This aerial photo looks south, showing Haymarket Park, the Harris overpass and the Haymarket and part of the rail yard that would be moved to accommodate a proposed Haymarket arena. (ERIC GREGORY / Lincoln Journal Star)
ERIC GREGORY
While railroads own most of the land on which the city of
Lincoln plans its arena development, a lumber yard and scrap yard
will have to move to make way for parking.
Alter Metal Recycling is slated to become a parking lot and
power plant. The scrap yard owner has been in contact with the city
for months, said Bob Ellis, vice president and general counsel of
St. Louis-based Alter Trading Corp.
Alter will move if it gets fair compensation for the property
and can find a suitable new place with railroad and truck access,
he said.
"We're continuing to search. We haven't found a place yet."
Moving a scrap yard may seem like a monumental task, but with 35
locations in seven states, Alter has done it before. He said it
would take 12 to 18 months, depending on the condition of the new
site.
"It doesn't happen real quickly but it can happen," he said.
"It's not like moving a hardware store or moving a grocery
store."
Watson-Brickson Lumber Co. is slated to become a parking lot as
well. Owner Brad Devall declined to comment.
The city also intends to buy parking near Lincoln Station, which
is owned by The Arter Group. President Jim Arter said he's talked
with developers who will be building straight west of Lincoln
Station, and they expressed interest in Lincoln Station.
"We were open to an offer," he said. "We've not had any offers
and we're not trying to solicit any."
He's waiting to hear how the development will affect his
tenants' parking. The city has a long-term lease on the parking
north of Lincoln Station. Arter said he supports the arena project
but he's not so sure the new development will increase Lincoln
Station's property values or change his tenant mix.
One tenant that will be leaving is the Amtrak station. The city
will build a new station farther west.
This aerial photo looks south, showing Haymarket Park, the Harris overpass and the Haymarket and part of the rail yard that would be moved to accommodate a proposed Haymarket arena. (ERIC GREGORY / Lincoln Journal Star)
