New Design Guidelines a Possibility for Midtown

[edsas]

Design guidelines discussed for new midtown buildings

BY JEFFREY ROBB



WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER



Builders of new businesses and homes in midtown Omaha would have to adhere to guidelines for the appearance of their projects if a proposal from the Destination Midtown initiative is implemented.

Organizers of the midtown development plan are discussing design guidelines for the midtown area, generally and specifically for Dodge and Leavenworth Streets.

The idea was included in draft recommendations released last week. Members of a steering committee will review those recommendations and others as organizers work to finish the plan by mid-May.

Design guidelines would fit closely with a citywide urban planning initiative called Omaha By Design, which wants more green space and distinctive commercial areas.

In midtown, newer buildings often don't fit with the area's typical pre-World War II styles and can detract from its character, the midtown report says. Dodge and Leavenworth Streets contain a hodgepodge of architectural styles, the report says.

If implemented, the rules for midtown overall would apply to new construction in the study area bounded by Cuming Street to the north, Center Street to the south, Saddle Creek Road on the west and 24th Street on the east. Any specific rules would still have to be drawn up.

Destination Midtown organizers have big ideas for Dodge Street - widening it, lining it with trees and putting a landscaped median down the middle. The design guidelines would work together with that idea.

Doug Bisson, a community planner with HDR Inc. and Destination Midtown's project manager, said the rules could include requiring commercial buildings on Dodge or Leavenworth to build close to the street in the hopes of creating a comfortable setting. Buildings now must sit back a certain distance.

Bisson said he believes design rules would encourage development.

"Good design doesn't have to be cost-prohibitive," he said.

Other recommendations in the draft report released this week involve landscaping along Dewey Avenue, California Street, Davenport Street and 40th Street between Dodge and Cuming Streets. Another idea would beautify 33rd Street between Mutual of Omaha and the California Street business area.

[edsas]

Omaha is developing some great forward-thinking leadership. I'm sure this proposal will be implemented as there is no real argument against it. And once the proposal's effects are seen by the community, it will also be hard to argue against similar standards in other parts of the city. It's nice to see developers embrace aesthetics as part of what it means to create a "healthy community".

[StreetsOfOmaha]

Thanks for posting this, edsas.

I totally agree. I'm really looking forward to seeing Destination Midtown take off in the near future!