Downtown Omaha not vibrant enough (Fremont, Hastings: environment, showing, apartments)

[MattDen]

I think Downtown Omaha has nice architecture and some new construction but there isnt enough people down there.

The streets only have a decent amount of people on them downtown for the lunch hour only to walk to get a sandwich or lunch and back to work.

During the evenings and on weekends very few out and about in Downtown Omaha. They some a moderate-sized residential base but a vast majority of the people tend to isolate themselves in their apartment buildings.

It seems to me that the ramification of being one of least pedestrian friendly cities in the country is that they have a downtown Omaha which has a fairly bland retail scene for a Downtown of its size.

I do think Omaha has potential and the suburban-like areas of West Omaha is nice as is the area around University of Nebraska-Omaha but I do think
Downtown Omaha and the neighborhoods adjacent really need to try to increasing the vibrancy.

I know it will always be a challange though to increase the vibrancy because Omahans arent as social, outdoorsy or open-minded to new places as people in other cities.

[DTO Luv]

Originally Posted by MattDen

I think Downtown Omaha has nice architecture and some new construction but there isnt enough people down there.

The streets only have a decent amount of people on them downtown for the lunch hour only to walk to get a sandwich or lunch and back to work.

During the evenings and on weekends very few out and about in Downtown Omaha. They some a moderate-sized residential base but a vast majority of the people tend to isolate themselves in their apartment buildings.

It seems to me that the ramification of being one of least pedestrian friendly cities in the country is that they have a downtown Omaha which has a fairly bland retail scene for a Downtown of its size.

I do think Omaha has potential and the suburban-like areas of West Omaha is nice as is the area around University of Nebraska-Omaha but I do think
Downtown Omaha and the neighborhoods adjacent really need to try to increasing the vibrancy.

I know it will always be a challange though to increase the vibrancy because Omahans arent as social, outdoorsy or open-minded to new places as people in other cities.

On what basis are Omahans not as social, outdoorsy, or open-minded as people in other cities?

As someone who lives Downtown and is out and about alot more than most people would be I can tell you that Downtown is plenty active. Even outside the main hub of activity, the Old Market, there are still people out in new restaurants that are opening as a result of more people moving Downtown.

I definently don't agree with the statement that people just stay in there apartments. One of the reasons people move Downtown is to be out and about to take advantage of the amenities Downtown. Just in my building I know many people who regularly attend sporting events DT, go out to eat, go to the bars/clubs, and other events Downtown many times a week. Lots of people run and walk for excercise all over the parks Downtown.

Yes retail is lacking Downtown but you could put many other cities in there as well. Kansas City, a metro of 2 million, doesn't have strong retail offerings either.

However Downtowners can be optimistic as Urban Outfitters is opening in North Downtown this fall. Urban Outifitters said they went into Downtown because other retailers were going in as well. So here's looking up.

If you think you're going to find Times Square or Michigan Ave. sized crowds Downtown than keep dreaming but there are always people Downtown. Even on non-event weekends the Old Market is always packed. When you've got another 17,000 people at a Bball game or concert, plus another 5,000 for a hockey or football game, you'll see crazy amounts of people in addition to the normal weekend crowds.

[DTO Luv]

Here's a recent photo spread I did showing Downtown activity after the lunch hour.

These were taken Monday afternoon on my day off. I've never done a people spread before so here goes.

The Orpheum Tower. Current tallest residential building DT.


The Kensington Tower. Apartments.




16th and Harney
The Regis & 1600 Farnam (both condo) and First National


Around 16th St.




































Working my way down towards Central Park Plaza


Outside the Paxton (condos)


Around the Library.












About to flash?


Around First National Center












Old UP HQ



Here I tried using a less obvious technique to take people's pic. I just help the camera at waist level, aimed, and hoped like hell the shots would turn out.

It should be pretty obvious where we are.






Where's the biker bar?


An old skyline


Bummin' it


Couldn't NOT take this picture


Bumped into my friend Kevin. Chatted for awhile and had lunch at Jazz.


One of the many water features around the Gene Leahy Mall


The Holland Center on the Mall


A past time for many Omaha couples


Ladies


Forver (something) Art Crush?


Urban fowl


The nasty little thing started hissing at me as I got close for the pic


Rock wall


People in the grass


In case you were wondering what city you were in


Another DT Omaha past time. Feeding the swans


Subtle shooting


Although not green, The Greenhouse


Cool walkway


Still not green, but the Greenhouse again


Under the bridge Downtown...


Grand scale of the Mall


Kids in the park


The Slides. Popular with kids, couples, and stoned teens


Mall's main entrance


Into the Old Market






Homer's Records












Checking out with my new CD


Back on the market










Downtown is OPEN




I love how this pic turned out


Downtown grocery store


Doesn't your Downtown have a grocery store?




Policia


An active little shot


Park East, Midtown skylines
My house is the first stand out building from the left

[DTO Luv]

Here's Omahans being close minded.

[MattDen]

I really enjoy your pictures and they do show that Omaha has a very, very nice architectural base in the downtown area and also has potential.

But I am not impressed with the amount of people walking around and have been in downtown Omaha on many occasions and they tend to have a large lack of pedestrians. They do have some light vibrancy during the lunch hour, but except on rare occasions downtown Omaha usually is 90% asleep by 9pm it seems and usually on weekends.

I do think Omaha has its advantages, its a nice city overall but I am not impressed at all with the downtown Omaha's vibrancy and also the fact that the areas adjacent to downtown arent improving fast-enough in my opinion.

Most cities seemed to have been far more aggressive with improving the urban environment they have but Omaha has generally been lacking with the exception of some commercial construction.

Anyway, as far as the gay culture in Omaha I think that is major weakness. Omaha does not have a gayborhood with a high concentration of gays, they may have a very small area where the concentration of gays is higher then the rest of the city but as far as having a hevily gay residential neighborhood they dont not have.

Its a shame really because the gay community tends to choose high density areas especially gays in their 20s and 30s usually and this density that gays tend to locate to brings vibrancy and gentrification typical like it has to Capitol Hill in Denver, Short North in Columbus, Lakewood in Cleveland and Westport in Kansas City. Omaha just doesnt have anything like that and because of that I dont think Omaha will more then likely never have any first-rate vibrant urban neighborhoods.

Its not just Omaha that has a lack of decent sized gayborhoods but also Indianapolis and both cities have rather bland, culturally uninteresting urban neighborhoods. A large gay community and many open-minded neighborhoods with a heavily socially liberal population is very important to have high quality cultural neighborhoods and Omaha lacks in that regard.

I think the fact of the matter is Omaha has a strong economic base, very suburban oriented and has a very good road network but this has all came at the expense of having a decent downtown especially retail and vibrancy wise.

[Sioux Flay]

Thanks for those pics DTO! I'm so completely excited about moving to Nebraska right now, and you helped me get more excited! lol.

MATT: Omaha DOES have quite a large gay population. This is the fourth post I read by you this evening and I'm beginning to wonder if you've ever left your house!

If you're not finding the gay population, maybe they're hiding from you because they've read your posts! lol. But seriously: GET OUT THERE AND MEET PEOPLE DUDE. sheesh.

[mattpoulsen]

Mattden,

I have to disagree with you. Every time I've been in the downtown Omaha area, during nice weather, its been packed! In fact, I was just downtown last weekend and it was bustling with activity. Outdoor side walk cafes were full and the parks and side walks were packed. I'm not really sure where you're coming from on this. Are you sure you weren't there during the winter?

Maybe the reason there isn't a "gayborhood" is that there is no need to segregate. Did you ever think that because of this lack of a gayborhood could actually be a good thing, in terms of gay rights. It could mean that the surrounding community is well integrated with the local gay community.

[ehenningsen]

It actually is well integrated, there is no centralized gay area, however leavenworth street for a stretch is gay-heavy, however, there are gay areas spread throughout downtown..

[Cordor]

I thought as well that it was lacking in this category. But if you have ever been to NorthPlatte, Hastings, and especially red-neck Fremont country, they would rather shoot you first and ask questions later--lol. As a typical redneck fremonter would say: "ta hee-hee yahoo I shot'em a good one ma....hee-hah!!"

[mattpoulsen]

I think there are plenty of "rednecks" anywhere you go. Small towns get a bad rap. And people who are not used to these towns tend to describe them just as you have, and in an unfair way I would add. If your generalizations about Fremont are true then any small towners generalization about pampered lazy city slickers who don't have morals is equally as valid. Do I believe this generalization? Absolutely not! But just as everyone preaches about tolerance and acceptance don't you think its ironic that you're generalizing a fremonter as a "typical redneck". I would say that's pretty hypocritical.