Mutual of Omaha, an insurance and financials Fortune 500 company, announced the development of a new downtown headquarters. The skyscraper could surpass the Omaha’s current tallest, the First National Bank tower. Omaha’s other Fortune 500 companies are Berkshire Hathaway, Union Pacific, and Peter Kiewit Sons’.
Also announced today, Mayor Stothert is advancing the streetcar plan. The new skyscraper will be along the route.
Currently home to Omaha Public Library’s main branch, the tower will be built on the block 14th/15th-Farnam/Douglas Streets, to much consternation of Omaha residents. Omaha’s Mayor Jean Stothert has been under fire for her handling of the library move. Though there are good reasons to move and not move it, she has been misleading her constituents about the process. This post will not look into that issue, perhaps another time.
Here is the location of the new tower. You can see in the Google Earth screenshot the renovation of Gene Leahy Mall. When the mall and the Mutual of Omaha tower are complete, it will certainly be a splendid postcard shot of downtown Omaha.
Just 1.5 miles to the west is the current Mutual of Omaha headquarters. The 1930s art-deco building has been a landmark of the midtown district and anchors Mutual of Omaha’s own development, Midtown Crossing. There have been no announcements for what is to become of the many lots, parking garages, and the buildings that MofO leaves behind, though it’s easy to speculate that mixed-use apartment buildings will fill the gaps.
