[July 17, 2014]LINCOLN - Tuesday evening with six
members of the Lincoln City Council present, the vote to approve a
TIF application from local business owner David Lanterman passed
unanimously. The council also approved issuance of a $2.3 million
bond to cover the city’s investment in the project.
The city will give the money to Lanterman for the development of
the Lincoln Grand 8 Theater. The money will return to the city
through the increase in property taxes derived from the expansion.
Included in the $2.3 million is $300,000 for streetscape work in
front of the theater complex on South Kickapoo. The $300,000 will be
reimbursed back to Lanterman by the city.
At the beginning of the evening Tuesday, Mayor Keith Snyder
re-convened the voting session from Monday, July 7th for the purpose
of taking these two votes.
Before voting Snyder told aldermen, Lanterman was present and wished
to address the council.
Lanterman began saying he wanted to thank the council for their
careful consideration of the TIF application. He said this had been
a project 4 years in the making, and nothing had been taken lightly
in developing this plan.
“I do not take this project lightly," he said. "I realize what I’m
putting on the line and am willing to give 200 percent to make this
work. It has to succeed for me to succeed. It is very personal.”
Lanterman went on to say that he had received tremendous community
support for the project, and was appreciative of that as well.
“I’ve had an amazing amount of positive comments about the project.
The most exciting thing I actually get is from a group we never see
connected to our community, and that would be the 20- to 30-year
olds. Every one of them that I see that have heard of this are so
excited about this project being one of the first that they feel
connected to. They think this is going to make a difference in their
life as well as the community," he concluded.
Marty Neitzel commented saying that this is the kind of project that
constitutes the reason she serves the city as an alderman. She wants
to push the community and the town forward.
Lanterman said another aspect of this project was the draw
from outside of the immediate community. He said he wanted
people to come just to see the theater, not necessarily even to
watch a movie, but to just see this great building. He said, “I
want them to say, "I want you to see this place.”
When Snyder asked for motions, the first was to approve the city
taking out the $2.3 million bond. That motion was made by Melody
Anderson and seconded by Kathy Horn. The motion passed 6 – 0.
The second motion was to approve an ordinance for the
redevelopment agreement with Lanterman. A motion was made by
Neitzel and seconded by Anderson. That motion also passed with a
6 – 0 vote.
Aldermen present for the meeting included Melody Anderson,
Michelle Bauer, Scott Cooper, Kathy Horn, Marty Neitzel, and Tom
O'Donohue. Jeff Hoinacki and Jonie Tibbs were absent for the
evening.
