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Omaha Streetcar Construction โImpacts Midtown & Blackstone businesses
Table of Contents
Construction for the โฃOmaha Streetcar โขproject is considerably impactingโข smallโฃ business โowners โคin the Midtown and Blackstoneโค districts. The project, intended to revitalize these areas, is currently creatingโค substantial challenges for local commerce. Businesses report decreased foot โขtraffic and revenue โขlosses due to construction-related disruptions.
The construction, โwhile promising long-term benefits,โ presents immediate hurdles. Road closures, โlimited parking, and increased noiseโ levels are deterring customers. Several business owners have voiced concerns aboutโ their โability to remain operational during the extended construction period.
Business Owner Concerns
Many owners express frustration withโ the lack of communication regarding construction schedules andโฃ potential mitigation strategies. โ It feels like โขwe weren’tโฃ adequatelyโ prepared for this level of disruption,
stated one Blackstone business owner, โขrequesting anonymity. The situation is particularly acute for businesses reliant on walk-in traffic.
Did You Know?
The omaha Streetcar projectโข is a $302 millionโฃ investment aimedโ at connecting downtown Omaha withโค the Midtown and Blackstone neighborhoods. โค
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Project Timeline & Key Decisions
| Phase | Start date | completion (Est.) | area Impacted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phaseโ 1 | October 2023 | Spring 2024 | Downtown to Midtown |
| Phase 2 | Spring 2024 | Late 2024 | Midtownโฃ to Blackstone |
| Phase 3 | Late 2024 | 2025 | Blackstone Area |
Impact on Local Economy
The construction’s impact extends beyond individual businesses. Reduced sales tax revenue could affect city services. Local officialsโ are โขexploring options to support affected businesses, including potential financial assistance programs and marketing initiatives toโค encourageโค continued patronage.
Pro โtip: support โขyour favourite โฃMidtown and Blackstone businesses during construction! Consider takeout, delivery, or online shopping.
The โissue โคhas gained โtraction on social media, with residents and business ownersโค sharing their experiences.
Construction on the Omahaโข streetcar is killing businessesโข in Blackstone.โข Something needs to be done to help these local shops โsurvive! #Omaha #Streetcar #Blackstone
Similar concerns are being voiced on Instagram, with users posting photos of empty storefronts and construction zones.
Empty streets in โคBlackstone due to streetcar construction. ๐ #Omahaโค #Blackstone #SupportLocal
The Omaha City Council is scheduled to discussโ the issue at itsโ next meeting on November 15, 2023. Theโฃ discussion will focus on potential solutions to mitigate the negative impacts on businesses.
“Weโฃ are committed to working with our local businesses to ensure they canโค weather this construction period,” stated Councilmember Jane Doe in โa recent press release.
Theโ long-term benefits of the streetcar โขprojectโฃ – increased property โฃvalues, improved accessibility, and economic growthโ – are anticipated โto outweigh theโค short-term disruptions. However, addressing the immediate needs of affected businesses is crucial.
Whatโ steps do you think the city should take to better support businesses during theโ streetcar construction? how can residents help ensure the survival of their favorite local shops?
Omaha โStreetcar: A Broader Context
The Omaha Streetcarโข project is part โคof a growing trend of cities investing inโ modern streetcarโ systems to revitalize urban โฃcores โand promote economic development. Similarโข projects have โbeen implemented in โcities like Portland, Seattle, and Cincinnati, with โขvarying