Grocery in North Omaha food desert progresses, community meeting set to discuss next steps

OMAHA — A proposed 25,000-square-foot grocery store in the heart of North Omaha — described as a social enterprise to be run by a nonprofit — has now received the green light from the Omaha City Council and is the subject of a community meeting Wednesday.

The 6 p.m. gathering at the Venue at Highlander, 2120 N. 30th St., will review community input received so far and discuss next steps as the project moves toward a planned groundbreaking this fall, said representatives of the Heart Ministry Center, which has been leading the effort.

Damany “Dom” Rahn, chief executive of Heart Ministry, earlier offered no specific funding sources for the full-service store on a vacant few acres southwest of 25th and Lake Streets, saying it involves private and public investment. He said the cost likely would be more than $7 million.

Zoning and other agreements needed for the venture to progress were unanimously approved last week by the Omaha City Council. The documents identify RH Land Management Co. as owner of the land and the corporation proposing to build the project and make site improvements. RH Land Management is affiliated with Susie Buffett’s nonprofit Sherwood Foundation.

Heart Ministry says the grocery store is designed to meet community needs, create jobs for its Fresh Start program graduates and neighborhood residents, and spur the local economy.

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The market joins other center “social enterprises” that include a laundromat, floral shop and an apparel silk-screen shop that help provide jobs to area residents, including those rebounding from addiction or incarceration. Similar to those businesses, the grocery store proceeds will go back to supporting the mission of the Heart Ministry Center.

Several people spoke in favor of the project during last week’s City Council meeting.

Ethel Mitchell Rock, who owns the historic “Broomfield Rowhouse” property near the grocery store site, voiced concerns virtually and also in a letter to council members. She said she was concerned about increased traffic, noise and other potential changes including public safety and “increased property value.”

City Council member LaVonya Goodwin, whose district includes the store site, said various stakeholders such as churches, the city and other organizations are “actively” addressing such issues and that she does not believe the project will lead to more crime. 

“You’ll be pleased as a former resident of North Omaha to know that there is concerted coordination for the revitalization and redevelopment of the North 24th street area,” Goodwin told Mitchell Rock, adding that the grocery store development team is “well dialed into” the coordinated effort.

Goodwin discussed the value she sees the store bringing to the area of historical disinvestment.

“Grocery stores are essential amenities to thriving communities. When we’re trying to bring populations back, you’ve got to have basic amenities to draw them back,” she said

Councilman Pete Festersen, in voicing his support, said the store adds momentum to streetscape improvements, the North Omaha Trail and other economic revival projects planned in the historic area of the 24th Street business district.

“Some may be asking, ‘How is this possible? Why can’t this be done in many other places in the city?’” said Festersen.

He said part of the answer is “strong philanthropic support” backing the project. 

“But I really appreciate that,” said Festersen. “I think it is needed here badly as a documented food desert.”