Arena study group OKs design framework
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BY MATT OLBERDING / Lincoln Journal Star
With developers and architects chosen for a proposed West Haymarket arena, hotel and convention center, a study group working on the project gave a thumbs-up on Tuesday to a preliminary plan for guiding the design of development in the area.
The integrated development plan, put together by Sinclair Hille Architects, will serve as a blueprint for going forward with buildings, green space, roads and other components if voters approve the plan next year.
Still in draft form, the development plan is based on five principles: human comfort, urban experience, respect for history, environmental stewardship and community ownership. It covers such things as ensuring there is adequate park space in the area, projects fit the historical character of the area and green building standards are encouraged.
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It stops short, though, of mandating such things through design standards.
John Sinclair of Sinclair Hille said that’s because officials don’t want to blunt creativity.
“We want to give (developers) examples, not prescriptions,” Sinclair told the study group that includes Mayor Chris Beutler and Nebraska Athletic Director Tom Osborne as well as business and civic leaders.
Osborne supported the plan but asked whether it could result in additional costs, especially for the arena, which is likely to be the new home of the Nebraska men’s and women’s basketball teams.
Sinclair said that to his knowledge, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln meets minimum green building standards in its new buildings, so that wouldn’t be an issue. He also said every project has what’s called a “cost triangle,” in which the three sides are cost, quality and size.
He said he considered the development plan to be the quality component, which would have to be weighed against cost and size components on each project.
While much of Tuesday’s meeting focused on the future of the arena and convention center project, one presentation focused on the past.
Cathy Beecham, who represents the Near South Neighborhood on the study group and has a master’s degree in archeology, said she participated in a test dig in March with the city Planning Department and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to look for evidence of an immigrant settlement on the site between 1867 and 1872.
Central and Eastern European immigrants who came to Lincoln to buy land from the railroad were housed temporarily in the West Haymarket area in what was dubbed Nebraska’s Ellis Island.
Beecham said that while the test dig did not produce any evidence of the settlement, it revealed conditions that make it likely such evidence exists.
She said a member of the group is preparing a report that will be presented to the arena group at a later date.
Reach Matt Olberding at 473-2647 or molberding@journalstar.com.
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Harry the antenna guy wrote on May 14, 2008 8:34 am:
Wake up wrote on May 14, 2008 10:12 am:
already started, where have you been for the last 50 years! How the taxpayers pay for these things for the university, cause they sure aren't
going to spend their money. This country knows Nebraska's sneaky ways,
and you could watch every station about the election and every state was
put to the forefront BUT not one time did you hear Nebraska mentioned!!
Not before the election or after the election. "
mitchy_v wrote on May 14, 2008 11:38 am:
Heidi wrote on May 14, 2008 11:47 am:
new to lincoln wrote on May 14, 2008 12:36 pm:
Chris wrote on May 14, 2008 12:44 pm: