By Andrew Smith, OMAHA, Neb. – Parking spaces in the Blackstone District can sometimes be difficult to find but city officials hope that’s no longer the case after Mayor Jean Stothert cut the ribbon to open a new 384 stall parking garage.
The garage is part of the 37 West Farnam development, which includes 161 market-rate apartments and 20,000 square feet of retail space. Jay Lund, principal of Green Slate Development, said construction on the rest of the property should wrap up around February or March. The Park Omaha garage is already open.
“That is about a 360,000 square foot building on one acre of land — incredible density,” Lund said.
Phil Schaffert, who’s owned eight businesses in the Blackstone District, said that parking will benefit the public but also local businesses who’ve struggled to provide staff a proper place to park.
Lund announced that Revival House, a tiki bar concept, and Made in Omaha, a local shop that supports over 90 local artisans, will be opening in the ground floor retail space at 37 West Farnam.
Mayor Jean Stothert cut the ribbon to the garage on October 21, thanking Green Slate, Park Omaha and the Blackstone Business Improvement District for their work – touting the property’s proximity to the forthcoming streetcar.
“This garage is a [part of a] growing network of city owned garages along the streetcar corridor,” Stothert said. “You can conveniently move from home to shopping to dining to concerts, broadway shows, sports venues and the riverfront, and then come home again at a very low cost.”
Each hour parked in the garage costs $2.50, and the maximum daily rate is $25.
City Councilmember Danny Begley is excited for the area, saying that there’s now plenty of parking to help people come out and enjoy Blackstone.
“It’s a great day for the city up here at the heart of my district in Blackstone,” Begley said.
