Omaha mayor unveils redevelopment details for Crossroads Mall property

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - Mayor Jean Stothert announced a development agreement for the Crossroads Mall property during a news conference Wednesday afternoon.

Lockwood Development, Century Development, and the city of Omaha have signed a memo of understanding for the 40 acres 72nd & Dodge. The development will include mixed-use retail, restaurants, a hotel, apartments, and office space, according to Lockwood Development.

The project is expected to be completed in 2024.

“We are more than ready,” Stothert said.

The development team made a presentation about the plans for the Crossroads Mall property during the news conference.

Construction on the $500 million project, called “The Crossroads,” will begin this fall and is expected to finish in 2024. The city will use $12.5 million in redevelopment bonds to support the project. Those funds cannot be applied to other use, such as supplementing the city’s general fund, which has been greatly impacted by COVID-19.

The redevelopment area includes the strip of businesses around Best Buy and Buffalo Wild Wings, as well as the previous Best Buy location.

It’s too early to say exactly what brands might be included in the project, but developers said it would be a mix of new brands for the market as well as more familiar names.

The parking garage will remain, but will be improved. Target will also remain in place, but other projects will extend about 30-40 feet higher than the top of the mall tent.

Street changes around the area are expected to be minimal, developers said. The dual turn-lane off Dodge Street into the property will remain, and some adjustments will be made to Cass Street.

“We’re a long ways out from completing the project.”

Developers and the mayor said they weren’t concerned about the protests that have happened at 72nd and Dodge streets in recent months, noting that most of the protesters who gathered there were peaceful.

“The problems with protests doesn’t mean we ignore that center of our city at 72nd and Dodge,” Stothert said. “We had over 30 protests all over Omaha. It doesn’t mean we’re not going to go to those areas.”

If anything, they said, the protests validate the location as the heart of the city — it’s where people gather for happiness, celebration, and mourning.

The Crossroads is the latest in major development projects happening all over the city: Work continues on The Riverfront, in Blackstone, Mercantile, as well as development happening at 132nd & Pacific and 144th & Dodge streets.

Full video of today’s news conference

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