2 Downtown Lincoln parking lots to close for solar project

The Lincoln Chamber of Commerce's announcement that two downtown parking lots would close for construction left some downtown business owners feeling confused by the news three days before the closure since the city did not notify them directly. The downtown parking closure is related to the City Solar Project, which was approved in April 2024. The city shared that the project will install solar infrastructure at city-owned facilities to improve long-term energy efficiency and reduce operational costs. The project is being delivered in partnership with SiteLogic and includes construction, electrical work and system integration. Originally, the chamber announced the City Hall parking lot on F Street between 6th and 7th streets and the parking lot behind Old Town Pizza and Hops and Hogs smokehouse on 6th and F streets would be closed. This caused a panic for downtown business owners who rely on these parking lots being available for their customers. Steven Pagano, the owner of four businesses in downtown Lincoln, including Downtown Dance and The Event Center, said the city did not inform him of the closure but a Facebook post by the town's Chamber of Commerce did. "Luckily, the Chamber of Commerce took it upon themselves to notify local businesses. Otherwise, I would have no inkling of knowledge about the project until they were actually closed down," he said. Erin Frye, the city of Lincoln's Economic Development & Communications Specialist, said the city notified the Chamber of Commerce to ensure downtown businesses were aware of the upcoming project. "The chamber independently chose to share that information on Facebook after being notified," she shared. "In addition, the city distributed information directly to the public through its weekly e-bulletin and official city social media channels shortly thereafter." She shared that after concerns were raised, the city worked with the local business owners and the contractors to adjust the construction schedule to recuse downtown impacts. The City Hall parking lot closure began Jan. 8 and will remain closed through at least March. The 6th and F Street parking lot will close after construction at the City Hall parking lot is complete, rather than concurrently. "Because construction timelines can remain fluid, the city is planning conservatively and will continue to provide updates throughout construction, including when parking areas reopen or if timelines shift," Frye shared.