Omaha by Design -Farmer's market on South 10th Street

The Bancroft Street Farmers Market hosts weekly visits from young artists who create their work directly on the pavement.

Farmers Market Brings
New Life to
South 10th Street
During his days as a volunteer at Lauritzen Gardens, Bill Seidler Jr. had many an occasion to drive past a one-story brick building on the corner of 10th and Bancroft. The structure, which functioned as a grocery store for nearly a century, sat empty. What was once a hub of activity had become a neighborhood eyesore marred by graffiti, trash and volunteer trees.

When Seidler looked at the property, he saw something else. “It’s situated between two of Omaha’s top tourist attractions, the zoo and the gardens, so I thought someone would take advantage of the opportunity and buy it,” Seidler said.

The storefront continued to languish, however, and Seidler decided to take action. He purchased the property in 2005 and began the clean-up process. It was also during this time that Seidler began to track the activities of Omaha by Design, a privately funded nonprofit organization dedicated to changing the physical face of the city through the use of urban design principles and citizen engagement.

“I started reading about the importance of things like green spaces and build-to/set-back lines, and I wanted to incorporate this kind of thinking into what the property might become,” he said.

Seidler’s first project was a public art venture involving students from nearby Bancroft Elementary School. The young artists, with the help of the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, created five 8-foot by 12-foot vinyl posters depicting the College World Series, Henry Doorly Zoo and Lauritzen Gardens. The posters are currently on display in the windows of Seidler’s building.

“It really changes the look and feel of the area,” said Jason Smith, president of the local Deer Park Neighborhood Association.

Seidler’s current project is somewhat of a return to the property’s original intent. The Bancroft Street Farmers Market, a 5000-square-foot open air venue, kicked off June 3. It will operate each Sunday through Oct. 7 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Seidler said he chose Sundays because of the area’s demographics. “Many residents are over-employed, so working on Saturdays is pretty commonplace,” he said. “We thought a Sunday market would give neighbors something they could take part in following church Sunday morning.”

In addition to featuring fresh foods and horticultural products, the market provides patrons with the opportunity to learn about gardening and nutrition from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension in Douglas and Sarpy counties. It also offers a unique blend of arts and entertainment, which Seidler is focusing on to create an atmosphere that will attract locals as well as residents from other parts of the city.

For example, street painting - a common cultural practice in Spain - draws a host of young artists to 10th and Bancroft each weekend. They create directly on the pavement in freshly painted squares on the market’s perimeter.

“We’re trying to encourage commerce, entertainment and trade in the surrounding neighborhoods,” Seidler said. “The more links you use in building a chain, the stronger that chain will be.”

Elsewhere in the city, the Omaha Farmers Market on the corner of 11th and Jackson opened for business May 5. It runs each Saturday through Oct. 13 from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For more information, visit http://omahafarmersmarket.org.

For more information about the Bancroft Street Farmers Market, contact Seidler at 402.651.2327 or bjseidler@qwest.net.

For more information on innovative farmers markets across the country, visit the Project for Public Spaces at http://www.pps.org/markets/info/market_profiles/.

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