Omaha Forums

Brite Ideas is moving west and the Blackstone boom continues.

http://www.omaha.com/money/longtime-hom ... 20ead.html

Owner Travis Freeman will move the holiday-decorations business this winter to a former Bag ’N Save supermarket at 156th and Blondo Streets. He’ll convert its old home at 3852 Farnam St. into about a dozen second-floor loft apartments and a street-level restaurant and retail space, joining a redevelopment wave in the Blackstone District.

A few years from now, Freeman plans to build a four-story, $15 million apartment building with retail space on property he owns just to the west. The 112 market-rate units would have balconies and underground parking.

I wish there was some brick incorporated into more than just the corner section, but I like the design compared to that same plain mixed-material modern design that we see over and over and over again across the country. This would be a very nice addition to a great street. Farnam has really taken off!

At first, I thought they were going to tear down the existing building (built in 1926) to build that, but the existing building will be redone first into 2nd floor apts and then later that building will be built to the west of the existing building.

Great addition in that case.

This looks like another fantastic project for the area. It's hard to believe how quickly and dramatically this neighborhood has changed.

I think the rendering looks good, but agree that it could include more brick. I'm sure the final design won't look like this early concept anyway.

If this is just a rendering of the renovations, and the building itself is not altered too severe, it looks like this building will be mostly brick, Ill have to see if I have a fairly recent photo of this building somewhere tonight.

Coyote wrote:If this is just a rendering of the renovations, and the building itself is not altered too severe, it looks like this building will be mostly brick, Ill have to see if I have a fairly recent photo of this building somewhere tonight.

The only existing structure in the rendering is the current Brite Ideas at the far end. The rendering is drawn from 39th and Farnam, looking east-northeast. Here's what it looks like now:


Whatever exterior finishes the new building will have, there's no doubt in my mind it will be a HUGE improvement from what's there now!

So, does this project include two properties, the Brite Ideas building and the 'one to the west'? Will it be one building or two?

Coyote wrote:So, does this project include two properties, the Brite Ideas building and the 'one to the west'? Will it be one building or two?

The first part of the project is the current Brite Ideas building. They are adding apts to the 2nd floor and restaurant/retail space to the ground level. The second part of the project will be the building in the rendering above. It will be built in about 3 years.

So, if I have my directions correct... this corner is just across the street from Nite Owl? so this ground level (retail?) will extend the Blackstone retail Corridor?

Coyote wrote:So, if I have my directions correct... this corner is just across the street from Nite Owl? so this ground level (retail?) will extend the Blackstone retail Corridor?

Yep. And the Brite Ideas building retail is directly across from the currently u/c project with more retail and residential. Basically 40th to almost 38th will be contiguous retail frontage on the north side of Farnam in a few years.

So are they demo-ing the ProCare 3 building?

Linkin5 wrote:So are they demo-ing the ProCare 3 building?

Yeah, but not till 2018 or so it sounds like.

Ran into Save Omaha while taking these pics of the Bright Ideas building this evening. Glad you recognized me, it was nice catching up!

I'm going to miss seeing their showroom at night even if it's through beer goggles. I remember toking with friends watching their fire feels like it was just yesterday.

12 units and 112 units! Wow! What a change happening in this this area.
Several good incorporation's of existing looks into a redevelopment lately. Nice!
Here is a look at the apartments in the area.

The more I think about this single article. The more this is such a win-win-win situation.

That Bag-n-Save on 156th and Blondo was trash. Wasn't it previously a Baker's? Anyway, this West O neighborhood gets an instant upgrade with a specialty store that suits West O better than Farnam. I believe the Bright Ideas will do MUCH better at this location. Win-Win for Bright Ideas and West Blondo! Is Blondo open yet?

And now, a huge win for Blackstone, which gets better retail in that building, plus more residents, with more apartments in the near future. Soon we can almost talk about the Blackstone district along side of Benson and Dundee as being happening entertainment districts, and if they get a music venue... Holy |expletive| Batman!

Coyote wrote:Ran into Save Omaha while taking these pics of the Bright Ideas building this evening. Glad you recognized me, it was nice catching up!

Great seeing you too Coyote! Hope you found a good parking spot!

SaveOmaha wrote:

Coyote wrote:Ran into Save Omaha while taking these pics of the Bright Ideas building this evening. Glad you recognized me, it was nice catching up!

Great seeing you too Coyote! Hope you found a good parking spot!

I did, but I will never tell where!

Brite Ideas is now starting to renovate their Blondo St store.

Photo Update:

Phase one of this site at 3852 Farnam St. has reached the leasing stage. There are a number of advertised rental rates.
One bedroom one bath $1000 730 sqft
One bedroom 2 bath $1300 to $2000 ranging from 1000 sqft to 1358 sqft
Two bedroom $1900 for 1335 sqft

The name is now 38 St. Lofts on Farnam

So they aren't adding another story now?

No, the three story structure is the new building.

Anybody remember this scene:

Ah, yes, the lightning strike some 10 years ago....

I heard Dante Ristorante Pizzeria is going to be one of the places going into the first floor retail.

A few years ago Nick Bartholomew told me he had thoughts of opening something in the area... Since the Market House has been waylaid, I wonder if he has different plans now...

Sign up that says commercial space 100% leased. If it is Dante's we should know fairly soon.

iamjacobm wrote:Sign up that says commercial space 100% leased. If it is Dante's we should know fairly soon.

I believe that the World-Herald (!) announced a few weeks back that Dante's was opening second location in this building sometime in 2017.

nativeomahan wrote:

iamjacobm wrote:Sign up that says commercial space 100% leased. If it is Dante's we should know fairly soon.

I believe that the World-Herald (!) announced a few weeks back that Dante's was opening second location in this building sometime in 2017.

Dante is a done deal, but they are only taking the east 1/2 of the main floor.

Any idea for the timetable on the new building or when Fyzical's lease ends?

Dante Pizzeria to open 'fast fine dining' location in Blackstone District

Sarah Baker Hansen - World-Herald staff writer wrote: Strawhecker said the restaurant will serve wood-fired pizza, greens, sandwiches and gelato in a fast casual setting.

I wonder why Benson, Dundee, and the Old Market didn't work out. It seems to me that Benson and the Old Market would be perfect listings for something like this.

daveoma wrote:I wonder why Benson, Dundee, and the Old Market didn't work out. It seems to me that Benson and the Old Market would be perfect listings for something like this.

My guess is It's only two blocks off the main drag and it's probably easier to get in on this development given it's a relatively new destination with a lot more room for growth than the others. Better weekday crowd essentially.