By Henry Talacko OMAHA, Neb. – For decades, the massive grain silos at 34th and Vinton Streets have stood as a silent landmark on the South Omaha skyline. Now, a new development project aims to transform the long-dormant site into a multiunit housing complex.
The project, which developer Spencer Goldberg of Lite Development refers to as “building the village on the trail,” has been in the planning stages for more than three years. After walking the site, Goldberg shared his vision for balancing preservation with new construction.
“They don’t have any historic registries, so we don’t get any benefits for keeping them,” Goldberg said. “But they’re unique, they’re special, they’ve been around for a long time.”
The current plan involves keeping and beautifying the eight largest silos on the end, likely with murals, while demolishing the remaining structures down to about 15 feet. These shorter concrete bases would then be used as foundations for new buildings, with one potentially housing a pool.
While the project promises to revitalize the area, some longtime residents, like Todd Brown, are wary of the significant change. Brown’s primary concern is the nature of the housing.
“If they did all Section 8 housing, that would be horrible,” Brown said. “I don’t care if there’s Section 8 housing in there or not. I just don’t want the whole thing to be like, ‘Ah, Section 8!’”
Goldberg clarified that the plan is for market-rate housing. But resident concerns don’t stop there. The prospect of a massive demolition and construction project in the neighborhood is another major worry.
“I know one thing for sure, if they decided to tear it down, the rats and mice and everything else in this neighborhood would go off the chain,” Brown said.
Goldberg said his team is aware of the potential disruption and has already held neighborhood meetings with nearly 100 residents. He noted that a “top-tier demolition company” has been hired to manage dust, safety, and pest control throughout the process.
After years of planning, Goldberg hopes to finally break ground in mid-to-late 2026. He sees the project as a catalyst for the area.
“I really just want to make something fun and cool on the trail that everybody can use… and get this trail going,” Goldberg said. “Because people need to realize how special this trail is.”
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