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Council Bluffs Development Wins Iowa Finance Authority Housing Innovation Competition
The Spin Lofts development in Council Bluffs has been named the winner of the Iowa Finance Authority’s (IFA) Innovation in Housing Pitch Competition. The recognition paves the way for the project to receive up to $10 million in federal housing tax credits over the next decade. Led by Arch Icon Development Corporation in partnership with Lutheran Family Services, Spin Lofts will transform a long-vacant, city-owned lot into more than 40 mixed-income rental homes, including units for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. “This award demonstrates what can happen when public, private, nonprofit, and philanthropic partners come together around a shared vision,” said Courtney Harter, housing programs manager for the City of Council Bluffs. “Spin Lofts has been years in the making, and this recognition validates the hard work and perseverance of everyone involved. Most importantly, it moves us closer to providing quality, affordable housing for the people who need it most.” The...
Westroads Mall Prepares for Dillard’s & Another Mystery Retailer
Brookfield Properties, the owner of Omaha’s Westroads Mall, has officially sold the former Younker’s building to Dillard’s. The sale closed September 5th. Dillard’s plans to completely gut the long-vacant anchor space on the mall’s west end and build a 32,000 sq. ft. addition. After the expansion and renovation, the 2-story department store will total 207,800 sq. ft. A new entry will be included as part of the addition. Because the construction project will be so extensive, the Westroads Dillard’s won’t open until 2027. Dillard’s plans to relocate its Oak View Mall department store into the Westroads space. Dillard’s has a history of using closed stores as clearance centers, but no public announcement has yet been made. As part of the project, the former Granite City Food & Brewery building will likely be demolished to make way for additional parking. “Dillard’s coming in is a game-changer for our mall,” said Ryan Conlon, general manager at Westroads. “They’re a very successful...
Child Saving Institute and Children’s Square U.S.A. Announce Merger
Child Saving Institute and Children’s Square U.S.A. have announced a merger that unites two non-profit institutions with a shared history of more 275 years. The merger is expected to expand support for children and families across the Omaha metro area. Child Saving Institute is wrapping up a major expansion of its facility at Saddle Creek Road & Dodge Street. The combined organization will operate under the name Child Saving Institute. Services will remain uninterrupted, and the people and programs that families rely on will continue to walk alongside them—now with even more support behind them, according to a press release. “We are thrilled to be partnering with Children's Square, an organization that shares our commitment to providing the tools to improve the lives of children and families,” said Jaymes Sime, president and CEO of Child Saving Institute. “Together, we will honor our rich legacies and create new opportunities to make a meaningful difference in our communities.”...
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City Bond Rating Remains Strong
Two national firms issued high bond ratings for the city of Omaha this week. S&P Global Ratings assigned its AA+ long-term rating after reviewing millions of dollars in city bonds. Moody’s Ratings gave Omaha an Aa2 score. Both called Omaha’s economic outlook “stable,” according to a press release from the City of Omaha Mayor’s Office. Mayor John Ewing said the city is entering an exciting new area of growth, evident in its changing skyline and numerous economic development projects. “Omaha’s financial house is in order,” Ewing said. “This is a city that has planned carefully, budgeted appropriately and pays its bills. I am confident that Omaha’s economic outlook is strong.” The organizations made their ratings based on the city’s $37.6 million general obligation bonds, Series 2025A, $57.4 million lease revenue bonds, Series 2025C, and $7.5 million lease revenue bonds, Series 2025D. In making its determination, S&P cited the following reasons: Omaha’s position as a premier...
CLAAS of America Breaks Ground on R&D Center in Sarpy County
CLAAS Group broke ground this past Friday on a research and development center on the southwest corner of its existing Sarpy County property near 132nd & Giles Road. The 44,800 sq. ft., advanced R&D Center is needed to ensure CLAAS’ prototypes meet the demands of North American farmers and the fields they farm. The space will be more than 25 percent larger than the temporary off-site shop currently used for research and development. Completion is planned for fall 2026. Based in Harsewinkel, Germany, CLAAS manufactures LEXION combines for North American farmers at its Omaha plant. Omaha also serves as the company’s North American headquarters. Since the plant opened in 2001, it has manufactured 10,000 combines. In addition to the future R&D center, the family-owned, global ag equipment company’s Omaha campus includes a 162,000 sq. ft. manufacturing plant and the recently added CLAAS Training Academy. More than 250 CLAAS employees work on the campus. “CLAAS is fully...
Omaha Ranks as #20 Most Social City in America
New research by Compare The Market has revealed the best cities in the world for socializing. Omaha ranks 20th in the United States. The study analyzed factors such as inclusiveness ratings, the number of meet-up groups and social hubs, and the popularity of friendship apps. “Social hubs” include pubs and coffee shops. Omaha has 16 meetup events per 100,000 people, which makes the city great for meeting new friends. In Omaha, there are 15 bars and coffee shops per 100,000 people. Omahans make 212.41 online searches for friendship apps, for every 100,000 people. Minneapolis tops the list as the most social city in the United States, excelling in meet-up group availability and ranking second for friendship app searches. It is also one of the most social cities globally. After Minneapolis, the rest of the top five included #2 Atlanta, #3 Portland, #4 Las Vegas and #5 Seattle. Other top-20 cities in our region included #10 Denver, #13 Colorado Springs and #18 Milwaukee. "Moving to a new...
City of Omaha to Repair Worrisome Sinkhole Along 16th Street
The City of Omaha announced that it will move forward on the repair of a downtown sinkhole after recent rainstorms created conditions necessitating a faster fix to a problem that emerged last winter. Back in January, a garbage truck entered the alley between Farnam and Harney streets along the west side of 16th Street. The truck fell through the pavement and into a void between two residential buildings, the Regis and Farnam 1600. The collapse damaged an Omaha Public Power District duct line and a city sewer. A duct line is a subsurface pathway that protects underground cables. The alley has been inaccessible from 16th Street since the accident. The fix is complicated, involving multiple parties and multiple steps. Summer rainfall changed the sequencing of the repairs and created more urgency. OPPD will begin repairing its duct line on September 8. The project will last through late November. The repair work will mean disruptions along a stretch of 17th Street and the full alley...
Arizona Developer Plans to Build Upscale Condos in West Omaha
An upscale condominium development is coming to Heartwood Preserve, the 500-acre, mixed development west of Boys Town. Raymond Partners of Scottsdale, Ariz., plans to break ground in late 2025 or early 2026 on The Residences at Heartwood Preserve, a three-building condominium project surrounding an outdoor courtyard and swimming pool. Each building will be six stories high. The project will be built in three phases with Building 1 slated to open in the fall of 2028. The site is on the southwest corner of Applied Parkway & Canopy Avenue just south of Valmont Industries’ global headquarters. Immediately to the east of the The Residences, is The Row, a walkable, mixed-use area, which will serve as Heartwood Preserve’s “downtown” area. So far, one building – a 4-story office building for Olsson – is currently under development in The Row. Condo units in The Residences at Heartwood Preserve range from 1,730 sq. ft. to 3,073 sq. ft. Current offering prices start at $995,900 and go up...
Project Health Takes Another Step Forward
The NU Board of Regents approved resolutions related to financing Project Health, the future hospital at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Two resolutions establish available financing up to $500 million through long-terms bonds and a short-term commercial paper program. A separate resolution allows for submission of the application to the State of Nebraska for appropriated funds under the Nebraska Transformational Projects Act – Project Health. Under the Act, the State can match other private and public investments into Project Health up to $300 million and no more than $50 million per year. Project Health is the first phase of Project NExT and is projected to cost up to $2.2 billion. Located on the former Munroe-Meyer Institute site, it will consist of a modern healthcare facility that will provide new and improved clinical and educational space for the medical center. The finished building will likely be 2 million sq. ft. or more, making it one of the largest buildings in...
Student-Constructed House Delivered to Miller Park Neighborhood
The sixth affordable home built by Metropolitan Community College students was moved from the Construction Education Center on the Fort Omaha Campus to the Miller Park neighborhood yesterday – August 14. In partnership with Holy Name Housing Corporation, the 1,259 sq. ft., single-family house was delivered in four modules to 2452 Camden Avenue. The house was designed and built by MCC students studying architectural design technology, construction and building science, electrical and plumbing over the past academic year. In total, 170 students were involved in completion of the Craftsman-style bungalow home with an open layout concept. It is the second affordable home in consecutive years that MCC students and faculty have partnered with Holy Name Housing Corporation to bring to Miller Park. The home required a unique architectural design to fit the narrow lot. Construction and building science students completed all framing, interior trim installation, and custom-built and installed...
Lanoha Shares Details about Mutual Tower & Plans for Current HQ
The Mutual of Omaha headquarters’ shear tower will top out next month, according to the head of Lanoha, an Omaha-based real estate company developing the city’s newest skyscraper. The shear tower is the central core that acts as the building’s spine. It’s now more than 600 feet tall. Jason Lanoha, president & CEO of Lanoha, was a guest on last Saturday’s Grow Omaha show on News-Radio 1110 KFAB. His company is developing the 44-story office building that will eventually be Mutual of Omaha’s home office. When the building is complete, it will be 677 feet, making it the tallest building in a multi-state region. The $600 million project is rising on the northwest corner of 14th & Farnam Street downtown. Lanoha said everything is on track, and the project should meet its scheduled completion date at the end of 2026. Crews are currently working on the shear tower’s 42nd floor. Though only a couple more floors remain, the building will still add quite a bit of height. The 44th floor...
Open Omaha Provides Behind-the-Scenes Tours of Local Places This Saturday
Open Omaha, a free metro-wide open house celebrating the city’s most fascinating centers of design, history and culture, returns for its fourth year this Saturday – August 9. Hosted by nonprofit Omaha by Design, the event invites the public to step inside the spaces that make our city so dynamic— many of which are not typically open and free to the public. Spanning the metro, this curated showcase is open to all. Launched in 2022, the event has opened doors to more than 140 of the metro’s most unique spaces. Open Omaha 2025 will feature 44 venues across seven neighborhoods, encouraging attendees to discover the variety of venues that are just a walk, ride or roll away from one another. Newly participating venues include Joslyn Art Museum, UNO’s Mallory Kountze Planetarium, Steelhouse Omaha, RailsWest History Museum and Omaha Central High School. Returning venues include Conagra Brands, Joslyn Castle and Gardens, Hardy Coffee Co. Roasting Lab, Squirrel Cage Jail and No More Empty Pots...
City Announces $40 Million Plan to Kickstart Urban Core Affordable Housing
Omaha Mayor John Ewing and representatives from Front Porch Investments last week announced a proposed plan for the City of Omaha to enable the use of $40 million in bonds to build and preserve affordable housing in the city’s urban core as soon as 2026, a decade sooner than Tax Increment Financing revenue would be available to support it. An anonymous funder is prepared to purchase $40 million in bonds, which the city would grant to Front Porch Investments to distribute to stimulate affordable housing development and preservation in the urban core. Front Porch Investments, a non-profit that helps connect affordable and workforce housing developers and available public and private funding, will leverage these bond funds as part of the Urban Core Housing and Mobility Redevelopment Plan. “My parents didn't have the ability to purchase their first home until I was 15, so I understand the challenges families face when they’re not able to find stable, affordable housing,” Ewing said. “By...
Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern to Create America’s First Transcontinental Railroad
Union Pacific Corporation and Norfolk Southern Corporation announced an agreement to create America’s first transcontinental railroad. The two railroads will connect more than 50,000 route miles across 43 states from the East Coast to the West Coast, linking approximately 100 ports. “This combination will transform the U.S. supply chain, unleash the industrial strength of American manufacturing, and create new sources of economic growth and workforce opportunity that preserves union jobs,” Union Pacific said in a press release. Under the terms of the agreement, Union Pacific will acquire Norfolk Southern in a stock and cash transaction, implying a value for Norfolk Southern of $320 per share based on Union Pacific’s unaffected closing stock price on July 16, 2025, and representing a 25 percent premium to Norfolk Southern’s 30-trading day volume weighted average price on July 16, 2025. The value per share implies an enterprise value of $85 billion for Norfolk Southern, resulting in...
LinkedIn Ranks Omaha Among Nation’s Fastest Growing Cities for Jobs & Talent
LinkedIn has released its inaugural report, “Cities on the Rise 2025: The 25 Fastest-Growing U.S. Metros for Jobs and New Talent.” Omaha made the list, coming in at #10. LinkedIn analyzed its labor market data to identify 25 emerging metro areas where hiring is accelerating, job postings are surging and talent migration is reshaping local economies. The top three cities were Grand Rapids, Mich.; Boise, Idaho; and Harrisburg, Pa. In addition to #10 Omaha, other metro areas in our region to make the list were #11 Kansas City; #15 Colorado Springs. Here’s the top 10: 1. Grand Rapids, Mich.2. Boise, Idaho3. Harrisburg, Pa.4. Albany, N.Y.5. Milwaukee6. Portland, Maine7. Myrtle Beach, S.C.8. Hartford, Conn.9. Nashville, Tenn.10. Omaha11. Kansas City12. Wilmington, N.C.13. Richmond, Va.14. Indianapolis15. Colorado Springs16. Sacramento, Calif.17. Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, S.C.18. Austin, Texas19. Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, N.C.20. Portland, Ore.21. Fayetteville, Ark.22. Reno,...
