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Climbers could see Omaha from new heights this spring.
The Omaha City Council on Tuesday is expected to decide whether to allow a special-use permit to transform some of the silos of the former Farmland grain elevator near 34th and Vinton Streets into Silo Extreme Outdoor Adventures, an indoor and outdoor climbing center.
It's the dream plan of Rick Brock and Ron Safarik, longtime friends and former neighbors in Omaha who became avid climbers together.
The two requested a special-use permit from the Omaha Planning Board to use some of the 62 silos for both indoor and outdoor climbing. Climbing set-ups would be placed on the silos' existing concrete walls.
It would be open to the public and cater to groups and organizations for work outings or team-building activities. The plans include a 30- to 40-foot-high rope obstacle course, an ice-climbing wall and an indoor boulder-climbing area that wouldn't require ropes.
In December, the planning board delayed consideration of the proposal because city planners said they had matters to resolve related to the proposed use of the property, parking and business signage.
The plan now has the board's recommendation for approval.
If approved, Brock said he could have a “soft opening” for climbers as early as May.
Brock said Friday that he also plans to work with Energy Rescue Inc. of Omaha in hopes of making the project environmentally friendly.
Contact the writer:
444-1336, leia.mendoza@owh.com
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