OMAHA — A development group that was awarded $90 million in public funds to prepare a business park near Omaha’s airport faced a crowd Wednesday night with a common concern: Will they be forced from their homes?

“We’re not strong-arming anybody,” Michael Maroney of the Omaha Economic Development Corp. told the roughly 150 people, most of whom live on the land eyed for the project. “Eminent domain is not on the table.”

Maroney said his team, which also includes Burlington Capital and the Greater Omaha Chamber, is not interested in pursuing the business park north of Carter Lake and west of the airport unless it is able to assemble enough property voluntarily.

Skeptics

Under the plan, the developers would clear about 160 acres currently occupied by households, small urban farms and other properties and turn the site into shovel-ready land where manufacturers, distributors and other industries could build plants and create jobs.

Some in the crowd remained skeptical of eminent domain.

“Somebody is making money. It’s not going to be me,” said Dave Gillespie.

Many left wanting more details.

“They’re beating around the bush,” said Jason Johnson.

Others were thankful that the development group finally reached out.

Although Maroney and his partners fielded questions at an earlier forum, Wednesday’s gathering was the first community outreach meeting organized and led by the group since Gov. Jim Pillen in January announced the award. 

State lawmakers representing North Omaha and others have criticized the developers for not including enough community input in developing the plan for the business park that would dislocate scores of residents.

During the packed meeting at Sherman Elementary School’s gym, Maroney and George Achola of Burlington Capital spent time explaining the history of the business park vision and the group’s previous guardedness. They said the team received a final contract agreement with the state just about two weeks ago.

“Now we have some level of authority that we’d like to move this thing forward,” said Maroney.

Digging deep

Still needed is a letter of support from the newly formed Omaha Inland Port Authority, which is charged with overseeing economic development in a roughly 300-acre zone of northeast Omaha that includes the proposed business park.

Homes, urban farm stand at site of proposed Omaha business park buoyed by $90M in state funds

Achola said he anticipates that the team will start to “dig deep” around October and discuss relocation/compensation plans with area residents. Early next year, he said, the developers should have a good idea of whether it will have enough property to carry out the plan.

When asked about the threshold for viability, the developers said much depends on how much of a concentrated area they could assemble. If enough of a mass is not achieved, Achola said, “We probably have to move on.”

An audience member asked if the developers had a backup plan. To that, they said another tract in the general area might be a fallback.

A deadline looms. The state grant funds are to be allocated by the close of 2027, the developers said.

The meeting, attended also by Omaha City Councilwoman Juanita Johnson, included information presented by Midwest Right of Way Services, which is to work with the developer and neighborhood in acquisition and relocation.

‘If the price is right…’

Jason Johnson said he was doubtful that his family members, who have lived near each other for generations on spacious acreages, would be able to be compensated fairly enough. He said they live near downtown Omaha, the airport, Carter Lake and each other.

“If I wanted to move for market value, I’d have moved already,” he said.

Hank Schlotfeld and Gillespie questioned whether eminent domain still would be “off the table” if they were among a small percentage of “holdouts.”

Robin Lincoln questioned whether the project could even fulfill its goal of job creation.

“We got jobs, with nobody wanting to work them,” she said. “Look around. ‘Help wanted’ signs everywhere.”

Toni Kuhn said she was worried that her house, handed down by a family member, was in disrepair and wouldn’t yield enough compensation from the development team for her to find another house.

She said many people are afraid to move from an area where they’ve been rooted for a lifetime.

“We’re happy,” she said. “But if the price is right, I will sell.”