Pictured: The outside of newly completed FiftyOne Commons rowhouses on North 51st Street. Photo credit: Brennan Hallock, Nebraska Department of Economic Development
by Brittany Wren, Stingray Writing
The tile and hardware sparkles. The grass is lush and green. And the storage options would make HGTV proud. This is the scene that greeted guests at the open house of FiftyOne Commons’ rowhouses on October 24, 2025. FiftyOne Commons is a transformative mixed-use development by Family Service Lincoln, and it’s making tangible the vision of a stronger, more equitable Lincoln.
This vibrant campus, spanning two acres in northeast Lincoln near 51st and Holdrege Streets, is a powerful example of how community vision, strategic partnerships, and philanthropic investment can directly address Lincoln’s most pressing needs.
Pictured: Family Service President/CEO Dennis Hoffman with Department of Economic Development staff outside the newly completed FiftyOne Commons rowhouses on North 51st Street. Photo credit: Brennan Hallock, Nebraska Department of Economic Development
A Vision Brought to Life by Family Service Lincoln
Family Service Lincoln conceived the vision for FiftyOne Commons and brought it to Lincoln Community Foundation (LCF) because of its direct alignment with the Foundation’s criteria for supporting affordable rental housing and strong neighborhoods. This partnership demonstrates the power of local organizations working together to lead positive change and create a more equitable future for all Lincolnites.
FiftyOne Commons directly aligns with LCF’s Prosper Lincoln initiative, specifically championing the pillars of Housing and Connections by providing stable, affordable rental housing and creating a space for community building and youth development in a historically under-resourced area.
A Home for Every Family
The need for affordable rental housing in Lincoln is critical, with the City’s Affordable Housing Coordinated Action Plan stating that nearly 5,000 affordable rental units will be needed for the lowest-income households by 2030. FiftyOne Commons steps into this gap by providing eight units of high-quality, intentionally designed, affordable rowhouses.
Pictured: The outside of newly completed FiftyOne Commons rowhouses on North 51st Street. Photo credit: Brennan Hallock, Nebraska Department of Economic Development
The Power of Partnership: Making the Math Work
The total estimated cost for the FiftyOne Commons campus is $7.2 million (originally $10 million), with $2.7 million dedicated to affordable housing and $4.5 million for the Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM) Activity Center. LCF’s support for affordable housing, along with state, city, and other major private funders, was crucial to bringing this multifaceted project to fruition.
Pictured: Project partners on display at the open house of FiftyOne Commons rowhouses. Photo credit: Brittany Wren, Stingray Writing
LCF was a funder of the housing component, recognizing a fundamental challenge in the development landscape — creating high-quality rental units without government subsidies is incredibly difficult. LCF’s strategic funding commitment of $100,000 was crucial to making the project viable.
“The rental space is one that’s particularly hard to make the math work,” said Amanda Barker, LCF’s director of community engagement & partnerships. “We’re grateful for Dennis and his team for intentionally adding rental units to the affordable housing market. This is a big win for our community.”
Housing Features at FiftyOne Commons
Affordable
These two- and three-bedroom units — with utilities included — are owned, maintained, and managed by Family Service Lincoln, ensuring that residents will never spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
Pictured: An upstairs bedroom in a newly completed FiftyOne Commons rowhouse on North 51st Street. Photo credit: Brennan Hallock, Nebraska Department of Economic Development
Stable
FiftyOne Commons is intended to be a stable, long-term housing option for families. According to Leah Meyer, development manager, Family Service Lincoln aims to retain residents as long as possible — “as long as these buildings are standing and they want to stay,” Leah said.
Pictured: Pantry storage in a newly completed FiftyOne Commons rowhouse on North 51st Street. Photo credit: Brittany Wren, Stingray Writing
Intentionally Designed
The units feature durable materials, intentional storage, a nearby bus stop, off-street parking, and in-unit washer and dryer hookups, reflecting a thoughtful approach to long-term residency and family stability.
Pictured: The kitchen in a newly completed FiftyOne Commons rowhouse on North 51st Street. Photo credit: Brennan Hallock, Nebraska Department of Economic Development
Targeted Support
Six out of eight housing units prioritize families with immigrant and refugee status, ensuring a stable foundation for this population, which is statistically most likely to struggle to recover from economic setbacks.
“In partnership with the Nebraska Department of Economic Development, we are prioritizing placement of low-income, immigrant and refugee families with these units,” Leah said. “A family’s success starts with safe and stable housing.”
Pictured: Built-in hallway storage in a newly completed FiftyOne Commons rowhouse on North 51st Street. Photo credit: Brittany Wren, Stingray Writing
Fostering Connection and Learning
Beyond housing, the campus is a hub for community life, directly answering the call for meaningful community spaces in northeast Lincoln.
STEAM Activity Center
The 11,500 sq. ft. STEAM facility is poised to significantly expand Family Service Lincoln’s youth programming capacity. When it opens in Summer 2026, the space will include a youth makerspace, multimedia studio, computer learning lab, recreation area, gymnasium, and classroom.
This center will offer weekend programs, supervised care on non-school days, and STEAM-focused summer camps, making it a critical neighborhood resource through “Programming through partnership.” The facility’s location is intended to revive community engagement in the area, as Family Service CEO Dennis Hoffman noted.
“The UniPlace Neighborhood Association has been inactive these past few years, in part due to not having the space for meetings and events. FiftyOne Commons offers the room and amenities for future neighborhood leaders to come together and grow the vibrancy of the community’s character,” Dennis said.
Pictured: Cheever construction site of the STEAM Center at FiftyOne Commons. Photo credit: Brittany Wren, Stingray Writing
Community Garden
The 2,000-square-foot Community Crops garden will be located to the west of the STEAM Activity Center where, prior to Family Services ownership, the land was home to a significant garden plot. Community leaders are eager for this space to be used for wellness promotion and healthy food access. The future Community Crops garden will enable residents and neighborhood youth to grow and harvest their own culturally specific food and will feature demonstration plots and sharing gardens, with first priority given to tenants.
Pictured: A mockup of the future STEAM Activity Center and Community Crops garden at FiftyOne Commons on North 51st Street. Courtesy photo.
Outdoor Spaces
The campus will also incorporate a Play Lawn and will eventually include a play structure, which, along with the outdoor design, is intended to foster connection and community.
Pictured: A mockup of the future Play Lawn near the STEAM Activity Center at FiftyOne Commons on North 51st Street. Courtesy photo.
The move-in for the affordable rowhouses is happening now, with the STEAM Center projected for completion in Summer 2026. The entire campus is a testament to the belief that every resident deserves quality housing and the opportunity for connection and growth.
Would you like to explore other projects Lincoln Community Foundation has supported under the Prosper Lincoln initiative? Please visit ProsperLincoln.org and subscribe to our newsletter.