Search found 208 matches

by Midwestern
Sat Sep 19, 2015 11:11 pm
Forum: Urban Omaha Development
Topic: Alvine Building (13th and Cass)
Replies: 179
Views: 25142

Re: 13th and Cass (WST Showroom)

I honestly wouldn't be worried whatsoever that this lot only got 2 proposals. This is easily the least desirable of all of the DT area lots that will be up for development soon.

Now if Lot B doesn't get at least 3 or 4 good proposals, then I'd start getting worried...
by Midwestern
Sat Sep 19, 2015 11:07 pm
Forum: Urban Omaha Development
Topic: Downtown parking update?
Replies: 211
Views: 27039

Re: Downtown parking update?

I guess I didn't realize how big of a problem the workers/residents grabbing up all the on-street parking was. Obviously it makes way more sense for the vitality of downtown for residents and workers to be parking in garages, so whatever makes that happen more is a good first step.
by Midwestern
Sat Sep 19, 2015 9:51 pm
Forum: Urban Omaha Development
Topic: Downtown parking update?
Replies: 211
Views: 27039

Re: Downtown parking update?

That's why I think the garages should be either free for a few hours or extremely cheap. The low cost for the garages can end up being subsidized by the higher rates at the parking meters. It is going to take a gradual shift in the mindset of Omahans before the price of parking downtown can be anywh...
by Midwestern
Sat Sep 19, 2015 3:07 am
Forum: Statistics
Topic: Most Conservative/Liberal Cities by Forbes
Replies: 22
Views: 5521

Re: Most Conservative/Liberal Cities by Forbes

As someone pointed out earlier, Omaha's city limits as well as a good chunk of the more conservative parts of Sarpy Co. no less, just recently voted in a Democratic congressman during a year not so favorable to Democrats overall --- that certainly puts our city a good ways out from a general label o...
by Midwestern
Fri Sep 18, 2015 6:01 pm
Forum: Urban Omaha Development
Topic: Downtown parking update?
Replies: 211
Views: 27039

Re: Downtown parking update?

The point of the changes is in no way meant to get increased revenue, so I don't understand why they can't make one or more city garages/lots basically free for a certain amount of hours (3 might be good) after 5:00 PM and on Saturdays. That way, if you want the on-street parking convenience, yes yo...
by Midwestern
Thu Sep 17, 2015 5:52 pm
Forum: Urban Omaha Development
Topic: Alvine Building (13th and Cass)
Replies: 179
Views: 25142

Re: 13th and Cass (WST Showroom)

A perfect place for that Lanoha proposal if it doesn't get chosen would be the northeast corner of 10th & Dodge. Hint hint............
by Midwestern
Thu Sep 17, 2015 5:50 pm
Forum: Urban Omaha Development
Topic: Alvine Building (13th and Cass)
Replies: 179
Views: 25142

Re: 13th and Cass (WST Showroom)

I really like Lanoha's project on a different lot. Ideally every project would have retail, office and residential in NDT, but in reality it is much harder. I don't think retail here has much of a chance. It is basically on an interstate ramp, here is no parking on the street in front and with the ...
by Midwestern
Thu Sep 17, 2015 1:15 am
Forum: Urban Omaha Development
Topic: Alvine Building (13th and Cass)
Replies: 179
Views: 25142

Re: 13th and Cass (WST Showroom)

Out of the two renderings/proposals, I prefer the Lanoha proposal better because it includes retail while the other doesn't, although I like the look of the Alchemy one a lot more.
by Midwestern
Thu Sep 10, 2015 3:35 pm
Forum: Nebraska and Iowa
Topic: Des Moines Convention Hotel
Replies: 19
Views: 1995

Re: Des Moines Convention Hotel

The design is decent, but nothing great. Although..... it's better than our Hilton and those hotels on Cuming.

But I'll take our Marriott over this one by far though. 8)
by Midwestern
Mon Aug 31, 2015 1:06 am
Forum: Business
Topic: ConAgra moving to Chicago
Replies: 399
Views: 240438

Re: ConAgra moving to Chicago

The clock tower would still easily be visible because of that middle courtyard area. But that clock tower isn't super amazing or anything, so requiring it to be a focal point makes little sense...
by Midwestern
Sun Aug 30, 2015 11:09 pm
Forum: Business
Topic: ConAgra moving to Chicago
Replies: 399
Views: 240438

Re: ConAgra moving to Chicago

Works for me. Would prefer 5-8 story buildings though.
by Midwestern
Sun Aug 30, 2015 10:36 pm
Forum: Business
Topic: ConAgra moving to Chicago
Replies: 399
Views: 240438

Re: ConAgra moving to Chicago

I would really like to see 9th street re-created, and then have some new buildings along 10th street. That way, we can keep the ConAgra buildings, keep Heartland of America park, but make better use of the undeveloped land around there.
by Midwestern
Fri Aug 21, 2015 11:21 pm
Forum: Business
Topic: ConAgra moving to Chicago
Replies: 399
Views: 240438

Re: ConAgra moving to Chicago

Well at this point it seems fairly inevitable that at least some jobs from ConAgra will be leaving Omaha, but I hope that at least some stay in the metro area.

They should move whatever jobs stay in Omaha back into the old ConAgra building on 15th street. 8)
by Midwestern
Thu Aug 20, 2015 11:41 pm
Forum: Urban Omaha Development
Topic: Urban Grocery Store
Replies: 266
Views: 35365

Re: Urban Grocery Store

Dear Hy-Vee:

We want something almost exactly like that in downtown Omaha.

Thanks!
by Midwestern
Thu Aug 20, 2015 10:23 pm
Forum: Urban Omaha Development
Topic: Urban Grocery Store
Replies: 266
Views: 35365

Re: Urban Grocery Store

downtowngrocery.jpg
downtowngrocery.jpg (152.02 KiB) Viewed 4800 times
Here is what the Des Moines Hy-Vee will look like.
by Midwestern
Thu Aug 20, 2015 4:46 pm
Forum: Urban Omaha Development
Topic: Gene Leahy Mall Remodel
Replies: 2062
Views: 418546

Re: Official: Gene Leahy Mall

Well it's an understatement to say I'm not a fan of the GLM, but if they implemented all of your ideas Brad, I would be pretty content. They go a long way toward addressing a lot of people's criticisms of the current functionality of GLM.
by Midwestern
Thu Aug 20, 2015 4:42 pm
Forum: Urban Omaha Development
Topic: Historic Preservation Discussion v2015
Replies: 47
Views: 2164

Re: Historic Preservation Discussion v2015

Just goes to show you that, if they survive at all, buildings rarely look as good as they did early in their life. Especially if they were modified during the 1960s through the late1980s. Since the early 1990s, thankfully there has been greater emphasis on historic preservation/restoration. I don't...
by Midwestern
Thu Aug 20, 2015 4:35 pm
Forum: Urban Omaha Development
Topic: Moxy Hotel to replace OM Diner
Replies: 349
Views: 70515

Re: New building to replace OM Diner?

There is no chance it is selling for that price. Isn't there a way the city could make surface parking cost-prohibitive? Do other cities ever do that? I really think 10th to 16th, Douglas to Jones, should be off-limits to surface parking. Or at the very least, 10th to 13th.
by Midwestern
Thu Aug 20, 2015 4:31 pm
Forum: Photography and Videos
Topic: Jobber's Canyon
Replies: 54
Views: 5952

Re: Jobber's Canyon

That is what I will never understand and what disgusts me, is why ALL of the buildings except two had to be bulldozed. And I don't buy for one second that every single building in JC was a firetrap that was too far gone to have ever been saved. Give me a break. I'm sure people tried to say the exact...
by Midwestern
Thu Aug 20, 2015 12:36 am
Forum: Urban Omaha Development
Topic: Moxy Hotel to replace OM Diner
Replies: 349
Views: 70515

Re: New building to replace OM Diner?

Doubt we'll see any more JLofts type buildings any time soon. What % of JLofts is even sold/occupied?
by Midwestern
Thu Aug 20, 2015 12:30 am
Forum: Photography and Videos
Topic: Hotel Fontenelle Photos
Replies: 20
Views: 7209

Re: Hotel Fontenelle Photos

Fabulous photos, thank you for sharing!

Do you have any color photos of the old Post Office and/or the medical arts building and/or Old City Hall?
by Midwestern
Wed Aug 19, 2015 1:53 am
Forum: Urban Omaha Development
Topic: Gene Leahy Mall Remodel
Replies: 2062
Views: 418546

Re: Official: Gene Leahy Mall

This is probably a somewhat radical idea, but I really think it is time to just simply do away with the GLM now that the Capitol District development is actually happening. 1. It seems like a money pit to try and maintain it, and it usually ends up looking gross and disgusting anyway. 2. It basicall...
by Midwestern
Wed Aug 19, 2015 1:35 am
Forum: Urban Omaha Development
Topic: Historic Preservation Discussion v2015
Replies: 47
Views: 2164

Re: Blackstone Business Improvement District

Garrett wrote:
Midwestern wrote:No, that's where that 4-story brick Nebraska state office building is... a.k.a. the worst building in downtown besides the AT&T monstrosity.
At least the AT&T building is useful....
Oh I know, I was speaking purely of aesthetics. :)
by Midwestern
Tue Aug 18, 2015 10:32 pm
Forum: Urban Omaha Development
Topic: Historic Preservation Discussion v2015
Replies: 47
Views: 2164

Re: Blackstone Business Improvement District

No, that's where that 4-story brick Nebraska state office building is... a.k.a. the worst building in downtown besides the AT&T monstrosity.
by Midwestern
Mon Aug 17, 2015 9:08 pm
Forum: Projects Never Built
Topic: Downtown HDR Corporate Headquarters
Replies: 982
Views: 111576

Re: New HDR Corporate Headquarters

A 12-story building would be a gigantic letdown.
by Midwestern
Mon Aug 17, 2015 9:00 pm
Forum: Urban Omaha Development
Topic: Moxy Hotel to replace OM Diner
Replies: 349
Views: 70515

Re: New building to replace OM Diner?

This is listed for sale again. Price moved up to $2,395,000. Would be nice if this could finally be developed by the end of this decade...
by Midwestern
Sun Aug 16, 2015 10:53 pm
Forum: Rumors
Topic: RIP The Red Box (aka the State Building)
Replies: 56
Views: 4959

Re: RIP The Red Box (aka the State Building)

A lot of the Jobbers Canyon buildings were somewhat plain, but there were definitely 8-10 gems in there worth keeping for generations to come. But the old Woodmen tower is by far the "worst" historical loss. What a beautiful building. Thank you mr. Omaha so much for all of these color phot...
by Midwestern
Sat Aug 15, 2015 10:51 pm
Forum: Urban Omaha Development
Topic: Urban Grocery Store
Replies: 266
Views: 35365

Re: Urban Grocery Store

I get what you're getting at, but I doubt they would open a grocery store just as a gesture of good will that they knew would lose money. I think they realize that know is the time for both cities to get in on that potential market before someone else does.
by Midwestern
Sat Aug 15, 2015 1:47 pm
Forum: Urban Omaha Development
Topic: Urban Grocery Store
Replies: 266
Views: 35365

Re: Urban Grocery Store

Zip code 68102 had 6,102 residents at the 2010 Census. I would assume with all of the apartment projects over the past 5 years that that number is pretty close to 7,000 now. Zip code 50309 (Des Moines DT + East Village) had 5,431 residents at the 2010 Census. I would assume that if Hy-Vee feels the ...
by Midwestern
Sat Aug 15, 2015 1:35 pm
Forum: Urban Omaha Development
Topic: Dundee Theater
Replies: 206
Views: 40770

Re: Dundee Theater

If it was a converted Walgreens that saved the front facade, I would actually welcome that a lot. Much better than a vacant, probably never to re-open theater...

In my opinion, it's architecture and history that is worth saving, not necessarily the exact original use of said building.
by Midwestern
Sat Aug 15, 2015 1:49 am
Forum: Urban Omaha Development
Topic: Historic Preservation Discussion v2015
Replies: 47
Views: 2164

Re: Blackstone Business Improvement District

I'll go on.... For the record, I have dozens of color photos of Jobbers Canyon (and old downtown in general) and dozens of photos of the inside of many of those Jobbers buildings, and they are absolutely spectacular. Those buildings were in good to great condition, and the ONLY reason they were tor...
by Midwestern
Thu Aug 13, 2015 11:09 pm
Forum: Omaha Metro Area Government
Topic: Omaha Annexation 2015
Replies: 39
Views: 5291

Re: Omaha Annexation 2015

Stargazer wrote:Jean has already indicated she'll run for re-election... these suburban annexations will no doubt get her a considerable number of Republican voters. ;)
Bingo.
by Midwestern
Thu Aug 13, 2015 2:52 pm
Forum: Urban Omaha Development
Topic: Historic Preservation Discussion v2015
Replies: 47
Views: 2164

Re: Blackstone Business Improvement District

I can't believe nobody took color photos of the Jobber's Canyon buildings before they were demolished? Same with Hotel Fontenelle? And actually, even the old Post Office? Black and white photos often make things look better than they are so I wonder if anything could be gleaned from color photos of ...
by Midwestern
Thu Aug 13, 2015 2:41 pm
Forum: Urban Omaha Development
Topic: Urban Grocery Store
Replies: 266
Views: 35365

Re: Urban Grocery Store

I wish people were more concerned about getting another HQ or large sums of jobs downtown than a grocery store. Getting a grocery store downtown would go a long way toward convincing some more companies to re-locate downtown from the suburbs, and retain the companies that already are downtown. It i...
by Midwestern
Wed Aug 12, 2015 1:50 am
Forum: Urban Omaha Development
Topic: Urban Grocery Store
Replies: 266
Views: 35365

Re: Urban Grocery Store

To me, the sq feet of the space isn't that big of a deal, it is all about the pricing. THAT is what we are missing for downtown is a market where the groceries are priced evenly with other supermarkets in town. Patrick's is neat and all, but they don't come close to Hy-Vee/Bakers on prices. You actu...
by Midwestern
Tue Aug 11, 2015 2:29 pm
Forum: Urban Omaha Development
Topic: Urban Grocery Store
Replies: 266
Views: 35365

Re: Urban Grocery Store

My guess would be that one of the two is for sure Hy-Vee, and the second is either a smaller footprint Whole Foods or a Trader Joes. I think Trader Joes already has a lot of experience with urban locations.
by Midwestern
Tue Aug 11, 2015 2:23 pm
Forum: Urban Omaha Development
Topic: Urban Grocery Store
Replies: 266
Views: 35365

Re: Urban Grocery Store

I would think that only companies that already have a presence in Omaha would be looking to open a downtown store, especially since it has to be seen as a fairly un-proven/risky model.

So I would think Hy-Vee, Kroger (Bakers), Spartan Nash (Family Fare/No Frills/BagNSave), Trader Joes, etc.
by Midwestern
Sun Aug 09, 2015 10:20 pm
Forum: Urban Omaha Development
Topic: Urban Grocery Store
Replies: 266
Views: 35365

Re: Urban Grocery Store

Well, as long as the building with the grocery store is right up on the sidewalk (can't remember the urban planning term for a building with no set-back from the sidewalk) then having a surface lot wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. It would have to be a surface lot though, I can't see many ...
by Midwestern
Sun Aug 09, 2015 2:15 pm
Forum: Urban Omaha Development
Topic: Urban Grocery Store
Replies: 266
Views: 35365

Re: Urban Grocery Store

Well, as long as the building with the grocery store is right up on the sidewalk (can't remember the urban planning term for a building with no set-back from the sidewalk) then having a surface lot wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. It would have to be a surface lot though, I can't see many O...
by Midwestern
Sat Aug 08, 2015 1:00 pm
Forum: Urban Omaha Development
Topic: Urban Grocery Store
Replies: 266
Views: 35365

Re: Urban Grocery Store

Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, and Hy-Vee are realistically the only ones I could see looking at this right now, so probably two of those three. An urban Target would be amazing but I doubt Target or Wal-Mart are looking here, although I supposed Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market is an option. Anyway, the lo...