City Council hears plans for renovated Bishop Heights shopping center

Developers want to turn the old Shopko that anchored the Bishop Heights shopping center at 27th Street and Nebraska 2 for years into new commercial space, possibly with a 150-room hotel.

That’s part of the redevelopment plans for the now nearly vacant center that will ultimately include 230 luxury apartments, new office space and some significant trail enhancements along bike trails that run along the east and north portions of the property.

“The vision for the site is to create a revitalized pedestrian-oriented neighborhood destination providing a mix of amenities for nearby residents,” DaNay Kalkowski, the attorney representing three developers involved in the project, told the City Council Monday.

The council is considering zoning changes and whether the redevelopment plan conforms to the Lincoln-Lancaster County Comprehensive Plan. They will vote at the June 20 meeting.

The shopping center has remained nearly vacant since Shopko closed in 2019 and the retailer declared bankruptcy. A Wells Fargo bank branch and an Arby’s remain there, and the fast-food restaurant is interested in updating the building.

RED Development, which owns the building that used to house Shopko and other businesses, plans to demolish it and develop either 70,000 square feet of commercial space with retail shops, restaurants and offices, or 50,000 square feet of commercial space and a hotel.

EPC Real Estate Group, an Overland Park, Kansas-based company plans to build a five-story, 230-unit luxury apartment complex.

White Development Co. owns the former U.S. Bank branch building on the northwest part of the site, which it plans to demolish and develop into one larger office building or two smaller ones, with a maximum of 45,000 square feet of space.