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Council hears presentation on South Haymarket historic district; staff recommends adding building at 631
Summary
Planning staff presented a proposed South Haymarket local landmark district, describing outreach, potential economic incentives and floodplain benefits; a property owner supported including 631 as a contributing building to enable cohesive redevelopment and access to tax credits.
City planning staff presented the proposed South Haymarket Industrial District local landmark nomination to the Lincoln City Council on Monday, April 21, 2025, and recommended designation to preserve a cluster of historic industrial buildings, incentivize redevelopment, and ease certain floodplain rehabilitation requirements.
"Landmark districts are areas of multiple buildings with shared historic or architectural significance," said Jill Dahlberg, historic preservation planner for the Planning Department, explaining that the district’s primary significance is community development and industry. Dahlberg told council staff had done outreach, that the Planning Commission recommended the nomination 9-0 at public hearing April 2, and that landmark status can open eligibility for state and federal historic tax credits and provide design-review protections through the Historic Preservation Commission.
Dahlberg and Paul Barnes, both with the Planning Department, noted the district aligns with recommendations from the 2016 South Haymarket neighborhood plan and that designation can provide flexibility for rehabilitation while protecting historic character. Dahlberg identified several buildings in the proposed boundary as contributing, and she said staff recommends amending the nomination to treat the building at 631 (a structure the property owner asked to be counted as contributing) as contributing as well.
Kent Seacrest, representing B and J Properties (also described in testimony as Speedway Properties), told council the company has acquired most properties on the block and supports inclusion of 631 as contributing. "We think this is real awesome," Seacrest said, noting the potential to redevelop the block and to partner with the city’s planned park on the south side. He said including the building would allow use of state and federal historic tax credits and avoid requiring floodplain elevation work for rehabilitation: "Contributory properties do not need to meet floodplain requirements when they're rehabilitating historic buildings," Dahlberg had explained.
Staff described benefits of the district as protecting historic character, creating a consistent review framework for proposed changes, and enabling rehabilitation incentives. Dahlberg said historic districts generally perform better economically than non-designated areas and can help coordinate redevelopment adjacent to planned public improvements.
Councilors had no recorded objections during the presentation. No formal council action was recorded on April 21; staff indicated the nomination and any recommended amendment (to count 631 as contributing) would follow the established local landmark designation process and return for council action as required by code.
The Planning Department and Historic Preservation Commission materials are referenced in staff’s nomination packet; staff said they would provide recommended changes to the nomination prior to a formal vote.
Background: The South Haymarket neighborhood plan (2016) recommended a local landmark district for this area. Staff said the Planning Commission approved the nomination 9-0 at its April 2 public hearing, with no public testimony in opposition recorded at that hearing.
