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South 24th Street can be even more lively with new shops, restaurants and a central market.
Along 13th Street, new shops and housing can improve the corridor's appearance and build up its activity so that it might support a streetcar.
Around South Omaha, a coordinated marketing campaign can convince people to give the community's shops and restaurants a try.
In rolling out its new development plan for South Omaha this week, the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce proposed a series of smaller and mid-scale community development projects to give an already thriving community a boost.
“There's not a grand, major project, but maybe a lot of more small, incremental steps,” said Doug Bisson, an urban planner for consultant HDR Inc. who helped develop the plan.
The plan, which has been in the works since last August, is meant to target job creation efforts and direct the use of private investment dollars and public incentives.
The effort is taking its first steps toward implementation with the hiring of Karen Mavropoulos as project coordinator. She has served as program director for Catholic Charities' microbusiness training and development program and already has worked with programs serving the area.
The chamber won't fund development projects, but instead hopes to be a catalyst by showing the area's potential and bringing groups together. The chamber raised private funds to support the plan's creation and outreach efforts, which cost $411,000.
Mavropoulos said South Omaha has a good base to build upon. The project's impact may not be immediately visible, she said, but small things will start to happen.
“Very good things can come to South Omaha,” she said.
The existing business success of South 24th Street and unmet demand for retail services present an opportunity for South Omaha, according to the plan.
But the plan specifies that South Omaha's retail expansion should focus on supporting small businesses, attracting complementary uses to what's in place and sustaining the retail vitality of South 24th Street.
The plan holds up South 24th Street as the community's retail core and social center.
Along 24th Street, the plan proposes a new mercado, or a central market, to house retail spaces for new shops. It would be on the site of the Plaza de la Raza, which the plan says is underused but could become a landmark venue.
The plan also proposes concentrating retail activity on 24th Street, not adjacent streets, and offering incentives for auto repair businesses to relocate off the corridor.
The community already is well-served by grocers, smaller markets and bakeries and restaurants, according to the plan. South Omaha may not have the space or shopping demand for larger retailers such as Walmart or Home Depot, the plan says.
For South Omaha residents, the plan indicates a need for more local furniture, electronics, clothing and sporting goods stores. The community also can capitalize more on its restaurant industry, which generates $11 million in sales annually from customers outside South Omaha.
One idea is to concentrate pushcarts and food trucks in a single site for a vendor's row.
Another early effort under way is creation of a South Omaha marketing map of its businesses and attractions to draw visitors from places such as Henry Doorly Zoo into the community.
The plan proposes protecting and restoring historic commercial centers.
One such corner is 10th and Bancroft Streets, and the plan suggests it could feature some new buildings, landscaping and plaza space to make it a gateway to the neighborhood and Lauritzen Gardens.
On 13th Street, the plan says the stretch that once featured a streetcar should “respect this historic context.” It suggests new multistory commercial and residential buildings that also incorporate plazas and green space.
The plan says South Omaha has limited land available for redevelopment, which will restrict options for new housing and industries. New housing needs to be small-scale and carefully designed to fit existing neighborhoods, the plan says, and an effort should be made to acquire potential new industrial sites.
The plan, Bisson said, is about “being creative with what's available to make things happen.”
Contact the writer:
444-1128, jeff.robb@owh.com
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