A new housing development is coming to Morton Meadows in Omaha.
It would include row houses and more than 130 apartment units at Saddle Creek Road and Pacific Street.
The project is spearheaded by Bluestone Development, and neighbors said they have been told construction could begin as soon as February.
Some homeowners in Morton Meadows say they were caught off guard last week by this letter sent out from Bluestone Development about a new multi-story apartment complex coming right to their backyard.
"I was startled because I hadn't heard anything about this and apparently the neighborhood association was notified two years ago that they were going to do the project," said Joseph Piper, neighborhood resident.
Neighbors say the development — nestled along Saddle Creek and Pacific — would demolish some smaller rental homes and a warehouse.
It's making way for 134 apartments and 12 row houses, which is raising concerns about whether the development design fits with the character of the 100-year-old neighborhood.
"I'm all for the development don't get me wrong, I'm 100 percent for the development but I don't think the design takes into account the nature of the neighborhood," said Piper.
It's a concern the Morton Meadows Neighborhood Association says they'll address with Bluestone.
"I do feel like we have a charm about our neighborhood and while we don't want to see that change by any one single project like this one we do want to be a welcome neighborhood," said Patrick Falke, co-president of Morton Meadows Neighborhood Association. "And we do feel like there could be room for some apartments or row houses in our neighborhood or edges of our neighborghood."
Beyond the design, there's the question of where the new tenants and guests will park. Each unit is will be assigned one space.
"There's a daycare here with children. There's accidents all the time on Saddle Cree," said Piper.
Neighbors say there's also the issue of traffic congestion as tenants navigate one complex entrance. All questions moving forward as Bluestone looks to transform the block.
"Morton Meadows is an incredibly welcoming neighborhood. So we're always welcoming new neighbors in," said Falke.
Morton Meadows Neighborhood Association will be discussing the development with Bluestone at the October 24th meeting. It begins at 6:30 p.m. at Bethel Lutheran Church.
