Omaha Forums

Parking meters coming to Blackstone?

iamjacobm wrote:Parking meters coming to Blackstone?

I didn't have parking problems when I went there a couple times but have heard other people did, might be a good idea.

Linkin5 wrote:

iamjacobm wrote:Parking meters coming to Blackstone?

I didn't have parking problems when I went there a couple times but have heard other people did, might be a good idea.

The lot behind Mula is actually pretty large. Never have trouble back there.

136 more parking meters being added along Farnam and some side streets.

Midwestern wrote: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?

I was at an event at the Durham several years ago and they said they have lots of photos pre-1930's or 1940's but then it really drops off.

In other news. The Feta's sign is up along with a huge "Drive Though" sign.

Ok, thanks to Brad for excising the non Blackstone posts from this thread for us..., so back to real news...

I talked to Benson Brewery reps (head brewer) at the Great Nebraska Beer Fest yesterday... Their taproom/deli project is officially dead, they sold the building to a 'realtor', and it seems that North End is dead also, they still have 'first dibs' but it seems out of their hands right now.

Coyote wrote:I talked to Benson Brewery reps (head brewer) at the Great Nebraska Beer Fest yesterday... Their taproom/deli project is officially dead, they sold the building to a 'realtor', and it seems that North End is dead also, they still have 'first dibs' but it seems out of their hands right now.

Is Benson Brewery itself in any jeopardy?

Coyote wrote:Ok, thanks to Brad for excising the non Blackstone posts from this thread for us..., so back to real news...

I talked to Benson Brewery reps (head brewer) at the Great Nebraska Beer Fest yesterday... Their taproom/deli project is officially dead, they sold the building to a 'realtor', and it seems that North End is dead also, they still have 'first dibs' but it seems out of their hands right now.

I wonder if their expansion in their main location is going to happen as well, last time I checked there was no updates.

Linkin5 wrote:

Coyote wrote:Ok, thanks to Brad for excising the non Blackstone posts from this thread for us..., so back to real news...

I talked to Benson Brewery reps (head brewer) at the Great Nebraska Beer Fest yesterday... Their taproom/deli project is officially dead, they sold the building to a 'realtor', and it seems that North End is dead also, they still have 'first dibs' but it seems out of their hands right now.

I wonder if their expansion in their main location is going to happen as well, last time I checked there was no updates.

The space was mostly built out when I saw it last. That was a month or so ago.

Coyote wrote:I talked to Benson Brewery reps (head brewer) at the Great Nebraska Beer Fest yesterday... Their taproom/deli project is officially dead, they sold the building to a 'realtor', and it seems that North End is dead also, they still have 'first dibs' but it seems out of their hands right now.

That's too bad. However the Blackstone is so hot right now, I'm sure it wont take long for that space to get snapped up. Assuming they don't ask to much for the spot.

iamjacobm wrote:

Coyote wrote:The Craigslist help wanted adds for Mula mentioned a coffee shop in the neighborhood. Jacob, you are filling in a few blanks spaces today!

Found another one!

16 apartments going into this building. They will take the awnings off the front and punch windows in the west side of it.

Finally took the awful awnings off this one. Already looks a lot better.

iamjacobm wrote:Found another one!

So this is at 3814 Farnam St.?
The owner of record looks like a RE Broker, I don't see projects on their website. So who is proposing the rehab?

I like the way the rendering of the building at 41st & Harney makes it look like it floats on a country like windows backdrop. It completely ignores the surrounding building that it will be setting next to it including this 16 unit conversion. http://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews ... =300%2C169

U R my Helix wrote:

iamjacobm wrote:Found another one!

So this is at 3814 Farnam St.?
The owner of record looks like a RE Broker, I don't see projects on their website. So who is proposing the rehab?

Monte Froehlich with U.S. Property out of Lincoln. Prior experience with historic rehabs. Also owns the Quartermaster Depot off 22nd/Woolworth.

How did we revive a this old photo post.... Time warp thread?

SaveOmaha wrote:

U R my Helix wrote:

iamjacobm wrote:Found another one!

So this is at 3814 Farnam St.?
The owner of record looks like a RE Broker, I don't see projects on their website. So who is proposing the rehab?

Monte Froehlich with U.S. Property out of Lincoln. Prior experience with historic rehabs. Also owns the Quartermaster Depot off 22nd/Woolworth.

Yes I noticed that I saw that the web site says "for lease" it looked like commercial space leasing, not an apartment for lease site. Will look closer next time. I loved his reference in the Quartermaster property article about it being zombie proof. I think we need a thread on zombie proof sites in Omaha. Just in case!

iamjacobm wrote:Food vendor rig that will offer "Gourmet Waffle Sliders" is a few days away from their Kickstarter ending. I have seen the kitchen parked behind Scriptown for a while now.

And it looks like they are done, on to a catering business.

Surly Chap Barbers adding online appointments, adding a fourth barber and extending their hours to 8-7 during the week. They are bumping the price though. A haircut there for $15 was a steal though.

Sullivan's patio looking great! Too bad they are just getting it done in time for winter.

3910 Farnam, the last bay to the east of Oxide is being renovated into a bar...

Lazy-i.com mentioned today the rumored music venue slated for Blackstone. I would not be surprised at all, given the apparent rift between him and Saddle Creek, that this is a new venture backed by Conor Oberst and it will be at the Hotel Frank location.

A bunch of new developments announced for the Blackstone area today. Via the OWH:

» At 3921 Farnam St., a 107-year-old inactive storefront previously filled with junk is to be transformed into 1,050 square feet of retail space. Its exposed brick walls, creative floor tile and small outdoor area makes it suitable for a deli, ice cream parlor or unique store, developers said. Redevelopment cost is estimated at $232,000.

» At 3913-3919 Farnam St., a four-unit town home project is to be remodeled, along with a back courtyard area. Rents for the three-bedroom dwellings in the middle of the commercial strip could run up to $1,700. Estimated redevelopment cost is $844,000.

» At 3909 Farnam St., a day care structure built on a slope is to be revamped to provide two levels of shops, some that open onto Harney Street and others to Farnam. Lund likened the tiered look, the French-doored shops and the future facade to that of a downtown New Orleans-style structure. The 5,500-square-foot transformation is to cost about $1.5 million.

» At 124 S. 39th St., a rundown apartment complex built in the early 1960s is being gutted and turned into 30 one-bedroom apartments fashioned with a retro vibe, including black-and-white floors. Features include covered parking and an open-air interior courtyard to be strung with lights. Rent is about $750. The project cost is about $2.3 million.

» At 404-406 S. 40th St., a nine-unit apartment complex will be renovated and leased to UNMC tenants.

» At 3814 Farnam St., a two-story 1916 brick historic building is to become 5,500 square feet of ground-level commercial space and six high-end loft apartments on the upper level. For years it’s been used for storage. Redevelopment cost is about $2.5 million.

http://www.omaha.com/money/blackstone-d ... ca7f5.html

Great projects. Curious (and a little disappointed) as to why so many renovations instead of new construction. I'm all for preserving historical character, but some of those buildings are nothing special. Are there zoning restrictions in place keeping things from going over 2/3 stories? Or is it because the lots are so small?

Taco wrote:Great projects. Curious (and a little disappointed) as to why so many renovations instead of new construction. I'm all for preserving historical character, but some of those buildings are nothing special. Are there zoning restrictions in place keeping things from going over 2/3 stories? Or is it because the lots are so small?

Mike Harper, is that you??

Taco wrote:Great projects. Curious (and a little disappointed) as to why so many renovations instead of new construction. I'm all for preserving historical character, but some of those buildings are nothing special. Are there zoning restrictions in place keeping things from going over 2/3 stories? Or is it because the lots are so small?

The neighborhood has good bones, just needed some TLC. They are currently building two new apartment buildings with another larger one announced to begin in a year or two as well. Should be a great mix of new and old.

RNcyanide wrote:

Taco wrote:Great projects. Curious (and a little disappointed) as to why so many renovations instead of new construction. I'm all for preserving historical character, but some of those buildings are nothing special. Are there zoning restrictions in place keeping things from going over 2/3 stories? Or is it because the lots are so small?

Mike Harper, is that you??

Look at the apartment building on 39th that they are redoing and tell me it has any unique historical value. Other projects, like the one described as "New Orleans-esque" seem far more promising to me.

Some people are skyscraper size queens, im a density guy.

These recent rehab and infill projects are great examples of healthy incremental development, which shows that the area is making a strong come back. It's great to see buildings get reused even if they aren't historic, assuming the development is worthwhile.

The rendering for the 3909 Farnam St location where the day care is shows the North side of the building, with two story shops. The caption indicates apartments on the South side but does not indicate the number of units. The property has a lot of parking lot and playground in the rear. Any one know the proposed unit count for this one?

These small-scale projects are exactly what a vibrant neighborhood needs to both retain it's character and remain resilient. The large-scale apartments that take 4 or more lots and fill it with one large building are good anchors, but if you build an entire neighborhood of them, you loose the variety and street presence of a mix of smaller buildings with different uses, prices points, and style.

I'm liking the redevelopment of the Blackstone more and more with each new project.

I totally agree. This thinking should apply to downtown too. So much of the variety it used to have has been lost by "superblock" or whole-block scaled developments, wiping out the rich variety of small-scaled buildings.

iamjacobm wrote:Not sure if they are reclaiming some of the materials from the homes they are tearing down behind the Dundee Bank location. They seem to be demoing awfully delicately.

That would be a very responsible thing to do.

iamjacobm wrote:Not sure if they are reclaiming some of the materials from the homes they are tearing down behind the Dundee Bank location. They seem to be demoing awfully delicately.

Yeah, last time I walked past, they had crews of guys removing siding by hand. It clearly wasn't necessary for demolition safety, and any hazardous materials (asbestos siding, etc) had already been removed. I would be interested to know what they're doing.

I believe the company hired to tear the houses down recycles all of the materials. More of a "deconstruction" rather than demoing it and throwing it all in a landfill.

I had to run a bike errand down this way last night and noticed they're starting on a new facade on the front of one of those crappy-looking buildings on the south side. It looks like construction is going to keep a pretty steady pace here.

I joined the Blackstone Business Association last week and the following was discussed.

The purchaser or 3909 Farnam is putting a restaurant and guitar shop on the north side where the day care was.

5 of the "acorn style" lights that are being put all over downtown and other areas are being put on Farnam St between 39th and 40th this year. There are plans for 30 to be placed on Farnam between midtown crossing and the med center.

Just a little north of the Nite Owl, this residence is being renovated into a restaurant:

The Garden Court Apartments just north of The Night Owl will be redeveloped by Greenslates into The Slips in Blackstone, 30 affordable ($750) one bedroom apartments.

frankt wrote:Almost Music from Benson is moving to 3925 Farnam.

And an ice cream store will be going in the brick building to the east (3921 Farnam). I guess the Tap Room is done...

Speaking of Blackstone Improvements... This will be 3907 Farnam (where Ground Floor Guitar is going), a part of Clarity's BD3 projects. They also own 3921 Farnam, where the Ice Cream store will go as well as the two story fourplex building in between (I have to wonder what they might have planned for here). Blackstone Station is also part of the BD3 LLC. Blackstone Station is part of their Blackstone 38-41 LLC Project.

Clarity Development is also involved in the South Hill Rowhouses, 30 Metropolitan, and Blair Commons

iamjacobm wrote:Rendering for the old daycare building. That balcony will be cool.