11/26/25

Campus Improvements Made with Visitors in Mind

Every day the Jewish Federation of Omaha and its agencies work to carry out their shared mission of building and sustaining a strong and vibrant Omaha Jewish community. Often this work is immediately recognizable, seen in the programs, services, and events that happen across the Staenberg Kooper Fellman campus. Some ways, however, are more subtle.  Such is the case with campus infrastructure and parking.

The Staenberg Kooper Fellman campus is a busy place. On average the campus welcomes about 1,500 visitors per day for total of 547,500+ per year. These visitors include guests of the Jewish Federation of Omaha and its agencies (The Staenberg Omaha JCC, Jewish Family Service, the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home, Jewish Community Relations Council, the Institute for Holocaust Education, the Jewish Press, and the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society) as well as students of Friedel Jewish Academy.

Phil Malcom, Chief Operating Officer for the Jewish Federation of Omaha, sited these daily demands as a driving force behind recent campus improvements.

“In order to sustain an engaging campus that meets the needs of our visitors, we are always thinking about how spaces could be better utilized or improved to enhance their experience,” Malcom said. “Each project is done in accordance with our mission. We’re focused on maintaining a strong Jewish community, not only for today but for generations to come. The immense growth of both our programs and our facilities highlighted the need to expand campus parking as a part of improving visitor experience.”

After examining all options, a plan was developed to include additional parking within the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home expansion project.

“In December of 2023 the decision was made to decommission the Livingston Plaza,” Malcom said. “In the spring of 2025, the Livingston Plaza was demolished to create space for the expansion of the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home and a new parking lot.”

Additional parking was also created along the north drive of the ring road.

The expanded parking was completed by the summer of 2025. While it may seem trivial in comparison to the beautiful new structures that have been added to the campus over the past few years, the parking has made a positive impact on visitors. Those who have seen particular benefit are visitors of the Staenberg Omaha JCC’s Phil Sokolof Fitness Center and Goldstein Aquatic Center. The new configuration of the parking lot allowed for an increase of handicapped spots near the Fitness Center entrance. There is now a total of eight direct access (no curb) spaces available.  The parking lot project also included new sidewalks, new curbs, new lighting, new landscaping, security improvements, and the removal of old sewer grates.

Jason Epsenhart, Director of Facilities for the Jewish Federation of Omaha, said the project was meticulously thought through, always keeping campus visitors’ experience in mind.

“Removing the old sewer grates near the Fitness Center entrance made an immediate improvement in safety and aesthetic,” he said. “The grates were previously needed to drain storm water from the area. In the winter months the concern was the accumulation of snow and ice. During the warmer months crossing the grates sometimes posed a challenge for those with limited mobility. When the parking lot project was in the planning stages, the JFO made the decision to remove the grates an have the drainage integrated into the grading of the new parking lot. It was an extra step, but one that we felt would be well worth it. We worked with civil engineers to make the entry point to the fitness center as smooth as possible. Our goal was to make the area safer and more accessible.”

In addition to the functional improvements, the JFO also made sure that new security measures were implemented in an aesthetically pleasing way. Epsenhart said new landscaping was integrated into the parking lot to match the high level of beautification found throughout the campus. Large planter-style bollards were installed for added security and new LED lighting was installed to keep the area well-lit and safe.

“It was a very large undertaking that was completed in three months. That really is an extraordinary accomplishment considering all the different pieces involved with removing the Livingston Plaza,” Epsenhart said.

Currently, only about half of the 90 new parking stalls are available to campus visitors. Approximately 45 of the stalls remain occupied by the construction of the Blumkin Home expansion. This includes some of the parking along the north ring road which is temporarily being used as a drive lane. Shifting the traffic pattern in such a manner has allowed the north ring road to remain open during the RBJH expansion project.

The Rose Blumkin Jewish Home expansion will bring 32 new, single occupancy rooms (short-term and long-term care) with private bathrooms and zero-entry showers. New shared spaces will include community living rooms, community dining rooms, a rooftop balcony, and a dedicated parking lot. Also included is the creation of the Alan J. Levine Rehabilitation Center, a short-term rehabilitation wing designed to provide services for community members who need help recovering from illness, injury, or surgery. The Rose Blumkin Jewish Home continues to offer 24-hour licensed nursing care, long-term residential care, short-term rehabilitation therapies, respite care, and hospice care during the renovation. It welcomes Residents of all backgrounds and faiths.

The completion date of the Rose Blumkin Jewish Home expansion is projected for the summer of 2026. Upon completion campus visitors will be able to enjoy use of the full parking lot.

“We recognize it’s an inconvenience to have some of the new parking stalls temporarily occupied by construction, but it really was the least disruptive option available,” Epsenhart said. “We appreciate everyone’s patience during our projects. We truly do keep campus visitors and JCC members in mind with every decision we make. We work hard to make sure you have a beautiful campus to enjoy.”