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Experts weigh in on arena proposal

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By DEENA WINTER / Lincoln Journal Star

Thursday, Aug 21, 2008 - 01:07:00 am CDT

A panel of design experts from around the country gave the city’s arena plans high marks after spending three days in Lincoln studying them.

The arena proposal was one of four chosen nationwide for in-depth study by the Mayors’ Institute on City Design, a partnership of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the National Endowment for the Arts and the American Architectural Foundation. The institute was created in 1986 to help mayors find solutions to urban design challenges.

Mayor Chris Beutler presented the arena plans at the institute last year, and the institute selected Lincoln for the follow-up study.

Story Photo
An aerial photo showing the site where the city hopes to build an arena. (Courtesy Photo/City of Lincoln Planning Department)
Presentation to be broadcast

The Mayors’ Institute on City Design presentation will be broadcast on government access Channel 5 at 6 p.m. Thursday, 9 p.m. Friday and 6 p.m. Sunday.

A team of four studied the city’s  plans to build an arena, ice center, three parking garages with offices, stores, restaurants and housing incorporated into the parking garages and elsewhere. Their findings were released in a presentation at city hall Wednesday.

Maurice Cox, director of design for the National Endowment for the Arts, said the team was impressed with Lincoln’s plans, which he called “extraordinarily good urban planning.” He said he hopes Lincoln has the courage to move forward with the plans for what he called a “very, very doable project.”

Some of their suggestions to tweak the city proposal:

* Create a three-lane historic railroad “canopy street” (an extension of Sixth Street) just west of Lincoln Station that makes use of the existing railroad canopy running from O to R streets. This pedestrian promenade could become a main street from the ice center to the arena and could be closed off for events like a farmer’s market.

* On the west side of the canopy street, they would put 300-by-430-foot blocks (a typical downtown block is 300-by-300-feet) that could accommodate a variety of uses. This is where parking garages could be combined with open space, stores, restaurants and offices, for example.

* Allow new buildings to be up to six stories high to create more density and generate more economic activity.

* Make the Breslow ice arena — now slated to be just north of Harris Overpass — an “iconic entry” by putting a tower on the southeast corner. Retail or restaurants could be incorporated into the ice center’s fringe.

* Make the ice arena LEED-certified, perhaps with a green grass roof. To get certified, construction must meet environmentally responsible building standards set by the U.S. Green Building Council.

* Define and soften the northeast entryway into the Haymarket by dividing the Interstate 180- Ninth Street entryway into downtown with a tree-lined median. Faster-moving traffic would be diverted east, and traffic would be slowed on the west side, giving it a “Parisian boulevard feel.”

* Enhance R, Q and P streets along Ninth Street with bulbouts — curb extensions at intersections that make pedestrian crossings safer.

* Integrate the area into the city’s trail system.

* Create a festival space on Seventh Street between Q and R streets that incorporates the Haymarket’s historic flavor.

Cox said the team thinks incorporating a hotel into the arena would work and could be a “significant headpiece” to the festival area.

Chris Abel recently moved to Lincoln from Sydney, Australia, to serve as visiting professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Architecture. He attended the institute’s Wednesday presentation and questioned the decision to put “so many large structures” in the 150-acre target area. Lincoln, he said, needs a large-scale public space.

Cox said his team believes the buildings have been placed appropriately and noted a public “festival space” is planned on the arena’s doorstep.

Beutler said the institute’s advice and ideas will be “thrown into the mix” and discussed by the public during a Sept. 3 public meeting at Memorial Stadium’s West Stadium Clubhouse.

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


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Shelly wrote on August 21, 2008 2:08 am:
" Abel is correct, the structure density may be over done.

Planners should also note lack of design for mass transportation. Lincoln has gotten into a habit of individual cars and that surely doesnt fit into environmentally responsible urban planning.

Why isn't the entire project seeking LEED certification? "

 Terry wrote on August 21, 2008 6:03 am:
" Anyone else get the idea that this thing is going to be done no matter how the vote comes out next year? "

 DR wrote on August 21, 2008 7:18 am:
" I think you want to talk to city planners, not architects. Architects design a building, city planners design cities. "

 Mike in DC wrote on August 21, 2008 7:34 am:
" It's all a bit too much. If it's too nice, the locals will resent all "them thare outsiders" that come into town with their "larnin" and buisness acumen; and that they'll bring more and more outsiders and bring the world with them; the world where it takes a Master's degree to be an admin assistant; not because it's necessary, but because you'll never compete for the job without one on your resume. So, tech innov park, the arena, AVP... all at the precipice of rebirth. But those that feel left behind will resent the new baby. So, how are they to be brought in as stakeholders? "

 JT wrote on August 21, 2008 7:53 am:
" Some good ideas in there, but I agree that open space is a key. Shelly is right that the whole thing should be LEED certified, not sure why that wasn't on the agenda from the beginning. Let's get this thing started. "

 Lincoln Taxpayer wrote on August 21, 2008 7:55 am:
" I see the mayors spin dr's are at work trying to sell this bad idea to the public.
With LES raising prices 9%, natural gas going up 15%, county taxes going up 3-4%, a new jail being forced on the taxpayers at who knows what cost.
This idea is doomed from the start, just get to the vote so we can vote it down and get on with our lives. "

 get ready wrote on August 21, 2008 8:06 am:
" Here comes the propaganda to make it sound so good we cann't refuse to vote for it. If it sounds too good to be true then it isn't. What did anyone expect? Did anyone think they would come to town and say it was a dumb idea. Remember you do have a vote and every vote counts! Look at the drawings three parking garages next to one another, think about the long lines getting in and out of the area. "

 Stakeholders Bond Issue wrote on August 21, 2008 8:11 am:
" You bring in people by inspiring them and authentically making them part of the process. The mayors office was late in giving notice of the event. Like most parts of this administration it seems to be more about going through the motions of creating a public process than actually leading the people of Lincoln towards the vision that mayor has. I think that Beutler was a very effective state senator for many years. He does not seem to have the leadership skills that I would hope to see in a Mayor or Governor. Different deal. Unfortunately the dems in Lincoln seem to believe that operating in manipulation mode is an effective way to accomplish their goals. Bond issue. I would be surprised to hear that the polls show a bond issue passing. I would imagine that they are down by 30 points. Lincoln needs to move forward with this type of reinvestment in the community. I don't see it happening in the next 3 years. Between the broken promises on the part of the mayors office in prioritizing low income families, increased energy costs, and LPS duping voters over nearly a quarter of a billion dollars, the outlook seems poor. "

 Mrs. Johnson wrote on August 21, 2008 9:06 am:
" Isn't the proposed Haymarket area in the flood plain? It's been under water before. Why build there? Why not use the new flood free area of the Antelope Valley project near O Street? "

 TW wrote on August 21, 2008 9:22 am:
" Yeah, I'd have a whole lot of ideas too if I didn't live here and could
shove the costs onto the already over taxed citizens. Course its a done
deal. The voting will be just the smear job so they have an out for raising your taxes big time. The younger ones can pooh pooh it now but
just wait a few years when they aren't getting enough money to pay for it
and up up up up up goes your taxes. You'll be like alot of the retired
now that want & need to go to a retirement home and don't have the big
bucks and are stuck in their homes just trying to pay the taxes. Matt
Talbot better get a much bigger building. They are going to need it
with more and more and more people unable to aford this town. "

 Ralph wrote on August 21, 2008 9:22 am:
" Seems like the proposal has changed several times, which one did the experts evaluate? Did they evalluate the same one? The last one we read about didn't have a conference center, that was new, as wasthe location. Could we please not have shifting and confusion from the mayors office? "

 How many wrote on August 21, 2008 9:55 am:
" more years until Chris is out of office? Sounds like he has already decided this thing is going to be built. He has already wasted millions on this thing so you better bet everything you own on the fact it will get built. "

 wow wrote on August 21, 2008 10:00 am:
" sounds waaaaaay to extravagant. What are these people thinking? Buy the time Lincoln would finish this it would be time to add light rail and whole other mess of stuff. What a waste of money! Thank mayor for doing a whole lot of nothing! "

 Yup wrote on August 21, 2008 10:07 am:
" Does anyone besides me see a problem with the suggestion to divide I-80 9th street entryway with a tree lined median? We have enough traffic congestion on that stretch just during the mornings, let alone football saturdays and Salt Dog game days. I know, I drive that route everyday. In the winter it's slick coming off the overpass. Please don't put trees in our way. "

 well wrote on August 21, 2008 10:54 am:
" If they put trees in it will stop your skidding. "

 jacques wrote on August 21, 2008 11:18 am:
" maybe the "hot shots" in the "fab 15" group and the mayor will give free tickets to those of us in the main stream who would never be able to afford tickets to the arena -- we couldn't afford to go to the lied center either and look what is happening there! "

 Chris wrote on August 21, 2008 11:31 am:
" I'll say this very slow...

Nothing is set in stone yet.

Why not wait before you criticize? "

 Harvyna wrote on August 21, 2008 12:19 pm:
" LOL, nothing is set in stone; that is a part of the problem as there is mass confusion rather than a viaable plan. By the time this get to the ballot people will be so confused they won't want to vote for something that could be changed after they would approve any bond issue. Also, state funds and UNL commitment still are not defined, Lincoln taxpayers don't like these mind games. Why tirer people out before a real plan is developed with a real architect's concept that can be presented? "

 They FEAR change wrote on August 21, 2008 12:30 pm:
" The old people are going to criticize because it's what they do best. Anything to keep Lincoln in 1953. Overtaxed? I'm sure AZ has a retirement village for you. Yes, I do have a vote, and I'll make it count. Hello Arena and progress! "

 Young Professional wrote on August 21, 2008 12:50 pm:
" I agree that it's an evolving design not set in stone yet. I do hope it becomes reality, though! "

 Brad wrote on August 21, 2008 1:09 pm:
" I will be very disappointed if this gets voted down. We need a project like this to keep Lincoln a vibrant, upscale city. I recently moved here from working in Omaha and I am amazed at how long it takes for decisions regarding redevelopment or any other city issues to be made. How long have we talked about an arena? Look to our neighbors to the east and how much downtown redevelopment they have done so quickly. Granted, they have a bigger population, but we as a community need to look to the future and figure out a way to get it done. I applaud the Antelope Valley project. When I saw that being done when I moved back I was very encouraged and excited by that project. Let's keep it going! "

 Why wait wrote on August 21, 2008 2:04 pm:
" Poor Chris, you're talking sense and that just doesn't work here. Don't you realize that if the typical poster to the LJS website would wait to criticize and complain AFTER something has actually been decided, their "whine & moan" pressure would rise way too high and their heads would explode? "

 I hope it happens wrote on August 21, 2008 2:27 pm:
" So all you people who think it will work can see it fail miserably. It is so cute that you all think something of this scale will succeed here. You all want to be a larger city? Then lets start with oh I don't know an expressway?!?! How is it HWY 2 is the closest thing we have? And O st? If we want to build something like this we have to prepare ourselves. And it is obvious Chris has no idea how to do that. Lets spend money on something that will benefit the whole city. Traffic should be the number one concern. Instead it is an arena that will be a failure. "

 Sallie wrote on August 21, 2008 2:37 pm:
" An evolving or revolving plan? This seems to go round and round with changes and even new locations with each completed turn. We sure are glad this is not set in stone, it lacks legs and continues to receive diminished support from professionals and blue collar workers. If a public relations firm blotching this or the mayor's office? "

 Lincolnnites.. wrote on August 21, 2008 2:48 pm:
" C itizens
A gainst
V irtually
E verything

That is a label people are giving Lincolnnites from all over the region.. I cannot believe how often I hear people talking about all of the anti-progressive crowd in Lincoln is unfortunately too loud and too big to allow lincoln to be anything but a large suburb of Omaha. "

 Mildred wrote on August 21, 2008 2:52 pm:
" There are five parts to the financial support that are involved; I’ll nt vote for it until four of those principals have committed proportional resources: 1) UNL Athletic Departnment, a primary user of the facility; 2) NU Foundation, 3) Vision 2015 donations and 4) State of Nebraska (who financially supported the Devaney Center). If these groups provide 80 per cent of the funding, I can vote for Lincoln to have taxes...not just property...be used to support the remaining 20 per cent of the costs. "

 Ron wrote on August 21, 2008 3:44 pm:
" Abel is the only one here nmaking any sense, why would we want to cram a bunch of buildings etc into such a small area, and what about traffic, how is it going to get in and out of the area, the baseball field was a great idea too, but lookk now there is one way in and one way out because our glorious planners did not take into account the people in the North Bottoms did not want that raffic on their neighborhood streets. I'm all for a new area just not in thart location "

 I agree with Chris wrote on August 21, 2008 4:25 pm:
" Mass confusion? Where?? Of course there are ideas being brought up and things change. Have you ever built a house? Do you really think once you start planning you would never change your mind about the ENTIRE home? Nothing is even being constructed yet...it's in the PLANNING stage.

And someone mentioned that Chris Beutler has "wasted millions" on this project. Show me the proof. Until then quit with the false accusations. Every time the LJS posts an arena project the same complainers say the exact same thing. You have nothing to base your complaints on!

And as far as "too much, too nice" why not shoot for the moon for once in Lincoln's boring, practical life???? Geez people, try something DIFFERENT for once. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result.

And finally, I would love to hear anyone's suggestion on what to do about Pershing. I heard comments about last night's concert about how pathetic Pershing is. What would you do? Remodel the piece of junk? It's "only" 55+ years old, right? Put some numbers together (cost-wise, and it has to be accurate) and present it to the city council. If it really looks good (and your financing ideas are solid) I'm sure they'll consider it. But let me be the first to critique it, sight-unseen, on this blog. Turn around is fair play. "

 Old whiney wrote on August 21, 2008 4:52 pm:
" Guess you young'ns better learn to live with us, because I also have ONE VOTE. I decided just to irritate some of you, I'm going to vote against this. You're so dead set against the elderly, you say we fear change, well I say you fail financial economics. You'll be old some day and your kids can make fun of you too! "

 First wrote on August 21, 2008 7:06 pm:
" Read the last sentence (slowly for some) "...the institute's advice and ideas will be "thrown into the mix" and discussed...". Like Chris said, nothing is set in stone. There are lots of steps and changes to be made.

And for the one who wants this to happen so he/she can watch it fail (that's real cool) the Nebraska Dept. of Roads is in charge of any expressways around Lincoln. The 2 beltways are on their website. How, may I ask, is the city of Lincoln supposed to do something about that?

Personally, I have an open mind and will hear every detail before deciding. I am definitely leaning toward it as a good step for Lincoln. Pershing is terrible and needs to be put out of its' misery. "

 Democrat wrote on August 21, 2008 9:02 pm:
" What is with this, having this meeting at Memorial Stadium's West Clubhouse?
Did I miss something. Did UNL sign on, or this is just a play by Mayor Chris and Tom? "

 watch out wrote on August 21, 2008 9:19 pm:
" younguns because the baby boomers who are turning 62 this year outnumber you by a long way. Kiss our rears if you want something so expensive and elaborate. Kiss them long and hard to try to get us to vote our selves into poverty. Maybe when you save long enough you will have enough money to deticate to a project like this. Until then my and all my older friends vote NO> Kiss off kiddies "

 Ok then... wrote on August 22, 2008 9:44 am:
" "I agree with Chris". Show me one thing that can prove this will be a success. I dare you. I will say one thing why this will fail. The Mid America Center. Do you know why it has failed? Because the Qwest is so close. Guess what else is close? Kansas City. And he hasn't wasted millions? Have you been following this story or are you so giddy for this thing to happen you know nothing about 2015? And Im not anti progressive but there is some point when you have to swallow your pride and realize this thing will not work here. You all obviously know not one thing on how tour scheduling works. Nobody is going to come here over omaha or KC, how is this so hard to understand? Does everyone realize that omaha is only 45 minutes away and is in our own state? What is the point of building something to compete with a city in our own state? "

 Does anyone... wrote on August 22, 2008 9:51 am:
" realize Omaha is 45 minutes away? And the Qwest will always be ten times better than whatever gets built here. Plus it will always have 10 times better acts, close to an actual cool downtown and actual nice hotels. I will always continue to go there over Lincoln for concerts. I find it hillarious people actually think sell out acts will come here over Omaha. Some of you need to step back into reality and realize a few things.
1.Omaha and KC are very close 2.Pershing has never sold anything out except for a few exceptions long ago. 3.Lincoln is not Omaha 4. When an act does a tour they go to places that they will get the most business, they will not go from Omaha to Lincoln to KC. I know how much you all love Nebraska but trust me everyone else hates it. 5. What is so hard about going to Omaha. 6 Omaha is the biggest city in Nebraska why does Lincoln feel the need to grow so fast? "

 With some of your logic wrote on August 22, 2008 11:34 am:
" Lincoln ought to just shut down the downtown, close all the restaurants, and hide in our basements. Omaha is ONLY 45 minutes away for all of our needs.

Omaha and Lincoln have been 45 minutes away for how many years???? Has it made a difference in all those years? When the Civic Auditorium was built Pershing followed suit. Was Pershing a waste and total failure from day one? It was never in direct competition with the Civic because the Civic was almost twice as big. Different acts go to different cities. I fail to find any info in the archives where someone of importance says "we're competing with the Qwest Center." You won't find it because it doesn't exist!

And "Ok then" prove to me that Nebraska will win more than 8 games this year. Prove to me ANYTHING in the future. What kind of idiotic question is that? How can anyone prove or disprove that the arena will fail? Your "proof" that it will fail is nothing but speculation. Did Pershing fail? And I think there are lots of facts about "Pershing selling out" events recently. Unfortunately, you're not looking at every event that has ever played at Pershing. "

 ej wrote on August 22, 2008 11:56 am:
" Build it! Build it! Build it! Already. "

 Alright then... wrote on August 22, 2008 2:08 pm:
" With some of your logic I can prove that the MAC is doing terrible and the Des Moines center are. What makes you think another arena in the area will succeed? Magic perhaps? Please name one event Pershing has sold out in the last 25 years. You do realize for something to succeed it has to sell tickets right? If you think that the bands and events that have been coming to Lincol the last 15 years are going to make the money back to pay for this you are indeed insane. While your seeing Motley Crue at the new arena I will be seeing Pearl Jam at the Qwest. I you feel like we need to build build build you might want to move to a different state because Nebraska is about as slow pace as you can get, obviously you are not from around here. I can't wait to see Motley Crue, Sabastian Bach,Ron White, and Buck Cherry!(sarcasm) Do we really need a new arena to see these bands when Pershing can do it? What really needs to happen is the city to get the Rococo to do something with themselves and have some concerts. "

 Here is an idea wrote on August 22, 2008 2:14 pm:
" build a open air amplitheater between here and Omaha. I may just buy some land and do it. Don't steal my idea! I can't believe people think there are b list acts that would sell out this new arena. Wow people don't know much around here do they? "

 MAKLINKNADRVBYCTY wrote on August 22, 2008 3:13 pm:
" Please don't build a new arena. I would much rather sit at home playing video games, eating buttered popcorn, and watching (insert any crappy syndicated TV show) than enjoying a vibrant, active downtown. The benefits of which would greatly benefit the entire city even if it is not financially solvent from the get go. No, if you want a new arena you should move to a city that thinks like one. I prefer to live in a city where people have small minds and no vision. "

 JB wrote on August 22, 2008 3:30 pm:
" Goodbye atate basketball, goodbye state volleyball, goodbye national roller-skating, a bunch of conventions. Will lose state baseball when Omaha gets new field. We still got the Cornhuskers thank God. Lincoln isn't trying to eqaul Omaha, but try to be eqaul with other cities our own size. Des Mones and Wichita left us in the dust. Little Council Bluffs is up on us. Even Grand Island and Kearney are close to even to us. Lincoln was without an auditorium around thirty years prior to Pershing being built and that was 1957. "

 dewboy wrote on August 22, 2008 3:45 pm:
" What experts? Example: build a Leed Certified building in the middle of the FLOODPLAIN it will ruin. Where oh where does Lincoln dig up these so-called experts. Sounds like UNL will be the major tenant so let them foot the majority of the bill for the arena. WAIT, that won't work either,they will just get taxpayers money from the legislature to pay the bill. "

 Chuckle wrote on August 22, 2008 3:53 pm:
" I remember over 10 years ago when people laughed about Lincoln getting a hockey team, with the "sold out every game" Lancers up the road. Too bad the Stars were such a failure.

Riiiigggghhhttt. "

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