincoln residents should have no regrets. As Mayor Chris Beutler put it, “We need the Innovation Park more than anything. That’s our future.”


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russ wrote on April 2, 2008 5:40 am:
" Good editorial. But the people who have gone to the Fair for 70 years in it's current location will be very vocal in their opposition to moving the fair. "

 Hurrah! wrote on April 2, 2008 8:18 am:
" I am ready to celebrate! The possibilities are endless with the old fair site, and I have to believe UNL will use it to improve themselves and also Linocln.

Good luck G.I. and I hope you create a new tradition for Ag - Nebraska. If I was one to go to fairs I'd probably drive to G.I., but I haven't been in years, and probably won't for the next 20 years.

And to those who accept this as a move out of the 19th and 20th century...way to go!! "

 Dave K wrote on April 2, 2008 8:35 am:
" Congrats, LJS, your propaganda campaign was successful! "

 why celebrate wrote on April 2, 2008 11:00 am:
" Part of the State Fair involves 4-H which is sponsored by UNL because 4-H is part of UNL's Extension services. The 4-H participants are potential students at UNL. Having the Fair in Lincoln should be considered a recruitment opportunity. Wouldn't UNL want to keep the pool of students coming to Lincoln?

At the same time, the important technology that UNL's and Lincoln's leaders keep alluding to now allows students to take off-campus classes. There is no guarantee students will be next door to the Innovation Park unless UNL does offer Web based classes. If a student wants a job, the student will go to the job. Having students next door does not assure that the innovators will have the intern statff that they will want.

Finally, how does keeping the Icebox in the Innovation Park help the development of quality jobs for Lincoln or Nebraska? If nothing else, Perlman's plan to leave a hockey rink on site when UNL's own 4-Hers are moved off-site really bothers me. Which site will produce more prospective students?
"

 not ready to celebrate wrote on April 2, 2008 11:19 am:
" Part of the State Fair involves 4-H which is sponsored by UNL because 4-H is part of UNL's Extension services. The 4-H participants are potential students at UNL. Having the Fair in Lincoln should be considered a recruitment opportunity. Wouldn't UNL want to keep the pool of students coming to Lincoln?

At the same time, the important technology that UNL's and Lincoln's leaders keep alluding to now allows students to take off-campus classes. There is no guarantee students will be next door to the Innovation Park unless UNL does offer Web based classes. If a student wants a job, the student will go to the job. Having students next door does not assure that the innovators will have the intern statff that they will want.

Finally, how does keeping the Icebox in the Innovation Park help the development of quality jobs for Lincoln or Nebraska? If nothing else, Perlman's plan to leave a hockey rink on site when UNL's own 4-Hers are moved off-site really bothers me. Which site will produce more prospective students?
"

 I don't understand wrote on April 2, 2008 12:14 pm:
" Is UNL running this town???? The public should VOTE on this issue!! "

 Gerard Harbison wrote on April 2, 2008 12:52 pm:
" "Right next to campus"? Does the writer of this editorial live in Lincoln? Evidently not! I work on campus, and in no way would I describe State Fair Park as right next to us.

Fortunately, there's google maps. From the center of State Fair Park at the end of 17th St, to the Nebraska City Campus Union is a distance of 1.6 miles. That's a drive, not a walk.

The University does not have the funds to develop the Innovation Campus, and with the economy in its present parlous state, I don't see them getting the funds any time soon. The park will sit empty, with its buildings decaying, for years. Those few enterprises that do locate there will be located in a decaying and largely desolate area. I can't see it being a success. "

 Hawthorne wrote on April 2, 2008 12:54 pm:
" The only opportunity of a lifetime was when we were able to get Tom Osborne to take the other jokers place. That was opportunity. Pearlman only thinks about himself and his legacy, not the city of Lincolns or the Universitys. Pearly is all about pearls. Pretty on the outside, but cracks when the pressure is applied. "

 It wrote on April 2, 2008 2:55 pm:
" rates right up there with the antelope valley project, and the plans for an arena-hotel-riverwalk. Celebrate what? Taxing the people right out of town? Who is going to pay for all this? No matter how much B.S comes out of the mouths of the rich and famous, you can bet the middle wage earner it going to take it in the shorts "

 Kevin wrote on April 2, 2008 3:02 pm:
" A distance of 1.6 miles is a drive, not a walk??? No wonder obesity is such a problem in this country. "

 Scott wrote on April 2, 2008 3:04 pm:
" I am glad you have mastered google maps, but have you noticed that the border of State Fair Park and the Border of UNL are the same? Just because the 'heart' of each area is a ways away, doesn't mean that they aren't still connected. The border of lincoln and the capital building are several miles apart, but the border is still lincoln.

sheesh. good riddens state fair. GI will just speed up its slow death. They cry of low attendance and then they want to move away from a population center of over 1 million people. Few from Lincoln/Omaha will go to GI for a boring fair, and even if they did, GI doesn't have the hotels or restuarants, or roads, or shops, or, or, or to support tourism.

Proud to be a 'former' Nebraskan! "

 Helen wrote on April 2, 2008 4:50 pm:
" Congratulations are due to the Lincoln Journal and certainly to the 2015 Vision Group. Together they have accomplished their goal and the Innovation Park will be a reality. For the sake of the city and the average taxpayer, I hope all the rosy predictions come true. Sadly, the rest of us have been reminded of some realities of life which don't really invite celebration. We're reminded again how much of what happens in Lincoln is determined not by those the people elect, but by those in positions of power attained by other means such as having enough money to wield financial influence. We, the people, weren't allowed to vote on where we wanted the Fair located even though we, the people, are supposedly the real owners of the Fair having supported it for so many decades with our dollars. And, sadly, we're reminded that the number of local events which are affordable for most of us to enjoy with our families has been just reduced. We will have our memories of the good times spent attending many events at State Fair Park, not just the Fair.
I just hope those who are in power realize the success of Lincoln may rely on more than economic growth. It may rely on being able to harness the efforts and talents of middle and low income citizens from diverse backgrounds by demonstrating to these average folk they are valued and their opinions and desires do matter. "

 Starsfan wrote on April 2, 2008 4:54 pm:
" What will this mean for the icebox and the young hopeful hockey players (Lincoln Stars). The new ice sheet(s) that are to be put in hopefully by 2009 were supposed to be additional sheets for youth hockey in Lincoln. Will the Stars organization be able to 'overtake' this new venue as well?? "

 dewboy wrote on April 2, 2008 5:10 pm:
" Don't worry about the fair bombing in GI. Worry about the Innovation Park bombing. My but we can come up with special tax breaks such as a desolate area with run down bldgs. and roads.BLIGHT. Sounds like a ripe cherry for Urban Development to pretty up. "

 Details wrote on April 2, 2008 6:09 pm:
" Well, now that the Fair out/Research Park in seems to be a done deal, it would be nice to hear some details. What is Innovation Park and what is so innovative about it? Let's hear some names. Plans. Projections. Certainly there are some. City officials wouldn't push a multi-million dollar project on maybes and pie-in-the-sky promises, would they? I don't often agree with Mr. Harbison but unfortunately, I suspect he is totally right on with this one. I'm thinking about that Whittier school building and that building that I think used to belong to the Cushman factory. The University HAD to have those too and they sit, neglected and unused (oh yeah, aren't they going to build a daycare or something?). Who is REALLY going to pay for this Park? We can't even get a grocery to build in a new location without giving them access to the property for practically free. We have to bend over backwards to accomodate certain hotels and movie theaters. Lincoln looks pretty desperate right now, and personally, I plan to vote hell no on any forthcoming bond issues. "

 Nice, real nice. wrote on April 2, 2008 9:04 pm:
" Making a blanket statement like "I plan to vote hell no on any forthcoming bond issues" really is something. A perfect example of cutting off your nose to spite your face. That oughta teach 'em, huh?

I thank my lucky stars the people who actually make things happen in this fine city don't think like that. Good luck to all of those who are responsible for attempting to improve Lincoln and UNL. You deserve a pat on the back, and I'm sure you'll be successful.

"

 The Omega Man wrote on April 2, 2008 9:51 pm:
" DETAILs hit the nail on the head. Other than the highly secretive Vision 2015 folks no one really has any idea what this research park is all about, including the Unicameral. Only a few more years and I'm on my way out of this Naziesque backwater. "

 An ex-Omega Man wrote on April 3, 2008 7:45 am:
" I used to think that too when I moved to Texas to get out of this rathole of a place. Nebraska, what a joke, I thought. I was a young college grad who knew so much more than anyone else in this backward state. An Innovative Park...ha, what a joke.

Thank goodness I grew up and realized what a great state it is. Moved back after 7 years of Texas hell, and I (and my family) have not regretted it one iota. Good luck to the next generation of "this is a backwater state and I'm outta here." I'm sure I'll be reading posts from you when you start missing us! There really is no place like Nebraska. "

 Real Details wrote on April 3, 2008 9:41 am:
" Just a comment on Details post about Cushman and Whitter. The Polar Ice Core Office and a few other groups have been in the usable part of Whitter for over 10 years. The rest of it wasn't available to use because of the conditions. Extended Ed and Outreach has been in the Cushman building since at least 2004, and about a year ago the UNL inventory took over most of the rest of the building. "

 Empty Wallet wrote on April 3, 2008 1:39 pm:
" This Just IN!!!!
Lincoln throws $42M to Grand Island!
Lottery Money Out!
GI Excited to host smaller more intimate Fair!
Considering calling it the Nebraska Inter-County Semi-State Fair!
Wooooo!
I wonder if the constitutional change part of this is just going to ramrodded through with no vote.

In Nebraska the voters in the state have the constitutional right to vote on constitutional changes.
"

 RS wrote on April 3, 2008 3:49 pm:
" You people who think that the public should get to vote on this issue, are you crazy? This is Nebraska. When have we ever had a chance to vote on anything of real importance, especially in Lincoln? The gas tax is suppossed to increase, the death penalty is "on hold" because the method is cruel and unusual. Our law makers are no better than the one's in Washington. They do whatever they want after getting elected, no matter what they said they would or would not do prior to that election. "

 dewboy wrote on April 3, 2008 4:12 pm:
" Detail is RIGHT: Whittier sat for years neglected by LPS and UNL. Vision 2015 OWES a huge apology to the public for guessing WRONG on locating the fair to 84th street. Keep in mind this is the same group (2015) that is behind the arena. It seems they now run the City of Lincoln "

 Community Real Details wrote on April 3, 2008 10:31 pm:
" Sorry Real Details. The use of those buildings is such and the maintenance is such that they are and have been an anchor on that neighborhood. Before UNL sat on Whittier that was a vibrant community 30+ years ago. Pearlman asked and received the money from the regents specifically to develop those properties for Research and Development. In Fact if you read Pearlman's State of the School speech in Novemeber 2006 that was still the plan.

The crime in all of this is UNL's track record for success in this area. The Beadle Center worked well but that was alot to bite off and their plans leave the Beadle Center in the dust.

The real potential losers here are the Clinton, Malone, and North Bottoms neighborhoods.
"

 Re: Community Real Details wrote on April 4, 2008 8:42 am:
" Would you have rather had Cushman sat empty? UNL didn't force Cushman to leave. They sold the business and the new company moved everything. And as far as Whittier, if you'd do a little looking, you'd see the announcement that the Nebraska Transportation Center is renovating 26,000 square feet to be completed by December 2009 "

 airedale wrote on April 5, 2008 6:40 pm:
" I don't live in Lincoln anymore but I have to wonder what qualifications one will have to have in order to work at this new 'park'? My guess is that one will need at least a masters degree in order to get a job that is worth having - most of the rest will be support and intern jobs that probably won't pay much or at least pay only average wages.

Lincoln needs good paying blue collar jobs that a broader section of the population can benefit from. At this rate unless one works for government, works for the University or has a good paying service job like a plumber or lawyer one won't find a good job in Lincoln.

Just one more reason why Lincoln will never be anything more that an oversize 'college town'. Take away the Universitys and take away State government jobs and Lincoln would have about the same number of opportunities for people that Grand Island does. "

 JW wrote on April 5, 2008 9:22 pm:
" This is such a joke. There is plenty of land around town that would be suitable for the "innovation park" which the details of this endeavor are still vague. What about ground around east campus? What is this damn thing anyway? All i know is that the tax payers will be paying out the rear for whatever happens. UNL is so greedy and care nothing about the citizens that keep their bank book alive. The legislatures are a bunch of puppets! "

 Marisol wrote on April 6, 2008 10:41 pm:
" Oh for god's sake. This is blind boosterism, not a thoughtful editorial position. Your readership deserves better, LJS. "

 Bill wrote on April 8, 2008 10:22 am:
" We don't need Inovation Park, who's going to pay the 1.3 BILLION dollars to biuild it and support it? The TAX payers. The state willbring in companies that are tax exempt (bait) and those companies will bring in their employees and I betting there won't be thousands, maybe a couple hundred or so. At 1.3 BILLION the taxes on those people won't even come near to paying for the place.

The move to a place near Lincoln or Omaha is more feasable for the state fair. Since our beloved (hopefully to be voted out soon) Governor would have pledged the same 5 million towards moving the fair that he did to move it to GI that the fair would still have been in Linocln.

All this time and still GI has no numbers, just "We'll have the most awesome fair here, trust us." Our trust is broken by the state and all the legislators who need to be voted out of office. The visionary 2015 council needs to be abolished. "

 herbieleroy wrote on April 19, 2008 4:17 pm:
" Isn't it great to know that communism is alive and well in Lincoln, Nebraska. We even have red as the University color! "

 dewboy wrote on April 20, 2008 1:25 pm:
" UNL used Antelope Valley money to buy Cushman property. They OUTBID a long established local business (which would have put the property back on tax rolls) to get the property. Whittier is the same song and dance from UNL OH MY do we need that property. For what? FENCING classes. LATE DEVELOPMENT. UNL $14 million PLUS in the hole. Maybe they could get Callahan and Pedersen to give or donate some funds. YEH, they need a smart park alright. "

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