Future development left unknown after North Platte City Council meeting

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (KNOP) – Three years ago, a decisive vote by the North Platte City Council resulted in the approval of an Enhanced Employment Area declaration at Lincoln County’s Dilapidating Platte River Mall.

Thus far, development on the property has been on the west side of the property, in the form of new restaurants, coffee shops, retail destinations and, a multilevel apartment complex.

Now, developers are requesting an amended EEA of $3.3 million to aid in the development of the rundown, eastside of the property.

“If we do not approve this we know that the backside of the mall and the parking lot and some of the eyesores of the mall on the eastside are not going to get fixed,” said Ward Two Councilman Pete Volz.

“I want the mall project to be completed, I really do,” said Ward Four Representative Ed Rieker. “But, it seems like the developer has run into some hardships financially, and I come back to the same argument, I don’t think it is the government’s responsibility to ensure that business is profitable.”

Both council representatives are hopeful that the item will be addressed at the next council meeting in February.

Volz said that he feels the redevelopment contract sufficiently protects involved parties.

“It is our responsibility to ascertain that the city is in the best possible position and that the things we want to get done get done,” Volz said. ” If we advance the $3.3 million that the work that we would like to see completed i.e. the east side of the mall gets completed and it’s my belief that the contract has sufficient teeth in it to allow that to happen.”

“If the developer’s project was not going to make it without that extra 2% then it is not going to be a profitable venture,” Rieker said. “If he wants to take that kind of a risk that is up to him.”

Both council representatives are hopeful that the item will be addressed at the next council meeting in February and express optimism that a final decision will be rendered.

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