MURAL brings affordable housing to former Pershing site

New downtown development includes 90 apartments, with 11 veterans among residents

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — A historic block in downtown Lincoln is getting a new purpose as city and business leaders celebrated the opening of MURAL, a nearly $35 million affordable housing development built on the former site of Pershing Auditorium.

White Lotus Group and the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday, Nov. 11, marking the completion of the five-story, mixed-use building at 225 S. 16th Street.

The development brings 90 one- and two-bedroom apartments to downtown Lincoln, all reserved for households earning 60% or less of the area’s median income.

“When this block was Pershing, people came here for the night and then went on their way,” said Drew Sova, executive vice president and general counsel of White Lotus Group. “Now, every evening, 90 households come home to MURAL. They can walk to the Capitol, to UNL, to the Haymarket, all while living in a home that will stay affordable for years to come.”

With the ribbon-cutting falling on Veterans Day, the celebration also recognized the 11 veterans who now live in the building. Some were connected to housing through organizations providing support and services to veterans.

“To each veteran living in this building, thank you for your service. We’re honored you’ve chosen MURAL as your home,” Sova said.

The development also includes more than 18,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space, an underground parking garage, a fitness center and a fifth-floor community room with an outdoor balcony overlooking Centennial Mall.

Developers are continuing to look for businesses to fill the commercial spaces.

The building’s name also pays tribute to the site’s history. Pershing Auditorium’s historic mosaic mural, made up of more than 760,000 tiles, was preserved and relocated to Wyuka Cemetery earlier this year.

Sova said the development is proud to honor the mural through its name, carrying a piece of the former auditorium’s legacy into the future.

“Pershing was Lincoln’s gathering place for more than half a century. MURAL is designed to keep it one,” Sova said.

Construction on MURAL began in September 2024, with major construction wrapping up in December 2025. The first residents moved into the building in January 2026.

According to Sova, the residential portion of the development is now more than 80% occupied, and developers expect it to be fully leased by the end of November.