The 2015 Visioning Group is talking, and the plans are ambitious. Fortunately, the plans aren't especially surprising. The Group has simply built on existing plans and proposals and merged everything together. That's a relief. If they had decided to go out on their own and say "No, this is what we think Lincoln should look like"...
Lincolnites should be energized by the Groups existence, if not its proposals. The Group's composition demonstrates that Lincoln's biggest players are willing to ante up. We should be thankful that the folks that will have to foot a large chunk of the bill are willing to do just that. It also signals that these folks think there is money to be made in moving Lincoln forward. None of the group's members is just going to throw his money into a black hole; that they think the projects are worth their investment is a good sign that the projects can succeed.
Still, let's not pretend that the Group's ambitions will make all of this easy. We are, after all, talking about big, big money. Well over $1 billion in the coming years, just on these projects. There are many hurdles between today's ideas and tomorrow's (hoped for) reality.
And I'll be honest, I continue to be disappointed that all of these big plans are typically limited to the Downtown environs. I would like to see Lincoln consider strengthening its "miniature urban centers" in College View, Uni Place, and Havelock. Investing even small amounts in those areas would go a long way toward keeping those and surrounding neighborhoods lively and vibrant. That's what we want, after all. A strong Downtown is great, but strong cores across the city are better.
But don't get me wrong. I'm excited. I'm excited that others are excited, and excitement breeds excitement. Maybe the 2015 Visioning Group's presence in Lincoln will be enough to kick us out of this little funk that I allege we've been in. Let's hope so.
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Here, here!
Lincoln has needed to regroup and create a mind trust of influential people with the means to make things happen.
This approach looks like it’s more than a good ol’ boy club but something that is taking a serious look at long-range planning.
I’m encouraged by the work they’ve done so far and the commitment they are making.
I fail to see the source of your excitement. Frankly, anything that Kent Seacrest is heading up scares me - it means the taxpayer will soon be paying loads so our local developers can rake in more money for themselves. They say they don’t have $15 million to renovate Whittier High School, but they have money for all these projects? Yep, from taxpayer pockets to theirs.
Say goodbye to the State Fair - the way they’ve been treated, I couldn’t blame them for rejecting the forced marriage with the Lancaster Co. Event Center and relocating westward.
Say hello to more land grabbing by our wonderful University,which has no more students than it had 30 years ago when I attended.
Say hello to more attempts to force us all to go downtown - relocate Seacrest Field and high school football? Yep, let’s make it more inconvenient for those of us who prefer to avoid downtown’s congestion and parking inconveniences.
Meanwhile, neighborhoods like Uni Place are threatened by the loss of their Hyvee store and a lack of vibrant businesses.
I’m not encourged at all.
I, too, am excited by the proposition that business leaders took some *initiative* to think of their own ideas and create a dynamic plan outside of the City
Hi Diane, it’s always nice to see a new commenter around here.
<em>They say they don
Gosh, my comments warranted a point by point critique. Here are some scattered thoughts:
The paper stated it was to be a “new Seacreast Field High School Competition”. That sounds like a replacement to me. At any rate, it’d push more stuff downtown.
And no, ST, I never claimed Downtown was “scary” - I’m not sure why you made the comment. Downtown’s just not where all of us want to be directed to for our activities and entertainment.
And before ST writes me off as a “complainer” who only rants, I tried to provide input on the Antelope Valley Project and “affect change” but their public meetings were a farce. They’d nod their heads and then ignore the input and go their predetermined way. Heaven forbid any of us complain, though! We should just follow along like sheep and never question anything.
Kent Seacrest is the University’s go-to-boy for development (witness the Antelope Valley Project), so excuse my inclusion of him and the University in the same paragraph. He gets fuzzy around the edges for me, sometimes. Whittier is actually owned by the University Foundation, which has more than enough millions to pay for the renovation - why tax us more?
But yes, regarding your comments about university research, the focus has shifted from students to research these days.
As far as the makeup of the Vision Group - notice two people linked to Olsson Associates? And several linked to the Antelope Valley Project and the University? I don’t quite trust that many in this group have the general interests of Lincoln citizens at heart.
But how unkind of me! To suspect the motives of big business and developers! I’m sure I’m just a cranky Luddite, ST.
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