JANUARY2008
IN THIS ISSUE

Spellman Named Midlander of the Year

2008 Director’s Outlook

Public Information Session for Streetscape Handbook Feb. 5

Inaugural ObD Awards Luncheon Jan. 28

DMPA Requests ACI Status for Section of Dodge Street

Support Sought for Creation of Parks and Landscape Conservancy

Neighborhood News: Art Auction, Neighborhood Builders

North Omaha Alliance Names Executive Director

TAG to Meet Jan. 16

Spellman Named Midlander of the Year

Connie Spellman, founding director of Omaha by Design, was named Midlander of the Year for 2007 by the Omaha World-Herald. The award was announced in the newspaper’s Dec. 31 edition.

Spellman was honored for spearheading a number of community initiatives that will have “enduring impact on Omaha and the Midlands,” including Omaha 2000’s efforts to improve K-12 education in the Omaha metropolitan area and her current focus on facilitating public-private partnerships to execute urban design projects that will improve the quality of Omaha’s natural and built environments.

Omaha by Design, an initiative of the Omaha Community Foundation (OCF), was founded as “Lively Omaha” in 2001. The OCF provides Omaha by Design with office space and administrative support.

“I’m honored and humbled by this recognition,” Spellman said. “It represents the efforts of hundreds of individuals and organizations from the public and private sectors, all of whom support our mission of creating a better Omaha. The future of our city is bright, thanks to their continued commitment.”

The first Midlander of the Year award was presented to Omaha Mayor A.V. Sorensen in 1965. Recent recipients include Dr. Harold Maurer, chancellor of the University of Nebraska Medical Center (2004); U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel (2005); and Maj. Gen. Roger Lempke (2006).

To read more about the 2007 Midlander of the Year, click here.

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Connie Spellman, director, Omaha by Design
2008 Director’s Outlook
Looking Back to Look Ahead

It would be easy for Omaha by Design to view 2007 as a series of accomplishments – the unanimous city council approval of a groundbreaking package of revisions and additions to Omaha’s zoning code, the publication of the inaugural Omaha Catalogue of Urban Design Philanthropy in conjunction with the Omaha Community Foundation, the development of the volunteer leadership team formed to guide the revitalization of the Benson-Ames Alliance.

Upon deeper reflection, however, another picture emerges, one that sums up the past 12 months in a single word: conviction. Throughout the city, growing numbers of citizens are beginning to believe that Omaha can and should be a better place, a community that respects its natural environment, fosters civic pride and celebrates the diversity of its neighborhoods. They’re also beginning to realize that how a city looks and feels and how its many parts connect with one another relate directly to its potential for transformation.

Our work agenda for 2008, while building upon the successes of 2007, moves the city’s potential for transformation forward.  

Streetscape Handbook
This spring, the Streetscape Handbook will make its citywide debut. The publication is the result of a 27-month collaboration involving Omaha by Design, city departments, the design community, the Omaha Public Power District and the Nebraska Department of Roads to create guidelines for the placement of street furnishings in the public right of way. A public input session will be held Feb. 5 (see article elsewhere in this issue). A “complete street” may be the single most effective way to convey a high quality of life within our city.

Maple Street Corridor Project/Benson-Ames Alliance
Omaha by Design will continue its role as manager and administrator of the Benson-Ames Alliance. This volunteer group will focus its energies on the Maple Street Corridor, which runs through downtown Benson, in 2008. The Maple Street Corridor Project – a partnership of Omaha by Design, the Benson-Ames Alliance, the Benson Business Association, the Benson Neighborhood Association and the City of Omaha Departments of Planning and Public Works – includes a streetscape component as well as a housing and retail market analysis. The development of a thematic design for landscaping, pedestrian-scale streetlights, signage, pavement and traffic control is set for completion in March. The market analysis, intended to augment the entrepreneurial growth under way in Benson, will be completed in February.

Cole Creek Restoration Project/Benson-Ames Alliance
Cole Creek, which meanders through the Benson-Ames Alliance, is the site of a demonstration project that will showcase how Omaha’s creeks and streams can be used for more than erosion and flood control purposes. This collaborative effort involving Omaha by Design, the city, the county, the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District, landscape architects and a consultant will employ a variety of best management practices for stream stabilization and water quality improvement while exploring the feasibility of enhancing the creek for recreational and educational use. Funding for the first two stages of analysis and design has been secured. The best management practices have been funded and will be implemented during the third quarter of 2008.

Other items include:
Yet other projects may result from the funding of entries in the Omaha Catalogue of Urban Design Philanthropy, such as the development of an Omaha Parks and Landscape Conservancy and the creation of a public art master plan for the city.

As we begin to tackle this organizational “to do” list for 2008, I’m reminded that none of it would be possible without two indispensable groups – our volunteers and our donors. Some have been with us from the beginning; others have recently signed on to do their part. They give generously and advocate endlessly. They allow us to dream big yet remind us that slow and steady wins the race. They are helping us create systemic change in the life of our city.

We invite you to do the same. Best wishes for a successful 2008.



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The goal of the Streetscape Handbook is to coordinate the placement and design of street furnishings in the public right of way
Public Information Session for
Streetscape Handbook Feb. 5

Omaha by Design will host a public information session Tuesday, Feb. 5, to introduce Omahans to the city’s new Streetscape Handbook. The event will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, 1301 Harney St. All interested members of the community are invited to attend.

The goal of the handbook, one of the recommendations outlined in the Urban Design Element, is to coordinate the placement and design of street furnishings in the public right of way. Street furnishings include items such as street lights, benches, public art, landscaping, bike racks, bus shelters, waste bins and signage.

The publication is the work of a volunteer Streetscape Handbook Committee comprised of members of the design community and those responsible for the placement and design of street furnishings in the city. Omaha by Design served as the project manager, and RDG Planning and Design was the project consultant.

“The committee’s thoughtful, dedicated efforts over the past 27 months have resulted in a handbook that views streets as public spaces. A well-designed street stresses form as well as function – it meets the needs of all users and fits within the context of its location,” said Connie Spellman, director of Omaha by Design. “Our city will be a better place because of this committee’s efforts.”

For more information about the session or the handbook, contact Spellman at 402.342.3458 or connie@omahabydesign.org.

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Inaugural ObD Awards Luncheon Jan. 28

Omaha by Design will host its first-ever awards luncheon Monday, Jan. 28. The event will be held at Rick’s Café Boatyard from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The 2007 winner of the Laurels award will be presented, and the 2007 recipients of Omaha by Design’s new trio of awards – the Green Leaf, Neighborhood Leaf and Civic Leaf – will be recognized.

The Green Leaf – which honors an individual, organization or business that has worked to preserve and enhance the metropolitan area’s natural setting and public park system – was presented to the Douglas County Board of Commissioners in the spring of 2007. The board was selected for its visionary efforts in adopting a comprehensive development plan and zoning regulations that champion conservation design and low impact development.

The Neighborhood Leaf – which honors an individual, organization or business that has worked to preserve and enhance the metropolitan area’s residential neighborhoods – was presented to Rev. Stephanie Ahlschwede in the summer of 2007. She was selected for her focus on asset building to help create systemic change at the neighborhood level, including her establishment of the BIG (Building Independence and Growth) Garden Project.

The Civic Leaf – which honors an individual, organization or business that has worked to define and improve the metropolitan area’s civic places and public image – was presented to First National Bank in the fall of 2007. The bank was selected for its commission of two sculpture parks in downtown Omaha.

The Laurels award is presented to an individual, organization or business for significant contributions to great public spaces in the City of Omaha. Past recipients include Mayor Mike Fahey, Gary Gates and Kathy Jeffries. The 2007 recipient will be announced at the Jan. 28 luncheon.

For more information about the luncheon, contact Connie Spellman, director of Omaha by Design, at 402.342.3458 or connie@omahabydesign.org.

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The essential goal of the ACI designation, a zoning overlay, is to preserve and strengthen a sense of place in image-forming parts of the city.
DMPA Requests ACI Status
for Section of Dodge Street

Members of the Dundee-Memorial Park Association are taking advantage of Omaha’s new zoning code provisions to protect a section of Dodge Street with significant civic impact.

The association has requested the designation of Dodge Street between 49th and 51st streets as an Area of Civic Importance (ACI). The essential goal of the ACI designation, a zoning overlay, is to preserve and strengthen a sense of place in image-forming parts of the city. It is part of the package of zoning code revisions and additions passed by the Omaha City Council in August 2007 to improve the quality of the natural and built environments throughout the metro.

Areas of Civic Importance will be mapped throughout the city by the City of Omaha Department of Planning and developed in consultation with business and home owners affected by the designation. Omaha by Design will assist with the process, said Connie Spellman, director of Omaha by Design.

Steve Jensen, director of the City of Omaha Department of Planning, attended the Dundee-Memorial Park Association’s Jan. 14 meeting to explain the ACI designation process and answer questions. Additional informational meetings will be scheduled in the coming months.

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The Omaha Parks and Landscape Conservancy will collaborate with the city and other public agencies to develop a coordinated approach to future park and landscape initiatives in Omaha.
Support Sought for Creation of Parks and Landscape Conservancy

Editor’s Note: This is the second in a continuing series of entries from the first Omaha Catalogue of Urban Design Philanthropy, a compendium of strategic giving opportunities that focus on the city’s natural and built environments. The Omaha Catalogue was published in December 2007 by Omaha by Design and the Omaha Community Foundation. For more information, contact Connie Spellman, director of Omaha by Design, or Sara Boyd, vice president of the Omaha Community Foundation, at 402.342.3458.

The life of a child is enriched by climbing a tree, sliding down a snow-covered hill on a frosty morning, racing along a bike path flanked by wildlife that creeps, chirps and croaks. 

The life of a city, in turn, is enriched by a child who grows into adulthood with these experiences in tow, who understands that nature’s elements have a rightful place amidst the concrete and hard edges of urban living. These elements – be they a stand of trees, a swatch of grass or a meandering creek – are a city’s natural treasures, which its civic leaders must protect and cultivate as a botanist would a hothouse flower.

Omaha by Design recommends the creation of an Omaha Parks and Landscape Conservancy to chart a strategic approach for the protection and cultivation of the natural resources that help define life in the city. New York, Philadelphia and other U.S. cities have successfully established similar nonprofits to supplement the work of public agencies. Omaha by Design will use these existing groups as models, but the conservancy will be structured according to local need.

A board of directors will guide the conservancy’s activities. It will be created under the auspices of the Omaha Community Foundation, a local leader in managing donor-directed funds. Contributions will be accepted and allocated for such projects as the maintenance, preservation, improvement and expansion of existing sites as well as possible identification, purchase and creation of new sites. The conservancy will collaborate with the city and other public agencies to develop a coordinated approach to future park and landscape initiatives in Omaha.

The city’s green future depends upon it.

The total estimated start-up costs for research, analysis and development of a conservancy plus seed money for initial pilot projects is $200,000. Naming rights are available.

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Neighborhood News: Art Auction, Neighborhood Builders
Created by Lisa Woods, age 16, Westside High School.
NCGO Youth Art Auction Jan. 24
For the third consecutive year, art patrons from throughout the metro will be able to purchase works created by children ages eight to 18 in Douglas, Sarpy and Pottawattamie counties at the Neighborhood Center for Greater Omaha (NCGO) Youth Art Auction. The event is set for Thursday, Jan. 24, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the First National Tower Winter Garden. The 2008 co-chairs are Debi and John Mackiel and Annie and Ken Bird.

The 30 pieces, which include photographic works for the first time, reflect Omaha neighborhoods, identifiable landmarks and community leaders. Selected artists will attend the auction with their families and will autograph their work for the winning bidders. Each piece is professionally framed and matted.

Admission is an optional suggested donation of $25 or more, but attendees “should come ready to purchase a piece to support the artists, the NCGO and, ultimately, the whole community,” said Ronald Abdouch, NCGO executive director.

The event raised $12,000 last year, and the 2008 goal is $25,000. Funds raised are earmarked for NCGO programs that build capacity and provide neighborhood groups with education, tools and resources to take action and advocate for themselves.

For more information, contact Abdouch at 402.561.7582.

Neighborhood Builders 2008 Set for February
The 2008 edition of Neighborhood Builders will get under way Saturday, Feb. 2, at the Neighborhood Center for Greater Omaha (NCGO). The program – a joint community effort led by the NCGO, the University of Nebraska at Omaha and various neighborhood associations, businesses and private citizens – is designed to help build stronger, healthier neighborhoods in Douglas, Sarpy and Pottawattamie counties by helping develop positive leaders.

The four half-day sessions - set for Feb. 2, 9, 16 and 23 – are arranged around topic blocks. The 2008 topics are:

The program is open to anyone interested in making his or her neighborhood a safe place to live, work and raise a family. Class size is limited, and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. The registration deadline is Friday, Jan. 25. For more information, contact Mark Simmons at 402.561.7575.

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Ed Cochran
North Omaha Alliance Names Executive Director

The executive committee of the North Omaha Development Project (NODP) has announced the appointment of Ed Cochran as the organization's first executive director. He will assume his new responsibilities Monday, Jan. 21.

Cochran will work with the 55-member NODP Steering Committee to oversee implementation of the organization's master plan, recently approved by the City of Omaha Planning Board. He will coordinate the priorities identified in the strategic action plan, which focuses on community, business and economic development, infrastructure improvements, housing initiatives and neighborhood development.

"I am excited to be a part of this dynamic public-private collaboration and committed to build upon the momentum driving the revitalization already taking place throughout North Omaha," Cochran said. "I look forward to opportunities to capitalize on the growth experienced by the rest of the city."

Cochran is currently director of philanthropy at Creighton University. A long-time Omaha resident, he previously held senior management positions with First Data and Sitel, and he ran his own technology consulting company. Cochran is also a former executive director of the Urban League of Nebraska. He holds an MBA from DePaul University in Chicago and B.A. from Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, Ill.

Cochran will office at the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce. The chamber provides financial, staff, and economic and community development resources, in addition to the financial support provided by the investors in the North Omaha Development Project.

For more information about the NODP, visit www.projectnorthomaha.org.

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TAG to Meet Jan. 16

Omaha by Design’s Technical Advisory Group (TAG) will reconvene Wednesday, Jan. 16, for its first review meeting since the August 2007 passage of a groundbreaking package of revisions and additions to the city’s zoning code.

This volunteer group, comprised of development and design professionals as well as others representing civic interests, helped write the code revisions and additions in conjunction with the city’s planning staff, city officials, Omaha by Design and the project’s nationally renowned urban design consultants.

The TAG agreed to remain in place for one year to resolve any issues that arise as a result of the approved revisions and additions. 

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