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Council approves transfer and sale of Stoddard School parcels to Hoppy and Sons for senior and affordable housing; playground lots returned to city
Summary
The Beatrice City Council approved multiple ordinances and resolutions to transfer school property and small alley segments to Hoppy and Sons LLC for a phased housing project and to accept deeded land for a playground funded by an RCRP grant. All related measures passed unanimously.
Beatrice City Council on April 7 approved a package of sales and conveyances of land at the former Stoddard School site to Hoppy and Sons LLC, including the transfer of two lots back to the city for a playground and the sale of adjacent parcels and a narrow vacated-alley strip for development, with all measures passing 8-0.
The council heard a public hearing on acquisition of Lots 23 and 24 from Hoppy and Sons LLC, parcels described as part of South Beatrice that the city will accept back for $1 so the city can place a playground there using an RCRP (Rehabilitation and Community Revitalization Program) grant. Tobias, a city staff member, told the council the state agency (DED) required city ownership of the playground parcel as a condition of using the grant funds.
Tobias described Hoppy and Sons’ immediate plans for the Stoddard School building itself: “They plan to gut the entire inside of that building and come back with, I believe, 25 apartments inside the existing school footprint. Each one of those apartments will exit to the exterior of the building,” Tobias said. He added the project would retain parking on the south side of the structure.
At a later ordinance and companion resolution, the council approved sale of the south side of the Stoddard School site to Hoppy and Sons for $1, contingent on the developer receiving grant funding. Tobias said that parcel would accommodate about 45 housing units if the developer secures grants; the developer’s application is due in early May and, if awarded, Tobias estimated construction could begin in spring 2026 and finish before winter 2026.
Councilmember Jane Neider (speaking during public comment) asked whether the school conversion would be senior housing. Tobias replied that the building project is being planned as senior housing (commonly age-restricted to 55+ or similar). He also explained the adjacent south-side parcels were being planned as affordable housing—designed to serve households in the 30–80% area median income ranges, and he provided example income bands for Gage County: roughly $18,500 to $49,200 for a single-person household in that range.
The council also approved an ordinance and resolution conveying to Hoppy and Sons the south 3 feet, 8 inches of a long-vacated alley abutting the Kensington Building, at a sale price of $1. Tobias said the city will retain a utility easement over that strip because of existing poles and lines.
A councilmember raised concern that items tied to housing and property sales were being acted on in a single meeting without extended public notice, asking the council to consider allowing more time for public comment on matters of community interest. The record shows that despite the comment, all related ordinances and resolutions were moved, seconded, and passed 8-0.
Votes and next steps: the deeds and agreements approved tonight are contingent where noted on the developer receiving external grant awards; the city will accept Lots 23 and 24 for playground use and proceed with the RCRP grant process. The council retained a utility easement over the vacated-alley strip sold to Hoppy and Sons.
