OMAHA- A spokesperson for Community Health Development Partners, who were on track to transform a 25-acre tract of industrial land into a new wellness and sports complex, stated that the project has been scrapped.

"We swung for the fences with this one and it didn't work out," said Attorney David Lutz, who held a managing partner position with the company.

The project's estimated cost was around $100 million, but as that number tripled, Community Health Development Partners just couldn't cover it. Most of the increased cost came from site preparation. The land on which the complex was to be built was reported quite unruly, and would require more time and more funds to tame.

Community Health Development Partners planned on demolishing nearly 20 houses and lots that were bought up prior to the attempted development, but nearly all of them are still standing.

Lutz stated that the team was working with certain groups to decide what to do with the dilapidated houses, and may work to restore them so people can move back in. "The neighborhood will be left in as good, probably better, shape than when we got there," confirmed Lutz, "We always had good intentions."

Jenny Synowiecki, who grew up around where the project was to be built, is concerned about the timeline to resell the houses, and hopes Community Health will keep the rest of the neighborhood "in the loop."

City Councilman Vinny Palermo of South Omaha stated that he's been monitoring the neighborhood, and recently walked around the area with Synowiecki.

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