On Dec. 6, the University of Nebraska Board of Regents met and approved a proposed land swap between UNK and the St. Teresa of Calcutta Newman Center. The land swap will allow UNK to gain ownership of the five properties on West 27th Street, while the Newman Center will acquire the land that previously held University Residence North.
Brent Johnson, executive director of the Newman Center, said the land swap is exciting.
“There really are very few things in life that are truly a win-win,” Johnson said. “But I really think this is one of them, because we’re not gaining any more than UNK, and UNK is not gaining any more than we are. In fact, they’re going to get something really good that they need, and we’re going to get something really good that we need.”
The Newman Center has been looking for new housing options for over 20 years, including exploring other options with UNK.
Father Neal Hock, the pastor at the Newman Center, said they had previously looked into a partnership with UNK at the University Village before the land swap was proposed.
“When we saw that it (URN) was coming down, we approached the university, the leadership, and said ‘Hey, what about this crazy idea?’” Hock said. “‘What if we swapped out what we have for that (URN), that way you can put some parking on the east side of campus, which is very, very needed, and then we can go put a beautiful building on the north side of campus.”
Since 1952, the Newman Center has aimed to help college students keep and grow their faith through the college transition by offering different events such as bible studies, meals, retreats and other group activities.
Hock also said their current houses are in rough shape, as they are not being used for their intended purposes.
“They’re houses, and that’s not what we use them for,” Hock said. “And so, (we’re) wanting and desiring to have a space that was designed for the purpose that we need it for.”
Todd Gottula, senior director of communications and marketing, said he acknowledges that parking is a top concern for students, and is always looking for ways to improve campus.
“It addresses a concern that we always have, that there’s a lot of cars parked in the nearby residential neighborhoods,” Gottula said. “This will help us eventually be a better neighbor by getting some of those cars off the street in those residential neighborhoods near campus. I think the neighborhood will be appreciative, and it is going to help the parking concern we have here.”
Lauren Bah, a senior biology major, said she thinks the property of the Newman Center is a good place for additional parking.
“I think the swap would be a good idea,” Bah said. “I think it would open up more space in the area, and I don’t really know where else we would put parking, just because, like, that’s all neighborhood over there. So with the church being up for moving, I think that would obviously be a good spot for people.”
The land swap will not take place right away, as it is a long-term project that could take anywhere from three to five years to complete. The Newman Center still needs to fundraise for money and meet with construction companies before the work can begin.
Until then, Gottula said more parking spots in URN and University Residence South will soon reopen for more parking access.
UNK currently has 3,400 parking spaces, with 2,100 of them being dedicated to students.
“We’re going to have some additional parking in URN and URS,” Gottula said. “Those parking lots will open up for everybody on campus. So that gives us some extra parking.”
Hock said he is very grateful to UNK, the Board of Regents and the students at UNK, who he said allow the Newman Center to exist.
“As a priest, I’m kind of tired of saying mass in a converted garage,” Hock said. “I’ve been saying mass in that garage for 11 years. I’m excited for the possibility to actually have a church to say mass in, to worship in, and I’m anxious to keep moving it forward as fast as possible.”
