Omaha Forums

Creighton University students would be primary occupants of proposed 240-unit apartment complex

http://www.omaha.com/news/metro/creight ... d098d.html

By Christopher Burbach / World-Herald staff writer wrote:The latest redevelopment proposed for north downtown Omaha calls for building more than 200 apartments on the Micklin Lumber/Ace Hardware Store site at 20th and Izard Streets.

College students, mainly from Creighton University, would be the target market for The Muse apartments, according to city documents.

It would be another part of the neighborhood’s conversion away from its historic roots. Micklin Lumber is liquidating after 97 years of business.

Sheesh! 240 apartments is quite the substantial development for this area. This would probably be the biggest apartment development in North Downtown, no?

I think we briefly talked about this before, but I still hope they don't tear down this warehouse 1 block to the north that was built in 1890. I did notice that it is already listed as being owned by Vecino which is the developer.

There is a brief summary of the building on the restoration exchange omaha's website:

HEART BOMBING SHOWCASES BUILDINGS READY FOR NEW LIFE

1114 Florence Boulevard
The building was built in two parts: the south half was constructed circa 1890 as the Stephenson & Williams livery stable tied to a house next door. By the early 1900s, it was part of the Omaha Van & Storage Co. and served as a warehouse. The northern half was constructed around 1920 in a similar architectural style. By the 1960s, the building was used for general storage. It is one of a few remaining examples of 19th century warehouses in the area and was recently identified as an “active resource” in the North Omaha Historic Building Survey completed in June of this year, meaning it is a likely candidate for both state and federal tax credit rehabilitation programs.

I should hold my judgement until I see the renderings, but who would want to live here if they can afford $900/month rent?

This smells like an out of town developer who isnt reading the market quite right.

Wow, and I thought I read somewhere recently that there would be nothing happening downtown for the next 5-10 years.

Is Creighton enrollment going up, and I didn't hear anything about it?

This now seems like tons of new apartments to absorb, between this project and CUMC, that's what, like 750 or so new units, right?

In the last 5-10 years, Creighton build a bunch of on campus dorms/apartments, plus I'm sure some of the North Downtown apartments that have been built/are in process are Creighton kids, now these additional 750 units. Just seems like a ton of housing for a school that hasn't vocally pushed an enrollment expansion.

Plus, with the Academic Medicine transferring to Bergan, you'll likely have migration of most of the med students/residents to midtown somewhere, so I'd actually expect a decrease in demand, not increase...

The concept is a little different than the other options as your lease is tied to your bedroom instead of the entire unit, like most of the new housing in DTL does. It certainly is a risk given the location.

Ben wrote:Is Creighton enrollment going up, and I didn't hear anything about it?

This now seems like tons of new apartments to absorb, between this project and CUMC, that's what, like 750 or so new units, right?

In the last 5-10 years, Creighton build a bunch of on campus dorms/apartments, plus I'm sure some of the North Downtown apartments that have been built/are in process are Creighton kids, now these additional 750 units. Just seems like a ton of housing for a school that hasn't vocally pushed an enrollment expansion.

Plus, with the Academic Medicine transferring to Bergan, you'll likely have migration of most of the med students/residents to midtown somewhere, so I'd actually expect a decrease in demand, not increase...

Short answer - you're either not a Creighton alum or you're not paying that close of attention. Enrollment is up 20.3% in the past decade.

...I'm a two-time Creighton alum.

Undergrad students are basically capped at where they are. They have grown 3% in the past decade (4,203 this year) - but the requirement that undergraduates live on campus makes it difficult for them to grow without a huge housing investment - and I'm not sure they are pushing for more undergrads, but the mix of them has drastically changed too.

The number of graduate students has grown 44% in the past decade, nearly equaling the number of undergrads (4,190 this year). There was no reasonable housing for juniors, seniors or graduate students near campus when I graduated, which is why you saw The Wire and other developments fill up really quickly - a very large amount of them are Creighton students. When I graduated, your options were Opus or Davis halls - which were full - or rent an apartment at Capital Hill.

If you're a junior, senior or grad student and want to live by campus, you're relegated to apartments, the two apartment-style dorms or buying a house on the west side of 30th. With about 6,200 people that represent that population, the apartment swell in this area makes sense. I would guess with housing being the way it is in Omaha, the typical college students who used to buy houses in the area west of 30th (and rent to their friends) are now renting apartments. Just a hunch though.

In the last 5-10 years, Creighton has not really built THAT MANY dorms. I graduated in 2009 and their newest ones (Opus and Davis) were built before then.

The Medicine students will not migrate - their classes are still going to be on campus and they will still reside nearby. Just my opinion.

Taco wrote:I should hold my judgement until I see the renderings, but who would want to live here if they can afford $900/month rent?

This smells like an out of town developer who isnt reading the market quite right.

True.
Even the smallest trustfunder knows that leaving your car on the surface lot in that neighborhood is risky business.

I shop at micklin when im over lunch downtown. Sad to see it go. Truely a relic.

Ben wrote: This now seems like tons of new apartments to absorb, between this project and CUMC, that's what, like 750 or so new units, right?

The Landing is 731 units and this is 240. Total of 971.

It's bigger than I thought it would be.

RNcyanide wrote:It's bigger than I thought it would be.

*Giggles*

Looks really nice. They really must be really ambitious about that neighborhood though.

It appears that the warehouse buildings on Florence Blvd, one block to the north will not be torn down according to the documents submitted to the city council.

Says the developer was planning on demolishing the structure but will preserve it at this time after learning that it has some historical value.

Sounds like the plan is to have the project complete by August 2018.

guest2017 wrote:

Ben wrote:Is Creighton enrollment going up, and I didn't hear anything about it?

This now seems like tons of new apartments to absorb, between this project and CUMC, that's what, like 750 or so new units, right?

In the last 5-10 years, Creighton build a bunch of on campus dorms/apartments, plus I'm sure some of the North Downtown apartments that have been built/are in process are Creighton kids, now these additional 750 units. Just seems like a ton of housing for a school that hasn't vocally pushed an enrollment expansion.

Plus, with the Academic Medicine transferring to Bergan, you'll likely have migration of most of the med students/residents to midtown somewhere, so I'd actually expect a decrease in demand, not increase...

Short answer - you're either not a Creighton alum or you're not paying that close of attention. Enrollment is up 20.3% in the past decade.

...I'm a two-time Creighton alum.

Undergrad students are basically capped at where they are. They have grown 3% in the past decade (4,203 this year) - but the requirement that undergraduates live on campus makes it difficult for them to grow without a huge housing investment - and I'm not sure they are pushing for more undergrads, but the mix of them has drastically changed too.

The number of graduate students has grown 44% in the past decade, nearly equaling the number of undergrads (4,190 this year). There was no reasonable housing for juniors, seniors or graduate students near campus when I graduated, which is why you saw The Wire and other developments fill up really quickly - a very large amount of them are Creighton students. When I graduated, your options were Opus or Davis halls - which were full - or rent an apartment at Capital Hill.

If you're a junior, senior or grad student and want to live by campus, you're relegated to apartments, the two apartment-style dorms or buying a house on the west side of 30th. With about 6,200 people that represent that population, the apartment swell in this area makes sense. I would guess with housing being the way it is in Omaha, the typical college students who used to buy houses in the area west of 30th (and rent to their friends) are now renting apartments. Just a hunch though.

In the last 5-10 years, Creighton has not really built THAT MANY dorms. I graduated in 2009 and their newest ones (Opus and Davis) were built before then.

The Medicine students will not migrate - their classes are still going to be on campus and they will still reside nearby. Just my opinion.

95% correct.

About 1/3 of the Med School class goes to Phoenix for 3rd/4th year. First and Second year classes will still be on campus.
The remaining Omaha students (~110) will do their rotations at Bergan Mercy for their 3rd and 4th year. Will some of them move out west? Probably. Still not a very big shift though.

Plans submitted
Building 1: 130 unit, 102669 sq ft Building
Building 2: 117 unit, 107429 sq ft Building
Storm Shelter: 2040 sq ft

Wow that's a lot of people living in 1 square block.

It looks like a Soviet housing block.

What’s the rule of thumb something like 30 residents per acre to support light rail.. we need more of these bolshevik blocks.

MTO wrote:What’s the rule of thumb something like 30 residents per acre to support light rail.. we need more of these bolshevik blocks.

That made me laugh - I'm hoping for more density by building up. 2-4 story bldgs are ok but we need to build up more to really increase density especially on the streets that the potential street car would be traversing. Too many 2-3 story bldgs going up on Farnam/Blackstone District.

2-4 story buildings give plenty of density to support light rail. Look at Paris and DC, those cities do not have skyscrapers and are yet incredibly dense compared to Omaha.

Sharper rendering from their website:

I like that so much better. Still... A rendering though. Thanks for finding and listing that!

MTO wrote:What’s the rule of thumb something like 30 residents per acre to support light rail.. we need more of these bolshevik blocks.

Closer to 300 I would suspect.

Photo Update:

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2.

Thanks for the update pictures Brad! This project had kind of slipped my mind, glad to see it vertical.

MadMartin8 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 25, 2017 3:13 pm

RNcyanide wrote:It's bigger than I thought it would be.

*Giggles*

I went to The Muse once for an...ahem...art film and to be honest I could not find my away arount that part of town now even at gunpoint. Is this on the same property at the theater was?

Micklin Lumber was not where the Muse was. Not sure I get why someone would name an apartment building after a porno theater. Getting too old for this.

iamjacobm wrote: ↑Fri Jul 13, 2018 9:25 am Thanks for the update pictures Brad! This project had kind of slipped my mind, glad to see it vertical.

Your welcome. Seems like after a brief pause, they are full speed ahead now.

Hopefully the area between this project and Creighton get built up to make these more attractive to possible renters.

damonhynes wrote: ↑Fri Jul 13, 2018 11:04 am

MadMartin8 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 25, 2017 3:13 pm

RNcyanide wrote:It's bigger than I thought it would be.

*Giggles*

I went to The Muse once for an...ahem...art film and to be honest I could not find my away arount that part of town now even at gunpoint. Is this on the same property at the theater was?

There used to be adult film theaters in Omaha????

daveoma wrote: ↑Sun Jul 15, 2018 4:25 pm

damonhynes wrote: ↑Fri Jul 13, 2018 11:04 am

MadMartin8 wrote: ↑Sat Mar 25, 2017 3:13 pm

RNcyanide wrote:It's bigger than I thought it would be.

*Giggles*

I went to The Muse once for an...ahem...art film and to be honest I could not find my away arount that part of town now even at gunpoint. Is this on the same property at the theater was?

There used to be adult film theaters in Omaha????

At least the Muse, none others come to mind. And they were not XXX like in CB, I'd call them 1.5 X.

Photo Update from New Years Day:

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5.

That massive breeze-through is kinda cool.

Louie wrote: ↑Fri Jan 04, 2019 12:44 pm That massive breeze-through is kinda cool.

Gonna be a great wind tunnel. Anyone have a new car they want to test aerodynamics on?

Wow. I love those. I have never clicked on this before. I like how they are geometrically coiled...

Muse 1005 N. 20th Street
Lund-Ross https://www.lundross.com/construction-project/muse is constructing The Muse for The Vecino Group https://vecinogroup.com/portfolio-item/muse_omaha/ , a student housing developer from Springfield, Missouri. The project is a complex of five four-story buildings containing 247 units in north downtown Omaha.
Each unit contains a varying number of beds and shared communal space. Facebook page reports that 94 apartments have a balcony.
The development will also include a pool, fitness center, retail space and other amenities.
The wood frame and steel podium structure totals 210,000 square feet and five buildings.
Lund-Ross worked closely with the architect and development team through pre-construction to meet budget and schedule goals.
Completion is slated for the Summer of 2019.
Although the developer’s website says 371 units and Apts.com has it listed at 270 units, the plans submitted called for 247 as posted on this site this count appears to be confirmed by the contractor.

The leasing office opened in January and The facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MuseOmahaApts/ shows some 2-bedroom floor plans were filled up as early as January. The staff has been doing a lot of marketing in campus as one would expect for housing for students.
The website also gives a lot of information but not pricing. https://www.itsyourmuseomaha.com/muse-omaha-omaha-ne/ When pricing is posted it is important to note the disclaimer... "Rates/Installments do not represent a monthly rental amount (& are not prorated), but rather the total base rent due for the lease term divided by the number of installments."

I will mark this one as done.

skinzfan23 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 06, 2017 9:38 am There is a brief summary of the building on the restoration exchange omaha's website:

HEART BOMBING SHOWCASES BUILDINGS READY FOR NEW LIFE

1114 Florence Boulevard
The building was built in two parts: the south half was constructed circa 1890 as the Stephenson & Williams livery stable tied to a house next door. By the early 1900s, it was part of the Omaha Van & Storage Co. and served as a warehouse. The northern half was constructed around 1920 in a similar architectural style. By the 1960s, the building was used for general storage. It is one of a few remaining examples of 19th century warehouses in the area and was recently identified as an “active resource” in the North Omaha Historic Building Survey completed in June of this year, meaning it is a likely candidate for both state and federal tax credit rehabilitation programs.

Looks like something is going on and could be a nice renovation for that area:

https://www.crexi.com/lease/properties/ ... -boulevard

There was an article a few weeks back about hot shop looking for new space. Would be nice here for an expansion.