Destination to create jobs

As midtown Omaha welcomes some big ticket projects, the Destination Midtown organization plans to focus on smaller community and economic development efforts.

Among its new priorities announced recently, Destination Midtown said it will focus on promoting midtown's small neighborhood business districts and will try to connect midtown residents with midtown jobs.

Jamie Grayson-Berglund, Destination Midtown's executive director, said the group would like to attract new commercial tenants, retail stores and restaurants to neighborhood business districts such as 33rd and California Streets, 40th and Farnam Streets, 40th and Cuming Streets and Leavenworth Street east of Interstate 480.

Rather than redesign the streets and sidewalks, the organization wants to conduct a market analysis for the areas and develop marketing plans, Grayson-Berglund said.

The Destination Midtown effort started in 2003 as a way to coordinate small and large development throughout midtown. Since then, the University of Nebraska Medical Center has continued its expansion, and Mutual of Omaha has undertaken the $300 million Midtown Crossing commercial and housing development.

Grayson-Berglund said her organization hopes to connect midtown residents to jobs at those and other large midtown employers.

Destination Midtown's other priorities are promoting quality housing and encouraging development that supports a variety of transportation modes, from walking and biking to driving a car or riding the bus.

In line with Farnam Street's conversion to a two-way street near Midtown Crossing, Destination Midtown hopes to see more one-way streets converted, Grayson-Berglund said.

Contact the writer:

444-1128, jeff.robb@owh.com