Omaha Forums

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? 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.

Why do we want to tear down this historic building again?

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.

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!

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

I was in no way suggesting it may happen tomorrow, or even within my lifetime, but whenever the site is redeveloped...

And the building is torn down on 16th and Burt.

iamjacobm wrote:And the building is torn down on 16th and Burt.

Just the west building right, not the one to the east also?

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.

Any word on anything more than a parking lot. An extended patio of TSR?

iamjacobm wrote:

Really cool potential for a building like this.

I hate how many buildings have been torn down, is it all Creighton doing it?

A lot of the buildings they tear down are in rough shape. They probably just don't want to deal with renovating them.

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.

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.

Doze 'em!

MTO wrote:Doze 'em!

Because you are an old friend I'll take that as sarcasm....

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...

I love those buildings, especially the one on the north.

Given these buildings will inevitably become something relevant does that mean NôDô has reached critical mass?

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.

How much of that block is owned by Creighton?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

Great to see the empty bay getting a tenant.

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!

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.

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

Greg

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

I just assumed the Nichols Building's current state is the final product considering its been sitting like that for so long.

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

Greg

Nichols Flats from two weeks ago;