West Haymarket JPA approves two major development projects in Lincoln

The West Haymarket JPA approved two development proposals for the city of Lincoln on Monday.

Lincoln’s Joint Public Agency (JPA) unanimously voted yes on both proposals.

They say it will help meet their vision for the Haymarket area.

The first proposal: An empty lot located at Canopy and Q streets in the Haymarket, located just north of the recently finished Hudl headquarters building, was sold to South Canopy LLC for $1.55 million.

“This is a transformational project, to acquire this property really is critical. It makes a huge difference to what is envisioned in the south of downtown area,” said JPA member and Lincoln city councilman Carl Eskridge.

According to the sale agreement, South Canopy must build a 100,000 square foot, six story, $15 million dollar building with a courtyard accessible to the public.

JPA members hope the building will be completed well before the due date of the end of May, 2022.

“I think it would be appropriate if demand is there, which I believe it is, to try to get this going a little quicker so we can have this taken care of and built out a little sooner,” said JPA member Tim Clare.

In the second proposal, the city agreed to purchase the Jacobson property located at 215 South 7th street for $2.064 million.

The city and JPA plan to demolish the existing property there and build a park, plaza and trail hub to serve new residents and be a catalyst for development in the area, especially housing.

“I think what we are doing now is making a very bright future possible for the south downtown area,” said JPA member and Lincoln mayor Chris Beutler.

“The project next to Hudl does almost complete the whole west Haymarket area, so that is tremendous that this project is in the works,” said Eskridge.

JPA members were in awe of just how quickly the downtown area has transformed in recent years.

“We didn’t envision it happening this quickly, but it has and obviously this is putting an exclamation point on the fact that demand is there,” said Clare.

Plans for the lot in the Haymarket include a mix of retail, office and residential space.

The West Haymarket area will look much different a few short years from now.