South 24th Street District

[eomaha]

Noise tells of change in South Omaha

South Omaha literally buzzed Thursday with the news that work has begun on a new streetscape for South 24th Street.

The buzz came from an ear-splittingly loud concrete saw that a man pushed around the southeast corner of 24th and M Streets.

"Está bien (It's good)," said Raquel Jaime, owner of Ropa Zapatos Tita #2, a clothing store at 4837 S. 24th St.

She said customers complain about a shortage of parking. She thinks more parking - the city projects 40 percent more - will help.

Thursday's work is preparing the street for what's projected to be a $3.5-to-$4-million makeover of South 24th Street from L to Q Streets.

Plans include narrowing 24th to two lanes, swapping traffic lights for a four-way stop, switching to diagonal parking and turning the parking lot west of 24th and N Streets into a plaza with a band shell and fountains.

The City of Omaha is using federal grants to pay for the $791,000 first phase. Work began Monday. The first phase involves curb, sidewalk, utility and sewer work. It will create the diagonal parking and narrow intersections to an Old Market scale.

City officials hope to complete the first phase by the Cinco de Mayo festival next May, but winter and utility work could delay completion.

The city worked with the South Omaha Business Association and the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce to study the area and develop plans to revitalize it.

Mayor Mike Fahey has committed $1 million in federal grant money for further work in 2005. Planters, landscaping, ornamental paving and streetlights should all start to fill in next spring, City Planning Director Bob Peters said.

Contractors are still working on the plaza design. The South Omaha Business Association is raising private money to help pay for future phases.

"Ultimately, what you're trying to do is encourage more people who are not from south Omaha to come to south Omaha and see what's really there," said Jennifer Mahlendorf, a mayor's aide. "It can easily be a more vibrant community."

Wednesday afternoon, the saw roared past no fewer than 30 businesses, from restaurants to a law office, an ice cream shop to a dentist, two bakeries, two social service agencies and clothing stores with frilly quinceañera dresses in the windows.

Executive Director Rebecca Valdez stepped from her Chicano Awareness Center office to check out the work.

"I'm worried about the crash bang," she said, referring to some people's concerns that diagonal parking will lead to accidents because people are unfamiliar with backing into 24th Street traffic.

That said, she's in full support of the project.

"I'm thrilled that we're going back to a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood," Valdez said.

[edsas]

Looks like a great project. I hope it inspires similar improvements to other ethnic enclaves in the city. It'd be great to see pockets of pedestrian-friendly, culturally distinct districts evolve.

[Brad]

Is this project going to take a while, I drove down 24st today and saw ONE person working? Its going to be great when it is done

[eomaha]

Perhaps everyone is now working on 132nd Street!

[Brad]

Your not kidding there. Yesterday there were people and equipment as far as the eye could see.

[eomaha]

Anyone driven by the South 24th Street district? It's a mess! But check out what where it's going...









More renderings

'Tree of life' theme to help S. Omaha bloom

Omaha's South 24th Street is a mess right now, but it has a bright future - literally - if new plans revealed Thursday come to fruition.

The plans for a makeover of South 24th Street from L to Q Streets focus on a "tree of life" motif that designers say is common to the European and Latin American cultures that have made south Omaha their home.

They employ bright colors - in pillars of light wrapped in patterned metal, benches, floral patterns at streetlights' feet, and in a gazebo and fountain within a plaza designed for family fun.

Those elements would be tied together by colored concrete winding down sidewalks. The hoped-for result: a streetscape that itself is a work of art, attracting people to a historic and re-awakening business district

About 30 businesspeople who turned out at South High School on Thursday night to see the plans seemed to like what they saw.

"Just one word," said Ignacio Chavez, El Alamo Restaurant owner. "Gorgeous."

The designs put detail to concepts discussed over the past two-plus years, since the South Omaha Business Association and Mayor Mike Fahey announced a general plan to redo the main South 24th Street district.

The city hired Marty Shukert, of RDG Planning and Design, to work with businesses and the public on designs. They wanted to emphasize the current Latino flavor, but also to recognize such European groups as Poles, Czechs and Croatians.

The light pillars and decorative tiles or masonry below would bear colors evocative of nations whose immigrants built and sustained south Omaha.

A child descended from Czechs might spot a particular blue and say, "That looks like that pottery in Grandma's cabinet," said City Planning Director Bob Peters.

The new design will attract people while paying homage to the area's history, said John Barrientos, president of the South Omaha Business Association.

Work has begun on the first phase - reshaping sidewalks to create diagonal parking in front of businesses and to narrow 24th Street to two lanes. Crews completed two blocks of that work before halting for the winter.

The Metropolitan Utilities District is doing extensive under-the-street utility work.

The construction has led to street closings and disruptions for the mostly small businesses that line South 24th. Business owners asked a lot of questions about that Thursday.

"It's messy," Chavez said. "But it's going to be nice."

MUD is expected to be done with its work from L to P Streets in time for the Cinco de Mayo celebration, in early May. Construction will then pause for two weeks, for the annual parade and festival on South 24th.

After that, work is to begin on the decorative elements in the sidewalks, expected to be completed over the next two years. Benches, light fixtures and sculptures would be phased in as funding is available. The plaza would be the last piece, possibly in 2007, depending on funding.

Money is less than certain. Much of the projected $3 million in remaining costs is expected to come from federal Community Development Block Grants.

That grant program could cease to exist under Bush administration budget proposals. But Peters said the South 24th Street project, with jobs- and business-oriented economic development goals, should compete well for grants if the federal budget changes go through.

The city allotted $800,000 in federal grants to the project in 2004. Fahey has another $1.2 million earmarked for it this year.

Barrientos and the South Omaha Business Association are raising private money, too.

He and Peters expressed confidence that the project will become reality. So did south Omaha City Councilman Garry Gernandt.

"It's gonna get done," he said.

[eomaha]

New retail strip development at the corner of 24th and L. Note it's abutting the intersection, new streetscape visible.

[Coyote]

I for one am soooo looking forward to a new South O. This will be great. I drive through it every so often to see the progress.

[eomaha]

It's pretty slow going... but it does appear to be going.

[omahastylee459]

pictures anyone?

[eomaha]

World Herald story on 'Plaza 24'

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=163 ... rnd=587507

A brightly colored building would house up to six businesses, including a restaurant with outdoor seating. It will rise on the southwest corner of 24th and L Streets, the north entrance to the newly redesigned district.

The investment is all private money. No tax-increment financing or other subsidy is being sought.

DD Capital partner Douglas Twyford said the building will expand on the architectural themes of the new streetscape taking shape near the site. That includes a lighted tower on the building's corner that directly adjoins 24th and L Streets.

The street has been narrowed from four lanes to two to slow traffic. Diagonal parking has been added. Work has begun on a colorful, tree-of-life-themed streetscape of sidewalks, planters, benches and streetlights.

Metal and light sculptures are to follow. The decor is supposed to evoke the district's growing Latino flavor and south Omaha's other ethnic roots.

[ModestMouse]

Nice progress...though honestly, I don't like the brightness in the colors.

[eomaha]

Drive through there sometime... they've put some of the streetscape improvements in. I think it's going to look very nice.

http://www.eomaha.com/gallery/develop/59/

[adam186]

[MTO]

tI’m not to fond of the color combos I hope it looks better in person.

[omahastylee459]

does anyone have actual pictures?? I have been looking at these renderings forever, but still havent seen what it looks like, anyone have anything to contribute?

[adam186]

does anyone have actual pictures?? I have been looking at these renderings forever, but still havent seen what it looks like, anyone have anything to contribute?

Geez, a little bossy are we? I know you didn't mean to come off like this, so I'll let you off the hook.

You can go down there and check it out yourself and take some pics, your closer than me (in Lincoln). Sorry my post wasn't good enough for you.

[omahastylee459]

i didnt mean to come off that way, but i am pretty excited for this project. South O is probably one of the places i have gone to the least in the metro, i may have to venture over there and check it out!

[midtown charlie]

Omahastylee, I like your new sig. It actually looks like it says E OMAHA. I doubt you planned for that but cool nonetheless.

I don't mind the colors. It should blend in with the new colorful street. I like the way it fronts the street and has a sidewalk dining option.

My only complaint is that this building could have been 3-4 stories.

[MTO]

If you can take 2 am trips downtown and shoot 30 pics you can get to south O pretty easy and take your own.
It was very cool of you Adam to take it so easy on him.

[Coyote]

Douglas County gives $500,000 boost to Plaza de la Raza renovation in South Omaha

A long dormant dream to renovate the Plaza de la Raza in South Omaha is about to get a booster shot. The Douglas County Board voted this week to commit $500,000 of its federal pandemic recovery funds toward a project for the area, most widely known for hosting Omaha’s annual Cinco de Mayo festival and Mexican Independence Day celebration. The City of Omaha is expected to dedicate another $500,000 from its federal recovery money. Combined, that will make for a $1 million shot in the arm, enough to revive a nearly 20-year-old proposal to renovate the worn-out parking lot at 24th and N Streets into a festival and community gathering space worthy of its lofty name. “It’s really a historic redevelopment of La Plaza de la Raza, which is at the center of all the major festivals and at the center of the business district in South Omaha,” said Douglas County Board member Roger Garcia, whose district includes the area and has been hit hard economically by COVID.

[Coyote]

Worn South Omaha plaza gets financial boost on way to become state tourism spot
A $3 million vision for ‘Plaza de la Raza’ to help complete unfinished plan for historic corridor

Today it’s a South Omaha parking lot, mostly, with a few benches and trees and a plaque dedicated in 1988: “La Plaza de la Raza, The Gathering Place of the Races.”

But local advocates say the 24th and N Streets pocket is rundown and never got the polishing it was supposed to in a past revamp of the historic South 24th Street. Now a combined $1 million from Douglas County and the City of Omaha pushes the plaza closer to a $3 million transformation into a corridor centerpiece and state tourism draw. “We’d like to see a concert pavilion, green space with a playground for the kids, a great space that will attract tourism,” said Marcos Mora, a community leader working with groups including Canopy South to activate the vision they hope kicks off more revitalization.



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

History as immigrant landing place

The county’s $500,000 allocation this week comes on top of $500,000 earmarked earlier by the City of Omaha. Both awards are from federal American Rescue Plan Act funds. Cesar Garcia of Canopy South said his nonprofit and other involved groups hope to win another $2 million from the State of Nebraska’s ARPA funding, which stems from pandemic-related legislation signed by President Joe Biden. History as immigrant landing place

He and Mora were among South Omaha leaders who testified at recent ARPA-related legislative hearings about community needs exacerbated by COVID-19 and what they describe as overall government inattentiveness to the area of Nebraska traditionally known as a landing spot for immigrants. They envision the improved La Plaza de la Raza as a rallying point, a central site along the historic commercial district that could be to South Omaha what Stinson Park is to the Aksarben area or what Turner Park is to Omaha’s midtown are. RDG Planning and Design’s Marty Shukert is working with community representatives on a phased approach to the plaza that meshes with the existing streetscape from L to Q Streets and emphasizes Latino culture while reflecting historic diversity.

An amphitheater with a performance stage for dance and performing arts is key, according to preliminary plans, along with a play area that’s inviting to families with kids. Improvements could begin as early as next year. A later phase could expand west to 25th Street with a multi-use green space, more playground features and new parking configuration.


La Plaza de la Raza along South 24th Street corridor at N Streets (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)

Garcia said the vision could expand even further, depending on funding, with a parking structure elsewhere in South Omaha to help make up for lost parking in the plaza and to facilitate more tourism. He said the larger dream could reach to $30 mil

[Athomsfere]

I think this is a phenomenal chunk of news. I've always loved the vibrancy of South O, but you could tell it's been left out in terms of getting $ from outside investors.

[Jins123]

Got an email @ work today that the Walgreens on 24th & L will be closing. Part of a bigger national effort for the company to close stores.

[Jins123]

Got an email @ work today that the Walgreens on 24th & L will be closing. Part of a bigger national effort for the company to close stores.

Closing date was listed as February 20th

[ita]

Got an email @ work today that the Walgreens on 24th & L will be closing. Part of a bigger national effort for the company to close stores.

Closing date was listed as February 20th

Interesting, hopefully it is redeveloped. Good size lot. Perfect for one of our city's patented 4/5 story mixed use buildings. Would be great to add more retail space in the district.

[GenX]

Got an email @ work today that the Walgreens on 24th & L will be closing. Part of a bigger national effort for the company to close stores.

If they’re going to close stores, perhaps they should focus on the stores at 90th & Fort, Blondo, Dodge, Center plus 84th & Harrison instead of the ones that are core to a community.

[Nosebot]

If they’re going to close stores, perhaps they should focus on the stores at 90th & Fort, Blondo, Dodge, Center plus 84th & Harrison instead of the ones that are core to a community.

Ideally, but what do the numbers say?