January 01, 2009
A rendering of daytime Benson at the intersection of Maple and Military.
Editor’s Note: Omaha by Design serves as manager and administrator of the Benson-Ames Alliance, which has identified downtown Benson as its first priority for revitalization. For more information about the alliance, visit www.benson-ames.org.
The new year has ushered in new media attention, both national and local, for Benson.
The January/February 2009 issue of My Midwest, Midwest Airline’s in-flight magazine, contains a feature on Omaha as a cultural destination in its “Explore” section. Among its many suggestions is a stop in Benson to check out the live music scene. “At the top of the list is The Waiting Room, a destination for touring indie bands and the city’s own burgeoning talent,” writes author Tim McMahan.
Readers are also encouraged to check out other opportunities along Maple Street. “But it’s not all about music. Benson has thrift stores, art galleries and coffeehouses, as well as the neighborhood’s only tapas bar, Espana, where the homemade sangria flows like the nearby river.”
On the ground in Omaha, the Winter 2009 edition of B2B Omaha contains an article titled “Finding the Beat: The Revitalization of Omaha’s Benson District.” Author Tony Endelman examines the Maple Street Corridor Project, which includes a new streetscape design for downtown Benson, a housing and retail market analysis and a community branding initiative designed to spark civic pride and investment in redevelopment opportunities.
Endelman chatted with Troy Arthur, president of the Benson Business Association and chair of the Benson-Ames Alliance Business Affairs Committee. “We want to capitalize on the music and art scenes that already exist, but bring back a retail scene,” Arthur said. “We’re trying to make Benson an all-encompassing area, and friendlier for patrons during the day.”
Endelman also shares Benson resident Michele Fredrich’s take on her community within a community: “It’s wonderful. I can get my coffee, my bread, my meat. I can pay my bill, get my prescriptions filled and get my hair done without turning on my car.”
For more information about the Maple Street Corridor Project, visit www.bensonbeat.com or contact Arthur at 402.320.7173 or troy.arthur@bankofthewest.com.