New 144-Room Hotel Planned for Omaha

The broader Millwork Commons redevelopment is a $300 million project transforming a 50-acre industrial area just north of downtown Omaha. The vision, led by Paul and Annette Smith of Black Dog Management, is to create a hub for innovators and creators by restoring 100-year-old buildings and adding new construction. The district is built upon an area that first bustled in the 1880s as a center for millworkers and furniture makers. The Ashton building, a 190,000 sq ft centerpiece of the revitalization completed in 2020, was formerly the home of the Adams & Kelly Company, once the largest sash and door manufacturer in the west. More than 70 companies and nonprofits now operate out of the revitalized historic buildings. Office tenants include the fast-growing local tech startup Workshop, Google Fiber, United Way of the Midlands, and Habitat for Humanity. The neighborhood is designed as a mixed-use community, combining commercial space with residential living. Recently opened housing includes the HELLO Apartments and the Dizzy Mule Apartments, with the 146-unit Frame Apartments expected to open in 2026. A vibrant food and retail scene supports the district, with local businesses like Kros Strain Draft Works, Archetype Coffee, Coneflower Creamery, and Hutch modern home furnishings operating on the ground floors. This project is part of a wider development surge in Omaha. Other major projects include a new 677-foot Mutual of Omaha tower set to be the tallest in a multi-state region and a $200 million expansion of the CHI Health Center convention center. Future plans for the area include a proposed $114 million professional soccer stadium and an adjacent 20-acre mixed-use development on the eastern edge of Millwork Commons, signaling sustained growth for the district.