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Developer Gross Arpi announces ‘landed’ Sarpy campus in Papillion and growth in school construction kits program
Summary
Gross Arpi told the City Council its long-planned Sarpy campus for Metro has secured a site in Papillion and highlighted growth in its construction-kit program (from about 1,100 to nearly 1,500 kits); the council pressed staff on stalled local projects and financing challenges.
Lisa Sheave, a representative of development firm Gross Arpi, told the City Council on Aug. 19 that the firm has a "landed project" in Papillion: the Sarpy campus for Metro, a development she said has taken about "10, 11 years in the making." Sheave said Gross Arpi is about 18 months into a three-year strategic plan and reported rising activity in its youth outreach: the group's construction-kit program grew "from around 1,100 to almost just shy of 1,500 this year," now reaching 11 schools with 19 sponsors.
The presentation included an overview of regional project activity and the firm’s continued outreach to recruit and retain employers. "The cost to do business has drastically changed," Sheave said, explaining that capital estimates for projects that once were, by example, $100 million have come back at much higher figures months later because of market shifts.
Council members used the presentation as an occasion to press staff about stalled local developments. Councilmember Mummgaard described a senior-living project at 70th and Cornhusker that was graded years ago but has not proceeded. "Why can't we push this?" he asked, criticizing that the site was now "overgrown with weeds" and asking what the city can do to spur progress. Mummgaard said staff's explanation that financing was the problem left residents frustrated and suggested revoking approvals if projects do not move forward: "we could just revoke their permit and say, Get the heck out of here. You're no longer, you know, approved."
Sheave responded that her office has seen many projects delayed because of rising costs and that financing difficulties are widespread across the region; she offered to brainstorm possible responses and to communicate with city staff if she identifies workable solutions. City staff later told council members that code-enforcement tools can address overgrowth and nuisance issues even when a development is otherwise stalled.
The council did not take formal action on any Gross Arpi recommendations during the meeting. The administrator said staff would continue monitoring the stalled site and follow up with the mayor’s office and property owners if new information emerges.
