(Omaha, NE) - The City of Omaha, the Omaha Housing Authority (OHA) and a coalition of partners will receive a $50 million federal grant to redevelop the Southside Terrace Garden Apartments and the surrounding Indian Hill neighborhood in South Omaha.

Omaha is one of four cities awarded the 2021 Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Other principal partners are Canopy South and Brinshore Development, LLC.

The Choice Neighborhoods program helps communities redevelop neighborhoods with new mixed­ income housing, programs, and services for residents. The Southside Terrace Garden Apartments, located south of 30th and Q, opened in 1940 and is the last large multi-family public housing development operated by the Omaha Housing Authority.

“This is an opportunity to create lasting change in this neighborhood, and we thank HUD for supporting our team and our plan to create hope and opportunity and a new, better, quality of life,” said Mayor Jean Stothert. “This is a commitment to affordable housing, education, and accessible health services. It’s an example of how we change and adapt to the needs of a community, and its residents”

The grant announcement follows the award of a Choice Neighborhoods Planning and Action Grant in 2019 to create the Southside Terrace- Indian Hill Transformation Plan, which HUD accepted in March. Over the last three years, residents of Southside Terrace and the Indian Hill neighborhood participated in development of the Plan to identify needs and priorities.

The Transformation Plan calls for the demolition of the Southside Terrace apartments, to be replaced with new housing and creating opportunities that provide better jobs, higher incomes, improved health and educational outcomes for residents. The redevelopment area boundaries are 27th to 36th Street, L Street south to Upland Park.

“This award will ensure the Southside Terrace-Indian Hill Neighborhood is a community of choice, offering mixed-income and mixed-use housing throughout the community, increasing amenities, and spurring economic development, said OHA Chief Executive Officer Joanie Poore. “Today, we celebrate the opportunities created by this transformational award from Housing and Urban Development. OHA is firstly focused on our tenants and ensuring they are supported before, through, and after relocation, protecting their right to return to the neighborhood if they choose and ensuring quality support services and individualized case management is delivered in partnership with all households.”

The 358 apartments currently on the Southside Terrace site will be replaced and a total of 746 new affordable and market-rate units will be built.

“The transformation of Southside Terrace has been a long-term strategic goal of the Omaha Housing Authority. We appreciate the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development awarding this grant to the City of Omaha and OHA as co-applicants,” said OHD Board Chair David Levy. ‘’The award leverages strong local investment to allow the City, OHA, Brinshore Development, Canopy South and countless partners to realize the transformation of this community, creating a lasting impact for generations to come.”

“I feel fortunate to be involved in this project, and I’m proud of my staff in the Planning Department who worked hard to bring this project to fruition,” said Omaha Planning Director Dave Fanslau. “This is a tremendous opportunity for the City of Omaha and our partners to help improve the quality of life for the residents of South Omaha.”

In addition to the Choice Neighborhood Implementation Grant, an additional $199.2 million has been raised to support the Transformation Plan.

“Strong neighborhoods make cities stronger,” said Mayor Jean Stothert. “Omaha has the will, the experience, the commitment, and the resources to invest the Choice grant funds wisely and create a new, strong neighborhood in South Omaha.”

Partners:

• Brinshore Development, LLC
• Lozier Foundation
• The Simple Foundation
• Wellbeing Partners
• One World Community Health Centers
• Midwest Maintenance
• Purpose Built Communities
• Bike Walk Nebraska
• Black Men United
• Heartland Workforce Solutions
• Somali Bantu Community Association
• United Healthcare
• Charles Drew Health Center
• The Learning Community
• PACE
• Canopy South
• Sherwood Foundation
• Horizon Bank
• The Simple Foundation
• Metro Community College
• Midlands Latino CDC
• Catholic Charities
• Heartland Bike Share
• University of Nebraska Medical Center
• Girls Inc.
• Southside Terrace Residents Association
• The Empowerment Network
• Keep Omaha Beautiful
• lntercultural Senior Center
• Salvation Army Kroc Center

This is the second time in four years Omaha has received the competitive Choice Neighborhood Implementation Grant. In 2019, the City of Omaha and Omaha Housing Authority, and the Seventy-Five North Revitalization Corporation received a $25 million, 5-year grant to redevelop the North 30tt-Street corridor from Cuming Street to Pinkney.

What Others Are Saying:

• “The strength of the public/private support and input from residents is what impressed me the most, leading me to endorse the application and I’m so pleased the City of Omaha and Omaha Housing Authority were one of four recipients. I look forward to watching the progress of this project as it will improve the health, education, economic development and health disparities that residents in that neighborhood face every day.” - Congressman Don Bacon
• “Canopy South is excited to continue working alongside the City of Omaha, the Omaha Housing Authority, and the numerous community partners that have supported and strengthened this initiative. This grant brings the community closer to the opportunity to revitalize the Southside Terrace-Indian Hill neighborhood, build on its existing assets, and improve the quality of life for all its residents who are the real the focus of our efforts.” - Cesar Garcia, Executive Director, Canopy South
• “Brinshore is honored to partner with Canopy South, the City of Omaha and the Omaha Housing Authority in the transformation of Southside Terrace into a vibrant mixed-income, mixed-use community.” - Richard Sciortino, founding Principal of Brinshore Development, LLC.
• “As the anchor Institution within the CNI, we are excited to be a part of this lifelong impact and transformation for our families and community.” -Osuman lssaka, Simple Foundation President and CEO.

Additional information about the Choice Neighborhoods program and the Omaha awards is available at this link: https://pla nninghcd.cityofomaha.org/choice-neighborhoods.