The Omaha City Council this week heard additional public comments regarding the future Union Omaha stadium project on unused railroad land near Millwork Commons in North Downtown.
Proponents of the measure showed additional renderings and highlighted a pedestrian-focused promenade that would extend from 11th & Izard Street to the stadium, cutting straight through the future mixed-use development.
Additionally, we learned that existing Union Pacific track along the east side of the project site will be preserved, including the current event space where the railroad displays locomotives during the College World Series. That display track will be pushed east once the city moves forward with the planned truck route project that would extend 10th Street through the Cuming Street intersection, connecting it to 11th Street.
The soccer stadium is being built to accommodate the current Union Omaha team and a future professional women’s soccer team. The stadium will have capacity for up to 8,500 fans and will anchor a mixed-use district that will have residential, office and retail development. The stadium and related infrastructure will cost $140 million, while the total district is anticipated to cost $400 million to develop.
At the same meeting, the council heard brief comments regarding the sale of the old Union Pacific headquarters site at 1416 Dodge Street back to Union Pacific.
Under the purchase agreement, the city would sell the property to the railroad for $7.3 million. While details regarding what Union Pacific intends to do with the land are not confirmed, both the city and council member Pete Festersen alluded to Union Pacific planning to use it in connection to its planned merger with Norfolk Southern. Union Pacific previously announced that the combined headquarters would be in Omaha.
Norfolk Southern currently employs 3,500 office and administrative staff at its headquarters building in Atlanta. Norfolk Southern leases its building from Invest Atlanta, an economic development agency. The lease began when Norfolk Southern began occupation in 2021. Norfolk Southern has an option to terminate or renew the lease after five years.
While plans regarding what will happen to Norfolk Southern headquarters employees are currently unknown, based on comments by the city, there appears to be potential for some of the Atlanta jobs to move to Omaha.
