Omaha Developer Sought Agricultural Tax Break on Civic Auditorium Site

City claims developer submitted application to plant alfalfa hay for tax savings, despite plans for mixed-use development.

Feb. 3, 2026 at 11:07pm

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The City of Omaha has filed a legal response claiming that the developer of the former Civic Auditorium site, White Lotus Group, submitted an application in 2025 seeking a special agricultural tax valuation to plant alfalfa hay on the property. This would have allowed the developer to pay significantly lower property taxes, despite their stated plans for a mixed-use development including housing, office space, shops, and a grocery store on the site.

Why it matters

The city's allegations raise questions about the developer's true intentions for the high-profile Civic Auditorium redevelopment project, which has been touted as a major revitalization effort for downtown Omaha. If the developer was actively seeking ways to reduce their tax burden, it could undermine the public's trust in the process and the developer's commitment to the project as originally envisioned.

The details

According to the city's legal filing, White Lotus Group submitted a special valuation application in 2025 stating they wanted to plant alfalfa hay on the former Civic Auditorium site. This application was denied in both 2024 and 2025 by the Douglas County Assessor. Had it been approved, it would have allowed the developer to pay property taxes based on the land's value as grassland, around $3,000 per acre, rather than the market rate of approximately $959,000 per acre.

  • In 2024, the developer first submitted the special valuation application to plant alfalfa hay.
  • In 2025, the developer submitted the application again, which was also denied.

The players

White Lotus Group

The developer that purchased the former Civic Auditorium site from the City of Omaha with plans for a mixed-use redevelopment project.

Michael Goodwillie

The Douglas County Assessor who explained that the special agricultural valuation could have saved the developer thousands of dollars in property taxes.

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What they’re saying

“In 2025, the value works out to about $959,000 an acre, at a market rate. Had they been in special valuation the value for grassland they would have gotten was $3,000 an acre.”

— Michael Goodwillie, Douglas County Assessor (3newsnow.com)

What’s next

The city's legal response and counterclaim to Civic Corner's lawsuit will likely lead to further legal proceedings and scrutiny of the developer's actions and intentions for the Civic Auditorium redevelopment project.

The takeaway

This case highlights the tension between a developer's financial interests and the public's expectations for a high-profile redevelopment project. It raises concerns about whether the developer was truly committed to the original vision for the site or was seeking ways to maximize profits at the expense of the community's interests.