Mutual of Omaha recently broke ground for Midtown Crossing at Turner Park, a $300 million mixed-use development in Omaha, Neb., that will bring nearly 600 apartments and condominiums, as well as new dining, retail and entertainment venues, to historic Midtown Omaha.

The groundbreaking signals the official start of construction on the project, which will be built in a single phase and is slated to open in the fall of 2009, according to Mutual Senior Vice President John McClelland.

“With this groundbreaking, we begin to realize the vision of all of those who have worked to bring new life and energy to Midtown Omaha,” McClelland said. “This represents the first major development tied to the Destination Midtown project, and we at Mutual of Omaha are proud to be the catalyst for making the vision a reality.”

Developed by ECI Investment Advisors, Inc., Midtown Crossing at Turner Park features seven buildings totaling 1 million square feet, with approximately 220,000 square feet available for restaurants, retailers and entertainment venues as well as 297 condominium units, 268 apartments and parking for more than 3,000 vehicles.

An expanded and revitalized Turner Park will anchor the project, which encompasses approximately 15 acres bordered by 31st and 33rd streets, Dodge to Harney streets.

Midtown Crossing is a model for the redevelopment of urban neighborhoods and has been chosen to participate in the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) pilot Neighborhood Development Certification program, said ECI Executive Vice President Keith Bawolek.

LEED for Neighborhood Development recognizes projects that protect and enhance the overall health, natural environment and quality of life in their communities. It includes best practices in smart location and transportation linkage; environmental preservation; compact, complete and connected neighborhoods; and high-performance, green construction and technology.

By participating in the Neighborhood Development Certification program, Midtown Crossing will be among the first developments in the nation to receive the LEED neighborhood certification. Sixty projects throughout the nation have been selected for the pilot, and Midtown Crossing is the only development in Nebraska or Iowa selected for the pilot phase.

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