Avenue One is a new development in West Omaha that promises to cover 50 square blocks of old farmland with a variety of housing and commercial space. Signs advertising this new development adorn trailers along Dodge near 192nd Street atop its eventual home. A girl the size of a billboard seems to be broadcasting the possibilities. Bring your new family to a new home.
The signs got me thinking. Who will inhabit these new converted farmlands on the edge of town? Who are the intended residents? Who won’t be living here? And further: What does the loss of farmland—which was prairie before that—mean? What does it mean that existing homes in the older core of Omaha are decaying while we build new ones further out?
With the addition of this photo, I’m also retiring the old working title for my Omaha work Omaha Gothic. It never really fit. For now, I’m renaming this series Facades.
Wow what a great photo statement! I love the new name Facades.
Wow what a great photo statement! I love the new name Facades.
Powerful photo of what SoCal has experienced for the last 100 years. And now will be made worse by recently passed laws that enable builders wider latitude in what can be built and where, laws that override any zoning regulations a city might have. All this in the middle of a very bad drought. I’m sorry that such a beautiful area will be destroyed while old parts of Omaha are left to decline. This will not change until the construction industry comes under the thumb and voters throw out political leaders who vote for such measures. Note: I tried to respond on the blog but got a notice that my comment would be sent to Avenue One. I probably did something wrong. Keep on shooting. Dan
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Powerful photo of what SoCal has experienced for the last 100 years. And now will be made worse by recently passed laws that enable builders wider latitude in what can be built and where, laws that override any zoning regulations a city might have. All this in the middle of a very bad drought. I’m sorry that such a beautiful area will be destroyed while old parts of Omaha are left to decline. This will not change until the construction industry comes under the thumb and voters throw out political leaders who vote for such measures. Note: I tried to respond on the blog but got a notice that my comment would be sent to Avenue One. I probably did something wrong. Keep on shooting. Dan
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