BLOC 12

The importance of perspective is often learned through experience and chance. Case in point: in the not-so-distant past, Omaha’s Old Market boasted some of the last remaining historic architecture from Omaha’s jobbing days—a neighborhood with a European flair and architecture that was burgeoning, but not yet fully appreciated for what it could be.

Sometimes, you don’t know a good thing even when it’s in clear view. And so goes the story of Bloc 12: taking the time to look “up” was the biggest motivator in getting it off the ground. Once you look past the old-school storefronts and one-man shops, the beautiful brickwork, arches and cornices really emerge. It’s in the dynamics and the detail: elements that are at once ornate, delicate, and super sturdy. These old structures had something to offer, and this spot in particular was ready for a change.