Plaza de la Raza (24th St & N St)

[Coyote]

Re: Plaza de la Raza (24th St & N St)

Fiestas Patrias


Plaza de la Raza
Thu, Sep 15 - 18

Celebrando nuestra cultura...

Fiestas Patrias embraces the vivid culture of Latin America that thrives in South Omaha. The celebration shares music, food, and merchandise from Guatemala, México, Colombia, Puerto Rico, El Salvador and many more

The festival is a nonprofit organization that has grown to be one of the most popular events in South Omaha attracting people from all over the Midwest.

The annual festival celebrating Latino Heritage Month takes place along historic South 24th Street that will feature live music/entertainment, carnival rides, food, exhibitors, queen coronation, games, parade, luncheon, concert and El Grito de Independencia. The first festival took place in 1920 and has become a tradition in South Omaha…

[Coyote]

A work in progress sketch for improvements at La Plaza de la Raza at 24th and N Streets.
(Courtesy of RDG Planning and Design)

[Coyote]

Sneak peek at project in South Omaha

[Linkin5]

Much deserved project for one of the most pedestrian vibrant areas in Omaha.

[Coyote]

South Omaha looking to revitalize La Plaza de la Raza with new project

A plan that has been 15 years in the making is closer to seeing the light of day. On Monday, the Latino Economic Development Council showed designs for Adelante II South Omaha: Moving the Heart of Our Community Forward. They seek to revitalize the heart of South Omaha with a proposed $94 million redesign project that will serve as a business and residential community. In a communication sent out by the Latino Economic Development Council, the Adelante II South Omaha Initiative is a long-promised and essential reimagining of the 24th Street corridor, amplifying the authentic and vibrant cultural characteristics of this storied business district by transforming La Plaza de la Raza into an attractive destination for families, entrepreneurs, performers and tourists.

[Coyote]

Heart of South Omaha could see major renovations to its business district



The heart of South Omaha could soon see some big changes to its business district. Metro community leaders and organizations see it as an unfinished project. As you walk the sidewalks of South 24th Street you’ll notice the lively painted buildings, tiles, and decorated lights. The vibrant atmosphere tops it all off with music. “24th Street is perhaps the strongest commercial corridor in south Omaha neighborhoods,” said Cesar Garcia, executive director of Canopy South. However, what you might not know is that all these eye-appealing details are part of a project that began fifteen years ago.

“It started with John Barrientos and RDG, they did it in phases and they did the first couple of phases but the third phase never got done and that’s the Plaza del La Raza,” Mora said. Marcos Mora is one of the board members of the Latino Business District Board. Mora says La Plaza del La Raza is going to transform into a gathering space for families and a place to hold community events, but this is only part of the plan. Another idea is to make more nearby businesses feel more connected to the 24th Street corridor by expanding the tiles and details to other streets.

[Coyote]

Fox 42's Jessica Salinas reports on how a project 15 years in the making seeks to revitalize the heart of South Omaha with a proposed $94 million redesign project that will serve as a business and residential community.

[ita]

Taken from this week's grow Omaha report:

The transformative vision for Adelante II South Omaha includes a new Latino Cultural and Economic Development Center and a new mixed-income housing complex to be constructed at 25th and O Street as well as a 3-level parking structure with first-floor retail development space to be built at 23rd and N Street.

Glad to see nice planning happening with this project. Ground floor retail in a parking garage? Yes please!

[Coyote]

Omaha Redevelopment Editorial

Rarely do cities have an opportunity like the one before Omaha right now. The North and South Omaha communities have $225 million in federal funding to spend on economic development, but the clock is ticking.

[Coyote]

South Omaha leaders push for renovations to Plaza de la Raza



Business leaders on Wednesday took one more step for a 15-year project to turn into a reality. They gathered to show off the designs of South Omaha’s Plaza de la Raza in hopes to turn it into an attractive destination for families, performers, and tourists. “A lot of us went to Lincoln to advocate for funding saying hey we really need to see this COVID funding come to these communities,” said Marcos Mora, board member of the Latino Business District Board. South Omaha business leaders keep pushing for ARPA funds in hopes to bring the project to life.

“In the meantime, we do have some funding to get started,” Mora said. “So, right now, we are in the planning phase and looking at all the cool stuff to do in the plaza.” The goal is to renovate that 24th Street corridor and turn it into a welcoming space where people can gather. “This was the third phase of South Omaha that never got done fifteen years ago,” Mora said. With the funding they already have on hand, they’re taking one more step towards reality by starting their design phase.

Right now, if you walk 24th, you’ll notice the plaza is just a parking lot. They hope it will soon be transformed into an open green space that will have a new amphitheater, seating with shaded areas, and a new play area. With all these changes to the Plaza de La Raza, they’re now looking to refurbish historical buildings on 24th Street to appeal to South Omaha’s growing number of visitors. “A lot of people are constantly coming and pulling traffic and pulling tourism to this part of town, and with these redevelopments, we’ll see more,” Mora said.

Business leaders hope those developments resemble a community space normally found downtown. “We love to see our neighbors have good-looking facades, and good-looking historical architecture,” Ross Pesek, chairman of South Omaha Business Improvement District said. “I think it makes people see South 24th as a destination where people can spend their Friday night or Saturday afternoon.” South Omaha business leaders hope to receive ARPA funding this summer to help with the project.

[ita]

Here is a rendering from Midland Business Journal:

[Coyote]

Fiestas Patrias Omaha
Sep 15 at 5:00PM - Sep 17 at 10:30PM
South 24 street



Omaha’s #1 diverse and largest festival will take place along historic South 24th Street featuring live music/entertainment, carnival rides, parade, food, exhibitors & health fair, MISS/Mister Program

The annual festival celebrating Latino Heritage Month takes place along historic South 24th Street that will feature live music/entertainment, carnival rides, food, exhibitors, queen coronation, games, parade, luncheon, concert and El Grito de Independencia.

[Coyote]

[Coyote]

South Omaha celebrates Fiestas Patrias to kick off Hispanic Heritage Month



South Omaha is celebrating Fiestas Patrias this weekend with a series of festivities celebrating Hispanic and Latin American culture. Fiestas Patrias is celebrated across the United States and several Latin American countries which celebrate their independence September 15 and 16.

[ita]

Conflict arises over how best to use public funds to transform South Omaha’s ‘Plaza de la Raza’

Cindy Gonzalez
Conflict is brewing over how public funds should be used to improve the South Omaha historic business district, and it has led to 100-plus critics signing a letter to city and state elected officials.

The discord centers on Plaza de la Raza — a surface parking lot at 24th and N Streets, an anchor spot along the commercial spine where occasional pop-up events and annual Latino heritage celebrations are held.

A spotlight has been shined on the plaza more during the last year or so as a pair of community-based organizations have pursued a $25 million state grant to help transform it into a permanent “corridor centerpiece and tourism draw.”

Non-profit Canopy South and the Latino Economic Development Council, the two entities, dubbed the plan Adelante II (moving forward). It proposes, in part, to jazz up the plaza with features including an amphitheater, stage, playground and cultural center.

Last year the City of Omaha and Douglas County governments gave the effort an initial boost by allocating a combined $1 million from pandemic-related federal funds.

Now, however, a group of 24th Street merchants and workers, assisted by the Nebraska Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, is balking at the proposed revamp. In a letter dated Nov. 6, they urged public officials to instead invest in building a parking structure at that site that’s similar to those they see in the Old Market and midtown.

Explained later in the article, there was a letter signed by 124 individuals calling for a parking structure instead of a revamped public plaza. Part of the original concept was a parking garage nearby, but some want it at the plaza.

[nativeomahan]

We visit that strip of South Omaha a few times each year, typically to walk the stretch of South 24th, window shop then select a spot to have lunch or dinner. We’ve never had a problem with parking within 1 block of 24th Street. I see no need for a parking ramp or garage. Just my 2 pesos.

[ita]

We visit that strip of South Omaha a few times each year, typically to walk the stretch of South 24th, window shop then select a spot to have lunch or dinner. We’ve never had a problem with parking within 1 block of 24th Street. I see no need for a parking ramp or garage. Just my 2 pesos.

I agree with your assessment. Never had an issue with parking having been there on different days, including weekends and nights, but, like you, I am not there everyday. At best probably half a dozen times a year. There are probably times when parking is an issue, but a parking garage off the main strip, I think the plan has a proposed location at 23rd and N, will be just as good and not take up valuable space on 24th. The surface parking lot is not owned by the City or any entity involved in Plaza de la Raza, but it would be a much better spot for a garage than Plaza de la Raza. Anyway, I would hope that in this case a garage isn't built there, but if it does go down that way, it best have ground floor retail on 24th and entry/exit only off 25th.

[Coyote]

South Omaha leaders celebrate forward movement on Adelante II plan



A multimillion-dollar makeover will move forward in South Omaha thanks to ARPA funding. Community leaders said the Adelante II project is a major step forward in bringing the Latino community together. Thursday, the community gathered to celebrate that the project will finally become a reality after nearly a decade of work.

Earlier this year, Gov. Jim Pillen announced $25 million will be designated for the project and the county dedicated half a million more. President and CEO of the Latino Economic Development Council Itzel Lopez said they're excited to soon break ground on the first phase, along with Canopy South and other partners.

[Coyote]

South 24th Street revitalization plans include reimagining of plaza space



People gather for an event to announce plans for a revitalization of South 24th Street at 24th and N Streets in Omaha on Thursday, March 7, 2024.

[F0R_L1F3]

This is awesome! I love how vibrant the area is and it's only going to be better that they make a plaza of some type. Really will bring people together and just have that central area. I've always imagined that parking lot perfect for a plaza.

[Coyote]

New community space officially taking over Omaha’s ‘Plaza del la Raza’



It’s a celebratory moment that the South Omaha community has been waiting for. On Thursday, business leaders announced plans to officially replace la Plaza del la Raza with a new community space and parking center. The project has been in the works for years. “The Plaza del la Raza will now turn into a green space, a beautiful green space that will be for families, community members, people that will really create an economic impact,” Marcos Mora of the South Omaha Business District said.

[F0R_L1F3]

We visit that strip of South Omaha a few times each year, typically to walk the stretch of South 24th, window shop then select a spot to have lunch or dinner. We’ve never had a problem with parking within 1 block of 24th Street. I see no need for a parking ramp or garage. Just my 2 pesos.

I agree with your assessment. Never had an issue with parking having been there on different days, including weekends and nights, but, like you, I am not there everyday. At best probably half a dozen times a year. There are probably times when parking is an issue, but a parking garage off the main strip, I think the plan has a proposed location at 23rd and N, will be just as good and not take up valuable space on 24th. The surface parking lot is not owned by the City or any entity involved in Plaza de la Raza, but it would be a much better spot for a garage than Plaza de la Raza. Anyway, I would hope that in this case a garage isn't built there, but if it does go down that way, it best have ground floor retail on 24th and entry/exit only off 25th.

And just recently read another article on it, apparently the parking garage is supposed to have retail on the bottom floors. Hope the least they can do is have a parking garage that fits in and isn't entirely bland.

[Flyer14]

Plan for South Omaha’s multimillion-dollar plaza makeover progresses

[BIGO88]

Came across this article from Canopy South that says there exploring options of putting a hotel on top of a parking garage with retail. That and the new park would be really great for this area, would imagine its planned for the empty parking lot at 23rd and N?


https://canopysouth.org/rfq-architectur ... -services/

[nativeomahan]

I think the passage of this much time since this project was announced, and nothing having happened, warrants moving this into the ‘rumors’ or ‘projects never built’ category.