City Council Give Unanimous Approval to New State Prison Site in NE Lincoln

LINCOLN–(KFOR Apr. 22)–City Council members on Monday voted 7-0 to approve of a land swap with the state of Nebraska for a new prison in northeast Lincoln.

The new state prison will be located off of 70th and I-80 on 300 acres of land, with the city will be responsible for $7-million worth of infrastructure toward building the facility. The land swap will keep the area of 102nd and Adams to be used for future residential development.  Council member James Michael Bowers represents northeast Lincoln and shared some thoughts before the final vote that money could be used for providing intervention programs that can reduce the incarceration rate.

“Nebraskans deserve a better use of their tax dollars, Lincolnites deserve accountability and transparency and northeast Lincoln residents deserve hospitals, not prisons,” Bowers said before the Council’s vote.

Bowers also noted while it’s not ideal, the 70th and McKelvie Road location is a better alternative. He added he’s still requesting the state to release the other sites that were under consideration for a new state prison.  Last summer, the state didn’t offer any public engagement about a potential site for a new prison, even after residents in northeast Lincoln voiced their concerns and opposition to local representatives.

The city will be responsible for $7-million worth of infrastructure toward building the new $350-million prison.