A pedestrian Old Market

[swgiust]

As the OP of this subject I have enjoyed watching the debate. Like any grand plan some changes certainly can be made. The DID looked at barrier gates that had been used in other cities successfully. That could certainly be an option here. Being able to close just Howard from 10th to 14th for a day concert or festival would be nice. But it has to be the will of the businesses first.

[Athomsfere]

But it has to be the will of the businesses first.

That's a tough one. A lot of times the "old guard" of an area is just unwilling to truly consider change, because it's change. Worse yet, I do think the OM would work as a no-car zone, but it might also take a few years for sales to get back to normal for some places. And I couldn't say how many places in the OM could weather a downturn, even if it only lasted a few years.

But it would be amazing to see whatever stretch repaved with the bricks, and then closed to most traffic. Those bricks should look great for a long time without the trucks and SUVs constantly trying to shift them around. The restaurants and bars could get more space for outdoor seating. Maybe even a district open carry for alcohol around the district. That last one might even help with shopping. Grab a beer, and go look at the Old Market Sundries, or T shirts...

[nebport5]

A temporary green spot would be fine until the right mixed use project came along. I do think there are other areas of downtown that are greatly in need of more green space. The ten blocks west of 14th to 24th and South of Farnam to Leavenworth is extremely devoid of green space. Any opportunities in this corridor could greatly enhance a comparatively unattractive area of DT compared to the eastern front door.

[Louie]

A temporary green spot would be fine until the right mixed use project came along. I do think there are other areas of downtown that are greatly in need of more green space. The ten blocks west of 14th to 24th and South of Farnam to Leavenworth is extremely devoid of green space. Any opportunities in this corridor could greatly enhance a comparatively unattractive area of DT compared to the eastern front door.

Now that makes sense.

[Omaha Cowboy]

A temporary green spot would be fine until the right mixed use project came along. I do think there are other areas of downtown that are greatly in need of more green space. The ten blocks west of 14th to 24th and South of Farnam to Leavenworth is extremely devoid of green space. Any opportunities in this corridor could greatly enhance a comparatively unattractive area of DT compared to the eastern front door.

Now that makes sense.

This post has my “seal of approval” as well …

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[Coyote]

Public opinions wanted for Old Market park location Friday, Saturday



KMTV 3 News Now

Omaha by Design wants your opinion of the plans for a new Old Market park and is seeking public input Friday and Saturday.

[Coyote]

New park planned for Old Market, community members give input



KMTV 3 News Now

A new green space, "Old Market Gardens", is planned for 13th and Jones which is currently an empty parking lot off the Bemis Center. Friday, developers welcomed feedback from the community.

[Garrett]

13th & Jones is actually almost perfect and right where I was thinking a park would be good when I was looking at all the lots in the old market yesterday.

[ita]

James Corner Field Operations has some huge projects under their belt. It's neat that they are working on this small urban par in downtown Omaha. Also, this location is much better for a park than the previous ones we discussed earlier.

[nebport5]

James Corner Field Operations has some huge projects under their belt. It's neat that they are working on this small urban par in downtown Omaha. Also, this location is much better for a park than the previous ones we discussed earlier.

Yes, I'll take green space here over a cement lot. I'd still like to see the 10th & Jackson lot redeveloped(still including parking) into a mixed use project vs. the ugly surface lot and solar roof-esque carport.

[S.O.Boy]

Old Market needs green space. The Gene Leahy is too far away.

[S.O.Boy]

[iamjacobm]

I obviously misread the initial rendering (still think the building on the right with the green roofline looks like the Spaghetti Works building) this is definitely a more palatable location for a park.

The CEO of Warren Distribution bought the land here from the company in 2021 per the assessor and he is also on Kaneko's board so this might not be a city park unless he donates the land. Making assumptions there though.

[Athomsfere]

13th and Jones, yes that area would benefit from just about anything!

[omahahawk]

I may be in the minority here but I am all for this lot becoming a permanent small park rather than ever becoming a new building. Great place to go with a coffee from one the nearby coffee shops and sit with a library book that you just checked out from around the corner.

[mcarch]

I think we should take a look at the Power & Light District in KC and how they handle theirs. Part of it is pedestrian friendly and is able to be shut-off while the rest if open to traffic. However, I do believe their district is a bit larger than ours by a couple of blocks and is a lot more built out.

[Coyote]

Green space considered for Omaha's Old Market

As plans to revitalize Omaha’s urban core take shape, city leaders envision thousands of people coming to live and work in the midtown and downtown areas. The areas are full of amenities — great restaurants, shopping and the like. But as more people populate the already-dense neighborhoods, some are calling for more green space in the heart of the city.

[Big E]

Old Market needs green space. The Gene Leahy is too far away.

For the love of |expletive|, are people actually serious about this? it is iterally across the street from the Old Market, which is also literally across the street from HoA park (albeit a slightly less green version of its past).

[S.O.Boy]

Old Market needs green space. The Gene Leahy is too far away.

For the love of |expletive|, are people actually serious about this? it is iterally across the street from the Old Market, which is also literally across the street from HoA park (albeit a slightly less green version of its past).

Thank you

[nebport5]

I think more green space is preferable to what's there now but I agree about the obvious proximity to what's currently being redeveloped. As I previously stated there's much more need for green space downtown in the ten blocks or so to the west of here as well as for North DTO.

[halgy]

I agree that another park in the south-west of the Old Market would be nice. This exact location isn't perhaps ideal, but putting it elsewhere would mean demolishing something.

[TitosBuritoBarn]

I'd say a small, engaging park on part of this lot could be good, but with as much greenspace that exists just several blocks north/northeast, a park that fills this whole property is overkill for the current level of density.

I'm not sure if it's the author of the article making a supposition about the density of the area, but it seems like there are many who need to put into perspective what a dense downtown really looks and feels like.

[buildomaha]

Looking into the future, I think a park at this location is only a plus. If downtown continues densifying, we will appreciate all of the green space we can get. An intimate, active park is a completely different environment than a city’s main large park. Not that Omaha can relate to NY much, but I love the difference in experience of Central Park and the other small parks, even in midtown area(especially Bryant park).

[Raraavis]

Maybe I am just used to the OM as it is but I don't think the traffic or the parking hurt the feel of the OM. The activity is part of what makes it fill vibrant.

What would improve the feel of the Old Market is:
1) improve the sidewalks in the whole area to make much of the area less of an obstacle course. Leveling, removing any objects that impede regular pedestrian traffic flow, improved planters and benches.
2) Extend the iconic covered sidewalks on all of Howard street from 10th to 13th.
3) Experiment with pedestrian only streets on summer weekends

[Louie]

3) Experiment with pedestrian only streets on summer weekends

We should have started doing this years ago...

[Garrett]

3) Experiment with pedestrian only streets on summer weekends

We should have started doing this years ago...

Kinda surprised it didn't happen during COVID in 2020.

[Athomsfere]

3) Experiment with pedestrian only streets on summer weekends

We should have started doing this years ago...

Kinda surprised it didn't happen during COVID in 2020.

It is Omaha... We build a bike lane, or get private donations for a street car and everyone complains about traffic, parking, and potholes lol.

[halgy]

Maybe I am just used to the OM as it is but I don't think the traffic or the parking hurt the feel of the OM. The activity is part of what makes it fill vibrant.

What would improve the feel of the Old Market is:
1) improve the sidewalks in the whole area to make much of the area less of an obstacle course. Leveling, removing any objects that impede regular pedestrian traffic flow, improved planters and benches.
2) Extend the iconic covered sidewalks on all of Howard street from 10th to 13th.
3) Experiment with pedestrian only streets on summer weekends

I think that all of the cars seem fine now, but we'd never want to go back if we got rid of them. I'd prefer to the activity to be people rather than cars.

There's another thread about how the Capitol District is a failed attempt at a "Power and Light" or "Haymarket" type area. I definitely agree, but rather than trying to build something purpose-made, converting a few blocks of Howard to pedestrian-only would be a lot more organic and serve the same purpose.

I do think that just weekends isn't enough, mostly because it means that anything we want to put in the street needs to be easily removed. Having more permanent or more extensive additions (especially seating and tables...maybe vendor stalls) would make it more of a destination to hang out instead of just a bigger walking area. Leave just enough space for delivery trucks to get through in the mornings, but otherwise completely dedicate the street to pedestrian and similar uses. (at least while the weather is good; fine to take everything out at the end of the season)

[Athomsfere]

Maybe I am just used to the OM as it is but I don't think the traffic or the parking hurt the feel of the OM. The activity is part of what makes it fill vibrant.

What would improve the feel of the Old Market is:
1) improve the sidewalks in the whole area to make much of the area less of an obstacle course. Leveling, removing any objects that impede regular pedestrian traffic flow, improved planters and benches.
2) Extend the iconic covered sidewalks on all of Howard street from 10th to 13th.
3) Experiment with pedestrian only streets on summer weekends

I think that all of the cars seem fine now, but we'd never want to go back if we got rid of them. I'd prefer to the activity to be people rather than cars.

There's another thread about how the Capitol District is a failed attempt at a "Power and Light" or "Haymarket" type area. I definitely agree, but rather than trying to build something purpose-made, converting a few blocks of Howard to pedestrian-only would be a lot more organic and serve the same purpose.

I do think that just weekends isn't enough, mostly because it means that anything we want to put in the street needs to be easily removed. Having more permanent or more extensive additions (especially seating and tables...maybe vendor stalls) would make it more of a destination to hang out instead of just a bigger walking area. Leave just enough space for delivery trucks to get through in the mornings, but otherwise completely dedicate the street to pedestrian and similar uses. (at least while the weather is good; fine to take everything out at the end of the season)

I'd love to see it year round. As much as I'm a winter weenie... 60 degrees is a coat and hat for me... A winter market / holiday market like in Belgium or Germany would fit here perfectly.

[nebport5]

The point of doing it on only weekends relates to the volume of foot traffic which is not sufficient for most week days(excluding non-holidays, etc)and thus would be counter productive to the O.M. businesses.

[Omaha Cowboy]

Which brings us (or I guess me) back to the actual question of the idea- Does the Old Market need to be transformed into a “ped mall”?..

I think not at all..leave the place alone, get through the pandemic, and allow it organically evolve.. just like it has each decade of its existence...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

Circling back to my point made in this thread back in April/2021-

I still feel the same way. It makes no sense (and seems silly frankly), imo, to try and “fix” something that’s not broken..

Leave the Old Market A-L-O-N-E…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[Linkin5]

I would say do some experimentation on the area by shutting down the streets on random weekends, see how business does and reactions to the change.

[Garrett]

I think you could experiment with closing down Howard and keeping the cross streets open during certain weekends, letting restaurants expand into the street or having little food festivals during warm weather

[TransitOriented]

I think you could experiment with closing down Howard and keeping the cross streets open during certain weekends, letting restaurants expand into the street or having little food festivals during warm weather

I like this idea. Minimal disruptions to traffic, heavily advertise the parking garages, and possibly put up some tents in the middle for other vendors.

[Athomsfere]

This has always been my thought too. Shut down the sort of "main strip" of it. It would take time for it to probably be accepted but well worth it IMO.