If all of the projects proposed for Downtown Lincoln actually happen -- and that's a big fat if -- Lincoln is really going to look different ten years from now. Consider:
- Lincolnites will vote on a new arena and associated projects next spring;
- Other Haymarket projects, including a hotel project actively moving forward, are also in the works;
- A combination retail, parking, hotel, and apartment project at 10th and M, first discussed several years ago, now appears to be making progress;
- A property owner near 13th and L wants to open his land for redevelopment (though he isn't in any hurry);
- The Catalyst One block is back in the news with two developers interested;
- Let's not forget about Antelope Valley to the east which, if City officials are correct, should start paying dividends over the next ten years;
- And of course there's Innovation Campus to the north.
Is all of that stuff going to happen? Not likely, if history is any indication. At least not as currently proposed. But the sheer number of relatively big projects in the pipeline is encouraging.
Also encouraging to me is that two of the proposals are in south Downtown. South Downtown hasn't seen a whole lot of love in recent years. But surely it has plenty of potential; with the capitol to the east, local government to the south, and The Cornhusker to the west, there are lots of opportunities for growth. (I still think we should have more seriously examined the possibility of putting the arena in the area.) But beyond the benefits to that local area, how about the possibility that investment in south Downtown could gradually benefit the neighborhood nearby? I'm really stretching by this point, but wouldn't it be great to see some of those old houses and apartments get some serious fix-me-up treatment?
In any event, the Downtown area seems well poised to take advantage of the post-recession recovery. I'm crossing my fingers.
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All encouraging. I wanted to see the original Synergy project happen.
All in all, needs less WRK.
First they raze Taste of China, then Wasabi the Sushi place, now Nha Trang on 13 and L.
What does the city have against Asian restaurants?
I’ll give you the first two, but Nha Trang’s (potential) demise isn’t a City project. The City did ever-so-briefly consider bulldozing Samurai Sam’s, but including Samurai Sam’s in the category of “Asian restaurants” is definitely a stretch.
Putting Samuri Sam’s in the category of ‘Restaurant’ is a stretch.
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