The Downtown Lincoln Association is planning to move its offices to Old City Hall as part of an effort to create a new hub for downtown visitors volunteers and community events.
The Lincoln City Council considered a lease agreement Monday between the city and the Downtown Lincoln Association for space near 9th and O Street. The proposed lease would run from October 1st 2026 through September 29th 2029 with an option for another three-year term.
Dan Marvin with Lincoln Urban Development says the prominent location between 9th and 10th Streets could help bring more people into the building and downtown. “I think a large amount of the public is unaware of what the history of that building and the purpose of that building,” Marvin said.
Marvin says the Downtown Lincoln Association would be the building’s most prominent tenant in decades and could help activate both Old City Hall and the surrounding area. He says the building’s location could also give the association’s downtown ambassadors a highly visible place to connect with visitors.
Todd Ogden, president and CEO of the Downtown Lincoln Association, says the move would turn Old City Hall into a community hub. “We want this to be a co-visiting hub, is what I would call it, a place where the community can gather,” Ogden said. Under the proposal, DLA offices would be located on the third floor, while first-floor office space could be used for coworking and meetings involving downtown volunteers and supporters.
Ogden says the association also plans to use the location to help activate the nearby park and expand its presence throughout downtown. He says the move represents a change in how the organization operates. “We’re adjusting from an 8 to 5 downtown to a 24-7,” Ogden said. “And this hub allows us to do that.”
The proposed lease also includes plans for the Downtown Lincoln Association’s ambassador vehicle to serve as a mobile presence throughout downtown rather than being tied to one location. The lease agreement was presented to the City Council Monday. The transcript provided does not include the council’s final vote on the agreement.