Lincolnite

Why can’t Lincoln focus on both downtown *and* the I-80 corridor? Do the areas have to be mutually exclusive?

I would like to see our focus expand beyond downtown. Sometimes city leaders seem to ignore other possible areas of development outside of downtown. North 27th St development should have shown us that there’s potential along I-80.

If it’s so lucrative to develop there, why doesn’t a developer just do it? Why do they need to wait for the city to do something for them?

Surely you’re aware, Neal, that land use restrictions, public utilities, interstate access, and other factors are regulated by the government…

Well maybe I’m wrong, but haven’t there been stories in the news over the past few years about the city opening up various sections of the interstate for development? And if I am wrong, I’m wrong, but I thought just within the past two years, there was this big hoopla about opening up the area around the 56th street exit - they were just waiting on developers to move in - which was why they declared a bunch of farmland blighted.

Am I just remembering it all wrong?

And for that matter, in what way are they ignoring the I-80 corridor?

Exit 403 has clearly blossomed, and if there’s already a school planned on the north side, I would assume there’s some infrastructure there.

Exit 399 has seen many businesses come and go. It’s had many attempts at retail and restaurants fail. Having an interstate, an airport and lots of hotels didn’t seem to help.

Exit 401 is limited due to the interchange, but as soon as you get past the interchange it’s developed and the infrastructure has been there for years.

The only place I can imagine the zoning and infrastructure might be to blame would be at 405, and like I said in the post above, I thought that had been opened up with much fanfare within the past few years. Even if it hasn’t, that’s one of Lincoln’s four primary exits that isn’t available for business to move in right now.

Am I just remembering it all wrong?

Some chunks of land are just now opening to development. A big area near 56th and I-80 is just coming online now that water and sewer service are finally coming to the area.

And for that matter, in what way are they ignoring the I-80 corridor?

Maybe Lincoln isn’t ignoring I-80. That’s part of the debate. I’m not taking a stand here, I’m just asking questions.

How does Waverly winning Tractor Supply Co. and MBA Poultry factor in to your analysis?

Good point about TSC and MBA Poultry, it would have been nice to have that on the Lancaster County tax rolls.

I used to look at Waverly as Lincoln’s industrial park but lately I’ve realized Cass County has picked up some nice tax income through things like TSC and MBA Poultry.

was up in Omaha last weekend and gosh darnit getting around the town on the interstate is pretty cool.

Also how can the castle hotel thing justify $169 rooms?  I heard they are cool, but $169?

I would buy so much beef jerky and cornuts if we could use I-80 to get around.  Road trip food rules.

And when are we gonna get an amusement park?

man I am not really helping this conversation.