An Historical Description and Analysis of Lincoln, Nebraska’s Development Pattern: 1860-1985 Concentric Growth – A Fading Dream

Authors

Leonard Pavelka, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Date of this Version

12-1987

Document Type

Thesis

Citation

Thesis (M.A)—University of Nebraska—Lincoln, 1987. Department of Community and Region Planning.

Comments

Copyright 1987, the author. Used by permission.

Abstract

Three successive comprehensive plans for the city of Lincoln, Nebraska have advocated concentric growth as a goal.This thesis analyses Lincoln’s physical and economic development and finds that many elements that played a major role in the city’s growth strongly influenced residential expansion in two directions – east and south. Further investigation revealed that Lincoln’s comprehensive plans have weakened the central business district and strengthened the Gateway-East Park retail complex in east Lincoln.This thesis demonstrates that both historical tendency and the process of incremental policy making employed by the City Council make realization of the goal of concentric growth improbable.

Advisor: James McGraw