$27M Blair Apartment Project Breaks Quarter-Century Dry Spell Using Public Incentives

BLAIR, Nebraska — Blair is about to get its first new major apartment complex in a quarter-century — a 132-unit market rate project the public is chipping in for to help boost business and growth in the town a half hour north of Omaha.

Real estate developer Metonic broke ground earlier this month on the $27 million Blair Crossing Apartments, which will feature amenities including a fitness center, dog park and resort-style swimming pool.

Public incentives helping to defray costs include $300,000 in local tax revenue from the city’s “LB 840” program and up to $2.03 million in tax-increment financing. TIF allows property tax revenue from new improvements at the project site to pay for eligible expenses of development.

The city of about 8,000 residents also pledged $2.4 million for area pu