HistoricOmaha

Neighbors helping neighbors is a powerful path to improvement. A neighborhood alliance focuses that power through a partnership of neighborhood associations, community organizations, and business groups working together to promote the community’s economic and social vitality.

Today, Omaha by Design and Mayor Mike Fahey announced the formation of the Benson Neighborhood Alliance. This is the second major step in implementing the 73 Urban Design Element recommendations now a part of the City’s Master Plan.

The Benson Alliance will not only create a comprehensive neighborhood plan, it will also produce an Alliance Model Process that will be used to build 13 other neighborhood alliances throughout the city.

Dr. Del Weber, co-chair of the comprehensive urban design plan for Omaha by Design, and Steve Jensen, City planning director, will lead the planning process and Co-chair the Benson Alliance Advisory Committee.

UNO’s College of Public Affairs and Community Service will be a partner in the alliance; Gould Evans Associates, LC of Kansas City, Missouri is the consulting firm with assistance from Robert Peters Company, and Ehrhart Griffin & Associates, two Omaha firms.

The Benson Alliance Advisory Committee is made up of representatives of neighborhood associations, local businesses, social service agencies and other community organizations located within the Alliance boundaries. The Benson Neighborhood Alliance encompasses the area between Western Avenue on the south, Sorensen Parkway on the north, Saddle Creek Road/Fontenelle Boulevard on the east and 72nd Street on the west.

Financial support for the project comes from Alegent Community Benefit Trust, State of Nebraska Investment Finance Authority, the City of Omaha, Great Western Bank, Commercial Federal Bank, Omaha by Design and numerous individual businesses located within the Benson Alliance area.

Work on the Alliance Model Process begins immediately, and the Benson Alliance planning begins in November. Many community input sessions and design workshops are planned, so visit the Omaha by Design website often for progress reports and ways to participate.

What You Can Do to Help

Because we believe that the community is the expert we need your input and help. Here are a few things you can do to spread the word about Omaha’s great public spaces and ways to make them better.

* Visit and bookmark our website at omahabydesign.org
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