Park Omaha Opens New Garage in Blackstone

(October 22, 2024)

Crowds visiting Omaha's successful Blackstone District, the owners and employees of the district's small businesses, and the residents moving in, now have a long-needed parking garage.

A city-owned, 385-stall garage, operated by Park Omaha, opened this week inside the new Thirty Seven West Farnam development. GreenSlate Development is building the nine-story building which also includes 161 market-rate apartments and ground-level retail.

"Thank you to all the small businesses in Blackstone, a truly unique and special place," said GreenSlate Principal Jay Lund. "This garage will help them grow."

"We know Blackstone's success and growth will continue to accelerate when the streetcar is running. It will bring new residents and businesses to the area through high-value development," said Mayor Jean Stothert. "This garage, and the growing network of city-operated garages along the streetcar corridor, make it easy to move from home to shopping and dining, to concerts, Broadway shows, sports venues and The RiverFront, and then home again, at a low cost."

Lund credits Blackstone's success with the conversion of Farnam Street from one-way to two-way through Blackstone and Midtown Crossing to Turner Park ten years ago. "The result is $350 million in development," he said. "None of the projects here in Blackstone, not a single one, would have been possible without TIF."

The Park Omaha garage, between 37th and 38th streets and Harney and Farnam, is open daily. The rate is $2.50 an hour with a maximum daily rate of $25. Monthly parking options will become publicly available in 2025, said Hannah Adeponu, Omaha Parking & Mobility manager.

"To say this is important to our businesses is an understatement. The vision and investment is incredible," said Blackstone Business Improvement District member and business owner Phil Schaffart.

Lund also announced two of the retail tenants at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday; the Made in Omaha Boutique and Revival House, a tiki bar.