Omaha Performing Arts Withdraws Redevelopment Agreement Due to Time Constraints

Omaha Performing Arts announced today the organization will be withdrawing its Redevelopment Agreement with the City of Omaha.

The Redevelopment Agreement was part of a complex land transaction aimed at bringing a new corporate headquarters to downtown Omaha.

"This decision will allow us to resume our original multi- year timeline to develop a plan for future growth and expansion," said Joan Squires, president of Omaha Performing Arts. "The planning process escalated in an effort to meet deadlines associated with HDR's relocation and that did not give our organization enough time to meet with the community, arts partners, and others."

Omaha Performing Arts will sell its 50,000 sq. ft. parcel of land to allow HDR, Inc. to continue with its plans to move downtown. This is land Omaha Performing Arts purchased to ensure future expansion space. Today's decision means Omaha Performing Arts will need to look for other options at a later time.

"The decision for HDR to relocate downtown and build a corporate tower created a tremendous amount of excitement," said D. David Slosburg, member of the Board of Directors, Omaha Performing Arts. "As a good community partner we agreed to sell our property as long as we could accommodate our long-term programming and educational needs and not reduce our level of patron services. In the end, the project became just too divisive."

Omaha Performing Arts will move forward with the sale of its current land to HDR for its headquarters relocation. However, Omaha Performing Arts is notifying the city it no longer desires to receive any land from the City of Omaha. This decision eliminates the need for the City of Omaha to acquire three nearby properties. The move also allows Omaha Performing Arts to focus on long-term planning for deliberate, strategic growth.

"As we look to the future, we still have plans to expand our programs and activities," said Joan Squires, president of Omaha Performing Arts. "However, these considerations take time - to thoughtfully consider all options, to engage our community and arts partners, and to evaluate how we can continue to serve our community and region."

Omaha Performing Arts will continue to work with the City of Omaha and HDR to find solutions to meet the needs of both HDR and Omaha Performing Arts.

"Our organization has a bright and exciting future ahead," said Squires. "We are confident that a mutually acceptable resolution will be found in due course, and we look forward the next chapter for our community and for Omaha Performing Arts."

Omaha Performing Arts is a non-profit arts organization dedicated to enriching the lives of the citizens of Omaha and surrounding communities. In its two venues, the Orpheum Theater and Holland Performing Arts Center, the organization presents the best of Broadway, jazz, blues, dance, comedy, family and popular entertainment. Omaha Performing Arts also offers a range of educational programs and free community engagement events that support, enhance and expand appreciation for the arts. In addition, the organization provides comprehensive ticketing services for cultural and performing arts within the region through Ticket Omaha, the official ticket retailer for the Orpheum and Holland.

Omaha Performing Arts' performances are supported in part by the Nebraska Arts Council, Nebraska Cultural Endowment, National Endowment for the Arts, the City of Omaha and the Douglas County Visitor Improvement Fund, as well as corporate sponsors, private donors and foundations. For more information, visit OmahaPerformingArts.org.

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