National Pharmacy has bought a vacant building on the northwest corner of 33rd and A streets and has plans to redevelop the site.

Lynn Leitner, who owns the pharmacy, said he has a “long-term goal” to develop the site, which has been home to several used car lots over the years, but no specific plans at this time.

He said plans could mean National Pharmacy relocating there from its location on the northeast corner of the intersection, or something totally different.

“Basically our thought was if we could do something over there it could help the neighborhood,” Leitner said.

The neighborhood supports National Pharmacy’s plans, as evidenced by a letter the 40th and A Neighborhood Association president sent to the Lincoln-Lancaster County Planning Commission, offering support for a zoning change of a small portion of the site.

Commissioners on Wednesday approved the zoning change, which would allow a small residential lot that abuts the property to the west to have commercial zoning and become part of the redevelopment.

Haymarket hotel plan

In other business Wednesday, the Planning Commission ruled that a plan to put a hotel in the Haymarket conforms to the city-county Comprehensive Plan.

The estimated $15 million plan is to redevelop the south half of the block bounded by R, S, Eighth and Ninth streets now occupied by two University of Nebraska Press warehouses.

One of the buildings would be torn down and replaced with a five- to -six-story building housing retail on the first floor and a hotel and possibly condos on the upper floors. The other building would remain but be redeveloped and incorporated into the project.

Wednesday’s Comprehensive Plan conformance ruling was the first step in a city approval process that is required because the project plans to make use of as much as $1.2 million in tax increment financing.   

Reach Matt Olberding at 473-2647 or molberding@journalstar.com.