Either way, the logistics would most likely not be easy — or cheap.

“I think it would be tricky,” said Steve Jensen, the city’s planning consultant and a former planning director. “It’s not designed to easily extend the street through. Could it be done? For the right amount of money, anything could be done.”

Of course, it’s not just up to the city. First National Bank owns the land, and Doubletree owns the building.

The hotel’s general manager, Sandy Buonanni, said he hadn’t participated in any discussions about an extension of the street through the Doubletree. He said if First National expressed interest in the concept, he’d take the ideas to his corporate bosses.

A spokesman for First National said it would be premature to comment on the proposal before the city offers a specific plan.

The idea of blocking the street originated in the late 1960s, when Omaha leaders said the new hotel would be a boon for downtown.

In 1968, City Councilman and future Mayor Al Veys said of the project: “This is just the shot in the arm that downtown needs. I see no reason we can’t vacate the street for the Hilton.”