Dundee Decision Goes Round And Round - FOX 42: Omaha News, Sports and Weather; kptm.com |

Melina Matthes

OMAHA (KPTM) - Construction is planned for the Dundee area and those against a possible roundabout can rest easy.  Tuesday, the mayor agreed to compromise on the decision.

The Dundee-Happy Hollow historic district was developed in 1880 and has been dubbed Omaha's first suburb.  "The people that live here really love to live here and everybody pretty much knows everybody," Dundee resident, Alan Westman says.

The heart of Dundee is located at 50^th and Underwood Avenue.  But with over 13 thousand cars passing through the intersection every day, the city says it's dangerous for pedestrians and stressful for those trying to park.  Adam DeFord with the Dundee Dell says, "It's horrible, absolutely horrible.  Today I had to drive around the block like three times to find a parking spot, when I'm working at 9:30 in the morning, so imagine a weekend or ya know busy dinner rush, it's pretty ridiculous."  "I walk to work because there's no where to park, it's really bad," Matthew Baum says.

To make the area safer and more appealing for visitors, the city proposed a multi million-dollar facelift to the area.  Neighborhood residents and merchants say they are fine with it as long as it doesn't change the character of the community.  "There's so much history in this area I think if they revamp it they gotta keep it ya know kind of how it is with the history in this area and not make it too modern, like a village point or anything like that, keep the charm this neighborhood has," DeFord says.

Originally, a roundabout was considered at the intersection of 50^th and Underwood, however in a meeting Tuesday, Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle, public works officials, and city council members agreed to use traffic lights instead.  Those in the area say they look forward to a revamped intersection.  "I think it's a good idea, I think it could bring some more people in and may get them to drive a little more and see what we have to offer here in Dundee," DeFord says.

Matthew Baum with The French Bulldog says, "Anything they do to improve the neighborhood I'm completely down for.  I live here and I love this neighborhood, as long as I'm in Omaha I'll probably never leave."

Keeping the allure of this neighborhood and reinventing it for the future.

Construction is expected to begin in April of next year and should be complete by August 2013.