Woodsonia Real Estate's vision of sports fields, housing and more within its proposed "Veterans Village" development in the Grand Island good life district. (Courtesy of Woodsonia)
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LINCOLN — Because Woodsonia Real Estate is the state-approved applicant that established the Grand Island good life district, it can’t simply be nudged out of participation in that development zone.
That’s the word from two key Nebraska lawmakers, based on a legislative staff attorney’s review of applicable statutes.
The interpretation, while not a formal legal opinion, sought to address questions raised earlier this week when Woodsonia leaders revealed that Grand Island city administrators had cut off communication with them and appeared to want a different developer.
Woodsonia leaders said they were “mystified” at the cold shoulder treatment. They said their company so far had invested roughly $2 million and for nearly three years had been planning a multi-use development project, including a regional tournament-style sports complex and surrounding entertainment venues. They had support, at least early on, from Grand Island city officials.
Grand Island administrators declined this week to comment on the situation. The city recently issued a “request for proposals” seeking a contractor to perform duties Woodsonia said it already had started on the half-billion-dollar “Veterans Village” proposal it envisions for the good life district.
Woodsonia President Drew Snyder said he had requested a meeting with the Grand Island City Council. On Thursday, after Woodsonia developers spoke publicly about their concerns, Snyder said he received email communication from the Grand Island city administrator saying Woodsonia would be placed on the mid-May city council agenda.
That’s after the bid requests are due.
Snyder said he preferred that the city stop the request for bid proposals process, but said that apparently it is continuing.
State Sen. Brad von Gillern of Omaha, chair of the Legislature’s Revenue Committee, who has shepherded previous changes in the good life legislation, said he spoke with Woodsonia officials, who sought state intervention.
Von Gillern said a staff legal interpretation of the good life district law indicates that the City of Grand Island could not nudge Woodsonia out of the good life district development, as it is the approved applicant.
“There is no capacity or ability to transfer that applicant status under the statutes …” said the interpretation, which Von Gillern noted was not a formal legal opinion or advice to any party.
State Sen. Dan Quick of Grand Island said he believes all involved parties want the city’s good life district to succeed.
Grand Island contains one of the five state-approved good life districts governed by legislation aimed at creating tourism-boosting economic development projects via a state tax incentive. Lawmakers agreed to give up half the state’s sales tax generated within a district’s boundaries for up to 30 years. The idea was for that revenue to be redirected to help finance development of unique projects within the zone that over time would pay off in more tourism-related development and tax revenue.
Quick agreed with von Gillern.
“I believe because they’re the applicant, the dollars are tied to them as far as the project goes,” Quick said of Woodsonia.
Snyder said he views the May meeting with the Grand Island City Council as a positive step. He said he still was “shocked” at the city’s recent actions and hopes his team will push through with the good life district and project.
“Just let us move forward,” said Snyder. “Let us perform the development like we told the state of Nebraska we’d do.”
This story is provided by States Newsroom, a nonprofit state news network and Blox Digital content partner.
