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Developers, Habitat and city advance North 20th Street rezones and mixed-use plans
Summary
The council approved rezones and an overlay along North 20th Street that clear the way for multi-parcel mixed-use development including single-family townhomes, a mixed-use building with commercial ground floor space and public event space, and a parking plaza to support cultural uses.
The Omaha City Council unanimously approved a set of rezonings and overlays tied to multiple development proposals on and around North 20th Street, advancing plans for mixed-use buildings, townhomes and public spaces that city staff and developers described as part of a larger corridor revitalization.
City Planning staff and project proponents, including developer Phil McClain and Habitat for Humanity of Omaha, spoke at the public hearing and described a multi-block redevelopment that combines single-family townhomes, a mixed-use building with commercial storefronts and community event space, and a parking plaza intended to support cultural uses and nearby businesses. Kelly Johnston Dorsey of the Planning Department said the city is rezoning several city-owned parcels before sale to make them buildable and to adopt an ACI (Area of Civic Importance) overlay as redevelopment occurs.
McClain told the council his proposal would include seven single-family townhomes on one block, a mixed-use building with four commercial spaces including a corner space sized for a bank, a food-court-style area for small entrepreneurs, and a portion of the block planned as an interim community space for markets and public gatherings. Across the street, the project includes a roughly 100-space parking plaza and outdoor event area intended to help address a chronic parking shortage in the neighborhood.
Dan Brewer, representing Habitat for Humanity of Omaha, confirmed the organization’s involvement in the project parcels to support affordable homeownership opportunities. Planning staff said the ACI overlay brings higher design standards for building placement and architectural treatment but does not by itself prescribe streetscape improvements in the public right of way.
Council members asked about outreach and design details; council members said they had received neighborhood input and that staff and the developer had made adjustments to address concerns such as landscaping and boundary fencing where adjacent residents requested it. Councilmember Goodwin said the developer had scheduled community engagement and participated in local events as part of outreach.
The council approved the associated ordinances and resolutions (items 27–30 on the agenda) by roll call, with the recorded vote showing support from Goodwin, Harding, Hugg, Melton, Roe, Festersen and the presiding council president. The actions rezone properties, expand the ACI overlay and clear the title and plats needed for the planned sales and construction.
