Downtown Omaha is the central business, government and social core of the Omaha–Council Bluffs metropolitan area, U.S. state of Nebraska. The boundaries are Omaha's 20th Street on the west to the Missouri River on the east and the centerline of Leavenworth Street on the south to the centerline of Chicago Street on the north, also including the CHI Health Center Omaha.Frequently Asked Questions. Downtown Business Improvement District. Retrieved 8/19/07. Downtown sits on the Missouri River, with commanding views from the tallest skyscrapers.
Dating almost to the city's inception, downtown has been a popular location for the headquarters of a variety of companies. The Union Pacific Railroad has been headquartered in Omaha since its establishment in 1862. Downtown Omaha was also the site of the Jobbers Canyon Historic District, which housed 24 historic warehouses. All 24 buildings were demolished in 1989, representing the largest single loss of buildings to date from the National Register.Gratz, R.B. (1996) Living City: How America's Cities Are Being Revitalized by Thinking Small in a Big Way. John Wiley and Sons. p. V. The site was home to many import and export businesses necessary for the settlement and development of the American West.
Today dozens of companies have their national and regional headquarters in downtown Omaha.Marcec, D. (2007) "Middle market highlight: April 2007: Omaha. Heartland Real Estate Business. Retrieved 8/22/07. The area is home to more than 30 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places, along with two historic districts.
History Downtown Omaha was the location of the settlement of the city. William D. Brown's Lone Tree Ferry landing was the site of Omaha's first development. In 2004 a map expert using GPS and old maps identified a location near Gallup University as the location of the ferry landing.(2004) "Omaha's First Ferry Dock Identified," KETV. Retrieved 8/13/07. Omaha Central High School, located at 124 North 20th Street, is on the site where the city's founders first met on July 4, 1854, for a celebration to found the city.
Much of Omaha's grim history happened downtown, as well. The Douglas County Courthouse was twice the location of racially motivated lynchings. The first occurred when George Smith, a local worker, was accused of raping a white woman and dragged from the jail in the courthouse to his death.Bristow, D. (1997) A Dirty, Wicked Town: Tale of 19th Century Omaha. Caxton Press. The second was the mass mob murder of Willy Brown in 1919, in which Mayor Ed Smith was lynched and almost murdered as well. The event, coordinated by city boss Tom Dennison, was in retaliation of Smith's reform administration. Dennison operated a private bank at 1409 Douglas Street, bankrolling a number of illegal operations throughout the city.Camp, L.S. (2001) When Clerks Of The District Court Had Real Power: Robert Smith’s Omaha, 1908-1950 . Nebraska Lawyer. April. p. 18. Retrieved 6/21/07. He was likely in control of the city's Sporting District, a downtown neighborhood where debauchery of all sorts took place.
Today the highlight of downtown's social scene, the Old Market was once a warehouse district on par with the Jobbers Canyon. Torn down in 1989, Jobbers Canyon was a large area of warehouses in which much of Omaha's industrial wealth was made. Other historical areas downtown included Chinatown, the Burnt District and the Sporting District. The latter two areas were locations for much of the crime in Omaha in the late 19th century and early 20th century.
Neighborhoods Downtown Omaha is generally thought of as a large neighborhood itself; however, currently and historically within it are several distinct areas. The Old Market Historic District has been rehabilitated into boutique shops, offices and loft residential units. On the south edge of downtown bordering Little Italy, the Burlington Station is one of the buildings in the Omaha Rail and Commerce Historic District that has been renovated into residential apartments.
North Downtown
A new mixed-use development, North Downtown extends 80 blocks, from the campus of Creighton University to the CHI Health Center, Charles Schwab Field and new developments along the Missouri River. The boundaries are Seward Street on the north, I-480 on the south, 17th Street to the west and Riverfront Drive on the east."North Downtown Redevelopment Plan: City of Omaha and Omaha Chamber of Commerce." HDR. Retrieved 8/22/07.
The area comprising NoDo is central to the history of Omaha. Along the river, Miller's Landing was the site where the Lone Tree Ferry brought settlers from Iowa. The early Territorial Legislature platted Scriptown in the area. The historic neighborhood of Squatter's Row and the city's notorious prostitution alleyway, The Cribs, were located here.
Today the area includes the new Slowdown venue."All Nighter: Omaha plans to be open around the clock," Omaha City Weekly. Retrieved 8/22/07. The new TD Ameritrade Park opened in April 2011 near CenturyLink Center as the new home of the College World Series and Creighton University baseball. The area also includes national retailers and several restaurants, bars, and coffee shops. Several buildings have also been renovated into apartments and condos. The Missouri River riverfront is the eastern boundary of NoDo where millions in redevelopment has taken place in recent years. The city has created a new boardwalk, walking trails, and the Lewis & Clark Landing which connect to the Heartland of America Park and, in-conjunction, host several of Omaha's annual festivals, like the Taste of Omaha. A city marina has opened for Missouri River boaters. Buildings along the riverfront include the National Park Service Midwest Regional Office and Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail visitors center, The Gallup Organization operational headquarters, Gallup University Campus, and two residential towers, RiverFront Place Condos. Near these buildings is the 3,000 ft footbridge, the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge.
The movement in Omaha to reintroduce street cars is led by former mayor Hal Daub.Miller, E.C. and Kopiasz, G. (2007) "Light Rail and Omaha: It Takes a Proactive Community to Build Light Rail: the Case for Omaha," New Colonist. May 2007. The proposed streetcars would cost $55 million and run in a loop through Downtown Omaha and NoDo. The system would cost about $2 million per year to operate and would serve almost 7,000 passengers in its first year. One route would run the cars from Creighton University near 20th and Webster streets, proceeding east to 10th Street, passing by the CenturyLink Center and moving south to Jackson Street in the Old Market. After that it would then move west to 16th Street and then north to Farnam before returning to 10th Street.Beals, J. "Streetcar Pool: Omaha moves closer to building a light-rail system" . Omaha City Weekly. Retrieved 9/25/07.
North Downtown establishments Name Location CHI Health Center 455 North 10th Street Charles Schwab Field1200 Mike Fahey St Creighton University 320 N 20th St Slowdown 729 North 14th Street Morrison Stadium 2500 California Plaza Miller's Landing 151 Freedom Park Rd Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Headquarters 601 Riverfront Drive RiverFront Place Condos 555 Riverfront Plz Gallup University Campus 1001 Gallup Dr
Park East
This neighborhood is considered the gateway to Downtown Omaha. Although, due to its tall buildings and proximity to downtown, most Omaha citizens consider this area to be part of the downtown central district. The area runs from 20th street on the east to 28th street on the west and from Dodge street to the north and Leavenworth to the south. The neighborhood, situated between Midtown Omaha and Downtown, is home to several historic buildings as well as some of Omaha's tallest buildings. The area has some of Omaha's major art institutions such as the Joslyn Art Museum, the Omaha Children's Museum, and the Rose Theater. There are still major employers in the area, such as Physicians Mutual Insurance Company, but there is also evidence of better days gone past such as the now vacant Northern Natural Gas Building. Omaha's Destination Midtown has been working to restore the area in recent years, as well as other Midtown neighborhoods, and evidence of revitalization can be seen in newly restored condos and apartments in the area. As of 2004, an elementary school, Liberty Elementary, has been established to serve the growing downtown population.
Home to the original Nebraska State Capitol, the Park East neighborhood has hosted several significant historical buildings and structures. One of Omaha's original parks, Jefferson Square, was located in the neighborhood, with the Market House and Omaha's first school located in the park. The Old Post Office and other buildings were there, too.
Park East establishments Name Location Joslyn Art Museum 2200 Dodge Street Omaha Children's Museum 500 S 20th Street The Rose, Omaha 2665 Farnam Street Northern Natural Gas Building 2223 Dodge Street Physicians Mutual Building 2600 Dodge Street Westbrook Tower 2121 Douglas Street Omaha Central High School 124 N. 20th Street Scoular Building 2027 Dodge Street Ford Hospital 121 South 25th Street
Old Market
The Old Market is a neighborhood bordered by South 10th Street. The neighborhood has many restaurants, art galleries and upscale shopping, and is the location of several condominiums, including the JLofts on the Market and the Broatch Building. The area retains its brick paved streets from the turn of the 20th century, horse-drawn carriages, and covered sidewalks in some areas. It is not uncommon to see a variety of street performers, artists and other vendors.
Notable locations Name Location Poppleton Block 1001 Farnam Street St. Nicholas Hotel 12th and Jackson Streets Anheuser-Busch Beer Depot 1207-1215 Jones Street Douglas House 13th and Harney Streets Omaha Bolt, Nut and Screw Building 1316 Jones Street First Woodman of the World Building 15th and Howard Streets Grand Central Hotel 14th and Farnam Streets
Market West
Market West is a newly established neighborhood to the west of the Old Market and to the south of the Central Business District. Market West is represented by the Market West Neighborhood Alliance, established in 2011. The official boundaries are construed as, but not limited to, S 17th street to the west, S 13th street to the east, Howard street to the north and the train tracks to the south.
Part of Market West is included in the Omaha Rail and Commerce Historic District. While the neighborhood is dominated by historic warehouses, the area is beginning to see new construction of apartment buildings. The area of Market West is often confused with the Old Market, as south 13th street is the most obvious boundary - the actual historically designated area of the Old Market Historic District is a few square blocks.
Notable Historic Buildings Name Location Aquila Court Building (Magnolia Hotel) 1615 Howard Street Eggerss-O'Flyng Building 801 South 15th Street Flatiron Hotel 1722 St. Mary's Avenue Hill Hotel 505 South 16th Street Omaha Bolt, Nut and Screw Building 1316 Jones Street
Restoration and expansion projects
Several projects commencing in Downtown Omaha are restoring and expanding the city's core. Omaha's own HDR, Inc. designed downtown's important Omaha World-Herald Freedom Center, which opened in 2001.
The Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge is sparking a riverfront expansion project in Omaha and Council Bluffs. The bridge has a very modern design with two spires that have sail-like appearances and multi-color LED light panels at the top. The Omaha side of the riverfront project has restaurants, businesses, and two condo towers twelve and fifteen stories tall and a large plaza area with jumping fountains, statues, and seating.