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A
New Arts Center in Omaha?
the
Dream is becoming a possibility
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OmahaRiverFront.com
by
Nancy Neurohr
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Published Friday
November 9, 2001
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Omaha
may be getting a new downtown performing arts center if plans
fall into place as some hope. Pinnacle
Foods Corp.,
the parent company of Swanson
Foods,
has announced they will be closing the existing plant at 12th
and Dodge Street by March 1, 2002.
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Omaha's
Orpheum Theatre |
This
leaves the nearly two-square-block area between the Gene Leahy
Mall and the new convention center-arena up for grabs. A private
group, the Omaha
Performing Arts Society,
would like to replace the existing factory with a large, modern
performance hall, a smaller recital hall and an outdoor
amphitheater.
The new hall
would be built with superior acoustics to accommodate quality
musical performances by local groups such as the Omaha
Symphony and
national touring musicians.
If approved by the City
Council, the city
would contribute $15 million towards the project and the
renovation of the Orpheum
Theater at 409 S.
16th St. All additional money would need to come from private
donations. Estimated cost for both projects is approximately
$100 million.
Up until the announced closing of the plant, city and community
leaders backed off from discussing redevelopment of the Swanson
property because it would mean the end to 573 jobs. Pinnacle has
said it will be consolidating operations into its other Omaha
plant at 10th and Capital Avenue, preserving a minimum of 300
jobs for at least three years.
Under a letter of intent signed by the company and city
officials, the Omaha
Chamber of Commerce's
nonprofit foundation would acquire the site on May 1st. If the
arts society decides to move forward with plans to build the new
performing arts center at that location, fund raising could
start immediately, according to John Gottschalk, president of
the arts society and chairman and president of the Omaha
World-Herald Co.
This type of facility would certainly enhance the downtown
business district and connect the Old
Market area with the
new convention center-arena. One more step into redeveloping
downtown Omaha.... will this help put us on the map as one of
the country's most popular tourist destinations? I guess we'll
just have to wait and see.
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