May 5th, 2025 we learned of a new proposed area to be blighted in the City of Lincoln. The project goes by the name ‘The Lincoln Cornhusker Redevelopment Area’, it encompasses 2,065 acres of land roughly that’s about 3% of the City of Lincoln. In doing some research, this appears to be possibly the 2nd largest blighted area in Nebraska, and the 2nd largest area in Lincoln. The largest being the Belmont neighborhood area being blighted back in 2021, being 2,200 acres of land.
This massive amount of acres brings up huge red flags, as what are the plans for this land? Just to be clear, blight does not mean immediate eminent domain of your home or your house being condemned; however they cannot be ruled out. Redevelopment plans for the broader area of these acres are vague and non-descript which is very suspicious. The city generically states that the area is in need of revitalization and making ‘much-needed’ updates and adding ‘missing-middle housing’. Which is in-part what the 2050 Comprehensive Plan states. However the wording for the plan is vague and leaves many homeowners and neighborhoods worried.
A selling point in the past to get areas blighted was a $5,000 tax credit for homeowners. Many have praised blight because of this pro in hopes of bringing new homeowners to the area. What they aren’t telling you though is that $5,000 tax credit expires at the end of this year (2025) . Senator Dan Quick had proposed that the new homeowner tax credit be extended, it is still in review and appears to be going to be extended but is still uncertain. How does blighting the area actually help current property owners? Current homeowners do not receive aid or assistance programs to rehabilitate their properties, meanwhile for profit companies receive tax payer funded TIF (tax increment financing) from the city, and state of Nebraska, as well as other federal government incentives. A sad fact, approximately only 10 new homeowner tax credits have been claimed per a year since 2019. That’s a total of 60 houses over the span of 6 years, across the whole state of Nebraska. Also note this $5,000 income tax credit is a one-time non-refundable credit when a house is purchased, whereas TIF lasts for 15-20 years.
In 2023 alone, over $121 million dollars of taxes collected went to fund TIF projects throughout the state of Nebraska, according to the State Auditor Mike Foley in a letter to the legislature. He expressed his concerns to legislators that TIF money was very possibly being misused and hinted that the rise of homeowner’s property taxes was correlated. He also stated that many TIF Projects continue to collect funds even after deadlines have passed.
So this, proposed blight has many worried as it is so huge. 561.9 of the acres to be blighted are residential, containing at least four neighborhoods and roughly about 1,032 blocks. The blight study states that only 9 houses 0.3% of 2,000 properties are considered in very bad condition. Over 80% are average or above condition, this shouldn’t constitute an area to be blighted with such a small percentage of dilapidated dwellings. Sadly, many rental properties are used as justification and are responsible for the area’s conditions because they are more neglected than homeowner owned homes. City neglect such as broken sidewalks, potholes, missing gutters or curbs are also used as conditions to label an area blighted. Ignoring such code violations appears to be intentional in these older areas, strictly for the purpose to blight the area so it can be redeveloped in accordance with the city’s plans. If you’d like to read more of the study you can find it here. Why are they blighting this area without an exact thought out plan?
If you would like your thoughts and opinions heard, please consider attending the Lincoln/Lancaster Planning Commission Meeting on June 11th, 2025 at 1:00pm in hearing room 112, County-City Building, 555 S. 10th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska.