If you don't want to see a new arena in the Haymarket, or if you're staunchly against the hundreds of acres Lincoln keeps tagging as blighted, you'd better say your piece soon. There's a public hearing today at 5:30pm -- and probably a City Council vote -- to determine if 403 acres between Salt Creek and the Haymarket should be declared blighted.
The reality of the situation is that the area will be blighted. If Lincoln wants a new arena -- it does -- we have to put it somewhere. Considering the absence of proposals to put it elsewhere -- or at least the absence of proposals with any serious backing -- the Haymarket is effectively our only choice. And by most measures, it's our best choice anyway.
There is still one very serious sticking point: the cost of an arena. How will Lincolnites respond to funding through TIF, plus, in all likelihood, additional tax-based funding mechanisms? Several members of the City Council appear to be entertaining the notion of letting Lincolnites vote on the arena at some point, so we may find out soon enough.
But that's putting the cart before the horse. First we need land. If you have strong feelings about those 403 acres, go say your piece tonight.
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