Lincoln City Council holds hearing on 20-story building proposal

On Monday, the Lincoln City Council heard testimony on a the Lied Place Residences Project.

It would put a 20–story multi–purpose building in place of where an Applebee’s restaurant used to be near 11th and Q streets.

The building would house a restaurant, office space and several floors for apartments.

It would also get 100 parking stalls from the city.

Tom Huston of Lied Place, LLC said the project applies to several components of the Downtown Master Plan.

“It provides an addition of approximately 40 housing units in downtown Lincoln,” Huston said.  “Certainly that’s one of the emphasis of the Downtown Master Plan, to include all types of housing opportunities in the downtown area.”

It’s a $30 million project, with $25 million coming from private investment and the rest from TIF funding.

The council will have to decide whether to approve the agreement and authorize the $5 million in TIF funds.

But some who testified had reservations about the project.

“A lot of that TIF funding is going to be paid for with businesses and their taxes — which of course, as we all know, businesses never pay taxes — they just pass it on to their consumers,” said Patrick Conway of Lincoln.  “And if you don’t believe that, maybe a business class might be good for you.”

“You’re doing the developer a favor,” Richard Halvorsen said.  “He doesn’t have to build a garage.  The garage is built.  You’re…selling him 60 spaces and I think we should charge a premium for that.  Again, you’re giving up a public’s right to park there.”

The council will vote on this in two weeks.

If approved, Lied Place, LL said they will begin building it this spring.