A plan unveiled Monday calls for redevelopment along South 10th and South 13th streets in Omaha. The Parkway 10 blueprint is a joint effort by the city and area residents.
The proposal involves the study of 10th and 13th streets from the Old Market/Western Heritage Museum on the north to Interstate 80 to the south.
Many south Omaha neighborhoods have a rich history and lots of appeal with small shops, apartments above stores, majestic homes, churches, community centers and some of the city's most interesting architecture. It's also an area that has been neglected by city leaders.
Mayor Mike Fahey says an extensive study of the area will change that. "Instead of going willy nilly and just having all kinds of type of development down there, I think this is a very sane way of going about it."
The area, with its mix of brownstone homes and well-kept properties, has enormous potential.
"The vitality that is 10th Street is the density that is south of the bridge." Forrest Hughes owns the Goofy Foot Lodge across from the old Burlington Station. Hughes says a transportation system is a big piece of the puzzle.
"They talk about zoo expansion and the stadium going to north downtown, but I still think there needs to be a connection between the two with the zoo being the number one tourist attraction in the state. The trolley car going south connects everything and it's a good test pattern."
Hughes is renovating the rest of his building and wants to include more specialty shops for the area, but there are other properties in desperate need of attention.
South Omaha leaders say getting property owners on board benefits everyone. "This changes the value of your property and it’s something that's good for you as well as good for us and people for the most part are pretty good," says Dahlman Park Neighborhood Association president Arnie Breslow.
Hughes hopes the city walks the walk. "If you want the south Omaha area to grow it's imperative to give some sort of assistance, some sort of buffer to the financial burden."
That's one tab the city hasn't totaled yet. The study is in the very early stages, so there are no estimates of what a major overhaul of the area would cost or how the project would be funded.
Plans call for a boulevard with a towering tree canopy, green spaces and flower gardens, stylish street lights, restored brickwork, fountains and original sculpture.
The project might also include a streetcar line connecting visitors to the Henry Doorly Zoo and the historic Old Market District.
“We are supportive of any effort that builds a stronger connection between two of Nebraska’s most significant attractions, the Old Market and Henry Doorly Zoo," says Spencer Crews, executive director of Lauritzen Gardens.
