Official: North Downtown Discussion

Downtown, Midtown, and all parts east of 72nd.

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PotatoeEatsFish
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Re: Official: North Downtown Discussion

Post by PotatoeEatsFish »

EricHaley wrote:The thought of tearing down DoubleTree for better access isn't too far fetched. The city will eventually extend 16th street across the Missouri River where it will connect with I-680. I'd imagine Omaha wanting to turn 16th st into a major gateway to the city.
A city that hosts many major events getting rid of one of the biggest hotels downtown? :what: I see no logic in that. Especially since they just renovated the whole thing. Maybe if they announced a hotel of equal or greater size on the other half of the lot I would get behind the idea. But good luck trying to close down that place.
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Joe_Sovereign
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Re: Official: North Downtown Discussion

Post by Joe_Sovereign »

Why do we want to tear down this historic building again?
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nativeomahan
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Re: Official: North Downtown Discussion

Post by nativeomahan »

EricHaley wrote:The thought of tearing down DoubleTree for better access isn't too far fetched. The city will eventually extend 16th street across the Missouri River where it will connect with I-680. I'd imagine Omaha wanting to turn 16th st into a major gateway to the city.
You simply cannot be serious.

The city cannot spend a dime of money it does not have. And even if it had the money, it can't spend a dime to build infrastructure in another state.
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S33
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Re: Official: North Downtown Discussion

Post by S33 »

nativeomahan wrote:
EricHaley wrote:The thought of tearing down DoubleTree for better access isn't too far fetched. The city will eventually extend 16th street across the Missouri River where it will connect with I-680. I'd imagine Omaha wanting to turn 16th st into a major gateway to the city.
You simply cannot be serious.

The city cannot spend a dime of money it does not have. And even if it had the money, it can't spend a dime to build infrastructure in another state.
that would probably be, what, a 30 million dollar bridge?

Let's get the sewers separated so we can stop dumping poo into the Missouri, first!
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jessep28
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Re: Official: North Downtown Discussion

Post by jessep28 »

S33 wrote:
nativeomahan wrote:
EricHaley wrote:The thought of tearing down DoubleTree for better access isn't too far fetched. The city will eventually extend 16th street across the Missouri River where it will connect with I-680. I'd imagine Omaha wanting to turn 16th st into a major gateway to the city.
You simply cannot be serious.

The city cannot spend a dime of money it does not have. And even if it had the money, it can't spend a dime to build infrastructure in another state.
that would probably be, what, a 30 million dollar bridge?

Let's get the sewers separated so we can stop dumping poo into the Missouri, first!
There were discussions about such a project ten years ago:

http://www.nonpareilonline.com/news/iow ... 6a7aa.html
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Re: Official: North Downtown Discussion

Post by EricHaley »

I was in no way suggesting it may happen tomorrow, or even within my lifetime, but whenever the site is redeveloped...
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iamjacobm
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Re: Official: North Downtown Discussion

Post by iamjacobm »

And the building is torn down on 16th and Burt.
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Re: Official: North Downtown Discussion

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:banana:
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Coyote
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Re: Official: North Downtown Discussion

Post by Coyote »

iamjacobm wrote:And the building is torn down on 16th and Burt.
Just the west building right, not the one to the east also?
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Re: Official: North Downtown Discussion

Post by iamjacobm »

Coyote wrote:
iamjacobm wrote:And the building is torn down on 16th and Burt.
Just the west building right, not the one to the east also?
Both. The spanish tiles are rubble.
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Re: Official: North Downtown Discussion

Post by Coyote »

Any word on anything more than a parking lot. An extended patio of TSR?
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Re: Official: North Downtown Discussion

Post by Coyote »

iamjacobm wrote:Image

Really cool potential for a building like this.
Image

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Linkin5
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Re: Official: North Downtown Discussion

Post by Linkin5 »

I hate how many buildings have been torn down, is it all Creighton doing it?
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PotatoeEatsFish
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Re: Official: North Downtown Discussion

Post by PotatoeEatsFish »

A lot of the buildings they tear down are in rough shape. They probably just don't want to deal with renovating them.
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iamjacobm
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Re: Official: North Downtown Discussion

Post by iamjacobm »

Linkin5 wrote:I hate how many buildings have been torn down, is it all Creighton doing it?
They have done a lot. The two more recent ones along 16th were Max I Walker and Kiewit.
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Re: Official: North Downtown Discussion

Post by Coyote »

Just found out in a meeting today that Creighton has no need for the two buildings next to the Happy Bar and while not going up for sale, they would entertain a bid. They do not have plans on crossing 16th St.
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MTO
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Re: Official: North Downtown Discussion

Post by MTO »

Doze 'em! :gun:
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Coyote
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Re: Official: North Downtown Discussion

Post by Coyote »

MTO wrote:Doze 'em! :gun:
Because you are an old friend I'll take that as sarcasm.... :shrug:

But now that KU is under construction, and TSR seems to be taking off, this quarter block could become a real cool destination.
I have heard from someone who took the time to look at the structural integrity of these buildings, and with just a little work, this could really become an historic corner. Just look at its character, it's potential! Look at what will surround it. I wish I had the coin to invest, it's return is just around the corner...
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skinzfan23
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Re: Official: North Downtown Discussion

Post by skinzfan23 »

I love those buildings, especially the one on the north.
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Re: Official: North Downtown Discussion

Post by MTO »

Given these buildings will inevitably become something relevant does that mean NôDô has reached critical mass?
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Taco
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Re: Official: North Downtown Discussion

Post by Taco »

MTO wrote:Given these buildings will inevitably become something relevant does that mean NôDô has reached critical mass?
I can't see them being utilized for something functional for at least 2 more years. Still tons of open space and development probably won't pick up until you can see the finish line for The Lot.
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Re: Official: North Downtown Discussion

Post by Joe_Sovereign »

How much of that block is owned by Creighton?
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Re: Official: North Downtown Discussion

Post by OmahaOmaha »

Those buildings would be great for a new red light disctrict...or "V" and "P" district. Open an adult book store, a gay bathhouse, a straight swinger club, and a "no tell" motel.
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Re: Official: North Downtown Discussion

Post by omaha79 »

I really hope those buildings around the Happy Bar survive. There is some character there and it would be nice to keep some connections to the architectural past of that area. It was always a blighted area from the time I was a child, but in some ways it's almost sad that the entire area is almost totally unrecognizable now. Many were in bad shape, but that part of downtown has lost dozens of 100+ year old buildings.
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Re: Official: North Downtown Discussion

Post by omaha79 »

I've had no luck, but I still wish I could find some photos of that area from the 80's or 90's for context. I would love to see what was once occupying these blocks vs. what's there now. Everything has changed between the slowdown, Morrison Stadium, the women's arena, and the athletic facility.
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GetUrban
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Re: Official: North Downtown Discussion

Post by GetUrban »

That's a nice collection of small storefronts. I hope they can all be rehabbed with their facades restored back to near original appearance. The adjacent vacant blocks would be great for row house style residential or a new version of the small storefronts at street level with residential above. Assuming you could find businesses to fill in at street level. That's the difficult part of rehabbing that type of building....finding tenants.
He said "They are some big, ugly red brick buildings"
...and then they were gone.
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PotatoeEatsFish
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Re: Official: North Downtown Discussion

Post by PotatoeEatsFish »

They can't tear the Happy Bar down! We park by that all the time at Creighton Soccer games.
I could see why they want to tear them down because the block is in really rough shape. However they're pretty cool.
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iamjacobm
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Re: Official: North Downtown Discussion

Post by iamjacobm »

MTO wrote:Given these buildings will inevitably become something relevant does that mean NôDô has reached critical mass?
Haha critical mass is not how NDT would be described...
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Re: Official: North Downtown Discussion

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OmahaOmaha wrote:Those buildings would be great for a new red light disctrict...or "V" and "P" district. Open an adult book store, a gay bathhouse, a straight swinger club, and a "no tell" motel.
As someone who now lives in Vegas, I totally see the value in your proposition...seriously I do. Omaha needs a bit of an edge to keep things interesting.
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Re: Official: North Downtown Discussion

Post by OmahaOmaha »

daveoma wrote:
OmahaOmaha wrote:Those buildings would be great for a new red light disctrict...or "V" and "P" district. Open an adult book store, a gay bathhouse, a straight swinger club, and a "no tell" motel.
As someone who now lives in Vegas, I totally see the value in your proposition...seriously I do. Omaha needs a bit of an edge to keep things interesting.
It could help bring some conventions to Omaha and lots of tourist dollars. If you ever get to Amsterdam, you have to check out their red light district.
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Brad
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Re: Official: North Downtown Discussion

Post by Brad »

As long as we don't drop in to another recession, I see North Downtown picking up momentum. I think the addition of two more apartments are really going to help add people to the area. My hope is that another apartment developer or two can add a couple more urban style apartments to the area. The more people that are in that area 7 days a week, the better off it will be.

The other thing I like about North Downtown is this. To me it seems like the more "organic" areas of town like the Blackstone and Benson seem to be doing really well right no. Benson has been growing for almost a decade away now. While the Blackstone is really hot now, its been steadily growing for many years now. I see North downtown the same way. I think the stadium actually hurt growth, but now the area is starting to overcome that and we should see it start to take off sooner than later. The more year round people we can get in that area, the less valuable 2 week a year business is.
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iamjacobm
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Re: Official: North Downtown Discussion

Post by iamjacobm »

I think getting Kiewit here is huge. Daytime population, a majority of whom will be out of town guests w/o a car.

Where I still am not entirely optimistic is the landholders in the area. It feels like CU and corporate interests have too much control where it makes it hard for ambitious developers to have opportunities.

What you said about the stadium hurting the neighborhood is spot on. It made land prices skyrocket which I think led to my concern listed above, that the urban developers missed out on land deals. In other cities there are numerous examples of DT adjacent areas that get bought up by developers on the cheap then turned into incredibly thriving areas full of new construction. NDT didn't ever get an opportunity for developers with fresh ideas to get a foothold.
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Re: Official: North Downtown Discussion

Post by skinzfan23 »

Great to see the empty bay getting a tenant.
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justnick
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Re: Official: North Downtown Discussion

Post by justnick »

Coyote wrote:Restaurant will open in north downtown spot formerly occupied by American Apparel
Sarah Baker Hansen / World-Herald staff writer wrote:Hook & Lime Tacos + Tequila will open this fall.
Menu highlights will include a smoked fish and avocado torta and guajillo chile braised short-rib tacos, elote corn fritters and a house-made churro bowl filled with dulce de leche ice cream.
The bar will serve six signature margaritas, craft cocktails and both Mexican and local beers on tap.
totally posted about this on another subforum before seeing this. sry!
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Coyote
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Re: Official: North Downtown Discussion

Post by Coyote »

Coyote wrote:Restaurant will open in north downtown spot formerly occupied by American Apparel
Sarah Baker Hansen / World-Herald staff writer wrote:Hook & Lime Tacos + Tequila will open this fall.
Menu highlights will include a smoked fish and avocado torta and guajillo chile braised short-rib tacos, elote corn fritters and a house-made churro bowl filled with dulce de leche ice cream.
The bar will serve six signature margaritas, craft cocktails and both Mexican and local beers on tap.
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Greg S
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Re: Official: North Downtown Discussion

Post by Greg S »

Is there a new hotel going up in this area? Noticed something unders construction on the nw end of the existing North Downtown hotels.

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Brad
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Re: Official: North Downtown Discussion

Post by Brad »

Greg S wrote:Is there a new hotel going up in this area? Noticed something unders construction on the nw end of the existing North Downtown hotels.
The Nicholas Flats Apartment Building?
http://www.eomahaforums.com/viewtopic.p ... olas+flats
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Linkin5
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Re: Official: North Downtown Discussion

Post by Linkin5 »

I just assumed the Nichols Building's current state is the final product considering its been sitting like that for so long.
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Greg S
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Re: Official: North Downtown Discussion

Post by Greg S »

That might have been it. Looked unfinished but it was back behind and west of the Holiday Inn.

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Re: Official: North Downtown Discussion

Post by Coyote »

Nichols Flats from two weeks ago;

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