Assemble Lincoln logo. (Jeff Motz/KFOR News)LINCOLN–(KFOR Mar. 20)–Members of Assemble Lincoln announced Thursday afternoon the proposed site for a new downtown Lincoln convention center. The group unanimously selected the Garfield site at 13th and “M” Street for the proposed center, directl y across the street and to the east of the Cornhusker Hotel. “This project is about more than building a new venue; it’s about driving innovation, fostering economic growth, and creating opportunities for our community to thrive,” said Assemble Lincoln chair and Lincoln State Senator Eliot Bostar. Numerous meetings included public open houses and presentations to gather important feedbackvfrom the community. Criteria used in site selection process included the following: • Site fundamentals, including site suitability, size and shape of parcel and site utilities. • Community Integration and Growth, including active urban environment and partnership opportunities. • Accessibility and Connectivity, including roadway access, traffic flow and pedestrian connectivity. • Site Environmental Impact, including geotechnical, floodplain, easements, liens and restrictions. Courtesy of Lincoln Chamber of Commerce/Assemble Lincoln.       The next steps in development include outreach and negotiations with landowners, submit an application to the state of Nebraska for the Lancaster County Turn Back Tax, while establishing a timeline for funding and construction. “A downtown convention center will greatly enhance our ability to attract meetings and groups to our community,” Lincoln Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Jason Ball said. “This is a tremendous opportunity for the Visit Lincoln division of the Lincoln Chamber to continue growing Lincoln as a destination as the tourism economy evolves.” Assemble Lincoln looks forward to further discussion with stakeholders and the community as this exciting development initiative moves forward with a convention center site now in place. For continued updates on the convention center project, please visit the Assemble Lincoln website at www.assemblelincoln.com. ...read more read less