Redick Tower

Redick Tower is an eleven-story historic building at 1504 Harney Street in downtown Omaha, Nebraska. Constructed in 1930, it was conceived as a mixed-use urban property combining retail space, offices, indoor automobile parking, and garage facilities within one Art Deco structure. The building was developed for Garrett and Agor, Inc. and designed by Omaha architect Joseph G. McArthur. Its name commemorates the Redick family, early Omaha settlers who arrived in the area in 1856 and had previously owned the land on which the tower was built. The original design reflected the changing commercial and transportation needs of an American downtown during the early automobile era. Storefronts occupied the first floor, while the lower seven floors provided indoor parking and garage capacity for as many as 500 cars. Office accommodation was located in the upper portion of the tower. This integration of retail, office, and parking functions was an important part of the building's historic significance and helped distinguish it from conventional office blocks or hotels of the period. Garrett and Agor managed the property during its early years. By the middle of the 1930s, ownership had passed to the Redick Tower Corporation. In 1943, Omaha investor Walter Duda acquired the building and retained it until 1973, when it was purchased by the Denver-based Parking Corporation of America. During a later phase of its commercial life, the property operated as a Radisson Hotel and was regarded as one of Omaha's leading hotels. It subsequently became the Best Western Redick Plaza Hotel, which eventually closed in 2009. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. Its designation recognized both its unusual multifunctional planning and its architectural character as one of Nebraska's notable examples of Art Deco design. The structure's significance therefore extends beyond its use as lodging: it represents the relationship between downtown commerce, office work, automobile storage, and urban development in early twentieth-century Omaha. The property was purchased by White Lotus Group in 2010. Following redevelopment, it reopened the next year as Hotel Deco, a hotel using the historic tower as its setting. Redick Tower consequently remains the building's historic and architectural identity, while Hotel Deco is the name associated with its contemporary hospitality operation. Available reference material does not establish a separate current consumer brand operating under the Redick Tower name, and no current standalone website, public listing, executive roster, or financial data is identified here.

Redick Tower was constructed in 1930 at 1504 Harney Street in Omaha, Nebraska, for Garrett and Agor, Inc. The project was designed by Omaha architect Joseph G. McArthur in the Art Deco style. Its name refers to the Redick family, early settlers of Omaha who arrived in 1856 and had owned the site before the building was developed. The tower was planned as a multifunctional downtown property rather than as a conventional single-purpose office building. Retail storefronts occupied the first floor. The lower seven floors were designed for indoor parking and garage operations, with capacity for up to 500 automobiles, while the upper tower contained offices. This combination reflected the increasing importance of automobiles to downtown commercial life and was later cited as a central reason for the building's historic significance. Garrett and Agor managed the property during its initial period. Ownership transferred to the Redick Tower Corporation by the mid-1930s. In 1943, Omaha investor Walter Duda purchased the building and held it for approximately three decades. In 1973, the Denver-based Parking Corporation of America acquired the property. During a later period, it operated as a Radisson Hotel and was regarded as one of Omaha's better hotels. It later became the Best Western Redick Plaza Hotel, which closed in 2009. Redick Tower was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. The designation recognized its distinctive integrated arrangement of retail, office, and parking uses, as well as its architectural importance as one of Nebraska's notable Art Deco buildings. White Lotus Group purchased the building in 2010. After redevelopment, it reopened in 2011 under the name Hotel Deco. The contemporary hotel use represents an adaptive-reuse phase in the property's history, while Redick Tower remains the historic name associated with the landmark and its architectural identity. The available reference material does not identify a separate current company, executive team, financial record, or independent website for Redick Tower itself.

• 2011

  Reopening as Hotel Deco

  [1]Redick Toweren.wikipedia.org

  The redeveloped building opens as Hotel Deco, returning the landmark to hotel use.

• 2010

  White Lotus Group purchases the property

  [1]Redick Toweren.wikipedia.org

  White Lotus Group acquires Redick Tower for redevelopment.

• 2009

  Best Western Redick Plaza Hotel closes

  [1]Redick Toweren.wikipedia.org

  The property's Best Western Redick Plaza Hotel phase ends with the hotel's closure.

• 1984

  National Register listing

  [1]Redick Toweren.wikipedia.org

  Redick Tower is listed in the National Register of Historic Places for its Art Deco architecture and historically unusual mixed-use design.

• 1973

  Parking Corporation of America acquires Redick Tower

  [1]Redick Toweren.wikipedia.org

  The Denver-based Parking Corporation of America becomes the property's owner.

• 1943

  Walter Duda acquires the building

  [1]Redick Toweren.wikipedia.org

  Omaha investor Walter Duda purchases Redick Tower and retains ownership until 1973.

• 1930

  Redick Tower is completed

  [1]Redick Toweren.wikipedia.org

  Garrett and Agor, Inc. completes the eleven-story Art Deco mixed-use building at 1504 Harney Street in Omaha, designed by Joseph G. McArthur.

• 1930

  Mixed-use automobile-era design opens

  [1]Redick Toweren.wikipedia.org

  The building begins operating with retail storefronts, office space, and indoor parking and garage facilities capable of accommodating up to 500 cars.

• 1930

  Original management by Garrett and Agor

  [1]Redick Toweren.wikipedia.org

  Garrett and Agor, Inc. manages the property during its early years.

• 1930

  Redick Tower Corporation becomes owner

  [1]Redick Toweren.wikipedia.org

  By the middle of the 1930s, ownership has passed from Garrett and Agor, Inc. to the Redick Tower Corporation.

A historic Omaha landmark whose identity is rooted in Art Deco architecture, mixed-use urban planning, and adaptive reuse as a contemporary hotel.

• Hotel · 2011

  Hotel Deco

  Hotel Deco is the contemporary hospitality operation established in the historic Redick Tower after White Lotus Group's 2010 acquisition and redevelopment. It opened in 2011, using the Art Deco building as the setting for a modern hotel. The operation follows earlier hotel phases in the property's history, including periods as a Radisson Hotel and the Best Western Redick Plaza Hotel.

• Historic commercial building · 1930

  Redick Tower mixed-use property

  The original Redick Tower was a combined commercial, office, and automobile-parking property. Its ground-floor retail, upper office levels, and extensive indoor parking and garage facilities made it an early example of integrated downtown planning for the automobile era. The building's historic structure and Art Deco design remain central to its identity.

• 2010

  Adaptive reuse of Redick Tower as a hotelStrategy

  Background

  After the Best Western Redick Plaza Hotel closed in 2009, White Lotus Group acquired the historic building and pursued a redevelopment strategy centered on renewed hospitality use.

  Action taken

  White Lotus Group redeveloped the property and reopened it in 2011 under the Hotel Deco name.

  Aftermath

  The building returned to hotel operation while retaining its historic Redick Tower identity and Art Deco architectural significance.

  Source

1. 1Redick Toweren.wikipedia.org