Implementing a Sustainable Future in Nebraska - 09.25.13

design matters.

who we are Urban design and environmental nonprofit

dedicated to improving the way Omaha looks, functions and feels

Facilitate partnerships among the public, private and philanthropic sectors to execute projects that will improve the quality of the city’s built and natural environments

Projects stem from recommendations outlined in the urban design and environmental components of the city’s master plan

who we are Independent 501c3 organization governed by a

board of directors, receives community input from an advisory committee composed of members from the public, private and philanthropic sectors

Operating budget supported by corporate and family philanthropists, fund-raising is conducted for individual projects

Staff of three and extensive professional volunteer base

omaha by design at uno Housed in CPACS at UNO

since 2008 Have applied for office

space in new Community Engagement Center

Reciprocal relationship enhances ability to

execute ObD mission provides students/faculty

across disciplines with opportunities to participate in real-time urban design and environmental projects

our approach We convene and manage diverse groups of

people, all of whom have a stake in the issue at hand.

We execute three types of projects:1. Demonstration2. Capacity building3. Planning

education We believe that people

learn by seeing and doing.

1. Build enthusiasm around projects

2. Involve volunteers in the execution of projects

3. Educate the public about important urban design and environmental issues facing the city

community gardens

economic development

We believe the way a community looks, functions and feels directly affects its ability to recruit new business and industry, retain its best and brightest, and thrive on social and cultural levels.

our beginnings Initial focus on improving Omaha’s public spaces

Organizational role model is the Project for Public Spaces

First public/private/philanthropic partnership is with the City of Omaha and William and Ruth Scott Family Foundation to offer Place Game workshops free of charge to neighborhood and civic groups

the “aha” moment

omahabydesign.org

what is possible?

omahabydesign.org

a revitalized riverfront, a revitalized city

omahabydesign.org

creation of urban design element Partnership between

City of Omaha and Omaha by Design

Nationally recognized consultants Jonathan Barnett and Brian Blaesser

$750,000 cost funded by private sector

Assisted by local Volunteer Working Group

urban design element 21 goals and 73

recommendations Organized into Green,

Civic and Neighborhood Omaha components

Extensive community engagement

Year-long development process, unanimously approved by the Omaha City Council in 2004

Neighborhood Omaha

zoning code revisions Highest priority of UDE

donors Another partnership

between City of Omaha and Omaha by Design

UDE consultants Blaesser and Barnett hired to lead process

$215,000 cost funded by the private sector

build-to/set-back guidelines

zoning code revisions 25-member Technical

Advisory Group

Extensive developer involvement throughout the process

Two-year effort, unanimously approved by the Omaha City Council in 2007 ground-level transparency

monitoring the ude, zoning regulationsUrban Design Element Report Card Part of web site, monitors implementation progress, updated

annually

Urban Design Review Board Created in 2007 as the result of an UDE recommendation, all

members selected from the Technical Advisory Group Provides recommendations to the city planning director on

issues related to urban design site plan reviews

Technical Advisory Group Reconvenes as necessary to address urban design-related

zoning issues

implementation

green omaha at work

omahabydesign.org

The Cole Creek Project

civic omaha at work

omahabydesign.org

The Vinton Street Project

neighborhood omaha at work

omahabydesign.org

Curb Appeal on Ames Avenue:The Block 46 Project

design matters.

RFQ and supporting materials are available at greeninthecityomaha.com. Application deadline is Oct. 15, 2013.

omahabydesign.org

creation of environmental element Another partnership

between the City of Omaha and Omaha by Design

Local expertise leads the effort

$75,000 cost funded by Papio-Missouri River NRD, MAPA, City of Omaha Stormwater Management Program Grant

environmental element More than 600

recommendations in 5 goal areas Natural Environment Urban Form &

Transportation Building Construction Resource Conservation Community Health

non-residential renovation

environmental element Mix of traditional

community engagement practices with new tools (social media, MindMixer)

Two-year development process

More than 4,000 local volunteer hours logged

Unanimously approved by the Omaha City Council in 2010

transit

economic impact of ee Branding Job creation Contributes to low

utility rates Increased disposable

income Protects economic

benefits of natural systems

Reduced per capita costs

implementation

eo at work – urban landscapes

omahabydesign.org

Bioretention garden at Orchard Park/The Cole Creek Project

eo at work – land development

Midtown Crossing

omahabydesign.org

eo at work – non-residential/new construction

omahabydesign.org

Aksarben Village

eoit, task forces Omaha by Design

convenes an Environment Omaha Implementation Team (EOIT)

EOIT creates six volunteer task forces

The 6:

Natural Environment

Urban Form/Land Use

Urban Form/Transportation

Building Construction

Resource Conservation

Community Health

natural environment priority Create a natural

resources inventory

urban form/land use priority Insure compact,

contiguous urban area Support

redevelopment legislation

redevelopment finance committee

Formed in 2012 Support for related

legislation Redevelopment

finance fact sheet Speaker’s Bureau White paper (under

development by UNO Ph.D. candidate)

Urban form/transportation priority Increase multimodal

transportation options

building construction priority Update city codes to

accommodate renewable energy systems

Focus on both new and redevelopment projects

resource conservation priority Increase waste

diversion Decrease per capita

waste generation

community health priority Increase number of

city staff and design professionals certified in Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)

Recent CPTED workshop for a neighborhood group.

eoit next steps November 2013

meeting

Review accomplishments

Reprioritize strategies

Determine next steps

questions

Thank you.

omahabydesign.org

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