What will be done to address environmental concerns and goals?
It is not unusual to see new arenas today being built on sites with existing environmental challenges. The reason for this is that large tracts of land can be more readily assembled and the impact on surrounding neighborhoods can be minimized in these locations. In many cities, including Lincoln, these areas are near the city core but are underutilized from an urban land use perspective. Therefore, when they can be sensitively redeveloped in accordance with the strictest environmental and flood control requirements, they are highly suitable as arena sites. The development of West Haymarket will include strategies for protecting saline wetlands and providing flood storage capacity for Salt Creek. The area may be eligible for environmental funding associated with “brownfield” site designation, which can be used to assess and clean up sites with the potential presence of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants.
