Midtown Crossing at Turner Park is a seven building, 16-acre mixed-use development in midtown Omaha, encompassing 297 condominiums, 196 apartment units, and fine and casual dining, entertainment and shopping.[2] A majority of Midtown Crossing's restaurant and retailer partners are Omaha-born businesses,[3] including Wohlner's Neighborhood Grocery & Deli and Garbo's Salon and Spa. Built around an expanded and renovated Turner Park, the neighborhood sits between Farnam and Dodge Streets and 31st and 33rd Streets. It is directly to the east of Mutual of Omaha's headquarters,[4] who planned and financed the development, and is located to the west of downtown Omaha. It was the first major project tied to Destination Midtown, a public/private partnership focused on returning historic midtown Omaha to prominence.[5]
| Midtown Crossing at Turner Park | |
|---|---|
 Condos in Midtown Crossing surround the west end of Turner Park. | |
  Location within Nebraska | |
| General information | |
| Status | Completed |
| Location | Omaha, Nebraska USA |
| Coordinates | 41°15′32″N 95°57′33″W / 41.25889°N 95.95917°W |
| Opening | May 19, 2010[1] |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Holland Basham Architects & Cope Linder Architects |
| Developer | ECI Investment Advisors |
| Structural engineer | Nielsen-Baumert Engineering |
| Main contractor | Weitz |
Free community events, held in 7-acre Turner Park, are a hallmark of the development and include festivals, concerts, and health and wellness gatherings.
Events edit
Midtown Crossing hosts a slate of free community events in Turner Park, including:
- Omaha Performing Arts' Jazz on the Green
- Turner Park Night Market
- Chalk Art Festival
- Bocce Ball Leagues
- Wednesday Workouts
- Yoga in the Park
Turner Park is also a popular venue for outdoor fitness events and leagues.[6]
Retailers & Restaurants edit
- Anderson O'Brien Fine Art
- Callahan Financial Planning
- Chase Bank
- Chef Around the Block Pop-Up Shop
- Cold Stone Creamery / Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
- Collins Law Office, PC, LLO
- Corky Boards
- The Corky Canvas
- Definitive Vision
- Element Omaha Midtown Crossing
- The Empire Room
- Fashion Cleaners
- Garbo's Salon and Spa
- Gel Nails
- Genesis Health Clubs
- Goin' Postal
- Long Dog Fat Cat
- Makovicka Physical Therapy
- Milan Laser Hair Removal
- Modern Love
- Pa Mas Taqueria & Grill
- Pickleman's
- PROOF
- Ray's Wings, Pizza and Drinks
- Sea Thai Restaurant
- Smokin' Oak Wood Fired Pizza
- Sofra Kitchen
- Spielbound Board Game Cafe
- Stories Coffee Company
- Thirst Tea Cafe
- uBreakiFix
- Verizon
- Waxing the City
- Wohlner's Neighborhood Grocery & Deli[7][8]
- Yummy 365
Turner Park edit
The origins of Turner Park date back to 1900. Charles Turner, a Nebraska pioneer and prominent real estate professional, donated the original land to the city to be used as a public park. (It was a gift of six acres. The park grew to 7.5 acres with the development of Midtown Crossing.) Turner wanted the park to be known as Curtiss Turner Park in memory of his son, 35-year-old Curtiss C. Turner. A prominent civil engineer, Curtiss Turner was killed in a snow slide in 1898 while working in Alaska's Klondike country at Chilkoot Pass.
Beginning in 1922 the American War Mothers labored to raise money for a World War I monument in Omaha.[9] By 1925 an impressive $250,000 structure of Bedford limestone designed by famed war memorial sculptor Lorado Taft was proposed for a prominent point in Elmwood Park.[10] However, after years of waning interest, a scaled-back monument was eventually sited and dedicated on November 1, 1937, at the southeast corner of Turner Park.[11]
Pavilion at Turner Park edit
Built in 2013, the Pavilion at Turner Park provides a permanent stage (44 ft by 24 ft) and infrastructure, eliminating the need to install and tear down temporary staging facilities for each new event in Turner Park.
Other features include:
- A signature “Saddlespan” fabric roof structure/canopy that can be illuminated with high-efficiency LED lighting effects
- Temporary expanded stage (54 ft × 48 ft) capability
- Concrete area for dancing
- Back of the house staging area for events
Holland Basham Architects, executive architect of the Midtown Crossing development, designed the pavilion, which is funded by private donations through the Omaha Community Foundation.
“We wanted to create an iconic structure that was memorable and enhanced the current environment. You don’t see anything like this around,” said Tim Holland, principal, Holland Basham Architects.
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "Midtown Crossing is now open", Omaha World Herald. Retrieved 9/12/10.
- ^ "Midtown Crossing | Omaha, NE". midtowncrossing.com. Retrieved 2015-09-11.
- ^ "Midtown Crossing didn't end up like 'Village Pointe east' — and that's all right". Retrieved 2015-09-11.
- ^ "Mutual of Omaha Life Insurance, Disability Insurance & More". www.mutualofomaha.com. Retrieved 2015-09-11.
- ^ WOWT. "Midtown Crossing A Top Project". Retrieved 2015-09-11.
- ^ "Omaha Events | Things to Do in Omaha | Midtown Crossing Events | Turner Park Omaha Events". www.midtowncrossing.com. Retrieved 2015-09-11.
- ^ "Restaurants Omaha | Dining Omaha | Places to Eat Omaha | Midtown Crossing Omaha Restaurants | Mexican Food | Seafood Restaurants | Deli | Happy Hour Specials |". www.midtowncrossing.com. Retrieved 2015-09-11.
- ^ "Retail in Omaha | Omaha Movie Theaters | Midtown Crossing - Retail Leasing | Entertainment & Dining Omaha". www.midtowncrossing.com. Retrieved 2015-09-11.
- ^ Report of the Executive Committee World War II Memorial Park Association, February 20, 1946, pp 3
- ^ “Taft Memorial Plan for Omaha is Huge Column” Omaha Bee, August 6, 1928
- ^ “War Memorial is Dedicated” Omaha World-Herald, November 1, 1937, p2