Plan for South Omaha's multimillion-dollar plaza makeover progresses
Public officials, merchants and community members gathered at the South Omaha La Plaza de la Raza for an update on the makeover of the plaza and other improvements made possible largely with a state grant and also funds from the City of Omaha and Douglas County. May 2, 2025. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)
OMAHA — Construction is expected to begin this fall on the new La Plaza de la Raza, a pocket many call the heartbeat of South Omaha's historic commercial district.
But that's just the start of a $25 million-plus public investment on the main business corridor of a community known historically as a landing place for the state's immigrant population.
Leaders of the Adelante II initiative gathered Friday at the 24th and N Streets plaza and offered a progress report, this time sharing a stage with a host of elected officials and business representatives and reinforcing a theme of collaboration.
'Together we're bringing the heart of our community forward — adelante,' said Itzel Lopez, CEO of the Latino Economic Development Council, a lead partner on the project.
Currently a paved parking lot that shifts to fiesta grounds on certain occasions, the plaza is to be transformed via a $25 million state award from the North and South Omaha recovery grant program. Its projected opening is in 2027.
Douglas County and the City of Omaha each committed $500,000 from pandemic funds to the effort as well.
Key features include an amphitheater, stage, playground areas, open lawn, shaded family gathering area and signature art.
The plaza makeover is the anchor of the Adelante initiative, which includes other components:
Before the year's end, project leaders expect to have secured a site in the district for a multi-tier parking garage, with ground floor retailers, that will more than replace parking currently at the plaza lot.
Following that will come new sidewalk, streetscape and wayfinding improvements along the main 24th Street corridor to help create a uniform vibe from Q to F Streets, Lopez said.
Lopez said her organization is hoping to raise additional funds for other improvements to the corridor, including a building that would house the LEDC, employment and other programming.
Overseeing the Adelante II redevelopment is Canopy South, a nonprofit that calls itself a 'community quarterback.'
In addition to the 24th Street area improvements, Canopy South is leading the Q Street Collaborative initiative, which received a separate $39 million from the North and South Omaha recovery grant program for several other projects in South Omaha.
In all, the Nebraska Department of Economic Development in January 2024 awarded 130 groups and businesses a total of nearly $235 million through the North and South Omaha grant program.
Cesar Garcia, CEO of Canopy South, said the City of Omaha is handling the acquisition of Adelante's new garage site that is to offer parking for shoppers and workers of the area. He said choices have been narrowed to a few and negotiations are ongoing.
He said the plaza is a city-owned public space and will remain so once the plaza is revamped. Programming at the plaza likely will be a collaboration between the city and community organizations, Garcia said, though details are being worked out.
Also speaking at the Friday event was Douglas County Board Chair Roger Garcia; Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert; Omaha Public Power District CEO Javier Fernandez; South Omaha Business Improvement District President Ross Pesek; Nebraska Department of Economic Development's Javier Saldaña and LEDC President Armando Salgado.
Nebraska State Sen. Dunixi Guereca, former State Sen. Tony Vargas and Mexican Consul Jorge Ernesto Espejel Montes were among several dozen people who gathered at the plaza for entertainment by Mariachi music and dancers.
Among others were City Councilmen Pete Festersen and Ron Hug; U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb.; Denise Powell, who has announced her candidacy for Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District as a Democrat; merchants and community members.
'The Latino community is at the heart of South Omaha's story, and today we celebrate that legacy,' said Canopy South's Garcia, stressing that the improvements are for all of Omaha and tourists to enjoy.
'This is about investing in places that create the future we want for generations to come.'
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