Grow Omaha
Projects

Omaha’s leading network interconnect provider, 1623 Farnam, announced an expansion project last week. 1623 Farnam is both the name of the business and the location of its carrier hotel. During the pandemic, the 10-story building underwent a $40 million renovation. This facility offers 6MW of power, while the expansion will add another 5MW. The expansion appears to be located at 508 South 19^th Street, which the business apparently purchased in December 2025 under the name 508 S 19^th LLC. The existing building on that site is a 27,400 sq. ft., 2-story parking structure. While details are sparse, the project is planned to be completed in 2028. – Isaiah Ang

A long-awaited Starbucks Coffee building is finally making progress on the southeast corner of 96th & L Street just west of an existing Romeo’s restaurant. The free-standing building with a drive-thru replaces a former Well Fargo bank Building, which was demolished. Crews recently installed exterior signage on the building.

The City of Papillion plans to expand and upgrade its Papio Bay Aquatic Center, which is located at 815 East Halleck Street in Halleck Park. The city conducted a two-year study following a $1.1 grant from the state in order to develop the new plans. Once completed, the water park will include a six-lane pool, a new diving area, additional waterslides, lazy river and a kids’ play area with interactive spray features, along with an expanded bathhouse. The sand volleyball court is expected to be relocated, though its future location has not yet been determined. Construction is expected to begin this fall after the summer swim season ends. Completion is planned for 2027.

Construction has gone vertical on The Mueller, a $9.58 million, 4-story apartment building under construction at 2226 Howard Street. The building will occupy a quarter-acre site and house 34 residential units – 27 one-bedroom and 7 two-bedroom. The Mueller is part of a dense residential pocket that recently saw the completion of a larger, 5-story apartment building across the street.

Construction is progressing on the future Gretna Community Complex, with topping out expected to occur soon, according to Weitz, the project’s construction contractor. The 2-story, 60,000 sq. ft. building will be located near Jansen Drive and Highway 6/31 immediately west of Gretna Crossing Park.

The project combines the Gretna City Hall with the city’s main and children’s libraries, as well as a community center into one new building. Included are offices, conference rooms, formal meeting space for city bodies as well as for rent by the public, teaching kitchen and maker space. Indoor and outdoor gathering spaces and an outdoor pavilion provide additional programming and community areas.  Completion is planned for early next year. 

New Horizon Academy is building a 13,322 sq. ft. daycare center providing care for children ages 6 weeks to 59 months old at 16770 Willit Street. That’s northeast of 168^th & State Street in far northwest Omaha. The company is developing other Omaha locations near 192^nd & West Dodge Road in Avenue One and at 20618 R Street in the Coventry development. Based in Plymouth, Minn., New Horizon Academy has more than 100 schools in Minnesota, Idaho, Iowa, Colorado and Kansas.

McGregor Interests, Inc., has completed development of Omaha Contractor Bays’ 30,000 sq. ft. industrial building designed for small- to mid-sized industrial users northwest of 156th & Highway 36 in Bennington. Available suites are 1,250 to 5,000 sq. ft. and are tailored for contractors and tradespeople. Suites have retail storefronts, large overhead doors, high ceilings and customizable floor plans.

The Charles E. Lakin Pier is part of a wide range of improvements on the Council Bluffs Riverfront. Construction on the public observation pier is nearing completion on the western edge of Dodge Park, north of Harrah’s Council Bluffs Hotel & Casino and south of Interstate 480. Designed by Omaha-based HDR, the pier is accessible from the Council Bluffs levee hiking/biking trail. It goes over a service road and right up to the edge of the river. Once at the end of the pier, visitors will have picturesque views of downtown Omaha and the river valley.

Further north along the riverfront – just north of the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge – construction will be complete later this year on the 138-feet-tall MidAmerican Energy Tower and the accompanying Treetop Walk.

Photo by Brad Williams