Binney Wirt Spencer

Binney Wirt Spencer is one of several neighborhoods that is considered the historic heart of Omaha’s Black community. In the 1880s, as Omaha was being settled by white settlers and as the beginnings of the cattle industry took hold, the area was highly populated by Eastern European immigrants looking for plentiful work and safe housing. For about the next 50 years, north Omaha was home to Italian, German, Swedish, Irish and Norwegian immigrants. But, by the end of WWII, many of those immigrants moved west. At the same time, the post-Civil War “Great Migration” welcomed waves of African-Americans to northern and mid-western cities, including Omaha. In the mid-1900s, the push and pull between segregation and integration resulted in several north Omaha communities holding onto their majority Black status.

Today, Binney Wirt Spencer and nearby communities host several Omaha public schools, they have preserved many historic homes from the early 1900s, and have cultivated strong local businesses that are anchors of the community. You can find renovated five-bedroom American Foursquare homes from 1910 for around $229,000. Fully renovated two-story cottages from the 1920s have recently sold for about $175,000. You can even find a handful of undeveloped 40” x 124” lots ready for new home construction. House hunters will also find shotgun houses, Victorian-style homes, and mid-20th-century eclectic-styled homes. Paved sidewalks and mature trees welcome neighbors as they walk to several historic churches, local schools and long-standing restaurants.

Lothrop Magnet Elementary offers pre-K through fourth grade and is within walking distance from many homes in the neighborhood. Lewis and Clark Middle and its partner Central High are International Baccalaureate Program schools offering required and elective STEM courses. Niche gives Central High an overall A- rating. Nearby private schools include Sacred Heart Elementary, which offers small class sizes for kids from pre-K through eighth grade, and Jesuit Academy, which offers middle school only to young men.

Residents enjoy the best of two worlds regarding geography. They are less than a 10-minute drive from downtown Omaha and its vibrant cultural scene, but home is even closer to impressive parks and lakes. Levi Carter Park is located on the northwest edge of 1,100-acre Carter Lake. The park has baseball and football fields, basketball courts, walking trails, picnic areas, a pavilion and plenty of open space. Carter Lake is an oxbow-shaped, man-made lake that is located on the border of Nebraska and Iowa. Just a few attractions that visitors enjoy include fishing, sailing, water skiing, swimming, scuba diving, and rock climbing. Golfers will enjoy living next door to Shoreline Golf Course, a championship 18-hole public course. An afternoon here feels like a mini vacation with its stunning views of Carter Lake and the downtown Omaha skyline.

Award-winning home cooking awaits picky food lovers, in Binney Wirt Spencer. Lonnell’s Southern Delights has earned plenty of five-star reviews for its traditional, southern homemade cooking. Try their chicken fried steak and their fried okra. Time Out Foods is one of Omaha’s oldest Black-owned restaurants and has won numerous accolades, nationwide, for their fried chicken.

While there are plenty of shopping destinations downtown, you can find your style nearby. Styles of Evolution is a black- and veteran-owned fashion-forward clothing store located on Ohio Street, that features suits, formal wear and dress shoes. LeFlores New Look Fashions features men's and boys' suits, hats and sportswear. When you’re in a hurry and need something quick, Chubb Foods has convenience items as well as local fresh fish and fried chicken. Nearby Family Dollar has kitchen supplies, dried goods, and basics like milk, eggs and bread.

Realtor Tina Sempeck, with eXp Realty, summarizes the rewards of owning a home in Binney Wirt Spencer. “Several local realtors have recently bought homes around here,” says Sempeck, “and that definitely tells you a lot about the value of living near downtown. With the growth of surrounding commercial areas and the ongoing revitalization of the entire downtown area, it’s a great time to own a home here.”

Written By

Sarah Albiston

Photography Contributed By

Drew Davis

Video By

Zack Kojoyian