Unique Blend Leads to Unprecedented Plan for Midtown

After a year of public meetings, research and analysis, Destination Midtown has announced a plan that will reshape and redefine a large area of the city just west of downtown. Destination Midtown is a group of governmental, business, education, healthcare and neighborhood leaders who organized to fund the planning effort.

“Last year Destination Midtown was an unprecedented plan. Over the past year our unique blend of business, neighborhoods and government has set a new standard for working together. The result is a far-reaching redevelopment plan that will ensure Midtown Omaha’s future success,” said John McClelland, Chairman of the Destination Midtown Steering Committee and Senior Vice President at Mutual of Omaha.

Major initiatives include:

• Strengthening neighborhood groups and enhancing code enforcement;
• Enhancing mixed-use business development and establishing corridor and district design guidelines;
• Exploring reconstruction or other improvements to Dodge Street and Saddle Creek Road;
• Exploring mass transit opportunities.

 

Del Weber, UNO Chancellor Emeritus and Co Director, Omaha by Design noted, “Destination Midtown is the kind of vision and planning that can serve as an example for neighborhood alliances throughout the city. It combines the participation of business and community working together, guided by planning professionals, to create a revitalized planning area.”

The Destination Midtown Steering Committee will establish a Midtown Development Corporation to coordinate development within Midtown and work closely with the newly formed Midtown Neighborhood Alliance. The Alliance is a neighborhood cluster, or coalition, of the 11 neighborhood associations within the Midtown boundaries who will continue to work together on common issues.