Flatiron Hotel, Omaha

The Flatiron Hotel, also known as the Flatiron Building, is a historic mixed-use structure associated with Omaha’s commercial growth during the early 20th century. Completed in 1912, it was commissioned by banker Augustus F. Kountze and originally opened as a retail and apartment building known as The Pasco.

In 1914, Payne & Slater remodeled the property into a hotel for business travelers. After later use as a hotel, restaurant, and office building, it was rehabilitated in 2015 as a residential building with ground-floor commercial space. Designed by architect George B. Prinz, the four-story building is an example of Georgian Revival architecture. Its triangular footprint follows the narrow site formed by three intersecting streets and was inspired by New York’s Flatiron Building. The exterior features brown brick, limestone trim, decorative brickwork, projecting cornices, and regularly arranged windows. A rounded corner tower at the pointed eastern end contains a French-style double window, a small iron balcony, and decorative details emphasizing the unusual shape. The building demonstrates how architects adapted commercial designs to irregular urban lots during a period of rapid development.

Although later conversions changed the interior, the 2015 rehabilitation preserved the triangular layout, brick façade, central light well, historic staircase, and exterior details. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated an Omaha Landmark in 1978, it now functions mainly as private apartments with commercial space at street level. Visitors can appreciate its distinctive profile and restored exterior from nearby public streets.