Archive for Exegeting Lincoln
$1.8B Downtown Lincoln Transformation Proposed
There is a lot going on in downtown Lincoln and we are excited to be a part of it. There are currently ~$1.8B in transformative changes being proposed in downtown Lincoln:
“As the nation struggles to emerge from the worst recession in decades, Lincoln has $1.8 billion in projects on the drawing board in the downtown area alone – about 80 percent of it planned by the city and university.
The development boom is bookended by a proposed new city arena west of downtown and a new $56 million corporate headquarters for insurance company Assurity under construction to the east and topped off to the north by an $800 million renovation of the state fairgrounds into a research and development campus by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
City planner and historian Ed Zimmer said a $1.8 billion transformation would be one for the history books. It smacks of the 1910s and 1920s, he said, when city boosters bandied about the slogan “A New Skyline Every Morning” after more than a half dozen buildings went up downtown between 1912 and 1927, including the Sharp and Stuart buildings.”
Read the rest of Deena Winter’s Lincoln Journal Star article titled, Downtown: A $1.8B Transformation
Haymarket Named a Great Neighborhood
The Haymarket in Lincoln recently made the “Great Places in America: Neighborhoods” list by the American Planning Association. As the target area for 2 Pillars Church, it is encouraging to see the Haymarket recognized among some other amazing neighborhoods across this country.
What makes a great neighborhood? According to the APA, characteristics of a Great Neighborhood include:
- Has a variety of functional attributes that contribute to a resident’s day-to-day living (i.e. residential, commercial, or mixed-uses).
- Accommodates multi-modal transportation (i.e. pedestrians, bicyclists, drivers).
- Has design and architectural features that are visually interesting.
- Encourages human contact and social activities.
- Promotes community involvement and maintains a secure environment.
- Promotes sustainability and responds to climatic demands.
- Has a memorable character.
Here is the short description the APA wrote of the Haymarket:
Haymarket owes its vitality as much to the variety of uses that permeate this former warehouse district as to the careful restoration of individual buildings. Haymarket draws on its railroading and wholesaling heritage to attract visitors from throughout the community and across the state. Haymarket also is home to several hundred residents, with housing ranging from luxury lofts to subsidized rental units. Residents and visitors appreciate the area’s numerous amenities including public art and a weekly farmers market.
Click here to read more about the Haymarket. Be sure to click on “Characteristics, Features, and Map” to get the full description.
Is Lincoln a Music Town?
Jack and John in the morning interview Jeremy Buckley, owner of the Bourbon Theater about the state of music in Lincoln and also about Lincoln Calling which is a 5 day music festival going on now involving 34 shows and 8 venues.
Give a listen, the interview runs about 10 minutes.
Nebraska Gets Props in Forbes
Forbes Magazine recently ranked Nebraska as the 9th best state for businesses. Per an article on 1011now.com:
Forbes’ Best States ranking measured six business categories: costs, labor supply, regulatory environment, current economic climate, growth prospects and quality of life.
The magazine used 33 data points to determine rankings in the six main areas.
Business costs that include labor, energy and taxes were weighted the most heavily.
Forbes ranked Virginia as the best state for businesses and Rhode Island ranked last.
What are some things that you see set your city ahead from a business perspective? What is your city doing well and what could it improve?
Jazz in June
One of the things that I’m excited for being a part of next summer is Jazz in June. This is a downtown Lincoln summertime tradition that has been going on now for 18 years bringing in renowned & local jazz acts to perform on the lawn of the Sheldon Art gallery on the southwest corner of UNL campus.
If you read this blog from Lincoln, grab a blanket, pack a picnic, head down to the Sheldon Museum of Art tonight and enjoy. Be a part of the community, get involved, and live a life in the city for the city.
Lincoln native Andrew Vogt will take the stage tonight. Read more about Andrew and his ties with Lincoln over on the Star City Blog via their post, Jazz in June features ZARO on June 9th. You can also taste some of Andrew’s music on his MySpace page (which I’m enjoying as I type this).
