Welcome
We’ll be streaming live the public input meetings that are being held Wednesday (March 18) and Thursday (March 19) nights of this week from 6:00-8:00 pm at the W. Dale Clark downtown public library (215 S. 15th Street).
We are also working to get video of the Monday and Tuesday night sessions from HDR, the firm contracted to facilitate the Downtown Master Plan.
We invite you to watch the sessions if you cannot attend them and give us your feedback and ideas for creating the downtown you always wanted (and if it already is the downtown you always wanted, for preserving the characteristics and qualities that make it so).
So grab your friends, colleagues and peers and check this out because you won’t want to miss being part of such an important community decision. Feedback received will be used in shaping a final master plan which will be offered to the City Council for approval this summer. A timeline and more information about the overall process will be available on this site shortly.
Shannon Ehlers said on March 18th, 2009
It is probably too late, but I’d love to see Rosenblatt saved. It is such a piece of history and a neat old stadium - so few are around that still have the character, the wooden seats, just a neat place for a game. I understand the zoo needs space, but still, this combo (zoo plus ballpark) is quite an entertainment destination complex that could be built upon, I would think.
ricky fulton said on March 18th, 2009
I was at three of the meetings and it was surprising how little planning was done with downtown. (No offense to the current planning board).
We need access to the ped. bridge and not just by going through River Road Drive.
More biking lanes have got a lot of support from the biking crowd.
That guy from the Omaha planning department has a good plan for getting real access to the River by building over the railroad tracks.
The city is changing the one-way streets to two way.
The 480 viaduct going over by the Civic will be torn down. (Hopefully).
An arts and entertainment district will be established in NO DO.
A “music museum” is under consideration for Downtown.
More affordable public housing is needed, and a field for soccer or baseball for young people will be established on the U P land north of the qwest center.
The street car idea is alive and well.
Hopefully we can find the money to get everything done that is needed.
ricky from omaha
Hesse McGraw & Rachel Jacobson said on March 18th, 2009
A COMPREHENSIVE CULTURAL PLAN SHOULD BE INTEGRATED INTO THE DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN
The production of Omaha’s new downtown plan is an ideal opportunity to acknowledge the transformative role artists and art have played in defining and redefining American cities. Omaha’s cultural leaders believe artists and art should occupy a central place in the future of downtown Omaha.
Artists have long been recognized as the early adopters of cities — they take ownership of unwanted spaces, create excitement and transform them into the highly desirable places. Artists were responsible for the organic development of the Old Market and that value should be celebrated and supported in the future.
Artists and art imagine a future world and make it possible for us to live there. Omaha should leverage its citizens investments in creativity and artists to bring about unforeseen models and ecstatic possibilities for this city.
We envision Omaha will embody the accepted tropes of progressive cities — pedestrian-friendly, diverse, sustainable, vibrant, dense, hip and accessible. Omaha should also break down its segregation, develop efficient mass transit and provide socio-economically diverse housing options. It should achieve these characteristics in ways that are unique to Omaha and our region. To become a truly progressive city it should strive to become a cradle to cradle city with complete streets. It should develop a comprehensive 1% for public art program and promote quality of design by commissioning international-caliber contemporary architects to make visionary, green architecture. An enduring downtown will incorporate urban agriculture, dog parks, skate parks, bike paths and racks and hybrids of the above. Foremost it values local talent and creativity and promotes organic, authentic development.
Why Does Omaha need a Cultural Plan?
Omaha’s cultural plan will recognize the current strengths, weaknesses, challenges and opportunities in the City’s creative sector.
The plan will proactively support artists and arts organizations and recognize the work they do to enhance the cultural life of Omaha, stimulate our economy, create new educational opportunities, find unexpected solutions to civic problems and build a more vibrant place for us all to live.
It will enable Omaha to realize its full potential as a creative center and deliver on its promise of innovation and change — and do this by integrating art and artists into all aspects of public life.
The cultural plan will provide a guide to public policy, private initiative and investments in order to sustain and strengthen the creative environment of Omaha.
The plan will support the efforts of Omaha’s creative community to define the city as a national and international cultural destination
Omaha’s Cultural Plan would include Initiatives to Promote the Arts in Downtown and throughout Omaha:
-Comprehensive 1% for Art Program: Phoenix, Oregon Public Art, Kansas City: 1% for Public Art, Seattle: Public Art Initiative
-City support for arts organizations to acquire buildings Downtown (i.e. Omaha Creative Institute – Mastercraft Building): Sioux City, Iowa City partners with architecture/design school
-Create tax incentives for Downtown property owners to give empty space to artists with temporary no-cost conditional leases, which demonstrates activity & ultimately interest in the unleased property. (*Artists currently living & working in Omaha should be considered first)
-Establish property tax abatements for existing Downtown resident artists and arts businesses: Providence tax incentives for artists
-Sales & Use tax exemption for Omaha nonprofit arts & social service organizations: Providence tax incentives for artists
-Establish a relocation plan for artists — grants that enable ownership and recruit artists to Downtown Omaha: Paducah, etc.
Additional Initiatives to Benefit the Cultural Life of Downtown Omaha:
•Efficient Public Transportation downtown which connects to North, South, & West Omaha
•Complete Streets
•Increased transparency & community involvement
•Downtown pocket parks:
Skate Parks, Dog Park, Urban Agriculture and Community Gardens
•Bike Paths
•Bike Racks
Brian S. Allen said on March 18th, 2009
With over 3 decades since the last master plan for downtown, why does this feel so rushed?
Is there a deadline for the final plan in place and if there is does it have to do with a new (or past) Mayor coming to town?
I enjoyed hearing the q&a with the presenters, but I did not like excuses on why things may not be as organized as thy should be. We all have busy lives. Maybe this planning needs to slowdown a little so we can get it right this time and not have to redo things 50 years from now. Just like the case with the old streetcars that were eliminated and now we want them back.
Other areas of concern:
1. Lack of representation from citizens of all the communities at the meetings.
2. A Recycling Program was not discussed. There are hardly any public trash cans throughout the greater Downtown, let alone recycable containers.
3. A major green space or a public park not shown anywhere in North Downtown. The heart of Downtown does have a good amount of green space.
4. Signage and building aesthetics. How do we agree upon regulation for future development to fit in with the surrounding area. For example, how do we avoid another building that looks like the new Holiday Inn on Cuming from happening.
5. When can we get a straight answer on implementing bicycle signs and lanes throughout downtown and citywide. It has been over a year since $600,000 was donated to help jumpstart this. I have seen the “20 mile” route and although I may not agree 100% with the exact layout, it is darn solid. Why not start small with the lanes in downtown like we are with the streetcars and expand when the times are right?
6. Dog parks are lacking not only in downtown, but the entire city. The one we have at the old ball fields on West Maple Road should not be the model we seek for downtown.
7. A sporting complex with soccer, softball, baseball, frisbee golf, skating, biking, and a park shold be a must have. Frisbee golf could also be implemented at current parks very easily.
8. Affordable condos for the recent college grads and not the rich empty nesters.
9. Lenghtening the hours of downtown, If you go to an evening movie, good luck findg a bite to eat afterwards. Once 9pm hits your options vastly dwindle.
10. Why not an alternative fuel streetcars. We could be bold and lead the other cities with solar or wind powered streetcars.
11. Light and heavy commuter rail systems seem to be so far from the plan. We understand MAT busses and the streetcars are going to work together, but why is the light rail option to connect midtown, west o, and Lincoln not taken very serious.
-Brian S. Allen
Daniel Lawse said on March 18th, 2009
The downtown plan needs to consider the citizen pedestrian as one of the major voices which need to be heard. It is the downtown resident, out-of-town visitor, and community resident that makes a downtown vibrant. In order to create a visionary downtown which will last for many generations, the following are necessary components:
1. Complete streets providing effective, aesthetically pleasing multi-modal transportation including pedestrians, bicycles, carpooling, buses, and single-occupancy passenger vehicles. Bicyclists and pedestrians should be given at least the same (if not higher) priority in downtown as single-occupancy vehicles.
2. Edible landscaping (incorporating permaculture). Local, perennial food will be an important part of our communities future food security and what better way than to plant fruit and nut trees, berry bushes, and perennial vegetables in our parks, along our streets, and on private landscaping. Permaculture design works with nature minimize maintenance energy and water resources, while at the same time providing a bountiful edible harvest.
3. Buildings should be life-giving:
- to the street-level pedestrians with retail and restaurant shoppes. No blank walls.
- to our energy dependence. Buildings should generate more energy than they use.
- to our water resources. Buildings should capture and reuse rainwater to water the permaculture landscapes around our buildings. Minimize impervious coverage.
- to our material stream. Old buildings should be rehabbed and any needed to be removed should be deconstructed and re-used, not demolished.
4. Downtown should become Zero-Waste. Business can greatly reduce waste through recycling and composting. Any remaining waste should be seen as an opportunity for another businesses inputs.
5. Diverse, affordable housing options for all citizens of our community.
6. Arts and the Creative class should be a critical piece to the development of our downtown.
7. Green space for children and adults to reconnect with our environment, to play, pray, and relax on. Also to provide edible landscapes (see above).
Timothy Kephart said on March 19th, 2009
Some sort of downtown trolley or light rail, whichever, that connects the Old Market, Qwest Center, Buffet Park, and the midtown developments would be really sweet. Imagine going to a Kenny Chesney concert and driving to the Old Market. Parking in a structure, walking to Upstream, grabbing some food and drinks, and then hopping on some light rail to the Qwest. Then after the concert returning back for more food and drinks. That scenario could be easily replicated for events that take place at the convention center. I’m just getting back from SXSW and one thing I really liked is that the hotels, bars, restaurants were all within walking distance of the convention center. In Omaha we don’t have that luxury and we certainly don’t always have the weather Austin has to be able to walk year round. There have been many times where I’ve wanted to come downtown before a Mavs hockey game but frankly it’s a pain to have to go park at the Old Market, eat, then come back, get my car, then drive to the Qwest, then park, etc. That’s not fun and as a result, the Old Market businesses lose out. Come on Omaha, be progressive. This is the kind of thing we need! We’ve got a lot of great things going on development wise but they’re spread too far apart for the weather we have. It is not ideal to walk from the Old Market to Buffet Park in June during CWS.
daphne eck coppock said on March 19th, 2009
hesse, rachel, brian and daniel, thanks for your thoughtful contributions. i’m totally on board with your ideas!
EB said on March 19th, 2009
Bicycle Racks designed by Local Artists
Car Free/Pedestrian & Human Powered Weekend’s.
Create a desire for folks to ditch their Autos for a pair of shoes, a MAT bus pass or a bicycle.
-PEDALOMAHA-
http://pedal-omaha.blogspot.com/
Kansas City Zoo Events said on October 17th, 2009
Interesting post. I’m not entirely sure what you meant about the kansas city zoo events though, could you elaborate?
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