Council to vote on Pershing Center next week

On Monday, the Lincoln City Council voted to delay a decision on what to do with Pershing Center.

Councilman Jon Camp said it’s been sitting idle for almost six years.

"We’re spending $100,000 a year just for upkeep," Camp said.  "And so my idea is to promote a positive way to solicit responses of what we can do to repurpose the building and or the property."

So he recently proposed a resolution that would encourage private developers to bring their plans for the property.

Councilman Carl Eskridge shares Camp’s feelings that something must be done about the property.  But he proposed an alternative for finding the best use of the it.

"Jon originally proposed something for private use, exclusively," Eskridge said.  "And private use may be okay, but it may not be our best use.  So we need to look at what’s the best use."

He’s said he’d like to see if there are any public organizations who’d be interested.

Both councilmen said options for what to do with the auditorium are limited by how costly demolishing it would be.

"It’s got asbestos," Camp said.  "And several years ago a was a study done and I believe the figure of $2 million came up just to take care of those environmental hazards."

And since the property is located in the Capitol Environs District, any building there can not be taller than 57 feet.

The council is scheduled to vote on a decision next week.