Carter Lake area homeowners fear airport business park will force them to move
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - People who live in an area slated to become a new business park near Omaha’s Eppley Airfield are speaking out.
They’re afraid they’re going to lose their homes and say they’re still waiting to find out what will happen.
The area is north of Carter Lake, between the Storz Expressway and 9th Street.
A second site is planned west of Carter Lake between Locust and 16th Streets.
Lori Johnson has lived in the area for more than 40 years. She says her family has lived in the area for generations.
Johnson said, “This is our life. Even people who move out of our neighborhood say this is home.”
Despite dirt roads and some properties in disarray, Johnson wants to stay. So does Coni Worley.
Worley said, “I was raised here. Swimming at the lake, riding bikes, going to the river. It’s been a lifetime down here.”
However, plans for the new business park may force them to leave. The area is now targeted to become shovel-ready for manufacturers, distributors, and other industries.
The state is partnering with private businesses led by the Omaha Economic Development Corporation (OEDC) and plans to use $90 million in state funds to prepare the land.
Johnson says she will probably have to move, but hasn’t received any official word.
Johnson said, “Nobody has contacted us. Nobody has said anything. Everything we’ve learned has been through the paper or the TV.”
The OEDC told 6 News they didn’t reach out to residents because they can’t go on private property and said they would contact us with more information.
Johnson isn’t taking this lightly.
Johnson said, “I’m devastated. We don’t know what we’re going to do. We don’t know what is going to happen.”
Worley, whose mother still lives in the area, feels the same.
Worley said, “It is heartbreaking because we’ve been raised here.”
It is unclear who, if anyone, will be forced to move or if they will be compensated.
Johnson says nothing could replace what she has now.
She said, “I would want my community back.” I have never in my entire life been without family. Never.”
6 News reached out to OEDC, which says the public engagement process will begin now that the airport business park program awardee has been determined. They emphasized that they will work with homeowners to purchase land -- but all on a voluntary basis.
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