
A new $554 million plan to transform the dying Crossroads mall at 72nd and Dodge Streets includes rental units and now for-sale home options. "There is a demand," development team spokesman Jude Beller said.
Condos or other homeownership options are likely to be added to the $554 million Crossroads redevelopment site, a spokesman for the developer confirmed Wednesday.
During a meeting of the Omaha Planning Board, an Omaha real estate agent who lives near Crossroads urged officials to add homeownership options to the 40-acre project plan northwest of 72nd and Dodge Streets.
Jude Beller, a spokesman for the development team responded: “I love the homeownership comment.”
He said in an interview later that the Lockwood and Century Development partnership indeed had been privately discussing for-sale home possibilities and believed condos could fit nicely at the top of the hotel.
“There is a demand,” Beller said, adding that the number might be eight to 20, but is undecided for now.
Currently, the plan’s residential options are rental: apartments and senior living units. That’s in addition to office, retail, hotel, entertainment, fitness and plaza space that would be constructed.
The for-sale housing would stand out as the only newly constructed pieces on the Crossroads campus not owned or partially owned by the developer. Beller said that Lockwood and Century would own all other new structures, but would bring on experts to run and partially own the hotel and senior housing operations.
Planning Board members voted unanimously Wednesday in favor of the Crossroads plan and the developer’s request for nearly $80 million in TIF — an amount that would be the highest ever approved by the City of Omaha.
The recommendation now goes to the City Council for its vote.
Marty Hosking, the Keller Williams Realty agent who questioned the lack of homeownership possibilities generally commended the Crossroads project. He said it would help reverse “negativity” of urban sprawl.
“This is positive for integration,” Hosking said, and for revitalizing the central part of the city.
No one objected during the meeting to the project or $79.4 million TIF request. Bridget Hadley, who handles TIF for the city, said that prior to the meeting, city officials received written correspondence from a couple of opponents of the Crossroads TIF incentive.
Hadley told the board that the Crossroads project met criteria for TIF, a tool used by the city to encourage private investment and revitalization. The incentive allows developers to use a portion of future increased property taxes generated by their projects to pay for certain upfront development costs.
It’s supposed to go toward redevelopment projects in blighted areas that wouldn’t happen without the financial TIF boost.
Hadley noted that TIF skeptics might argue the project would occur anyway, without the incentive. She added, “The fact we’re here 10 years later indicates no, this project would not have happened.”
Century’s Frank Krejci bought the dying mall a decade ago and, with a different partner, had proposed several other redevelopments that didn’t materialize. Mayor Jean Stothert has backed the latest plan.
Planning Commissioner Michael Pate is among board members who lauded the project. “What we’re seeing here today is worth waiting for.”
Crossroads Mall through the years
1946: Future site of Crossroads Mall

The site of the future Crossroads Mall, looking east on Dodge Street from Papio Creek in August 1946.
1955: West Lanes Bowlatorium

The West Lanes Bowlatorium, at 151 N. 72nd St. in Omaha. Crossroads Mall had not been built across the street at that time.
1959: Crossroads rendering

An artist's concept drawing of Crossroads Mall in 1959.
1961: Inside the new Crossroads

Mr. and Mrs. Pat Davis with Susan, 4 months, and Kelly, 17 months, shopping at the new Crossroads Mall in June 1961.
1961: Crossroads boiler room

Donald Peterson doing a push-button check at the control board for power in the boiler room at the Crossroads Mall in June 1961.
1961: Landscaping at Crossroads

Landscaping at Crossroads Mall in June 1961.
1961: The Sears store at Crossroads Mall

The Sears store at the Crossroads Mall draws a crowd waiting to enter in 1961.
1961: Arcade at Crossroads

Shoppers in June 1961 at the Crossroads arcade, where 24 stores lined the air-conditioned mall. The mall, on 72nd and Dodge Streets, was opened in 1960 by Brandeis Department Store. It was anchored by Brandeis and Sears, Roebuck & Co.
1961: View of Crossroads

Crossroads in 1961 at Thanksgiving time.
1962: Costumed children at Crossroads

A smiling Superman, a skeleton and even a masked fairy princess are among the goblins from Hillside School visiting Crossroads Mall.
1965: Crossroads shoppers

Shoppers at Crossroads Mall in January 1965.
1965: Crossroads shoppers

Shoppers at Crossroads Mall in January 1965.
1965: Brandeis Tire Center at Crossroads

Concrete breaking for the new Brandeis Tire Center at Crossroads Mall in July 1965. Bill Mager, Omaha area manager for Abel Corp.; S.J. Marchese, manager of Brandeis Crossroads; and John Diesing, vice president of Brandeis.
1966: Crossroads shoppers

Shoppers at Crossroads Mall in July 1966.
1966: Robbery at Crossroads

Officer Hap Bolan dusting for fingerprints after a robbery at Crossroads Mall in November 1966.
1967: Gale Sayers at Crossroads

Gale Sayers signs autographs at Crossroads Mall in Omaha on April 22, 1967.
1968: Christmas shopping

Debbie, 7; Sherrie, 6; Trip, 4; and Kristie, 2, await Santa in the Crossroads parking lot. Their mother, Mrs. Tom Blair, was nearby. The photo was published Nov. 17, 1968.
1971: Crossroads Christmas parade

The "Circus Joys and Christmas Toys" parade at Crossroads Mall in November 1971.
1972: Crossroads balloon parade

Balloons, ranging in length from 60 to 125 feet, were to be sent aloft as part of Crossroad Mall's balloon parade in November 1972. James Moore of Indianapolis worked at inflating the balloons, a task that took approximately an hour per balloon. The parade went north on 78th to Cass Street and east on Cass to the Crossroads entrance at 74th Street, then moved to the south side of the center, where the balloons were on display for the weekend.
1972: Christmas shopping and Santa

Curt Collins, 4, talks with Santa at Brandeis' Crossroads store. The photo was published Dec. 20, 1972.
1975: Tornado cleanup volunteers amass at Crossroads

Tornado cleanup volunteers signed up at the Crossroads and were formed into crews, then transported by bus to the work areas on May 14, 1975.
1978: Crossroads art feature

A Brandeis art feature at Crossroads in September 1978.
1981: Christmas shopping

Brandy Klabunde, 8, shops for toys at Youngtown in Crossroads. The photo was published Dec. 20, 1981.
1981: Last-minute Christmas shopping

A woman walks through the Crossroads parking lot for some last-minute shopping on Christmas Eve 1981.
1984: Christmas shopping

Stephanie Goodrich of Omaha is getting in the Christmas spirit at the Brandeis Crossroads store, browsing through the display of holiday decorations in this Nov. 18, 1984, photo.
1988: Husker watch party at Crossroads

Husker fans watch Nebraska's 7-3 win at Oklahoma on the big screen at Crossroads on Nov. 19, 1988.
1988: A visit with Santa

Ashley Vlven, 2, reluctantly meets Santa at Crossroads in November 1988. Ashley was at the mall with her mother, Dee Vlven.
1992: Great American Kiss-Off

WOW Radio held a Great American Kiss-Off event at Omaha's Crossroads Mall in 1992. Six couples locked lips at 6 a.m. for a kissing marathon that lasted until early that afternoon. Linda Lawless of Council Bluffs needed a little help reaching partner Larry Shephard of Nebraska City. The other couples in the photo are Larry and Lisa Whiting of Council Bluffs, left, and Heather Schwarz and James Hamm of Omaha, right.
2004: Crossroads exterior

The exterior of Crossroads Mall in 2004.
2014: Aerial view of Crossroads

Crossroads Mall at 72nd and Dodge Streets is seen from above in 2014.
2014: Aerial view of Crossroads

Crossroads Mall at 72nd and Dodge Streets is seen from above in March 2014.
2015: Opera Omaha gala

The final setup for the Opera Omaha gala on Jan. 16, 2015, at Crossroads Mall in Omaha.
2015: Opera Omaha

A dancer performs under a stream of water during Opera Omaha's preview of John Adams' "A Flowering Tree" at Crossroads Mall on Jan. 16, 2015.
2016: Douglas County Fair

Bob Lohman of San Diego performs in front of a small crowd at the Douglas County Fair inside Crossroads Mall on July 21, 2016.
2020: Exterior of Crossroads

Looking southeast toward Crossroads Mall on Aug. 5, 2020.
2020: Crossroads development partners

Frank Krejci, left, and Chip James on Wednesday, Aug 5. They're leading an effort to transform the dying mall.
2020: Crossroads redevelopment announced

Developers announced a plan to revive Crossroads Mall on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020.
2020: Crossroads redevelopment announced

Looking southeast toward Crossroads on Aug. 5, 2020.
2021: Demolition

Demolition of the Crossroads Mall site in Omaha on Jan. 22, 2021.
2021: Demolition

Demolition of the Crossroads Mall site in Omaha on Jan. 22, 2021.
2021: Demolition

Demolition of the Crossroads Mall at 72nd and Dodge Streets continues on Feb. 18, 2021.
cindy.gonzalez@owh.com, 402-444-1224