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(Omaha, NE) -- The Omaha City Council unanimously votes to approve the construction of a new youth justice center.
The facility is being built on the site of the former St. Paul Lutheran Church. It will consist of a residential home of 22 bedrooms for kids age 12 to 18. There will also be a clinic for students and their families, as well as a space for certified educators to work with students. Proponents of the project say they want to match the look and feel of a school to maintain its community aspect.
The project was met with some opposition from residents in the area, who say they would not feel safe in the community. They also said the proponents of the project did not do enough outreach. Linda Donaldson, who would live across the street from the project, said "they should've told us everything, from the beginning to the end".
Councilmember Juanita Johnson, who represents the area, moved to approve the project. She said while she shared the neighborhood's concerns over proper outreach, the information was available.