OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) – Groups gathered outside the mall on 42nd and Center streets to protest a proposed project that would replace Center Mall with hundreds of apartments.
The Center Community Coalition organized the demonstration. The group is concerned the project will push out services and nonprofits housed in the mall while pricing people out of the neighborhood. The group’s mission is expanding to the whole city.
Neighbors raise concerns
Joy Enright has been a homeowner in the neighborhood for almost five years and lived in the area as a renter for 21 years.
“I’m very familiar with the area with Center Mall,” Enright said.
She is one of the neighbors fighting the Center Mall redevelopment.
“I’m really concerned about what that’s going to do to the cost of living in this neighborhood, to the cost for other renters that are already here,” Enright said.
County commissioner calls for TIF reform
Douglas County Commissioner Roger Garcia is also protesting how tax increment financing funds are used in the city.
“I don’t think TIF is going towards truly blighted, delinquent areas, but rather to these prime real estate areas. So, really, we have to rethink TIF, reform it,” Garcia said.
Garcia said the Omaha City Council is approving TIF funding too often and too easily.
“When TIF is approved, then instead of the tax base going to schools, the county, the city, and other entities that support public services, it just goes towards paying the TIF loan. So it also diverts funds from public services as well,” Garcia said.
Garcia’s proposal calls for getting more feedback from neighbors earlier in the process and changing state law so the city can’t independently make funding decisions he says impact the county and schools.
“Since it affects 100% of the tax bill for that TIF project, at least the big three should approve TIF projects, being the schools, the city, and the county, not just the city,” Garcia said.
City councilmember responds
City Councilmember Ron Hug said the city council is not the only entity involved in approving TIF projects.
“We take the recommendation from the Planning Department, from the Zoning Board of Appeals, from the Mayor’s Office,” Hug said.
Hug said he grew up going to Center Mall and wants to see it thrive.
“I want my tax dollars going where they should be, where it’s needed for schools and for infrastructure,” Hug said.
Hug said the area being considered for the community redevelopment area is not large enough to be cause for major concern. Neighbors said they are worried about the area around that zone and whether the designation would make it easier for developers to make more changes in the future.
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