Omaha is leveling up. From massive infrastructure projects to family attractions and office towers reshaping the skyline, 2025 is just the beginning of a multi-year transformation across the metro. Below is a neighborhood-by-neighborhood look at the major projects underway, their timelines, and what they mean for residents, businesses, and visitors.
Table of Contents
- Eppley Airfield Expansion
- Mutual of Omaha Tower: Nebraska's New Tallest Building
- Omaha Streetcar: Free Transit and Economic Driver
- Bellevue Bay Indoor Waterpark (Belleview Area)
- Omaha Central Public Library: A New Community Hub
- Joslyn Art Museum Expansion
- Omaha's Children's Museum: New Downtown Home
- Crossroads Redevelopment
- Heartwood Preserve
- Nebraska Medicine Expansion
- What This All Means for Omaha
- Frequently Asked Questions
Eppley Airfield Expansion
Eppley Airfield is in the middle of a $950 million expansion that began in 2024. When completed in phases through 2028, the terminal will nearly double in size from 375,000 to roughly 646,000 square feet and add two new gates built to accommodate international flights.
The phased approach will keep the airport operational for travelers while construction continues. This expansion is set to improve passenger experience and position Omaha for more direct connections and international service.
Mutual of Omaha Tower: Nebraska's New Tallest Building
A major skyline change is underway as U12 Omaha builds a 44‑story headquarters in downtown Omaha often referred to in coverage as the Mutual of Omaha Tower. Rising to 677 feet and containing roughly 800,000 square feet of office space, the glass‑clad tower is slated for completion in 2026 and will claim the title of Nebraska’s tallest building. Plans call for a mix of class‑A office floors, active ground‑floor retail and public space, and amenities aimed at drawing employees and visitors — from plazas and restaurants to potential publicly accessible viewpoints — while many design documents emphasize sustainability features and modern, flexible floorplates to support evolving workplace needs.
Construction began in 2023 and has progressed steadily through foundation and core work into the tower phase, with cranes and concrete pours visible from across the riverfront. The project is a major construction employer over the next several years and is expected to bring hundreds of permanent office jobs once tenants move in, along with indirect economic benefits for downtown hotels, restaurants, and service businesses. Beyond its physical height, the development symbolizes Omaha’s corporate strength and confidence — the metro’s mix of Fortune 500 firms, growing talent pool, and complementary projects like transit upgrades and cultural investments are creating a stronger, denser downtown that this tower both anchors and accelerates.
Omaha Streetcar: Free Transit and Economic Driver
Public transit is getting a major upgrade with the Omaha Streetcar, a $421 million project building a roughly 3‑mile loop that will link downtown Omaha to the Blackstone District in Midtown near the medical center. Construction began in 2024 and the system is expected to start service by 2028. Planners designed the route to better connect major destinations — from office towers and cultural attractions downtown to the hospitals and neighborhoods around Midtown — improving mobility for residents, workers, and visitors across the core.
The streetcar will be free to ride and operate with frequent service to keep wait times low: about every 10 minutes during peak hours and every 15 to 20 minutes during off‑peak periods. When running, the frequent, easy-to-use service should make short trips across the central city quicker and more convenient, supporting commutes, errands, nightlife, and access to health‑care appointments without needing a car for every trip.
Beyond transportation, the project is being promoted as a major economic driver. Officials and developers project the streetcar could catalyze up to $3 billion in new development over the next 15 years — from new housing and office space to retail and restaurants — while increasing foot traffic for existing businesses and creating construction and ongoing operations jobs. As part of a broader wave of investment that includes new towers, medical expansions, and cultural projects, the streetcar is intended to knit those pieces together and help support a denser, more connected downtown Omaha.
Bellevue Bay Indoor Waterpark (Belleview Area)
Just south of Omaha near Offutt Air Force Base, the Bellevue Bay indoor waterpark will be a regional draw. The 100,000 square foot facility is planned inside an 80 foot tall glass structure with a retractable roof for year round operation.
Key features include:
- 385 foot lazy river
- More than 3,000 feet of water slides, including a 60 foot tall slide
- 500 gallon tipping bucket and 50 plus interactive splash elements
- Swim-up bar, arcade, gift shop, and party rooms
Scheduled to open in 2027, the park is expected to boost tourism, create jobs, and generate sales tax revenue for the area.
Omaha Central Public Library
A 96,000 square foot new central library is under construction at 72nd and Dodge. Backed by a $20 million city commitment and significant philanthropic support, this project ranks among the largest public library builds in the country.
Opening in 2026, the new facility is envisioned as a modern community hub focused on innovation, access, and lifelong learning — not just books but technology, programming, and flexible public space for the metro.
Joslyn Art Museum Expansion
Originally opened in 1931, the Joslyn Art Museum has long been celebrated as one of the finest examples of Art Deco architecture in the country — the original building features 38 types of marble sourced from around the world. After a $100 million expansion the museum officially reopened in 2024. The project increased gallery space by roughly 40%, connected three separate buildings, and transformed the campus into a modern showcase that presents more than 5,000 years of human creativity, from ancient artifacts to contemporary works.
Visitors will find restored Art Deco details alongside expanded, light-filled galleries and updated amenities designed for exhibitions, education, and public programs. The expansion emphasized preserving historic character while adding modern museum infrastructure to better protect and display the collection, making it easier to rotate shows, host larger traveling exhibitions, and provide deeper interpretive programming.
Best of all, admission remains free, so whether you’re a lifelong local or new to Omaha, the Joslyn is an experience you won’t want to miss — plan to spend a few hours exploring its newly expanded galleries, architectural highlights, and the wide range of works spanning millennia.
Omaha's Children's Museum: New Downtown Home
After more than 50 years at 20th and Howard, Omaha's Children's Museum is planning a move to a brand-new, state-of-the-art facility along the north side of Heartland of America Park near 8th and Douglas, with a goal to open by late 2027.
The relocation will allow the museum to expand hands-on exhibits and early childhood programming — growing opportunities for creativity, curiosity, and discovery so it can serve more families and have a bigger impact for generations to come.
Crossroads Redevelopment
The former Crossroads Mall site at 72nd and Dodge is being redeveloped by Woodbury Corporation into an $850 million multi-phase project. The plan includes a 92,000 square foot entertainment venue in phase one, with additional retail, office, and mixed-use space to follow.
The soft completion target for the full project is 2032, and this development will reshape a long-vacant but strategically important corridor of West Omaha.
Heartwood Preserve: A New Live, Work, Play Community
Southwest of 144th and Dodge, Heartwood Preserve is transforming 500 acres of former farmland into a $1 billion mixed community combining suburban space with urban walkability.
The centerpiece, the Row, is a 40 acre district with shops, restaurants, apartments, and offices. Already attracting companies like Olsen Engineering, Valmont, and Carson Group, the project also includes:
- A boutique Marriott hotel expected by 2027
- The Arbor neighborhood with 200 homes underway
- Over 80 acres of parks, eight miles of trails, an amphitheater, public art, and an ice rink
- Planned totals of 1.5 million square feet of office space and 500,000 square feet of retail
Construction began in 2019 and will continue through the early 2030s, delivering thousands of homes and a new model for growth in West Omaha.
Nebraska Medicine Expansion
Nebraska Medicine's Project Next is a multi-year, multi-billion dollar initiative to expand one of the region's top medical centers. The centerpiece is an 18 to 20 story hospital in a 1.27 million square foot campus with about 556 beds and a price tag in the neighborhood of $2.19 billion.
The plan also includes a new administration building and a Center of Research Excellence. This transformative project will unfold over several years and is likely to extend beyond 2030.
What This All Means for Omaha
These projects combined show a city investing in transportation, cultural assets, tourism, health care, and mixed-use growth. Expect stronger job markets, more entertainment and family options, a denser downtown, and continued suburban innovation in areas like Heartwood Preserve.
If you are considering moving to Omaha or just watching the city's evolution, now is an exciting time. New infrastructure and amenities are creating opportunities across neighborhoods and price points.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the Eppley Airfield expansion be finished?
Construction began in 2024 and the phased expansion is expected to complete by 2028, nearly doubling terminal space and adding two gates suitable for international flights.
How tall will the new Mutual of Omaha tower be and when will it open?
The tower will be 677 feet tall with roughly 800,000 square feet of office space. Construction started in 2023 and the scheduled completion is 2026.
Will the Omaha Streetcar cost riders anything?
No. The streetcar is planned to be completely free to ride, running every 10 minutes during peak hours and 15 to 20 minutes off peak once service begins, expected by 2028.
When will Bellevue Bay indoor waterpark open and what will it include?
The Bellevue Bay indoor waterpark is scheduled to open in 2027. The 100,000 square foot complex will feature a 385 foot lazy river, more than 3,000 feet of water slides including a 60 foot tall slide, a 500 gallon tipping bucket, over 50 interactive features, a swim-up bar, arcade, gift shop, and party rooms.
Where will the new Omaha Central Library be located and when does it open?
The new 96,000 square foot central library is under construction at 72nd and Dodge and is slated to open in 2026 as a modern community hub supported by city funding and philanthropy.
What is Heartwood Preserve and how long will it take to build?
Heartwood Preserve is a $1 billion, 500 acre development mixing residential, retail, office, parks, and trails to create a live work play community. Construction started in 2019 and will continue into the early 2030s as the project delivers homes, a boutique hotel, office space, and amenities.
How large is Project Next for Nebraska Medicine and when will it be complete?
Project Next is a 1.27 million square foot expansion with estimated costs around $2.19 billion, including an 18 to 20 story hospital with 556 beds. The project will unfold over many years and is likely to extend beyond 2030.
Where can I find help if I am thinking about relocating to Omaha?
Local real estate agents and relocation guides are good starting points. They can provide neighborhood comparisons, market trends, and guidance on proximity to the new projects described here.
