A guide for downtown Lincoln’s evolution over the next 20 years was endorsed by the Lincoln City Council on Monday.

The Downtown Master Plan was approved unanimously as a vision of what the city’s core could look like some day. Among the ideas:

n  A public square at the former Douglas 3 theater site.

n An arts and culture corridor on N Street.

n Making P Street the city’s primary retail strip.

n Extending the Haymarket District theme into the warehouse district south of O Street and west of Ninth Street.

The Downtown Master Plan is a guide for development — not a mandate — for the next two decades.

“Downtowns are not stagnant areas; they must evolve to thrive,” said Assistant Planning Director Kent Morgan.

 Lincoln’s last master plan was adopted in 1974, and there were some controversial concepts in that one, such as the conversion of the former “Old Town Market” into what is now the Haymarket District and construction of public parking garages, skywalks and a performing arts center.

Cecil Steward, the chairman of a 22-member team that spearheaded the formation of the master plan,  said its implementation should begin now.

“It is challenging, but it is doable,” Steward said.

T. J. Casady, president of Updowntowners, said his group was especially supportive of the plan’s suggestion that green space be added downtown, because the group is paying higher fees for closing streets and covering parking meters during events.

The master plan once included design guidelines for certain downtown areas, but those were stripped from the plan and are being worked on separately, Morgan said.

Councilwoman Robin Eschliman was assured that if existing businesses had a conflicting vision for their space, they wouldn’t be forced to comply with the master plan.

Councilman Jonathan Cook said he didn’t want to see Centennial Mall forgotten while new public places were created. He opposes the plan’s suggestion that the mall, between P and Q streets, be converted back to streets.

“This mall really does need some attention,” he said.

Cook successfully proposed an amendment that would allow an area west of the County-

City Building to include government as a potential use, along with the housing the plan envisions. Overall, he said, the plan has a lot of good, practical ideas and others that may not happen because of financial constraints.

After that, lots of backs were patted for all the work that went into creating the master plan.

“We have a lot to be proud of,” Councilwoman Annette McRoy said. “We can make downtown a really exciting place to be.”

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