I know many of the pictures I and some of my Omaha counterparts have posted show the new, gleaming office towers, arenas, and performing arts centers. That's fine and dandy, but this time I thought I'd show case some of Omaha's old bones. These are taken from the Park East Neighborhood of DTO where I live and in the SW end of the CBD.
These neighborhoods have so much potential. Many were ravaged by a well earned bad image with open prostitution, drug use, vagrancy and crime. The area is turning around. New law enforcement has made hookers on the street a thing of the past. A new elementary school Downtown has also made a world of difference since drug crimes next to schools come with harsher penalties.
So enjoy this look at a neighborhood on the upswing that many natives are probably unaware of. It's still a little rough but in 10 years people should be singing it's praise.
Many brick apartment buildings with brick streets to match. Some buildings are being rehabbed into small condos. Most buildings are occupied.
A fresh seafood store and lesbian bar. There are actually quite a few lesbian bars on Leavenworth Street.
This is from the County Jail. I bet the prisoners have a great view.
Heading towards Downtown
This part of town has many great old buildings that are still in use as small offices for lawyers. It is centered around the Flatiron building and a diagnol street. I hope one day this is a hopping 'Flatiron' District.' This part of town also stands to benefit from being close to the Orpheum Theater and a new stop on a proposed streetcar route around Downtown.
The Flatiron building. Also home to the Flatiron restaurant which is considered one of the best in the city.
The Law Building. A favorite building that has stood the test of time.
Flatiron and Orpheum Tower.
The Government Center of DTO.
Many of the buildings around here are, or once were, city government buildings and even an old library. It definanly clears out after 5 but the area has kind of an imposing, shadowy feel to it from the street.
City Hall. A boring building by many standards but the more I see it the more I like it.
City Hall reflecting the Woodmen.
I love the different figure heads around this building. I zoomed in on a famous one.
19th St. canyon. A favorite street of mine. I love the 'wall'.
Looking west toward Park East and Midtown. Mutual of Omaha (my job) rises in the background, Park East Business District in the midground and a fed reserve bank in the foreground.
The decorative spire of the Rose Children's Theater with the back of the Conant Apts opposite. Westbrook Tower Apts.(smaller) and the old NNG building which, believe it or not, used to be the HQ of
Enron.
Another favorite cluster of old buildings.
Looking towards the hilly south of DT. Omaha's Little Italy neighborhood is around here. St. Joseph tower to the right background.
Don't tell New York they just got robbed.
The Douglas County courthouse. On the top is a holding cell for prisoners awaiting trial that day. I wonder how I'd know that...
First National looming over the Omaha building. The Omaha building has been powerwashed and is being renovated by a law firm that HQ's in the building. It was Omaha first skyscraper.
A couple of storefronts around 16th and Farnam. A proposed streetcar line will help some of these places stay open after business hours.
New residents moving into the Regis above the DT Food Mart.
Omaha's 'new' Magnolia Hotel. The only other cities that have them are Dallas, Houston, and Denver. My place, the Rorick is in the background.
Kensington Tower Apts. I almost moved here. Lovely building with great views.
Kimball Laundry condos (right) and another apt building to the left (can't recall name) Kimball is a new condo rehab DT adjacent to the Ice Cream building also going condo.
Destination: OMAHA
Heading back home
The next 4 pictures are from Drake Court Apartments. I'm not even sure if people lived here before they were rehabbed but they are nice affordable places for people DT. Cleaning up Drake Court was a big turn around for the Park East Neighborhood.
Fun Fact: Johnny Carson and Tom Brokaw used to live here getting their start in Omaha news.
This is taken from a balcony I climbed up to looking towards DT. Liberty Elementary (where I have a brother that attends) is in the foreground. The school was also a big turn around for the neighborhood.
Apartment buildings next to my building. Some are occupied with work being done to clean up the other buildings. Some of the these have nice 'Drake Court' courts as well.
Home Sweet Home
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Gosh this is a beautiful building. What building is this?
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