Grow Lincoln

12/15/2025

Are you shocked by the rising cost of housing in Lincoln? Is it worrisome that nearly 1/3 of the cost of a new house is government regulation? This week the City Council is required to read and consider adopting MORE International Building Codes and MORE fees for housing:

Electrical 12 pages
Mechanical 59 pages
Fuel gas 24 pages
Plumbing 47 pages
Maintenance 19 pages
More maintenance: 12 pages
Housing: 31 pages
Fire codes: 50 pages

The City Council members will tell you that they aren’t adopting all of the codes. They will tell you that the State Legislature adopted some of them, so they must adopt them. They will tell you that this went through a committee. They will tell you this is for safety, so we must rubber stamp, not ask too many questions, and approve. Finally, they will tell you that it isn’t that much money per house.

And so it continues, this death by a thousand cuts. It is a big reason why our housing costs inflate year after year, decade after decade. No one considers cost benefit studies to justify the increased burden on homeowners.

In 2024, Omaha finally found its courage and refused to adopt the newest electrical code. Your City Council could find its courage this week, but they need the public to stand behind them. Contact the City Council and the State Legislature and tell them to put this on Pending. It is time to stop rubber stamping International Building Codes and ask far more questions than we’ve been asking.

Footnotes in Comments.

12/13/2025

Google pulled another building permit, this time for $32 million plus more on our Saturday noon show: Reid Morrow, Servicemaster Professional Building Maintenance on turning down new business because your company is scaling too quickly; Krista Peeks Dittman, On Point Insurance Agency on the death of expertise; Dr. Eric Thompson, Nebraska College of Business on how Lincoln is lagging behind its peer cities. Pod up afterwards.

12/11/2025

Commercial Real Estate colleague Tom Ball receives the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce Celebrate Business Roger T. Larson Community Builder Award.

12/08/2025

LINCOLN BUSINESS NEWS—
RESTAURANT: The Golden Chickens Peruvian restaurant is open at 3720 N. 27th near Kids Stuff Super Store and Centers for People. It is a soft opening, the restaurant is offering specials, and customers are advised to be patient as staff works out new issues and challenges. (Picture courtesy business page)
OFFICE: A two-story office building with two sub-floor levels attached to a garage structure is being built at 112 W. Harvest Drive, near W. Fletcher and NW 1st. The project, which appears to involve the Peed family, carries a $15.4 million building permit. Plans were submitted to the City of Lincoln several months ago showing multiple potential small office buildings on the property.
AUTOMOTIVE: Honda of Lincoln is renovating its detail bay at 2770 Yankee Hill Road, adding an automatic car wash and new overhead doors as part of a $300,000 interior remodel.
GOVERNMENT: Due to a new garage under construction which has made parking challenging at the County-City building at 555 S. 10th Street, Lancaster County Assessor and Register of Deeds is temporarily moving two divisions of its offices: register of deeds division and the homestead exemption and personal property division. Lincoln Journal Star reported that these two departments will locate for the time being at 500 W. O Street.
FITNESS: LP Fitness Transformational Center announced a new location at 8120 Cornelius Avenue, just southwest of the Copple YMCA. It is promoting “lifetime locked rates” and offers nutritional supplements, featuring zero-carb protein meals such as Taco Pulled Chicken and Lemon Poached Shrimp; it also advertises itself as the only Latina-owned gym in Lincoln. Its website currently lists an East Park address.
News sponsored by Eschliman Commercial Real Estate

12/06/2025

It has taken decades to attract retail to N. 27th and Fletcher-Folkways. The developer bringing new stores shares the story. Interview with Ben Meier of The Lerner Company The Lerner Company today at NOON. Also: Dave and Robin will talk about the biggest construction projects in Lincoln. 

12/04/2025

It’s official! The Lincoln Airport Authority Board has approved Anthony Dudas as LNK’s new Executive Director. With 17 years of aviation experience, he’ll join us at the start of the new year. Please help us welcome Anthony and his family to LNK!

12/01/2025

If you haven’t been to the mall on a hunt for presents lately, here are some newer stores we spotted at Gateway Mall…

11/25/2025

This happened because at one time in the not so distant past we, as a state, were more willing to invest…and risk…economic development dollars.

A Nebraska startup has attained coveted “unicorn” status after raising the largest single equity investment in the state’s history.

11/24/2025

LINCOLN BUSINESS NEWS—
MEDICAL: Near 46th and Vine Street at 701 N. 45th, YOUniq Health is under construction. Currently at 2120 S. 56th, the psychiatric and mental health clinic plans to move and occupy the new building.
NON-PROFIT: Houses of Hope is renovating its facility at 4740 A Street into a new treatment center, according to a $3.1 million building permit. According to public records, the non-profit purchased the property for $1.6 million May.
RETAIL: The former Quickshop dollar store at 4848 Normal Boulevard indicates online that it is temporarily closed, but according to a $300,000 building permit, it is being converted into a nail salon.
MINISTORAGE: Southwest of S. 40th and Yankee Hill, Dillon Storage at 3839 Hohensee Drive is expanding. The new building is multistoried.
FITNESS: Under construction near 3020 Folkways Blvd is a volleyball youth complex. The City Council approved an application for turnback tax in September, and the Governor and Lincoln voters must approve it in 2026.
News sponsored by Eschliman Commercial Real Estate

11/23/2025

Fan Tony and others noticed this retro sandwich chain sign, and fan Jon says it is going to be inside the C-store at 84th and Van Dorn along with Dirty Dough cookies. Anyone remember when the last Quiznos left Lincoln?

11/22/2025

Rachel Barth Lincoln Airport talks about the surprising generosity during the federal shutdown. Have recent events affected Nebraska business's predictions about future growth? We'll ask Dr. Eric Thompson from Nebraska College of Business. Choosing a new health care plan? It's a mess out there...Q & A with Krista from On Point Insurance Agency that you should not miss. Noon today; pod up after on Apple. We are working on the Spotify issue.

11/22/2025

Hy-Vee health care project underway at 84th & NE Parkway. At noon today: 4 construction projects near Yankee Hill Rd, plus 7 other businesses in progress all around Lincoln. Pod up after on Apple; we are working on the Spotify link issue.