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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 10, 1975)
Wednesday, decern be r 10, 1975 page 8 daily nebraskan I L What he though was a good, long-term investment may be lost to the city according to Lincoln businessman Pat Ash. And he's not a bit happy about it. Ash, who owns property on the proposed Centrum block bounded by 11th, 12th, N and 0 streets, has filed three law suits against the city in his attempt to keep his property. According to Ash, the city wants to purchase his 25 feet of property facing 0 Street and a smaller lot facing 1 1th St. to make way for the private development. Questions legality Ash is questioning the -legality of this purchase, the con stitutionality of the Urban Redevelopment Act and the validity of its blight interpretation and the denial of due process. "I maintain that it's wrong for the city to have emmin ent domain to condemn privately owned property for the resale to a private developer," Ash said. Ash, who owns Pat Ash, Inc., and the building housing Duling Optical at 1 1th and O streets, said his property is j i ( JUjT""'"' 7 J Photo courtKV $f tha Lincoln Conttr Ocvtriopmant Program. An aerial view of Lincoln shows the proxim ity of the university campus which developers say will keep the downtown alive. ..v.y. , . : 1 FREE WFEE CO 1 . hv, a 1 courtesy of the Nebraska Union i 1, while you study for finals j in the Sun. Dec. 14 3pm-llpm Mm.-Wed. Dec. 15-17 7pm-1 1 pm one of tlie prime comers in downtown Lincoln. He said he understands why many businessmen would like to have it. Morally wrong It's morally wrong for government to take a large piece of property away from several private owners and put it in to the hands of a single owner, which the Centrum project proposes to do, he said. Made way Urban renewal has been voted down twice by Lincoln voters, Ash added. This time the city went to the Legisla ture to a get a state law passed to make way for the Cen trum. "By going to the legislature," he said, "they didn t have to go to the people. Although not opposed to progress in Lincoln, Ash said he firmly believes businesses should stay in the hands of the smaller businessmen. Ash is financing the law suits himself. The lawsuits still are pending in court, he said, and added: "I don't think they (the city) will push the court case, because a feeling of resentment may arise." Ash said he is not holding out for more money for the property because he already has received higher offers. The city made the offer for his property only 60 days ago, long after the suits had been pending, he said, adding the "price was no where in the ball park." Calling the Burton-Aschman (redevelopment consult ants) proposed plan for downtown "the most loosely com piled of gobbledy-gook I've ever seen," Ash said, "It is easy for them to sit on the outside and propose this tiling, but if they were in my position they would be thinking quite a bit differently." Fifteen other lawsuits have been filed by property own ers in the Centrum block against the project. Ash said there were originally 24 lawsuits, but several have been dropped and others consolidated. "I don't expect people to agree with everything I've done or said," Ash concluded, "but I plan to express my opinions when I think I'm right and if I'm wrong I'll admit it." Atrium plan proposes complex dill , - iiiffi- n fe'm'm'BSlf , id nn no mi p p mm The Atrium, seen from the corner of 12th and N Streets. While building projects are booming in Lincoln, many in vestors are considering remodeling older structures into re tail and office centers. The Gunny's complex at 13th and Q streets, which was completed last spring, was the first large-scale remodeling in Lincoln. It sson will be followed by the transformation of the temporary National Bank of Commerce (NBC) Build ing, at 12th and N Streets into the $4.5 million Atrium. Cary Neiman, vice president of the Chicago-based Haw thorn Realty Group which bought and is remodeling the Atrium, said the realty group picked Lincoln's strong down town for its project. "It's one of the strongest downtowns in the country," he said. "It is an extremely strong economic base, the capital of Nebraska and the University." He added that new construction in the area influenced the developer's decision, along with the low Lincoln un employment rate. The main alteration of the NBC Building, he said, will be the addition of a 40-foot square open area, or atrium, in the center of the building, running through all seven floors and tupped by a skyiiKiit. At the base of the artrium area will be a dining and re laxing area, Neiman said, surrounded by shops, eating establishments and lounges. Plants and greenery will hang in and be placed around the atrium area, he added. The first two floors and lower level, some 80,000 square feet of leasable space, will house retail shops. The upper floors will hold glassed-in office space facing the atrium. "We are installing all new mechanical equipment, Neiman said. "New escalators and elevators will be installed in addition to the remodeling." His firm invested in the NBC Building, formerly the Rudge and Gunzel Dept. Store, then the Scars Building, be cause of its location (between two major banks and close to the State Capitol) and because the 1917 structure is still sound. Neiman said Ben Simon's has signed a long-term lease for parts of the first two levels of the Atrium and "there are 10 retailers interested in some of the space. "We are planning to house dynamic, high-quality ten ants," ne noted, "and not the faddish type of businesses." Completion date for the Atrium is scheduled for late 1976, he said. Work will begin on the building in February, as soon as NBC moves out. II O Put yourself into, the fashion scene with "Designer Frame" glasses. Names like Givenchy, Oscar de la Renta and Nina Rtcci mean "today" and express it through bold and beautiful eyewear for men and women. The Optical Shop brings you these fashion eyeglasses and for a limited time will allow you a 20 discount off the pur chase price of any of their many styles to choose from. I P 1. "-n m I .muni 8 I i 8 I B IT This coupon allows the bearer at time of order, a 20 discount m on any pair of "Designer Frame" glasses available at I The Optical Shop. 333 North 1 12th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska 1 Expiration data January 26. 1975 i i i Ba tssi saw wtsi w&i ess es isssa isa tm mst TBSusixsazsse
