The owners of a riverfront bar damaged by Missouri River flooding should be allowed to repair and reopen the Anchor Inn.
That's the view of John Portera, president of USS Hazard Inc., a company that leases riverfront property, including the Anchor Inn, from the City of Omaha.
In a statement, Portera said the restaurant and bar was less than 50 percent damaged by seeping groundwater and could be returned to pre-flood conditions without breaking any zoning laws.
The city has said the Anchor Inn and other structures near Freedom Park are too severely damaged to repair. Rebuilding a structure in a floodplain is prohibited under current zoning ordinances, city planners say.
The Anchor Inn was recently cited for repairing the bar and concert area without a permit.
Portera said that work was done by bar workers and not under the direction of himself or the USS Hazard. He said the work was halted once the city notified him of the illegal repairs.
The bar has the right to appeal the city's ruling about the extent of the Anchor Inn flood damage, either administratively or through a lawsuit.
Contact the writer:
402-444-3131, sam.womack@owh.com
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