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Country Club recommended for historic designation

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By DEENA WINTER / Lincoln Journal Star

Monday, Dec 08, 2008 - 12:16:21 am CST

The State Historic Preservation Board has recommended most of Lincoln’s Country Club Neighborhood be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The nomination of a 450-acre area encompassing about 1,250 houses has been forwarded to the U.S. Department of Interior for approval — and an answer should come by year’s end.

City planner and historian Ed Zimmer has been collecting data and working on the historic designation for more than a decade.

Story Photo
The Country Club neighborhood includes nice houses such as these along Bradfield Drive near 27th Street. (Jill Peitzmeier)

“It’s a huge nomination,” Zimmer said. “It’s certainly our biggest National Register district in Lincoln and at least one of the larger ones in Nebraska.”

Would such a historic designation make it difficult for the city to widen 27th Street through the Country Club? The president of the Country Club Neighborhood Association, Bob Beecham, hopes so.

“That’s one of the reasons that we wanted to do it,” he said.

One of the major goals of his neighborhood association is to “do everything we can” to keep 27th Street from being widened through the neighborhood —“ripping up the neighborhood and destroying the neighborhood.”

“Widening 27th Street would alter it permanently,” Beecham said.

But Zimmer said historic designation would create more obstacles to widening 27th Street only if federal money or approval is involved in the street project. Then the impact on historic resources would have to be taken into account.

However, federal rules are the same whether properties are eligible for (because they’re more than 50 years old and historically significant in some way) or listed on the national register; and almost all of the homes in the designated area were built before 1958.

“What we’ve done is made it more clear that they are historic,” Zimmer said.

A recent example of the kind of obstacles involved in digging near historic homes is the city’s forced relocation of three historic but dilapidated houses, nicknamed the Triplets, for the Antelope Valley Project, which receives federal funding. The homes were eligible for the historic designation.

Even though they were falling apart and had been inhabited by homeless people, the city had to shell out $630,000 to preserve and move them rather than just demolish them — which seemed like a more practical solution.

So if the city ever decided to widen 27th Street and federal money were involved, “it would be as simple and painless as the Triplets,” Zimmer said, in jest.

The boundaries of the so-called “Boulevards Historic District” are, roughly, South Street to the north, Rock Island Trail to the east (except the Rathbone Village commercial area), Calvert Street to the south and 22nd Street on the west.

While many people believe they have to jump through added hoops to make renovations to homes in historic districts, Zimmer said, that’s a myth. In fact, homeowners in historic districts can get tax incentives designed to encourage the rehabilitation of historic property.

A state incentive program allows an eight-year property tax freeze on homes in an historic district that are substantially improved — which is defined as renovations equal to 25 percent of the home’s valuation.

Historic designation usually increases property values, because Country Clubbers could advertise their homes as appearing on the register of National Historic Places.

Beecham expects property values would go up if the designation is approved. His own home is in the Country Club Neighborhood but outside the boundaries of the proposed historic district, but he has owned four homes in the proposed district, which he said has been home to many prominent architects and builders.

“This is a unique historic district,” he said.

Time will tell whether the feds agree.

Reach Deena Winter at 473-2642 or dwinter@journalstar.com.

 


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Dave wrote on December 8, 2008 5:50 am:
" Oh how wonderful!

There is no doubt that 27th street needs widened, and all we have heard is from the rich folk how that will ruin their property values. So now they come up with this trick. What a SHAME that you people are standing in the way of progress. "
LinkGuy wrote on December 8, 2008 6:56 am:
" The Country Club neighborhood is a very nice neighborhood. That said, it is unfortunate that the residents are unwilling to accommodate the rest of the Lincoln population and widen 27th Street. It's selfish - plain and simple. We should look into creating a special tax district for these residents to aid in the construction costs of other streets that must be overbuilt because of these residents’ resistance to widening 27th Street. "
get real wrote on December 8, 2008 7:45 am:
" We need a better way to get north/south in this city and 27th is the biggest bottle neck left. Beechem needs to look at the big picture and do what is best for the city...WIDEN 27th! "
Mr. Belvedere wrote on December 8, 2008 8:16 am:
" While some of the homes along 27th are nice, I wouldn't describe any of them as a "historic landmark" that needs preserving. It seems this has nothing to do with historic preservation, but is just people trying to protect their own property values.

This is a shame, if this gets approved, since 27th street very badly needs to be widened, as do several other North-South streets in Lincoln.

I never understand what city planners are thinking. You approve retail growth up and down 27th Street (from Southpointe to the South to the 27th & Superior area and on up to Auto Row in the North. And then you turn around, and submit this historic preservation application effectively preventing 27th street from being widened just when it desperately needs it. It doesn't make sense! Why didn't you put Southpointe and the other retail areas on a different street then, if 27th is so precious that it needs to be historically preserved?? "
Progress...Bah wrote on December 8, 2008 8:28 am:
" I absolutely LOATHE the word "progress." Nine out of ten times it means, "hey, we want to come and kill or destroy something you love so we can put something ugly in it's place." I say SAVE 27TH STREET! "
stop this wrote on December 8, 2008 8:37 am:
" Where can we write to stop this action? 27th street absolutely needs to be widened to allow the smooth flow of north/south traffic in Lincoln. This doesn't just affect the Country Club residents and it's shameful that they think their neighborhood should be exempt from what other neighborhoods have had to deal with when the street was widened. "
What a Joke wrote on December 8, 2008 8:37 am:
" This has to be a joke. A historical district because a bunch of rich people think they are to good to have road construction in their area. Why don't they just buy the road from the City so they can prevent the lessers from driving through. "
Outside the Box wrote on December 8, 2008 8:40 am:
" Nice houses, yes. Historically significant, no.

It appears that this recommendation is being made not because the area is truly historic, but because the neighborhood association doesn't want 27th street widened. "
Vern wrote on December 8, 2008 8:54 am:
" I'm also so very tired of 27th Street being a pain. It should have been widened years ago. If you live on a major street, you have to deal with traffic and a possible street widening. These people are selfish. "
George stuck in traffic wrote on December 8, 2008 9:23 am:
" Make south 27th and south 33rd one ways between Hwy 2 and O street. Like 56th and Cotner. "
JT wrote on December 8, 2008 9:29 am:
" These people are selfish because they don't want half their yard taken away? Well then I guess I would be selfish too. Let's preserve the integrity of these neighborhoods. Notice how nice 27th is south of South St. and how much less nice it is to the north. When a busy street runs a few feet from a house the property value will naturally go down. If you HAVE to drive from the south side of town to Sam's Club just take HWY 77. "
BJT wrote on December 8, 2008 9:31 am:
" If you think this is to simply avoid widening 27th Street and that the district is not historic, e-mail the State Historic Preservation Board at hpnshs@nebraskahistory.org and let them know it! Let's get this application withdrawn!!! "
Carol wrote on December 8, 2008 9:38 am:
" There are many other areas in Lincoln with what could be beautifully restored houses, but the city has long forgotten about those...... allowing slip ins, horrible landlords..... let's not forgot about those. "
So who wrote on December 8, 2008 9:41 am:
" Who does Ed Zimmer work for the City as a whole or the Country Club area? "
Tara wrote on December 8, 2008 10:06 am:
" Look at north 27th street--it has equally historic houses, many very large and once grand. North 27th was widened, front yards shrunk, people moved, and now all of them are run-down, poorly manicured, and mostly converted into crummy apartments. Do we really need more parts of town that look like north 27th? Keep our city from looking like a dump. "
Great idea wrote on December 8, 2008 10:08 am:
" I've a great idea. If the home owners along 27th don't want it widened, just build an elevated overpass from South Street to Highway 2. That way they can keep 27th Street the way it is and have a lovely four lane elevated highway to provide shade. "
EK wrote on December 8, 2008 10:16 am:
" I will totally back this as a historical zone if somebody can prove to me that something important and relevant in history took place in this area (specifically the neighborhood directly bordering 27th). If you can't prove it, then it's time to widen (which we won't do anyway because we have to buy the property from the landowners and it is too expensive). Still, until proven historic, this is a hoax in my mind. "
George wrote on December 8, 2008 10:26 am:
" To George stuck in traffic. You might be stuck in traffic because 33rd is not a through street all the way from O Street to Hwy 2. It does not run through Antelope Park. I like your idea in principle, but it would mean changing the park, Jim Ager golf course and moving the War memorials. Since 27th is four lanes North of South Street, maybe just have 27th and 33rd be one-way from South to Hwy 2? "
JoBeth wrote on December 8, 2008 10:37 am:
" Yes the poorer neighborhoods have had the street widened past their homes.(north of south street). 27th could easliy be widened from High street south without taking away any land from homes, but will the golf course and businesses allow it? From Ryans to High street I just don't know what could be done. "
Idaho Otis wrote on December 8, 2008 10:41 am:
" It would be interesting if a city-wide poll were taken to see how many people would support widening 27th Street. My guess would be 90% would say it should be widened. Then ask the supporters of widening if they are willing to pay additional taxes to make the multi-million project happen. The percentage would probably flip around.......we are a fickle lot! "
You have to be kidding wrote on December 8, 2008 10:44 am:
" Some commenters think these are "rich people's houses"?? You better take a drive along south 27th and see for yourself. These are far from "rich" houses.

Talk about sad stigmatizing. "
Smarty wrote on December 8, 2008 11:02 am:
" I just want to point out that no "rich" people live on 27th St.

If you think the people along the two lane 27th St stretch are rich, you don't know what "rich" is. Those of us that ARE rich would never live north of Old Cheney. ;-) "
Cynic wrote on December 8, 2008 11:05 am:
" Does anyone think that people in the Country Club area really care about what happens to anyone else in this city? When the Antelope Valley Project caused lower-income citizens to have their homes sold and demolished, did anyone stand up for them? When the new Saltdogs baseball field caused traffic snarls and neighborhood chaos in the North Bottoms area, did Lincoln's upper crust come to their defense? And just imagine the reaction if someone tried to build low-income housing in their neck of the woods. Now that the Country Club area residents have openly stated that the historical disgnation is strictly to avoid road widening on 27th Street, how can anyone be surprised? It's the new golden rule in action: Those that have the gold, make the rules. As far as the rest of Lincoln's citizens are concerned, the fat cats from the Country Club have announced, "Let them eat cake." Care to address this issue, 2015 Vision committee? "
Capt. Obvious wrote on December 8, 2008 12:05 pm:
" They are right; we shouldn't widen 27th street as it could destroy their property values. Instead I suggest we build an elevated freeway above 27th street similar to Omaha's Dodge street bypass from South st. to Hwy 2. This way 99% of Lincoln will be able to traverse quickly north and south and the country club area can maintain their 27th street, in fact, I would go so far to allow the country club to privatize their little ground 27th street which means all roadwork would have to be paid for by their neighborhood dues. I would very much enjoy my new elevated freeway as I look down upon the country club area. I support raising my taxes to make this happen. "
Nathan wrote on December 8, 2008 12:06 pm:
" Kudos on the move. I'm a little surprised it hasn't been tried before. There are some nice older homes in the area but I don't know of anything Historic enough to be on tha National Registry.

BUT I think w/o a doubt that making 27th 4 lanes all the way is one of the most important street projects that can be done right now. But nothing will be done I'm sure until after the new arena is built, the Hay Market's integrity destroyed, and our common sense realized. "
out of towner wrote on December 8, 2008 12:38 pm:
" Is 27th really the only north south street that runs in your fine city? really people. Use a different street if this one is as bad as you say. I grew up in a neighborhood like the Country Club that was also on the historic register. I love to take 27th street when I am in town because I love the neighborhood and the houses and dont mind the extra 10 minutes in the car. I wish I could afford to live the neighborhood. DO NOT widen 27th street it will ruin it and turn it into a dump and then everyone will be complaining about all the eyesores. "
One ways all the way wrote on December 8, 2008 12:44 pm:
" Lets forward think even more, make 27th and 33rd streets one ways from Highway 2 all the way to the north 27th street overpass. Since widening is politically off the table, let’s cut through Antelope Park and fix this traffic mess because it is only going to get worst if we do nothing. "
No surprise wrote on December 8, 2008 12:44 pm:
" This is no surprise. If you think a historical designation is an obstacle to widening 27th street; you have no idea how big a fight the board of directors of the Country Club of Lincoln would put up. There is no politician, mayor,city planner or traffic engineer that would go down that road.

Historical designation may or may not become reality; but as long as the Country Club borders south 27th street, that road will NEVER be widened...end of story. "
Alan wrote on December 8, 2008 12:50 pm:
" The only other North South route is 48th street and the residnets there have successfully fough widening of that street for years. Build the bypass to the south and it will be much better. "
All Steets wider wrote on December 8, 2008 12:56 pm:
" In reality there are no North South Streets in Lincoln between 10th street and 84th Street that are 4 lanes from Hwy to the Interstate. This is a small town with lots of Stoplights. You can drive two blocks without stopping. Look at what we are doing to Hwy 2 there are now about 12 lights from Walmart to Van Dorn. Why can we not build access roads along side no put in another light. "
Hysterical wrote on December 8, 2008 1:05 pm:
" 27th Street should have been widened 20 years ago. But it's another case of a few people with connections being able to put their needs above the common good. Now they are trying to put an iron lock on their favored status by getting this "historical" designation. It'd be more appropriate to make this a 'hysterical' designation. Not hysterical as in funny, rather hysterical as in out-of-control. "
Lucille wrote on December 8, 2008 1:08 pm:
" Widening 27th isn't going to help traffic flow anyway because this city loves to put stoplights up. Loves it! And even better than a stoplight every block is a stoplight that's not timed with traffic flow. So good! I think traffic moves slower north of South street (in the 4 lane) than it does going south from South street to Hwy 2. A lot of missing left turn lanes, very few right turn lanes, etc. I don't live in the Country Club neighborhood and avoid 27th street like the plague so I have no vested interest but all you widen 27th street fans should come up with something Husker related to be built at 27th & Hwy 2. I bet most everyone would gladly give up their yard for the Huskers. "
Lincoln Taxpayer wrote on December 8, 2008 1:11 pm:
" OK if we don't widen 27th street then triple the taxes in that area, if they want to live in an historic distric at the expenst of everyone else in Lincoln then they need to pay for it. "
KRM wrote on December 8, 2008 1:12 pm:
" Just a clarification: the people who live in this district are not the people that are applying for this designation. So those that are accusing the "rich" of being selfish for wanting this have their facts mixed up.

Those that are in favor of widening 27th...I hope you are also prepared to pay more taxes for 27th to be widened. Or will you also be complaining about that too? "
Backwater wrote on December 8, 2008 1:30 pm:
" Sadly, Lincoln is a backwater town that is very big. It wants to be bigger, but does not want to think like a city. When I lived in Chicago, if we wanted to get across town, we would hop on the nearest freeway. Driving through town was stop and go, stop and go. What Lincoln needs is less people, therefore, less traffic! "
Chris wrote on December 8, 2008 1:46 pm:
" Widening the road will only make the traffic in the neighborhood worse. People avoid 27th street now, widening the road only entices more people to use it. "
To KRM wrote on December 8, 2008 1:51 pm:
" Yes, the residents aren't the ones applying for this designation, but they aren't fighting it, are they? No, instead they tell the newspaper that they welcome it because they will "do everythey they can" to stop the widening of a main city street that would benefit over 220,000 residents. Anyway you look at it, it's SELFISH and these residents should be ashamed of their behavior. "
jm wrote on December 8, 2008 2:36 pm:
" TO CYNIC who wrote "Care to address this issue 2015 vision commitee" I got news for you and correct me if I am wrong, but I believe Bob Beecham is on that committee as well. I think we need to seriously consider widening 27th Street. I understand that many would not want to give up their front yards, but 27th is our main North/South street! I think that there are many things that they could take into consideration to make the street more pleasing to the eye. We are really only talking about a short stretch from South Street to highway 2 that would be widened. Not all of those homes would be loosing a substantial portion of their yard. Between South Street and the CC of L would be a problem, and those people would loose some land. South of that though, The city could acquire some of the land needed from the country club of Lincoln (but heaven forbid we loose a few feet of golf course), and some the of the land could be taken on the east side where the shopping center is located. Take as little land as possible from the home owners, put in some attractive lighting, some nice signs distinguishing the area, some landscaping and I don't think you would have a bad looking main street! Now as we create this main Street, fix up the residential portion between South and "O" Streets, kick in some incentives for home buyers (to encourage owner occupancy) and this would probably be Lincolns nicest looking North/South Street. As far at this area being put on the historical registry, well that might not be a bad idea either. If it is on the historical registry, isn't there a possibility of receiving some grants, and some federal dollars to help preserve the integrity of the area when they widen the street? Hmmm.... just a thought. "
LS wrote on December 8, 2008 2:43 pm:
" I live on 27th Street and take pride in my home. The last thing I want done is for them to widen the street so that I literally have cars driving next to my front door! Put yourselves in our shoes and think whether or not you would want to lose half your lawn and lose safety for your children all because you want to get some where 5 mins faster. Next time you drive down that street look at people's homes and see just how much of their homes and lawns would be destroyed and ruined just so they could widen the street. "
chill out people wrote on December 8, 2008 2:55 pm:
" Look at the house on the SE corner of 27th & South. Any pro widening posters think you'd like to live there? Or houses on Vine where if you fall off your porch you're flattened by a truck? Just so a bunch of hot rodders can get somewhere 10 seconds faster? This city will never do it right by buying out one side of the street. Instead they nip it to the house, limit access on side streets, add lights and it's all worse.
Shut up and listen to relaxing music and get over it. Lincoln's average commute time is one of the best in the nation. We don't know what traffic is in this town (try Chicago, LA freeway, etc.) "
Matt wrote on December 8, 2008 2:59 pm:
" Maybe all you people denouncing the people living on 27th should offer to sacrifice your peace and tranquility! Yes, they may be slowing the 27th street widening, but you would do the exact same thing! "
Stop the Insanity wrote on December 8, 2008 3:04 pm:
" You are all cracking me up! Do you really believe that widening 27th street solves all of the North/South traffic problems in all of Lincoln? I don't think it would have much of an impact. I would never dream of taking 27th street anywhere north of Highway 2. 27th Street is a nightmare even north of O street and all the way to the I-80 interchange. The bottom line is that Lincoln has too many cars for the roads and the city's layout. You should be screaming at the developers and the city councils that approved the nightmarish zoning over the past 50 years. I do agree with all of you who complain about Lincoln's love affair with traffic lights; it's outrageous. And I still haven't figured out why people who want to make left turns at major intersections are punished by not receiving a turn arrow or one that lasts for .2 milliseconds! It's like the traffic dudes believe Lincoln is designed along an X axis. Umm, I think it's more of a grid pattern guys! "
Older Neighborhoods wrote on December 8, 2008 3:24 pm:
" are the soul of any community and the majority of citizens have a complete disrespect for them. Check out the neighborhoods along the 4 lane sections of 27th Street and see how well they are fairing. If you think 27th is such a log ram to travel, I say you have fallen for the false dream sprawl offers and you could benefit from moving closer to work. It is cheaper for you and the city as a whole. The suburbs are a post WWII 1950s idea that is bad for the environment and personal and public pocketbooks. We complain about impact fees and property taxes but do nothing to support smart, higher density, green growth in our community. "
Bob wrote on December 8, 2008 3:40 pm:
" YES...improving traffic efficiency on a specific project like this would be one of few times I'd vote for a tax increase (think about, more traffic efficiency=>more fuel efficiency=>less gas=>more $$ in my pocket).

Due to lack of forethought in developing this city traffic ways, the widening of one lane roads in Lincoln is inevitable eventually. They can recode and fight this all they want...its a losing battle, and its only a matter of time until Lincoln has some real leadership and makes the neccessary decisions for improvement beneficial to all.

The bypass's (South & East) will help eventually but that is good 2-10 years off-if not further-and the 55 mph speed limit is way too slow based on where they will be located.

Chris, your negative connotation that if they 'widen the road that more people will use and thus traffic will increase' assumes that this portion of 27th is currently underutilized. I disagree.

Lincoln has done little in showing us tangible projects that improve traffic efficiency. Sure, 'O' st is part 3 lanes but turning can be problematic or not allowed at all. 84th is two lanes each way but stop lights are terribly disruptive. They've installed over 250 "traffic cameras" yet I still sit at lights with no traffic going the other direction on a consistent basis. I'm not asking for all green lights or eight lanes each direction. I am asking for more efficiency. You can accomplish by: utilizing these cameras, installing more turn lanes at intersection currently void, raising the speed limit in some areas, and replanning the core traffic infrastructure (aka widening roads like 27th, 48th, & putting 56th all the way through). "
Scott wrote on December 8, 2008 3:44 pm:
" Reading these comments leads me to believe that not a single one of you read Mr. Zimmer's comments in the article. Placing the Country Club neighborhood on the National Register won't prohibit the City from widening 27th Street UNLESS federal money is involved. Last time I checked, the federal government does not supply Lincoln with money to build interior streets. Now, if 27th had a US highway designation, perhaps...But this is not the case. Read the article before commenting. "
27th Street wrote on December 8, 2008 3:54 pm:
" That's why I didn't buy a house on a main arterial! People on 27th Street purchased their homes knowing that the potential for the street to be widened will always exist. I don't feel sorry for these people. Don't buy houses on 27th Street and then complain when the street needs to be expanded...it's just that simple!!! "
Pace Blvd wrote on December 8, 2008 4:09 pm:
" When traffic southbound on 27th is congested at 27th and Highway 2, and backed up to 27th and Calvert, you can thank the fine folks in the Country Club neighborhood! "
Lets face it wrote on December 8, 2008 4:27 pm:
" This proposal will never go thru. If it did then we would be in a world of hurt.Lets face it 27th street needs to be redone.
This is a "Growing" city, we as citizens need to accept this. "
To people who live on 27th.. wrote on December 8, 2008 4:44 pm:
" what did you expect would happen when you bought your house? Seriously? Did you think Lincoln would not grow? Although it is typical Lincoln road building behavior to wait until the last minute to widen a two-lane street to a 4 lane. You had to know that 27th would need widening. Your property value has gone down BECAUSE you live on a main road and pulling/backing in and out is much harder. Common sense people. "
Comon... wrote on December 8, 2008 6:09 pm:
" Well here it is, Another example of Lincoln moving backwards in the fast lane. The senior citizens will do whatever it takes to curb Lincolns growth.
Lincoln need a North South driving route more than anyother, and making 27th wider would be the best way to do it short of a by-pass of some sort.
it takes the better part of an hour to get from 27th n I-80 to South point.!! "
Lincoln Neighbor wrote on December 8, 2008 7:09 pm:
" Although it saddens me, it does not surprise me that some people want to deprive this beautiful neighborhood, one of the few truly unique and historic of the city, of its rightful designation and subsequent future preservation simply to save a few minutes on the road as they zoom by in their cars. I suppose when you choose to live in a so-called "cookie-cutter" house that's 30 minutes away from downtown, you might semi-subconsciously defend your decision by laying the blame for the long drive and boring monotony on those who don't. Have you asked the people living in the Country Club neighborhood, who USE this portion of 27th street more routinely than anyone else, whether they want it widened? And do you care?

I live here. Traffic on 27th can be frustrating in this neighborhood when you're in a hurry. But some of us learn to PLAN for the traffic and we make due just fine. Some of us are willing to plan for the occasional extra 5 minutes in our cars in order to help Lincoln remain a beautiful and scenic city and not a massive sprawl of suburban, well, blah.

Some of us take it one step further and financially contribute to other ventures in Lincoln to preserve its heritage, support its low-income families and diversify its cultural offerings. "We" are not standing in the way of "progress". Some of us have a different idea of what progress is and how it should be brought about in this city we so dearly love.

Want to know what the historical significance of these lovely Country Club homes? Do the research. As a former LPS student, I can't remember a year that went by where we weren't required to research the surrounding homes and buildings and report back on our findings. The information is readily available on almost every building in these historic parts. It fascinated me then, and it continues to fascinate me now. It's a good way to enrich your lives as Lincolnites and boost pride in our city.

27th Street will eventually have to be widened so that you commuters can pass through without having to stop and look at our homes. I would simply like some reassurance that the Country Club neighborhood will be recognized for its originality and historical significance and maintained to the best of all of our abilities while accomodating the rest of this ever-expanding city. "
Scotts Comment wrote on December 8, 2008 7:40 pm:
" Scott - the federal government does provide Lincoln with money for our streets, as it does with most communities, not just highways in our community. A great deal of 84th Street was funded with federal funding. "
Sad wrote on December 8, 2008 7:41 pm:
" I love this area. It reminds me of when "old money" ran Lincoln rather than rednecks. "
Fred wrote on December 8, 2008 7:44 pm:
" The historic designation will make it much more expensive to widen this street. It's not a matter, as Scott suggests, of never widening the street - it's a matter of the cost going up very dramatically due to the historic designation. "
to comon wrote on December 8, 2008 9:45 pm:
" Blaming Seniors? Who do you think built this city? "
Comon... wrote on December 8, 2008 10:05 pm:
" I agree, too many stop lights! "
Rowdy wrote on December 8, 2008 10:15 pm:
" Except for an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening, I can easily drive anywhere in Lincoln in 20-30 minutes. Two hours of rush hour traffic don't justify ruining the nature of the Country Club neighborhood. Try driving in Boston or Los Angeles or another big city for a week and you'll appreciate how well traffic flows in Lincoln. My desired change to 27th Street would be to to require the Lincoln Country Club to remove the barbed wire from the top of its fence. It's an eyesore, probably doesn't meet code and, really, does the LCC have that big of a problem with intruders? "
James wrote on December 8, 2008 10:20 pm:
" Can anyone honestly say that widening 27th Street has helped north of South Street? There are more poorly timed lights, no left turn lanes between Normal and South Street, and rear-end accidents during rush hour at least once a week. Heading south during evening rush hour from Superior, I actually move faster after I hit South Street. The worst bottleneck by far is 27th and O. Lincoln needs an outerbelt system to avoid the older streets entirely. "
latentlincolnite wrote on December 8, 2008 10:37 pm:
" You know this really amazes me. A "modern" community with its pulse on the world did not have the brains to think 40 years ahead to solve this problem!!

You folks think widening 27th St is going to be cheap?? or is that "cheep" from all you armchair road widening engineers??

These problems should have got sorted out by all the intelligencia from years past. So if the neighborhoods pull the NRHP trump card and succeed, then process of government works!!

I come from a community that Mr Jeese Ventura called designed by a " bunch of drunken Irishmen" How's that?? Now I realize there are a bunch of others in that same vain who could not design a better road system in Lincoln, NE

So if widening 27th is your answer, you tax bill will make LPS look pretty tame by comparison. How about tearing ALLLLL of Lincoln apart and START all over with a vision of 150 yrs ahead and plan for your ever growing community that every body brags about in Lincoln. Go ahead and rip up 27th, and see if any of you could complete that project in ONE year, that will be your challenge. Otherwise this latent Lincolnite, is just reading about a bunch of muckrakers chirping about the South Side.

Getting around North Lincoln is just as bad right around any other part, so lets rip up your neighborhoods,too "
Locke wrote on December 9, 2008 7:10 am:
" How about a compromise? Don't widen 27th street. Instead, put in an elevated highway through that area. Of course, one would want to make sure that no one gets hurt by things coming off the street so we would want to high fences along the elevated stretch. Also, we would want to make sure that no one vandalizes the pillars holding the highway. Razor wire surrounding each pillar should do the trick. Lincolnites gets the North South route they have been wanting, and 27th street abutters get to keep their land. Everyone is a winner. :-) "
Dont Destroy the Neighbrohoods...Restore Them wrote on December 9, 2008 8:18 am:
" The Country Club Neighborhood Association folks are right. Widended streets destroy neighborhoods. I say we got a step further and restore all the neighborhoods where streets have been widened. Let's start with 27th north of South Street all the way to Cornhusker. Take it back down to 3 lanes. Given the land back to the property owners and restore the yards. Have the city plant some nice trees along the way. Keep the restoration project going, starting with the streets closest to the Country Club. Reduce all speed limits to 35. Think of how much the property owners along "O" Street will appreciate all the extra parking space in front of their buildings. Wyuka will pick up a few extra graves they can sell when they get some of their land back. Heck, they'll get land back along Vine Street too. What a bonanza for them. I can't wait to see how much nicer it will be driving on Capitol Parkway and Normal Boulevard when there will only be three lanes. Having nothing but three-lane streets throughout Lincoln will be really great for our city, and we will have the CC Neighborhood Association to thank. "
Forever stuck in Lincoln wrote on December 9, 2008 8:34 am:
" I've lived in Lincoln all of my 40 years. I remember my days in high school when I would hunt where there are now many houses on S 27th street. It amazes me that a small neighborhood like this can hold up the entire town of Lincoln. I understand that it is important to hold onto things from the past and memories, but let's also consider progress. The widening of S 27th street is definitely necessary. Just because a needed transportation function is necessary, doesn't mean the area will turn into an industrial area. Please help everyone that travels down the bottleneck to get from Point A to Point B in a reasonable amount of time. Sorry folks, it's time to move on. Buy one of the Remembering Lincoln books or whatever they are called. That is where history belongs. It doesn't need to be areas receiving special designations to prevent progress. "
Scott wrote on December 9, 2008 10:13 am:
" Making the Country Club neighborhood will NOT make it more difficult to widen 27th Street. Even IF federal funds were used to do the work, it does not eliminate the possibility--the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 only requires that the government consider the effects of their action on historic properties and mitigate accordingly. At times this mitigation is photographic documentation of a historic structure before demolishing it.

Placement in the National Register is, for the most part, just a nice honorary gesture, not a stop block for progress. "
27th street dweller wrote on December 9, 2008 10:34 am:
" I live on 27th street in this area and I can assure you I am not one of these "rich" people that some of you refer to. I'm a single parent of moderate means and I don't want to lose half my yard and have all this traffic a few feet from my house. DUH. I don't think that qualifies as selfish, I would just like to maintain what I bought and paid for when I purchased this house. Noone wants to lose their yard or be forced to relocate. Make 27th Street a one way street. "
Rick wrote on December 9, 2008 11:09 am:
" In some cases, the needs of the larger community should come before the needs of a few hundred people. While it may not be pleasant, it's part of being a good citizen. Over the years, it seems this neighborhood has lost it's ability to find a reasonable solution and be neighborly with the rest of the citizens of Lincoln. "
timmy wrote on December 9, 2008 11:26 am:
" Sure the country club area has history. The central question, however, is why is that THEIR history is privileged over the history of every other area of the city that has seen streets widened, when there was need, at the cost of the history and character of those neighborhoods? Believe it or not, people who grew up in and lived in the area of North 27th street also had community pride before their neighborhood was sacrificed for road widening and commerce. Where were the voices of country club residents when it came time to preserve the history of that neighborhood? South Street has history; why was it not privileged to be preserved like South 27th and the Country Club area has been? There are endless stories of neighborhoods in Lincoln that have been altered for the sake of traffic. Why were those alterations and dislocations permitted, but when it comes time to do so in the Country Club it's a different story? All people and places have a history, but apparently only those who wield economic and political power are so privileged that theirs gets to be preserved, even if it means inconveniencing the rest of a community to do so. Must be nice. "
PLease wrote on December 9, 2008 1:09 pm:
" Widen the street it needs to be wider "
A little bit of patience please... wrote on December 9, 2008 1:23 pm:
" People!! In order to have "historic" places in the future, they need to be saved now!! It's because of people like you who only think about NOW and not about the FUTURE that historic places are hard to come by.

These houses are NOT brand new, they are all at least over 50 years old, beautiful, and in good condition. And it MUST be preserved before it is destroyed and what will we have to show future generations about the history of Lincoln, NE? Nothing. Except all of your houses in the suburbs that are all the same little boxes in a row.

There are plenty of other ways to get around Lincoln than this section of 27th street, and if you're all too lazy to go a different route, then I think you deserve to sit in traffic in the only "bottle neck" of Lincoln. Waiting in a little bit of traffic is a small price to pay to keep Lincon's historic neighborhoods alive. All we need is a little bit of patience please.... "
No patience wrote on December 9, 2008 2:02 pm:
" Sorry, but not every old, beautiful home needs to be preserved, and South 27th Street is certainly not the only place where you can find such homes in Lincoln. We are not necessarily talking about taking out homes anyway, perhaps just some of their lawn.
Along much of the route the street could be widened by encroaching on the Lincoln Country Club to gain the extra space. Surely their fairways could be a bit narrower and thus more challenging.
End the bottleneck! "
R. SCOTT wrote on December 9, 2008 3:22 pm:
" Just build a huge overpass like Omaha's West Dodge Street. "
the city should wrote on December 9, 2008 4:37 pm:
" give the residents more than they payed for their house just like they do in every other city in the US. Pretty simple. This is for the greater good. "
how bout wrote on December 9, 2008 9:17 pm:
" An underground expressway? Then the Country Clubbers can more easily look down on the rest of us as we cruise by. PS: Dweller, when you buy a house on an arterial, you assume the risk of it being widened. Duh! "
mike h wrote on December 9, 2008 11:41 pm:
" yes widen now stop talking about it just do it they will have just as much lawn left as many many homes in Lincoln after a street widening project by not widening it is clear the powers to be are just cowing down to those who live along this section of roadway and lets not forget which certain council member lives along it and has many many schemes and costly ideas for the city to prevent its widening so keep that in mind next time your heading to the polls stuck in traffic "
tim wrote on December 9, 2008 11:54 pm:
" bring on the bulldozers already by not widening 27th street you are allowing a couple dozen home owners hold a knife to the city throat and to every driver in Lincoln or visits or used too like state meets and fair goers do you think Omaha would give in and leave the road as it was 50 years ago well if they can move a rail yard a post office and god knows what other hurdles will pop up to build a event center we really cant afford then the city can and add two more lanes through this section of 27th "
MA wrote on December 10, 2008 11:09 pm:
" Wow..being a tax paying resident living on South 27th Street, I am appalled at all the "rich" comments. I am a hard working single female who takes care of her property. If you classify me as rich because I live in house that needs constant repair, you are sorely confused. Where are all you southbound people headed on a daily basis? Umhum...to your expensive homes south of Old Cheney. By the way, I deal with the snow plow pushing snow into my driveway over and over, a right of way full of cigarette butts, broken beer bottles and the occasional used condom. If you don't like the traffic on 27th Street, we won't miss you if you take another route. "
ohmy wrote on December 12, 2008 9:46 pm:
" I am just amazed by these negative comments. This neighborhood draws people (and $$$) to Lincoln - we moved here specifically because of it. Not only do we pay for the huge upkeep of these old homes, we pay high taxes too. That you think this should be destroyed so that you can commute quickly to the burbs (where the really rich folks live....hello wilderness and the ridge....) is insane. You haven't lived where there is REAL traffic with no alternative routes (get stuck on the Bay Bridge for a few hours sometime). Yes there is some traffic at rush hour, but it lasts for about an hour and adds maybe 5 minutes to your commute. Calm down! Use your extra few minutes in the car to look at the beautiful trees, gardens, architecture. And if you can't stand that, take an alternate route. There is NO reason to widen 27th!!! "
Robert Smith wrote on December 24, 2008 1:15 am:
" Change is inevitable and good. However, rather than changing shady South 27th Street into a treeless turnpike...let's find a way to retain the historic character of this older Lincoln neighborhood.

I recently heard Dan Burden speak about the benefits of adopting sustainable, active transportation networks in communities.

http://www.walkable.org/

Perhaps the Country Club Neighborhood Association, and City Planning can bring him in to help look for solutions.

"It seems to me that every person, always, is in a kind of informal partnership with his community. His own success is dependent to a large degree on that community, and the community, after all, is the sum total of the individuals who make it up. The institutions of a community, in turn, are the means by which those individuals express their faith, their ideals and their concern for fellow men." -- Charles Stewart Mott, 1875-1973 "

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