West Omaha homeowners clash with developers on plan to build apartment complex
There’s a heated dispute between homeowners and developers who plan to build apartments close by. Residents of a southwest Omaha neighborhood got their first look at the proposal and only 6 News’ Mike McKnight was there for the contentious meeting. The woods next to Harvey Oaks out at 144th Street may not be the view some homeowners will see in the future. “A five-story building right back here in my backyard, so whatever noise have out of it and cars coming out of there all the time,” said neighbor Gary Leibsack.
Two buildings used for medical and business offices on 144th Street near Center are scheduled to be torn down and replaced by 200 apartments with a parking garage. “That’s exactly what I’m going to be staring at,” said Harvey Oaks homeowner Todd Sanwick. “So what are we doing about noise, what are we doing about lights?” Sanwick, among several dozen Harvey Oaks homeowners, told developers their concerns, including traffic with a center island making the apartment complex entrance one-directional. And because of the center island, tenants approaching the apartment complex from the south cannot turn left into it. So opponents say they will drive to Harvey Oaks Ave where a sign says “u-turn permitted” and say that’s exactly what most tenants will do.
