Southwest Downtown Photos

Zephyr · Post by **Zephyr** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 1:06 am

I thought I would help the new photography forum with the last photos I took in Omaha before moving to Denver, last May. I'm going to duplicate this thread at SkyscraperPage as well. Streets and I walked this area around St. Marys Ave. after eating some delicious cheesecake at Spaghetti Works. There's a lot of yet-to-be realized opportunities in this area!

Looking north down 16th Street, the "transit mall"

Looking down 17th Street

The Flatiron

Looking down 18th Street, just before it dead-ends at the City-County Building

This is an unrealized view plane - oh what drivers would see if they could drive the other direction!

New Liberty Elementary and the famous Rorick Apts

Looking down 19th Street

This another unrealized view plane: the angle in 19th Street gives way to endless urban design possibilities

Just around the corner... houses!

Looking east down Jackson St. before it merges with St. Marys Ave.

Looking east down Leavenworth St.

A nice mass of skyscrapers

Another collage

And we'll finish things off with a nice view from a hill near 19th and Jones St.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 2:27 am

Great collection Eric.
Some great vantage points!

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 9:21 am

Excellent perspectives Eric!

Would you mind if I placed some of those under the gallery section? (with credits of course)

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 11:17 am

That was a great day, Eric. Thanks for posting them again.

Yes, it truly is a tragedy that some streets downtown are oneway......ESPECIALLY ST. MARY'S AVENUE!

As you can see from these photos, it'a an amazing urban vista as you head east into downtown, but NOBODY ever see's it unless they look in their rear-view mirror.

And yes, this area offers AMAZING development potential. I see it oneday becoming a very vibrant urban neighborhood just south of the CBD. It will most likely become Omaha's vibrant gay district, since most of the clubs and a sizebale population already exist in the area.

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 11:22 am

but NOBODY ever see's it unless they look in their rear-view mirror.

Or god forbid... if someone actually walked the area!

Minneapolis Boy · Post by **Minneapolis Boy** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 12:49 pm

Great pictures! I especially like the shot going the opposite direction on St. Mary's - real cool!

Zephyr · Post by **Zephyr** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 1:05 pm

Thanks for the compliments, everyone! Jeff, feel free to use the photos as you wish. Another great view plane is looking north from 17th and Jackson, where 17th Street zig-zags. There could be some creative developments for that intersection. And the 19th/St. Marys/Jackson intersection just screams of a fountain in the center. I sure can't wait to come back and put my new camera into use and get some better close-ups!

omahaopinions.com · Post by **omahaopinions.com** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 2:14 pm

Man those are some crisp shots! Very nice.

DMRyan · Post by **DMRyan** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 2:26 pm

Cool area, even if it is one of the grittier sections of downtown. I echo the senitment that there's plenty of potential for the future, particularly when north downtown start filling in.

I can't wait to see your new photos with the new camera Eric.

projectman · Post by **projectman** » Wed Sep 15, 2004 9:18 pm

Yes. I have driven by the 15th and Harney to Leavenworth area and the area is definitely in need of a facelift. The area behind the Paxton is full of weeds and boarded up buildings, cracked sidewalks, broken bottles and trash.

I'm sure the Paxton renovation will help turn the area around.