Little Bohemia (13th and William)

[ita]

With the Muchachos and and Boho Flats conversations, I wanted to revisit this 'district.' What kind of district should this be? I thinks it's more like Leavenworth between 480 and Saddle Creek than Blackstone or Benson with it's more ingrained mix of light industrial users and arterial street type. I do not think we are going to get major changes to infrastructure, maybe a bike lane, but there are millions of private money pouring in and many residential units and new retail space being created via projects like Boho Flats. I know developers own additional land just off the main strip, but we'll see if anything comes about. Between I-80 and the tunnels is a hodge podge of commercial users and varying residential units, SFH to multifamily. I don't think you can recreate Blackstone or Benson, but there is still opportunity to create it's own identity, especially as the area increases density and welcomes new residents. I think the new business owners and developers should work with existing industrial users to keep them put. The business are likely not able to exist anywhere but their current locations and provide services few or none else provide in the area. Ultimately, I don't think the goal should be a destination district, but a nice commercial strip for locals, residents and businesses and employees alike, to support.

[skip]

This neighborhood REALLY needs 13th street to be consolidated down to 2 lanes and one middle turning lane. Then add some bike lanes. That would increase the foot traffic heavily since pedestrians will feel more safe, especially across 13th street.

[Dusty]

This neighborhood REALLY needs 13th street to be consolidated down to 2 lanes and one middle turning lane. Then add some bike lanes. That would increase the foot traffic heavily since pedestrians will feel more safe, especially across 13th street.

I think the key is slowing the pace of the street down. Some of these industrial businesses may need a flatbed or delivery truck coming into the area to deliver supplies. They might need the wider street to make the turns.

I have been suggesting to Metro to add a 10th street bus line. This line could be upgraded to a streetcar extension as well. But heading South on 10th, it would cut over to 13th on Pacific or Williams. It would ride right through Little Bohemia and turn around at the zoo. By having transit part of the mix, you can make it more pedestrians/bike friendly.

[Dusty]

I think getting the improvement district will help form an identity. The quirky shops and industrial businesses will have to agree on the vibe that represents all of them. For some reason a Cider Mill comes to mind if I had to blend it together as a cornerstone project. Building something that could incorporate sheet metal, timber, brick, etc into the design.

Ultimately, I don't want too many large apartment complexes because it will change the vibe of the neighborhood. I would love to see more mixed use rowhouses added. Commercial bays on the bottom and 1-3 stories of residential above.

Note: I would love if the Dino's Storage and Shell gas station would get demolished and redeveloped. Such an eyesore for the area.

[Louie]

It's a massive street that doesn't lend itself to crossing on foot well.

[nebport5]

With the Muchachos and and Boho Flats conversations, I wanted to revisit this 'district.' What kind of district should this be? I thinks it's more like Leavenworth between 480 and Saddle Creek than Blackstone or Benson with it's more ingrained mix of light industrial users and arterial street type. I do not think we are going to get major changes to infrastructure, maybe a bike lane, but there are millions of private money pouring in and many residential units and new retail space being created via projects like Boho Flats. I know developers own additional land just off the main strip, but we'll see if anything comes about. Between I-80 and the tunnels is a hodge podge of commercial users and varying residential units, SFH to multifamily. I don't think you can recreate Blackstone or Benson, but there is still opportunity to create it's own identity, especially as the area increases density and welcomes new residents. I think the new business owners and developers should work with existing industrial users to keep them put. The business are likely not able to exist anywhere but their current locations and provide services few or none else provide in the area. Ultimately, I don't think the goal should be a destination district, but a nice commercial strip for locals, residents and businesses and employees alike, to support.

I think the obvious answer here is the proposed streetcar extension to the zoo but I'd imagine that's easily a good ten years off.

Little Bohemia doesn't have to be Blackstone, Benson or all about bars but having a greater diversity of commerce easily accessible by foot for those who live in the would be a good goal. So yeah, I hear your point about being destination-less but a neighborhood that grows in population and amenities will ultimately become a destination. It's unfortunate the Bohemian Cafe is no longer around being the historical and cultural destination that it was. The Czech Inn is your average neighborhood bar and little more than an homage to the former. That's not a slight but it would be great to see another place emerge that serves actual Czech food. As this neighborhood slowly grows, as others have mentioned, I'd love to see an infrastructure investment in bike lanes and pedestrian crossings.

[nebugeater]

This neighborhood REALLY needs 13th street to be consolidated down to 2 lanes and one middle turning lane. Then add some bike lanes. That would increase the foot traffic heavily since pedestrians will feel more safe, especially across 13th street.

WIth all the heavy truck traffic that needs to use 13th street this does NOT need to be reduced to two lanes.

[ita]

This neighborhood REALLY needs 13th street to be consolidated down to 2 lanes and one middle turning lane. Then add some bike lanes. That would increase the foot traffic heavily since pedestrians will feel more safe, especially across 13th street.

WIth all the heavy truck traffic that needs to use 13th street this does NOT need to be reduced to two lanes.

This is exactly the kind of problem they are trying to hash out between developers/new retail/restaurant owners and the industrial users. I think there are some other issues they need to address, like the lack of crosswalks. They could also do things like lowering the speed limit from 30 to 25 and strategically putting speed bumps, like near new crosswalks or as new crosswalks and not where trucks would need to back into an industrial business. A two way bike lane could be had while keeping it a four lane artery by removing one side of street parking.

[OracleOfOmaha]

This neighborhood REALLY needs 13th street to be consolidated down to 2 lanes and one middle turning lane. Then add some bike lanes. That would increase the foot traffic heavily since pedestrians will feel more safe, especially across 13th street.

WIth all the heavy truck traffic that needs to use 13th street this does NOT need to be reduced to two lanes.

This is exactly the kind of problem they are trying to hash out between developers/new retail/restaurant owners and the industrial users. I think there are some other issues they need to address, like the lack of crosswalks. They could also do things like lowering the speed limit from 30 to 25 and strategically putting speed bumps, like near new crosswalks or as new crosswalks and not where trucks would need to back into an industrial business. A two way bike lane could be had while keeping it a four lane artery by removing one side of street parking.

Some good ideas, but guarantee those businesses do not want any street parking eliminated in front of their store fronts.

I'd personally still want bike lanes to my business district, but maybe just on a street just one block east or west, probably safer for the bikers as well. Keeps the car customers coming, enable a different and safer mode of transportation just one block away. (of course residential street parking would be eliminated. catch-22)

[BRoss]

strategically putting speed bumps.

Speed bumps do not belong on arterial streets and the city has repeatedly said they absolutely will not put them in on streets like that.

[nebraska]

I agree that South 13th needs pedestrian improvements. We must consider that the street is an Omaha truck route. Until the that traffic is moved to 24th Street and Hwy 75, nothing will change on South 13th.

https://publicworks.cityofomaha.org/ima ... tation.pdf

[Louie]

I agree that South 13th needs pedestrian improvements. We must consider that the street is an Omaha truck route. Until the that traffic is moved to 24th Street and Hwy 75, nothing will change on South 13th.

https://publicworks.cityofomaha.org/ima ... tation.pdf

Out of curiosity, where does the truck traffic on 13th come from? Is it strictly DT truck traffic to and from I80? Just wondering how well 24th would work taking the 13th street truck traffic on top of its own.

[nebraska]

My guess is that the truck traffic there is historical to the Old Market/Jobbers area. If you go east on Pierce, there's Omaha Transloading. The Post Office, of course.

South 24th has already been narrowed to two lanes and a turning lane. I can't imagine Omaha would want to redirect trucks to Hwy 75 considering Omahans attitudes towards rush hour traffic. 13th street puts the trucks on I80 eastbound and gets them out of the way.

The new I480/i29 interchange would work, but again I doubt Omaha would want trucks running north on 10th and 13th Streets to Douglas and ruin all the new "The Riverfront" parks.

[ita]

strategically putting speed bumps.

Speed bumps do not belong on arterial streets and the city has repeatedly said they absolutely will not put them in on streets like that.

Fair point. If that's the City's mandate, can't change it without leadership/organizational changes.

In my recent trip to Hawaii, I noticed that there were several new speed bumps/crosswalk combos near the elevated rail stations. I can't remember all the streets, but some were definitely arterial type streets.

[Coyote]

Omaha City Council to consider Little Bohemia Business Improvement District



Omaha’s historic Little Bohemia neighborhood is booming with new businesses and apartments, but as the area keeps growing, so does its traffic. “[We see about five trucks] come in a day. If there’s no place for them to pull up, we get unloaded.” Dave Hempel’s Sheet Metal Works business has been located along 13th for years. He says with increased traffic comes increased worry about accessibility and safety. “The new BID is more geared towards bringing safety to the forefront in a faster timeline,” Hempel said. “We learned that the industrial people outside of the current BID have felt they want to preserve their ability to operate.”

City councilmembers will consider approval of the BID at their next meeting, set for Tuesday afternoon.

[BIGO88]

The Tiny house Bar announced that they will be turning the house next to them into a bar that serves beer and wine called "The Platypus". They will be sharing the backyard space.

[Louie]

The Tiny house Bar announced that they will be turning the house next to them into a bar that serves beer and wine called "The Platypus". They will be sharing the backyard space.

Awesome. What was the space being used for? I know the patio of the house has been used by Tiny House the whole time.

[BIGO88]

I believe it used to be the brow edit but they moved out earlier this year.

[Garrett]

Nice write up in Strong Towns (big local urbanism advocacy group) about some tactical urbanism efforts for traffic calming in Little Bohemia

https://www.strongtowns.org/journal/202 ... eets-safer

[remline]

Nice write up in Strong Towns (big local urbanism advocacy group) about some tactical urbanism efforts for traffic calming in Little Bohemia

https://www.strongtowns.org/journal/202 ... eets-safer

That looks like excellent progress towards improving pedestrian safety. It is interesting how simply a little paint can encourage drivers to slow down and look out for pedestrians.

[Garrett]

Nice write up in Strong Towns (big local urbanism advocacy group) about some tactical urbanism efforts for traffic calming in Little Bohemia

https://www.strongtowns.org/journal/202 ... eets-safer

That looks like excellent progress towards improving pedestrian safety. It is interesting how simply a little paint can encourage drivers to slow down and look out for pedestrians.

A huge part of driving is psychological. If a speed limit sign says 25 but drivers feel safe driving 40, they’re gonna go 40.

[BIGO88]

The platypus opened today!

[BIGO88]

"Pop Fiction" a new bookstore opened here this week.

[BIGO88]

The Czech inn has changed owners and rebranded as "The Bohemian"

[locoluke]

This neighborhood REALLY needs 13th street to be consolidated down to 2 lanes and one middle turning lane. Then add some bike lanes. That would increase the foot traffic heavily since pedestrians will feel more safe, especially across 13th street.

Can your next wish be for a streetcar line down this corridor?

https://keepomahamoving.com/application ... oards_.pdf

Some of the public engagement data on slide 16 is pretty interesting. Looks to be a lot of demand for cycling and not much else on this corridor. All of this was found on the project website.

[halgy]

It is my personal opinion that a streetcar line would work better on 10th, unless 13th is completely reworked as part of the deal. I hate walking along git, and I hate driving on it (I account for one of the rear end accidents on that report, as I was waiting behind someone to make an unprotected left turn).

[Louie]

It is my personal opinion that a streetcar line would work better on 10th, unless 13th is completely reworked as part of the deal. I hate walking along git, and I hate driving on it (I account for one of the rear end accidents on that report, as I was waiting behind someone to make an unprotected left turn).

I feel like a dedicated streetcar lane (since the space clearly exists) would make it all more approachable.