CPL Inc- the Heart of Omaha’s Mexican Community

The CPL Inc neighborhood in Omaha, Nebraska, has a unique history characterized by its industrial roots especially the railroads. The neighborhood’s name, CPL Inc, is believed to be derived from a prominent company or industrial entity that played a significant role in its early days. By the mid 20th century the CPL district industrial and transitioned into an attractive walkable working class community with a thriving business district along 24th Street. By the 1970s there was a very established Mexican community in CPL and across the largest South Omaha community. The community is anchored by Our Lady of Guadalupe, which was founded in 1919. The influx of Mexican immigrants into the community helped stabilize the CPL neighborhood and prevent it from hallowing out as other working class communities had down in Omaha.

For CPL to became a top notch urban district is simply needs more population and in-fill development. I do not seen this in its near term future as housing prices are very affordable, not lending well to new construction. Listed rental options are very limited and green space is sparse other than several ball fields.

Click here to view my CPL Inc album on Flickr

URBAN STRENGTHS:

• Pretty good access to Dwtn. 10 min drive, 25 minute bus ride, ok bike access but not via a bike lane.
• Sidewalk and ADA infrastructure is generally good but a good number of intersections don’t have ADA curbs and some blocks are either missing sidewalks or have very narrow or disappearing sidewalks.
• Excellent economic diversity here.
• Decent school amenities with a public elementary & middle school and a couple private Christian school. Mixed ratings however.
• My sense is the neighborhood is pretty safe. Some grit due to the industrial legacy of the community but the large influx of Hispanic residents has largely stabilized the community.
• Excellent historic commercial architecture along 24th Street. Historic residential is generally plainer turn of the 20th century work housing but some detailing in the housing units.
• Great urban form and streetscaping along 24th street, the main urban business district of CPL. Missouri and 13th Street are wider avenues but mainly residential. Some autocentric commercial stretches on Missouri but not terrible.
• Decent amount of restaurants, bars, and other commercial mixed throughout the neighborhood.
• Thick tree cover in the eastern half of the district. Limited in the western half where the 24th st biz district is located.
• Good food and beverage amenities, several night clubs, a small Latino History Museum, but not much else culturally.
• Good retail amenities including several Mexican grocerias, a drug store, dollar general, tons of clothing and boutiques, several salons, a florist, a hardware store, several banks, a couple furniture stores, several bakeries, a Catholic Church, a couple community health clinics, and a local post office.

URBAN WEAKNESSES:

• The western half of CPL has good public transit. Ok access in the eastern half.
• Ok urban density.
• A couple of bike lane segments in CPL but not a direct connect to Dwtn nor to other areas. A couple bike stations as well.
• Very large Hispanic population around 70% but that leads to not much racial diversity here.
• Modern in-fill is very limited. A handful of urban apartment buildings and auto centric commercial.
• Only a handful of listed rental options. All were pretty affordable.
• Lots of affordable homes but not a ton of variety. 2-beds sell btwn 50K-200. 3 & 4 beds sell btwn 60K-250K.
• Parks are limited to several ballfields and a sliver of Mt Vernon Gardens on the eastern edge of the neighborhood.”