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Drake Court District
The Drake Court Apartment complex, a set of 14 buildings, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Drake Court buildings were built from 1916 to 1918. In their original condition, they were found on the edge of the city of Omaha, in an affluent and desirable residential area of town. The surrounding area contained many mansions and upscale housing units, of which Drake Court was a part.
The Drake Court complex was home to many professionals and downtown employees, and was not only an attractive place to live, but had the proximity to downtown and the amenity of adjacent streetcar lines to add to their appeal. This was very convenient for residents going to work downtown, as well as to entertainment and shopping. The apartments were offered as furnished efficiency units, complete with deep cherry wood trim. The owner and developer, Mr. William Drake, even made his marble-floored home in one top-floor unit of Building 13.
The buildings designated in this district were financed and constructed by William Drake and his Drake Realty Construction Company, which was also responsible for constructing many other complexes within the city. Drake had always dreamed of becoming the "biggest apartment house king of the world," and by 1922, his company was building apartments at the rate of one floor a week. By 1925, he was estimated to be worth as much as four million dollars, but his over-exuberance cost him his fortune as he began out-build his own apartments, and went bankrupt before he was 33 years old.
In 1998, at the request of the Nebraska Investment Finance Authority, the Joslyn Castle Institute for Sustainable Communities became involved in the revitalization of this distressed portion of downtown Omaha. JCI developed the pre-development studies of the area and is now leading a process that is centered upon, and utilizing, the renovation of the historic Drake Court Apartments (14 buildings) and a newly created downtown neighborhood school, as a catalyst for urban revitalization. The objective is to develop a strong inner city neighborhood that includes low-income and market-rate residential units with mixed-use commercial development. This initiative will provide a physical illustration of a neighborhood that depicts the potential of urban redevelopment based upon the concepts of sustainability. The project is intended as an example for local decision leaders such as public officials, developers, investors and residents. Conducted in affiliation with several interested parties this effort will change a part of our downtown by creating a neighborhood with distinct character and a lively, healthy, pedestrian environment in which to live, work, and play. Read more
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