Downtown Omaha: Where Heritage Meets Horizon

Vision Statement

​

For Downtown Omaha to become a world-class place for living, working, leisure, and the arts

2

Why Downtown Omaha Matters

1

A downtown showcases the priorities of the city.

• Downtown Omaha’s auto-centric layout prioritizes car access but reduces walkability and neighborhood connection.
• Interstate 480, one-way streets, and more than 40,000 parking spaces create easy car travel but make it harder for districts and nearby neighborhoods to connect.

​

Downtown Omaha as a Symbol

5

• Downtown’s historic architecture reflects Omaha’s identity and long-standing resilience.
• By prioritizing adaptive reuse of historic buildings alongside our already strong new-building standards, we will preserve character while continuing to grow.
• Significant investments like the West Dodge Expressway improved access to West Omaha, and similar attention to downtown transportation could strengthen the core of our city even further.

Downtown Omaha as a Symbol

• Downtown growth has often prioritized cars over people, choosing speed over connection.
• By focusing on pedestrian traffic with safe walkways, bikeways, and people-first design, we can strengthen community and preserve downtown’s character.
• With our newest developments coming to downtown Omaha, like those on 14th street, pedestrian traffic should be a top priority.
• Omaha shouldn’t be a city that surprises visitors, it should be known as a fun destination in the region.

6

More Than A Location

• Downtowns are the engines of economic growth by attracting businesses, talent, and tourism.
• People naturally gravitate toward vibrant urban areas because they are places where you can visit a local brewery, walk past public art, catch a show, or run into friends on the street.
• Layered experiences create memories that suburban districts don’t often replicate.
• Businesses benefit from this visibility and vibrancy, making downtown a great location for attracting both customers and talent.

7

The Value of Downtown Omaha

8

• Downtown Omaha represents only a small portion of the city’s total land, yet it delivers a disproportionately large share of economic activity.
• MAPA’s report shows that downtown areas concentrate jobs, household density, and property value more efficiently than other parts of the city.
• Even with limited acreage, downtown functions as one of the region’s most productive economic engines.

​

9

10

Where We Are Now

2

Strengths

12

• Downtown Omaha has rebounded to nearly pre-pandemic activity levels. MECA’s leadership and year-round programming such as concerts, sports, festivals, and cultural events continue to draw residents and visitors downtown.
• Strong philanthropic partnerships support major attractions and experiences, helping Omaha maintain an active urban core.

​

Weaknesses

13

• Despite efforts from city leaders, downtown lacks necessities such as a grocery store and medical services.
• Cut off from much of the metro by I-480, the only convenient access to downtown is via Dodge Street.
• Walkability exists only in certain pockets, with rideshare traffic further complicating mobility.
• Rent prices in Downtown Omaha continue to rise. Downtown’s average rent now creeps up to $1,441/month, despite new units being added. RentCafe
• New construction replaces older buildings, which erases parts of downtown’s history instead of adapting and reusing what remains.

Walkability Factor

14

• Omaha is largely unwalkable due to suburban sprawl and auto-centric development.
• Jeff Speck, a nationally recognized walkability expert, has visited Omaha twice in the past 12 years, urging leaders to adopt two-way street conversions and road diets to create safer, more walkable streets.
• Despite his recommendations, little progress has been made, which led Speck to say Omaha is the only city he will no longer lecture in because he feels his guidance has no impact here.*

*https://thereader.com/2025/10/06/nebraskas-cities-are-built-for-cars-these-young-activists-want-to-change-that/

Jeff Speck’s 4 Ideas for a Walkable City

15

• A reason to walk
• A balance of necessities (work, school, grocery, etc.) that are close enough to walk to.
• A safe walk
• Streets should be designed to keep pedestrians safe and calm traffic.
• A comfortable walk
• The urban design should create a comfortable, inviting space to walk in.
• An interesting walk
• Sidewalks should have unique, enjoyable characteristics that show signs of humanity.

Walkability Initiatives

16

• Market to Midtown

Bikeway will offer a safe,

connected route for cyclists.

• Omaha’s first protected, two-way bikeway will run alongside the new streetcar, creating safer, more convenient cycling and reducing reliance on personal vehicles.
• 12 blocks of Burt Street through creighton University will be converted to a pedestrian only street for free movement through the campus.

Where we’re Going

3

30,000

New Residents & Jobs over the next 20 years

18

Total Mobility System

19

Total Mobility System

Public Transportation

Personal Transportation

Bicycles/ Scooters

Walking

Streetcar

Metro & Orbt Buses

Rideshare

Total Mobility System

Investing in walkability and useful public transportation isn’t just about moving people, it's about expanding their freedom. As Jarrett Walker emphasizes in the updated Human Transit, by building connected bus networks, safe sidewalks, protected bike lanes, and transit that links neighborhoods to each other, cities give residents real choices beyond driving. These choices build healthier, more resilient, and more equitable cities.

20

Kansas City Streetcar https://www.lewisandclark.travel/listing/kc-streetcar/

A place to Live

21

• More housing increases density and supports walkability, but new units alone won’t stop rents from rising. We need both:

- More homes (including replacing surface parking)

• Policies that prevent displacement and stabilize rents

​

• Together, they create affordable, walkable, transit-supported neighborhoods.

A Place to Work

22

• Support the work of organizations like the Omaha Chamber of Commerce, who help bring Industries to Omaha such as Insurance, AI, Agriculture, and Manufacturing to create high quality jobs.

​

• Develop local partnerships between higher education organizations and businesses.

A Place to Gather

23

• Green spaces, green streets, and Complete Streets policies create safer, pedestrian-focused streets that increase foot traffic and strengthen small businesses. Complete Streets means planning and designing streets so commuters of all kinds including pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders, and drivers , can move safely and comfortably.
• Adding essentials like groceries, community spaces, and affordable housing supports aging in place and attracts a diverse, multigenerational population to Downtown Omaha.
• These investments boost our Walk Score, improve daily convenience, and enhance physical and mental health making downtown a place where people can thrive.

​

3 E’s

24

• Economy
• Encourage residential development
• Add unique retailers
• Make transportation by foot, bike, scooter, wheelchair, and transit simpler
• Environment
• Create a clean, safe, welcoming environment for all.
• Implement safety and quality of life infrastructure projects.
• Experience
• Activate public spaces using programming to showcase the cities diversity and talent.
• Add third spaces to encourage community and enhance the downtown experience
• Efficiency
• Efficiently use land, taxes, and infrastructure to bes serve the community with its growth and development in mind.

Conclusion

• Downtown Omaha may be small in size, but it is Omaha's economic and cultural heart.
• A thriving downtown will benefit the entire metro.
• We can improve it by investing in things that keep people living, working, and gathering downtown.
• Focusing on not only innovation, but sustainability and efficient use of our historical facilities will retain spirit and enrich the community of Downtown Omaha.

​

25

The Takeaway

A strong, inclusive, and vibrant downtown isn’t just nice to have, it’s essential to Omaha’s future growth and success.

​

26

“