The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has decided to build the Lincoln clinic at the VA campus, a decision that opens the door to further development on the historic east Lincoln site.
The VA told developers last week the department will locate the Lincoln clinic, part of the VA Nebraska/Western Iowa Health Care System, in new facilities at the VA hospital campus near 70th and O streets, ending a more than two-year selection process.
Developers who hope to turn the VA campus into Victory Park, with apartments and condos for veterans and seniors, and private medical offices, had said they would not move ahead with development plans unless the VA selected the campus for the clinic.
It’s been a long time coming, said George Achola, vice president of Burlington Capital. “But Friday we got positive news.”
Johnson Development, partners with Burlington Capital, will take the lead in building the clinic. Building VA clinics is their specialty, Achola said.
Mayor Chris Beutler said the announcement “is an exciting step in the redevelopment of this historic site.”
The city looks forward to working with the developers on this opportunity to preserve and enhance the VA campus, he said.
U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, who voted to fund the leased clinics and encouraged the VA to move forward with the project, said she worked to advance the redevelopment of the Lincoln VA Clinic because “it’s a vital project for Nebraska veterans.”
The decision to move forward with the clinic and the announcement that the new clinic will be constructed on the current VA campus “are two positive updates that show the project is moving forward in the right direction,” Fischer said Monday.
The new clinic will replace the current clinic operated from the old VA hospital. Future development plans included renovating the old hospital for offices and apartments and building rental condos for seniors and veterans.
