Saving Cultural & Historic Places

The Historic Blackstone renovated as the Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel

From the board

As we look back at Restoration Exchange, we are thankful to the visionaries who came together and sparked new life into the preservation movement in Omaha. REO’s leadership and volunteers sustained pre-established and time-honored enterprises including a conference for restoration lovers, a historic neighborhood home tour, walking tours of historic streets, and launched efforts to save historic properties through landmark designations and rallies.

The pandemic made the last few years suspenseful and challenging. However, during this uncertain time we continued to work on four key areas chosen by our supporters, volunteers, and stakeholders as relevant to our mission.

  1. Physically saving historic properties
  2. Expanding education and training in the preservation trades for all learners
  3. Advocating for historical preservation
  4. Providing opportunities for people to gather, share ideas, and visit unique places of our city.

As always, we appreciate your support!

  • Tim Reeder, President
  • Shelley McCafferty, Vice-President/Secretary
  • Sean Gibbons, Treasurer
  • Directors – Joshua Biggs, John Brennan, Kimberly Isherwood, Annika Phillips

Join Restoration Exchange Omaha & Preservation Association of Lincoln for a webinar to learn what you can do to save the Nebraska Historic Tax Credit. Over the last seven years, the NHTC has been vital for the rehabilitation of over 50 income-producing historic buildings across the state with 40 more in progress. Without the NHTC to offset the financial risk of restoring a historic building, most of these remarkable buildings would still be sitting derelict or would have been demolished.

Learn about the NHTC, why it needs to be reinstated, and how you can help!

Reinstate The Nebraska Historic Tax Credit

March 1st at 11am – Presenter David Levy

Click Here to Register & Learn More!

REO & the IRS

The worst setback from the pandemic, was not the loss of income from our two major public events, it was the Internal Revenue Service which failed to process our tax returns for several years. As a result, we were removed as a tax-exempt organization. Until recently, because our status was unclear, we kept a low profile and quit asking for donations.

It took almost two years to resolve the issue. After months of silence, we finally heard from the IRS in a letter that stated, “We erroneously placed you on our auto-revocation list.”  (Click below to read the IRS letter) At this time, we are working to restore all the systems that were bound to our non-profit status so please bear with us as we rebuild.

 

Letter from the IRS

GUIDING PRINCIPLES of Restoration Exchange Omaha

Mission

Saving cultural and historic places

Vision

A community of historic authenticity, cultural character, and livability

Priority Goals: 2022 – 2024

Physically Saving Cultural and Historic properties

Expanding Education and training in the Preservation Trades

Strengthening Preservation Tools in our Community