Our Vision

The vision strengthens research and education, creates jobs and provides new entertainment and cultural opportunities for citizens of Lincoln and Nebraska.

Specific goals include:

  • Expanding Lincoln’s economic base by fostering entrepreneurship and investment opportunities.
  • Increasing opportunities for young people to become long-term Lincoln residents.
  • Providing better jobs, affordable housing and expanded entertainment and recreational opportunities.
  • Assisting UNL in fulfilling its research, technology, education, arts and athletics mission.
  • Increasing public-private partnerships in order to implement more strategic community projects.
  • Encouraging the pooling of private sector charitable giving and business investing in strategic projects.
Haymarket Arena Hotel and Convention Haymarket Park Sports Triangle Arts and Humanities
Haymarket Arena

As recommended by the Mayor’s Arena Task Force, acquire most of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad yard and construct a new 15,000-seat arena in the West Haymarket area behind Lincoln Station to replace the aging Pershing Auditorium.

Hotel & Convention

Encourage a developer to construct a new convention, conference and exhibition center with a new headquarter hotel next to the new West Haymarket Arena, utilizing Lincoln Station as a major entry point.

Haymarket Park

Expand Haymarket Park to the south and to the north with new baseball, softball, soccer and football fields for city youth, adult, Lincoln Public Schools and university sporting and recreation events.

Sports Triangle

Create and market a new Nebraska Sports Triangle between Memorial Stadium, expanded Haymarket Park and the new West Haymarket Arena. This recreational and economic area would provide a special place for state and regional sports tournaments while sharing parking and providing food, beverage and shopping opportunities before and after the games.

Arts & Humanities

Develop a university Humanities and Art Center block in the pedestrian-friendly Haymarket area to celebrate Nebraska’s rich heritage. The Humanities and Art Center block would also include first-floor retail and upper-floor residential living opportunities.

Downtown Plaza P and Q Streets Antelope Valley UNL R and D Agricultural Exposition Center
Downtown Plaza

Implement Lincoln’s “Town Square” at 13th and P Streets, and develop the tower project on top of the proposed Q Street city parking garage (former Starship Theater site) for downtown residential living, hotel and/or office use.

P & Q Streets

Expand community- and university-related retail and entertainment along P and Q Streets between the University and downtown. Run a trolley along this corridor from the Haymarket to East Downtown Community Park and back.

Antelope Valley

Develop the newly configured Antelope Creek and its immediate environs as the waterway flows through the city at the eastern edge of downtown Lincoln. It includes the north-south expanse between O and Vine Streets. The project boasts a multitude of potential benefits to Lincoln and its citizens.

UNL R & D

Develop a public and private sector research and development corridor along Antelope Valley improvements from O Street to State Fair Park similar to Centennial Campus in North Carolina.

Ag Exposition

Create an attractive, vibrant, year-round regional ag exhibition and events center for the community and state at 84th and Havelock Streets by utilizing existing university property at this location.