Midtown Omaha

Midtown Omaha looking west from the Park East neighborhood of Downtown Omaha.

Midtown is a geographic area of Omaha, Nebraska that is a culturally, socially and economically important area of the city.^[1] It is home to major research centers, national corporations, several historic districts, and a number of historic residences.

About

Midtown comprises 3.6 square miles (9.3 km²) and is bordered on the north by Cuming Street, the south by Center Street, the east by 24th Street and the west by Saddle Creek Road. The area is home to approximately 28,000 residents and 43,000 employees. It is densely populated with 7,800 residents per square mile, and is known for its tree-lined streets, historic architecture and economic and racial diversity.^[2]

Significant places

Many buildings in Midtown Omaha are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Midtown has several places of local, regional and national importance, including the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Creighton University. The Walnut Hill Reservoir is a 125-year-old water supply source for the city. There are several historic places of worship, including St. Cecilia Cathedral at 701 North 40th Street, the ninth largest cathedral in the United States, and; the Beth El Synagogue at 119 South 49th Avenue, which is the oldest active synagogue in Omaha. The Gerald R. Ford Birthsite and Gardens at 3202 Woolworth Avenue was dedicated in 1977 to celebrate the birth and presidency of Gerald Ford. First Unitarian Church of Omaha was built in 1917 and is located at 3114 Harney Street. The Blackstone Hotel built in 1916 is located at 302 South 36th Street.

Other buildings in the area include the Mutual of Omaha headquarters and the Masonic Manor, which is the third tallest skyscraper in Omaha. Berkshire Hathaway and Kiewit Corporation also have their corporate headquarters in Midtown.

Neighborhoods

Midtown is home to several historic neighborhoods, as well as modern developments. The Gifford Park neighborhood has a long history, first as a suburb of Omaha reachable only via trolley, and now as a historically significant urban neighborhood, including Omaha's Duchesne Academy.^[3] The Joslyn Castle neighborhood is home to the Castle itself, while the Walnut Hill, Field Club and Country Club neighborhoods are some of the oldest upscale areas in the city. The Hanscom Park neighborhood is called a "vibrant, front porch neighborhood" with homes dating to the 1880s.^[4]

A new neighborhood development in the area is called "Midtown Crossing at Turner Park." Being developed by Mutual of Omaha,^[5] this new community will include condominiums, apartments, hotel, movie theater, grocery store, restaurants and a health club. It will also renovate and expand Turner Park, one of Midtown’s public parks.^[6]

The Morton Meadows Neighborhood is located in between Saddle Creek Road to the west, South 42nd Street to the east, Leavenworth Street to the north and Center Street to the south. With approximately 500 single family homes in the neighborhood, Morton Meadows is best known for its charming older houses built mostly in the early 1900s and the large tree lined boulevard running through the center of the neighborhood.^[7] The Morton Meadows Neighborhood Association officers include Michael Terry as president and Kathy Callahan as secretary.^[8]

Midtown Omaha property values have on a whole consistently improved over the past four years.^[9] The City of Omaha's efforts at revitalization through economic development,^[10] rising gas prices and Midtown Omaha's close proximity to large employers ^[11] have all played an important role in the Midtown Omaha's appreciating home values.^[12]

Historical significance

The area is also home to several historic districts and other places that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. They include the Drake Court Apartments and the Dartmore Apartments Historic District, the Gold Coast Historic District, the Field Club Historic District and the Bemis Park Historic District. The Omaha Quartermaster Depot Historic District is just outside of the formal Midtown boundaries.

Places of worship

Aside from St. Cecilia's and Beth El, other places of worship in Midtown include Kountze Memorial Lutheran Church at 26th and Farnam, Harvest Community Church at 3903 Cuming Street, First Presbyterian Church at 216 S 34th St, one block west of Midtown Crossing, First Central Congregational Church at 421 South 36th Street, First Unitarian Church of Omaha at 3114 Harney Street, First Baptist Church at 421 Park Avenue, St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church at 602 Park Avenue, First Lutheran Church at 542 South 31st Street, Westminster Presbyterian Church of Omaha at 5416 Woolworth Avenue, Bethel Lutheran Church at 1312 South 45th Street, Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church at 1326 South 26th Street, and Pella Lutheran Church at 303 South 41st Street.^[13]

See also

• History of Omaha, Nebraska
• Neighborhoods of Omaha, Nebraska

References

External links

• Destination Midtown promotional video.
• Field Club Historic District website.
• Joslyn Castle website.
• Morton Meadows website.