Roseann Moring, OWH wrote:
The major parking lot at the CenturyLink Center, which has been envisioned as a potential centerpiece for north downtown's growth, could be on its way toward development.
The Metropolitan Entertainment and Convention Authority currently controls the site and leases it from the City of Omaha, which owns the property. MECA officials hope to find a plan to replaces the 850 parking stalls in that lot within a year, Board Chairman Dana Bradford said at the board meeting Thursday.
The site is bounded by Mike Fahey Street to the north, Cass Street to the south, 10th Street to the east and 12th Street to the west.
MECA wouldn't want a tall building to obstruct TDA's view of the Omaha skyline... Sure, let's just put more suburban hotels and bars that will only be used for 2 weeks out of the year.
When fortune smiles on something as violent and ugly as revenge, it seems proof like no other that not only does God exist, you're doing his will.
RNcyanide wrote:MECA wouldn't want a tall building to obstruct TDA's view of the Omaha skyline... Sure, let's just put more suburban hotels and bars that will only be used for 2 weeks out of the year.
I doubt the city would want another hotel. I'm seeing residences, a nice rooftop deck/bar with views of the stadium.
I can't for the life of me find the rendering that was in one of the master plans that showed a potential plan for Lot B. It had a parking garage with an area on the top floor that included Wrigley-esque seating.
With HDR and Shamrock happening at the same time, this is the most "large" construction we have witnessed at the same time in Omaha in my lifetime. In the early 2000's we had First National and UP, but hopefully this time the momentum can keep going.
Pages 132-134 detail plans for Lot B. Apparently the city wanted another hotel, and a Power and Light style entertainment district along with 3 parking garages with ground level retail.
I doubt 3 garages ends up being what happens. They would have to be city built if that were the case. You could easily get the ~1000 stalls they would probably need in two garages or in structures with housing involved.
RNcyanide wrote:MECA wouldn't want a tall building to obstruct TDA's view of the Omaha skyline... Sure, let's just put more suburban hotels and bars that will only be used for 2 weeks out of the year.
I doubt the city would want another hotel. I'm seeing residences, a nice rooftop deck/bar with views of the stadium.
I'm thinking residences would be a better idea as well. That way you could have people paying premium prices for the valuable amenities and they would be there year round to support businesses like the Slowdown and the Sokolof theater.
skinzfan23 wrote:With HDR and Shamrock happening at the same time, this is the most "large" construction we have witnessed at the same time in Omaha in my lifetime. In the early 2000's we had First National and UP, but hopefully this time the momentum can keep going.
We also had CenturyLink Center, the 1st National Tech Center, Morrison Stadium (and many other CU projects), and then followed by the Holland Center and Riverfront Place. Things were really rolling then.
skinzfan23 wrote:With HDR and Shamrock happening at the same time, this is the most "large" construction we have witnessed at the same time in Omaha in my lifetime. In the early 2000's we had First National and UP, but hopefully this time the momentum can keep going.
We also had CenturyLink Center, the 1st National Tech Center, Morrison Stadium (and many other CU projects), and then followed by the Holland Center and Riverfront Place. Things were really rolling then.
Greg
Plus the Bob Kerrey Bridge, Lewis & Cark Landing, Gallup HQ, OWH Press building, Paxton, and many other warehouse-to-condo conversions nearby, like 1101 Jackson, Ford Warehouse, and also SOMA, Keneko, and many others. It's been pretty steady since the mid 90s, with somewhat of a slow-down 2008-2011.
He said "They are some big, ugly red brick buildings" ...and then they were gone.
Oh yeah...forgot about that stadium thing...and I was just there last Friday. Wallstreet Tower is probably the biggest void from the 2008-2011 period that didn't happen.
It is very exciting something might actually happen in the Lot B area. You have to think MECA is feeling some pressure to keep up with Lincoln's Pinnacle & KC's Power & Light.
He said "They are some big, ugly red brick buildings" ...and then they were gone.
I'm not sure about pressure, but I'm sure they've heard feedback. The area's directly outside those arenas are so much better than the Clink. Between Shamrock and Lot B, the gap will be narrowed significantly.
Ideally I think they should build parking garages with ground floor retail in a way where it would be cheap and easy to convert the parking garage floors to apartments some day. Obviously apartments with ground floor retail right off the bat would be more ideal but the parking garage into future apartments idea is probably more realistic.
Assuming the Tetrad site goes forth with the grocery store, the best use of this property would be to get the "services" needed to REALLY kickstart additional residential growth in the area:
- A multi-story "general goods" dealer like Target
- A gas station/convenience store, similar to the Cubby's in the Old Market
With the Tetrad grocer and the above two, you've got just about everything available downtown. Let the surrounding North Downtown properties like The Yard turn into residential areas - with a big block of city-owned property such as Lot B, you include the necessary businesses that would allow people to really live/work/play downtown.
Oh wow, an urban Target would be an amazing get. If I could only have one of either an urban Target or a 300 foot tower be built next year, I'd choose the Target. You're right, that is really what is key to kickstarting more residential growth.
It would only take one large parking garage to more than replace all of the parking in lot B. If you rebuilt the street grid but left the streets as pedestrian only it would create a really unique public space. Ground level restaurants and bars with patios opening up on to the pedestrian walkway would create a exciting atmosphere during events like concerts, or conventions and of course the CWS. I have seen pedestrian spaces like this that have bar and restaurant patios as islands in the middle of the pedestrian only street.
Joe_Sovereign wrote:It would only take one large parking garage to more than replace all of the parking in lot B. If you rebuilt the street grid but left the streets as pedestrian only it would create a really unique public space. Ground level restaurants and bars with patios opening up on to the pedestrian walkway would create a exciting atmosphere during events like concerts, or conventions and of course the CWS. I have seen pedestrian spaces like this that have bar and restaurant patios as islands in the middle of the pedestrian only street.
East Fourth in Cleveland is a good example, but with historic buildings.
The garage behind PacLife in Aksarben has roughly the same amount of stalls as Lot B currently does just to show the scale of garage minimum needed.
Joe_Sovereign wrote:It would only take one large parking garage to more than replace all of the parking in lot B. If you rebuilt the street grid but left the streets as pedestrian only it would create a really unique public space. Ground level restaurants and bars with patios opening up on to the pedestrian walkway would create a exciting atmosphere during events like concerts, or conventions and of course the CWS. I have seen pedestrian spaces like this that have bar and restaurant patios as islands in the middle of the pedestrian only street.
East Fourth in Cleveland is a good example, but with historic buildings.
The garage behind PacLife in Aksarben has roughly the same amount of stalls as Lot B currently does just to show the scale of garage minimum needed.
I was thinking something along the lines of the Iowa City Pedestrian Mall. 1 block would be a parking garage with ground level retail and a private green space on top for corporate events, weddings, etc. The other three blocks would be broken up into individual parcels where individual developers would build individual buildings. Definitely not each block as a single uniform building. Ground level retail and 3 floor minimum for each building.