It’s one thing to dream; it’s another to do. And 2015 Vision is ready to do what it takes to enhance our community’s quality of life. To accomplish this task, the group has identified 10 Pillars to Lincoln’s Future.

1. West Haymarket Arena
2. New Convention Center and Headquarter Hotel
3. Expansion of Haymarket Park
4. Nebraska Sports Triangle
5. Humanities and Art Center
6. Downtown Plaza and Tower/Garage Project
7. Retail Corridor Along P and Q Streets
8. Antelope Valley Projects
9. UNL Research and Development Corridor
10. High Amenity Agricultural Exposition Center

West Haymarket Arena As recommended by the Mayor’s Arena Task Force, acquire most of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad yard and construct a new 15,000-seat arena in the West Haymarket area behind Lincoln Station to replace the aging Pershing Auditorium.

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New Convention Center and Headquarter Hotel Encourage a developer to construct a new convention, conference and exhibition center with a new headquarter hotel next to the new West Haymarket Arena, utilizing Lincoln Station as a major entry point.

Expansion of Haymarket Park Expand Haymarket Park to the south and to the north with new baseball, softball, soccer and football fields for city youth, adult, Lincoln Public Schools and University sporting and recreation events.

Nebraska Sports Triangle Create and market a new Nebraska Sports Triangle between Memorial Stadium, expanded Haymarket Park and the new West Haymarket Arena. This recreational and economic area would provide a special place for state and regional sports tournaments while sharing parking and providing food, beverage and shopping opportunities before and after the games.

Humanities and Art Center Develop a University Humanities and Art Center Block in the pedestrian-friendly Haymarket area to celebrate Nebraska’s rich heritage. The Humanities and Art Center Block also would include first-floor retail and upper-floor residential living opportunities.

Downtown Plaza and Tower/Garage Project Implement Lincoln’s “Town Square” at 13th and P Streets, and develop the Tower project on top of the proposed Q Street city parking garage (former Starship Theater site) for downtown residential living, hotel and/or office use.

Retail Corridor Along P and Q Streets Expand community and University-related retail and entertainment along P and Q Streets between the University and downtown. Run a trolley along this corridor from the Haymarket to East Downtown Community Park and back.

Antelope Valley Projects Complete the Antelope Valley Waterway, Parkway and community projects including constructing the high amenity East Downtown Community Park from O to R Streets and updating Trago Park from R to U Streets. These improvements will revitalize the eastern edge of downtown and the UNL campus, remove the designated 100-year flood plain from 800 dwellings, 200 businesses and more than 50 acres of the UNL campus, as well as help reduce traffic congestion and remove arterial traffic on 16th and 17th Streets through the University campus.

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UNL Research and Development Corridor Develop a public and private sector research and development corridor along Antelope Valley improvements from O Street to State Fair Park similar to Centennial Campus in North Carolina. The UNL R & D Corridor would include:

• Redevelopment of historic Whittier Junior High School into a premier University dry lab research facility.
• Implementation of the University of Nebraska Board of Regents UNL Master Plan, which shows up to six new research and classroom facilities around the present Beadle Center and College of Engineering.
• Creation of private research companies in the east downtown area and other areas to be in close proximity to the University’s research facilities.

High Amenity Agricultural Exposition Center Create an attractive, vibrant, year-round regional exhibition and events center for the community and state, possibly by co-locating the Lancaster County and State fairs at one location. The state fairgrounds could then be used by the University and City of Lincoln to provide additional lands in the Research and Development Corridor and for other community purposes. The Nebraska Legislature’s Agriculture Committee is currently conducting a financial study of the costs associated with the future operations and infrastructure needs of the Nebraska State Fair. This study should be completed before the end of the year.