
The Yates Community Center
Springville Elementary was one of the schools that welcomed students back for the first time this semester after starting the year with remote learning.
The Omaha Public Schools board chose community over cash for the future of a century-old building known as the Yates Community Center.
On Monday night, the school board rejected a bid of $630,000 and approved a bid of $100,000 for the building near 32nd Avenue and Davenport Street in the Gifford Park neighborhood.
The board voted to declare the property as surplus and sell the building, valued in the range of $600,600 to $737,100, in June, and received two bids.
Elkco Properties offered $630,000, with the intent of converting the property into a senior living center that would maintain the current community garden and offer use of its community rooms for meetings, programs, lectures and social gatherings.
Yates Illuminates offered $100,000 with the intent of creating a community-owned space. The project has the backing of the Weitz Family Foundation, Gifford Park Neighborhood Association, the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce and Metro Community College.
Through the Weitz foundation, Yates Illuminates found a private donor to give $1 million. Plans show that the group offered $100,000 for the building, then planned to use the rest of the money for significant upgrades.
The Refugee Empowerment Center, Metro college, Great Plains Theater Commons and others would offer educational programming there.
The board voted 6-1 to sell the property to Yates Illuminates. Board member Lou Ann Goding voted no, Ben Perlman abstained and Nancy Krakty was absent. Approval of the sale required six votes.
District officials had recommended selling the property to the highest bidder. In board documents, the district said the higher offer “complies with the board’s fiduciary responsibility to act in the best interests of the entire district and the taxpayers that support us.”
The district’s lawyer told board members that they have a responsibility to try get the most possible for the assets they have available to them.
Board member Amanda Ryan said she understands the taxpayer argument but said refugees and immigrants “are a huge economic benefit to our country and our community.”
Board member Kimara Snipe said the decision isn’t about popularity but about understanding that “sometimes you have to do what’s best for most of the people.”
Board members Tracy Casady and Marque Snow said selling the building to Yates Illuminates was the right thing to do.
Perlman pressed his fellow board members for details on the Yates Illuminates project, but his questions were met with silence. Snow said that meant that they chose not to answer, not that they didn’t know the answers.
OPS purchased the land for $15,000 in 1915 and built a school on it in 1918. Scott Roberts, the district’s chief financial officer, said the inflation-adjusted value of the land purchase is $386,000.
When the school board put the property up for sale in June, the board restricted its future use to educational purposes for a term of 10 years.
”So once the 10-year requirement is up, there’s really no restriction on the use of that property,” Goding said. “We’re kind of talking about it as though it’s a forever thing and it’s a 10-year deal.”
Goding said the board loses the respect of taxpayers when it doesn’t do the right thing, especially in financial situations.
OPS ran Yates and provided job-training classes for refugee and immigrant adults. Citing the building’s condition, OPS officials announced in October 2019 that the programs offered there would be moved to another location.
Bridget Blevins, a district spokeswoman, said renovations are underway at the Teacher Administrative Center at 30th and Cuming Streets for a new space, including a welcome center and community room.
The services previously offered at Yates have been offered remotely during the pandemic, Blevins said.
Our best staff images from November 2020
Photos: Our best staff images from November 2020

Olivia Noonan, 3, of Omaha, looks up at Santa outside Mulhall's in Omaha on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020. Reindeer Dasher and Dancer will be available to see through Dec. 19 at the garden and home store.

Iowa's Zach VanValkenburg catches a fumble from Nebraska's Adrian Martinez after he was sacked by Iowa's Chauncey Golston.

Iowa's Terry Roberts celebrates recovering a fumble from Nebraska's Cam Taylor-Britt.

A photo of Nathan Pastrana, left and Ryan Helbert sit in memorial across the street to the south of the Sonic at 1307 Cornhusker Rd, on Wednesday, November 25, 2020. A shooting on November 21st killed Pastrana, 22, and Helbert, 28, while Zoey Lujan, 18, and Kenneth Gerner, 25, suffered critical injuries.

Ring billed gulls try to stay dry on the dock at Big Lake Park in Council Bluffs, Iowa on Tuesday, November 24, 2020.

The sun rises behind downtown Omaha on Friday, November 20, 2020.

Ord fans cheer on their team as they play in the Class C2 championship game against Bergan.

Protesters gather for the second night outside the Omaha Police Department headquarters in downtown Omaha on Saturday, November 21, 2020. Kenneth Jones, a Black man, was shot and killed by an officer after a traffic stop on Thursday night.

Nebraska’s Cam Taylor-Britt hits Illinois’s Chase Brown after a first quarter run. Taylor-Britt would leave the game with an injury.

Ord players react as their Class C2 championship trophy is handed to them after defeating Bergan.

Omaha Westside quarterback Cole Payton (9) hugs and lifts head coach Brett Froendt following the Elkhorn South vs. Omaha Westside Class A football state championship game at Omaha Westside High School on Friday, November 20, 2020. Omaha Westside won the title 37-21.

Illinois's Josh Imatorbhebhe catches a second-quarter touchdown pass over Dicaprio Bootle to give them a 21-7 lead.

Aurora's Aaron Jividen, right, comforts Jameson Herzberg after the lost the Class B state title to Elkhorn.

The 2020 "Christmas at Union Station" tree is brought inside the Durham Museum in Omaha on Monday.

Nebraska kicks off to Penn State after a second-quarter touchdown to a nearly empty Memorial Stadium due to the pandemic.

Penn State's Will Levis is taken down by Nebraska's Ben Stille on the final down for the Penn State offense during their game Saturday in Lincoln.

Nebraska quarterback Luke McCaffrey, left, and Head Coach Scott Frost, right celebrate their win over Penn State.

Nebraska's Cam Taylor-Britt and Penn State's Jahan Dotson both go up for the ball in the end zone during their game on Saturday in Lincoln. The pass was incomplete.

Nebraska runs out of the field after the tunnel walk before they play Penn State.

Everyone tries to keep up with Nebraska's Luke McCaffrey during their game on Saturday in Lincoln.

Flags of the five military branches are flown during a Veterans Day drive-thru event at Platteview High School in Springfield on Wednesday, November 11, 2020. The student-led tradition, now in its nineteenth year, was held outside this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Dean Mathisen looks at memorials before the start of Veterans Days ceremonies at Memorial Park on Wednesday.

A woman waves from her car during a Veterans Day drive-thru event at Platteview High School in Springfield on Wednesday, November 11, 2020. The student-led tradition, now in its nineteenth year, was held outside this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Nebraska's Luke McCaffrey is shoved out of bounds by Northwestern's Adetomiwa Adebawore during their game on Saturday in Evanston.

Nebraska head coach Scott Frost walks on to the field with his team fir the start of their game on Saturday in Evanston.

Northwestern's Peyton Ramsey is hit by Nebraska's Luke Reimer and fumbles the ball during their game on Saturday in Evanston.

Isaiah Ross waves a Biden for President flag during a celebration at 72nd and Dodge Streets on Saturday.

A worker disinfects the seats inside Pinnacle Bank Arena between state volleyball matches on Friday, November 06, 2020.

Bellevue West wide receiver Keegan Johnson runs the ball with Kearney defensive back Tanner Johnson on his heels.

Omaha Skutt's Abigail Schomers celebrates a point against against Ashland Greenwood.

People eat lunch under a tree bearing bright autumn leaves at Miller Park in North Omaha on Thursday, November 5, 2020.

The sun sets near Bancroft Elementary School in southeast Omaha. The sun is going down a minute earlier every day, and this evening it will do so at 5:14.

Belleue West players celebrate a point against Papio South.

Derek Rau and his service dog Voodoo walk to a polling booth in Omaha on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

Alayna Gonzalez, 8 months, sits with her dad, Hector Gonzalez, of Omaha, while waiting for her mom, Ana Gayton (not pictured), to finish voting so he can take his turn at the Disabled American Veterans hall in South Omaha on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

Voters occupy all the booths inside Bethel Lutheran Church, 1312 S. 45th St., on Tuesday. There were close to 30 people in line when the doors opened.

A person votes at the Omaha Community Playhouse in Omaha on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

Volunteer Jay Mason throws way political signs that were too close to the polling place at Bethel Lutheran Church located at 1312 South 45th Street on Tuesday, November 03, 2020.

Bancroft Elementary School in South Omaha on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

Sidewalk chalk messages at 13th and Bancroft Streets in South Omaha on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

Rep. Don Bacon greeted drivers at 72nd Street and Highway 370 in Papillion.

A spooky reminder to vote in a home's yard near 72nd and Cass Street in Omaha on Thursday, October 22, 2020.

The line for early voting wraps back and forth at the Douglas County Election Commission on Saturday, October 31, 2020.

Rep. Don Bacon leaves a brochure while campaigning door-to-door in Papillion on Friday.

Democrat Kara Eastman keeps an Election Day countdown in the front room of her campaign office at 72nd and Farnam Streets.

Rida Rahman, 4, waits in line with her parents, Hafiz Rahman, left, and Shamsun Ruby, right, at the Douglas County Election Commission on Saturday, October 31, 2020. Rida was dressed as Raphael, from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, while her parents were in line for early voting.
emily.nitcher@owh.com, 402-444-1192,