The Omaha City Council will debate the idea of a second entertainment district in the metro on Tuesday.
Earlier this year The Capitol District opened, and with it came the city's first entertainment district, an enclosed area that allows patron to move freely from different areas with their alcoholic beverages. Now, the city council will vote to approve or deny a second district, this time in Aksarben Village.
Developers of the new HDR headquarters near 67th and Frances want the plaza area between the headquarters and a parking garage to the east to be designated as an entertainment district. While somewhat similar to The Capitol District or The Railyard area of the Haymarket in Lincoln, developers say it would differ in ways. The biggest difference would be that it would only be a small area that would be designated as an entertainment district, not all of Aksarben Village.
The designated district would feature retails space, sit-down restaurants and a food hall concept which is slated to be called the 'Inner Rail.' The space is expected to be open by the summer of next year.