- Neighbors and businesses are working together to clean up 16th Street.
- Pet toilet areas are planned to reduce fecal matter in the area.
- The Omaha Downtown Improvement District told residents they would install new lights and pick up large trash items.
- A Neighborhood Watch was created to improve community safety and engagement.
TRANSCRIPT:
Residents and business owners on 16th Street are working together to improve safety, cleanliness and community spirit.
Sammie Rodriguez owns Sammie R Studios and has been instrumental in the mission to make this block safer. This summer, she set up a pet cleaning station and hung Christmas decorations in her storefronts on Monday.
She says the beautification is a small part of revitalizing 16 Street.
“The most important thing right now is we need to continue to be a community and business owners come together. There’s a lot of teamwork between the tenants and the business owners,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez said Omaha police are implementing more consistent routes on the street and residents in nearby residences have banded together to start a neighborhood watch.
“16th Street used to be the heart of Omaha. And we're not even part of the historic district and that needs to change. There is a lot of history and culture here that needs to thrive and isn't allowed to yet,” Rodriguez said.
Efforts to improve safety downtown are not limited to this block. In March, the downtown redevelopment district announced it had received money from the city to upgrade lighting and cameras.
The improvement district told neighbors that this alley between the Greenroom and The Regis will receive new LED lights in January.