Omaha's Design Board Throws a Wrench in Revitalization

The new urban design review board once again deems that a publicly backed project doesn't do enough to encourage activity on the street and sends the Downtown Improvement District back to the drawing board.

1 minute read

February 27, 2010, 5:00 AM PST

By Tim Halbur


Matt Miller writes, "The redesign of downtown Omaha's run-down 16th Street is going back to the drawing board amid concerns that the proposal would fail to revitalize the corridor.

The project had seemed to be gaining momentum, winning buy-in from 16th Street's major tenants and private interests.

But the project hit a buzzsaw this month when it went before a new city board with oversight on urban design issues. In the end, the board authorized the plans to move forward - only on the condition that the plans change."

Thanks to David Nelson

Friday, February 26, 2010 in Omaha World Herald

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