Barker Building (15th and Farnam)

OmahaChef · Post by **OmahaChef** » Sun Sep 25, 2011 1:38 am

The guy doing this owns the Holiday Inn Downtown, in the fabulous Nortn Downtown neighborhood, and with the recession, abandoned his plans for the project, and has been focused on a project in Lincoln. Â So, it continues to rot away.

Seth · Post by **Seth** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 3:09 pm

Thanks for the update. Â At least the street level is boarded up, but they could do a better job of keeping it buttoned up elsewhere. Â I can understand mothballing a project like this when conditions aren't right, but at least protect what is there!

Bugeater · Post by **Bugeater** » Wed Sep 28, 2011 10:05 pm

Just a FWIW, there was a group of people touring the building and taking pictures on Monday. I tried to pry one of the guys for information but he didn't really offer anything.

Bugeater · Post by **Bugeater** » Wed Oct 12, 2011 6:12 pm

The plywood was removed from the street level windows today.

Bugeater · Post by **Bugeater** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 10:17 pm

Oh, and in a somewhat related story, there's been some people removing items from the Lerner building over the course of the past week or so. Not sure what that may/may not mean. There's also a possibility of some other changes on this block, but I won't elaborate at the moment because it's nothing major and so far it's only talk.

Post by **Brad** » Thu Oct 13, 2011 10:28 pm

Thanks for the Update Photo! Â Always appreciated!

Bugeater · Post by **Bugeater** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 12:25 am

Today there were a couple guys from McGill Restoration working on the building. They had a set of windows removed from the second story and were sandblasting the frame. They only did the one, and if they're planning on doing that to all of them it's going to take them forever. It was noisy as all heck too.

Globochem · Post by **Globochem** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 1:17 am

Workers said today that they were taking some samples and that real restoration should begin this spring!!! Â What another huge pick-me-up for downtown!

Bugeater · Post by **Bugeater** » Thu Oct 20, 2011 1:32 am

Heh...I like the "should" part...sounds like some of the older posts in this thread. What puzzles me is them pulling the plywood from the street level if they're not planning on starting with any real work until spring.

At any rate, I have to think this building is the key for at least one the other things I alluded to earlier to happen.

OmahaChef · Post by **OmahaChef** » Mon Oct 24, 2011 9:08 pm

I agree. Â The McGill work on the King Fong building was VERY noisy.

Not nearly as noisy, though, as the guys removing salvage metal from the Lerner building, which is now in it's third week. Â I especially like it when they start at 7:00 a.m., on Sunday morning, or are still at it at 9:00 p.m., when I have my windows open and am trying to watch TV. Â I am amazed at how much stuff there must be inside that building. Â One morning, I saw them wheeling out an upright piano!

I was surprised to see the wood removed from the windows of the Barker Building as well.

Bugeater · Post by **Bugeater** » Wed Nov 02, 2011 10:51 pm

Well here's the deal, the architects are still drawing up plans for this building, so a spring construction timetable is probably what we're looking at. I'm guessing the plywood was removed so they could see what they had to work with, I wouldn't be surprised to see it go back up for the winter at some point.

One of the other things that was talked about was the adjacent commercial bays at 1507 and 1509 Farnam being razed and the land put up for sale, but apparently some of the mechanical systems for Central Park Tower are located under those bays and relocating them would be cost prohibitive, so it's not going to happen.

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Wed Nov 02, 2011 10:54 pm

Which bays are we talking about? The one where Cosmos Wigs is/was? As in the adjacent building to the West (not just the "bays")?

If this is the case, I believe that the actual building structure is what used to be the Henshaw Hotel (or something to that effect)--a pretty great building from what I've seen in photos, and I've always wondered if the original facade is hiding under that hideous cladding.

*edit: Now I see from Google streetview what you're talking about. There's the two bays with nothing above them that are "visually" tied to the building I'm talking about above.

Bugeater · Post by **Bugeater** » Wed Nov 02, 2011 11:08 pm

Yep, those two east bays, Central Park Tower and the two west bays are all part of the same property. And yes, that cladding is definitely dated.

SaveOmaha · Post by **SaveOmaha** » Sun Jan 15, 2012 5:25 pm

This might have been said previously, but I noticed just today that the Barker Building Project is listed on Alley-Poyner's website. Maybe that means that this project has some serious validity to it!

derog · Post by **derog** » Mon Jan 16, 2012 11:23 am

OmahaJosh618 wrote:This might have been said previously, but I noticed just today that the Barker Building Project is listed on Alley-Poyner's website. Maybe that means that this project has some serious validity to it!

Not to pee in your cornflakes, but that site also lists Burlington Station. Take it with a grain of salt, I guess. http://www.alleypoyner.com/industry/housing/

Bugeater · Post by **Bugeater** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 8:23 pm

Yes, the architects I spoke with last fall were from Alley-Poyner, they're planning a complete gut/remodel.

Bugeater · Post by **Bugeater** » Wed Feb 08, 2012 12:36 am

In a somewhat related story that's not worth it's own thread, the commercial bay adjacent to the Barker Building at 1507 Farnam has been rented. Apparently it used to be a bar, and it is being reopened as one.

windsor · Post by **windsor** » Mon Feb 13, 2012 8:45 am

This is such a beautiful old building. Â I really hope this long awaited and well deserved remodel is seen to fruition soon.

Bugeater · Post by **Bugeater** » Sat Feb 18, 2012 9:39 am

Saw a couple hard hats on site yesterday, and I noticed the commercial bays now have "For Lease" signs in the windows.

And FWIW the Oasis hookah bar is relocating into the 1507 bay next door.

Post by **Brad** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 1:33 pm

Here is some information on the Barker Building:
http://www.cityofomaha.org/cityclerk/im ... sc/299.pdf

Linkin5 · Post by **Linkin5** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 1:44 pm

Thanks again Brad. Â Shamrock says they will be substantially completed by spring of 2013 in that document. Â They stated it will have 48 living units along with retail on 15th and Farnam.

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 3:16 pm

Linkin5 wrote:Thanks again Brad. Shamrock says they will be substantially completed by spring of 2013 in that document. They stated it will have 48 living units along with retail on 15th and Farnam.

Just so many apartments being added right now, really exciting for the future of downtown.

Linkin5 · Post by **Linkin5** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 3:18 pm

iamjacobm wrote:
Linkin5 wrote:Thanks again Brad. Shamrock says they will be substantially completed by spring of 2013 in that document. They stated it will have 48 living units along with retail on 15th and Farnam.
Just so many apartments being added right now, really exciting for the future of downtown.

You have to wonder when more grocery stores are going to start popping up.

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 3:23 pm

Linkin5 wrote:
iamjacobm wrote:
Linkin5 wrote:Thanks again Brad. Shamrock says they will be substantially completed by spring of 2013 in that document. They stated it will have 48 living units along with retail on 15th and Farnam.
Just so many apartments being added right now, really exciting for the future of downtown.
You have to wonder when more grocery stores are going to start popping up.

I'll take some flack from certain members for this one, but I also wonder when we will start seeing the chains move in.

Chipotle, 5 Guys, Panera ect. Â All would be welcome additions IMO.

Linkin5 · Post by **Linkin5** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 3:27 pm

iamjacobm wrote:
Linkin5 wrote:
iamjacobm wrote:
Linkin5 wrote:Thanks again Brad. Shamrock says they will be substantially completed by spring of 2013 in that document. They stated it will have 48 living units along with retail on 15th and Farnam.
Just so many apartments being added right now, really exciting for the future of downtown.
You have to wonder when more grocery stores are going to start popping up.
I'll take some flack from certain members for this one, but I also wonder when we will start seeing the chains move in.

Chipotle, 5 Guys, Panera ect. All would be welcome additions IMO.

No flack from me, they are all in downtown Lincoln and are a nice convenience.

skinzfan23 · Post by **skinzfan23** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 5:44 pm

I agree, I think you want some of these for a nice balance in downtown. Â There is currently Subway, Jimmy Johns, Â Pepperjax (and soon to be Little King again), which are all nice alternatives to a sit down meal, especially for those working downtown for lunch.

Bugeater · Post by **Bugeater** » Fri Mar 16, 2012 12:29 am

It's incredible how much this entire block may change in the next couple years. Along with the Barker remodel and the Lerner renovation, there's also talk of a parking structure of some type being built on the existing parking lot between Lerner and Hotel Deco, plus Central Park Tower's 15 yr tax credit is up this year, so they will be set to reapply and be allocated some funds for renovation as well. And guess what Streets, there's discussion of that cladding you alluded to earlier coming down.

Now if they could just do something with that seedy Securities Building....

Bugeater · Post by **Bugeater** » Thu Apr 19, 2012 1:07 pm

The last bit of the street level plywood along Farnam St came down today. I'll try to get some pics up later.

Post by **Brad** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 2:58 pm

I toured the building today. Â Its Trashed! Â Mother nature did most of the damage with vandals adding a bit more.

However, there is a TON of potential in this building and its going to be great when its all fixed up!

Look for cleanup work to start very soon!

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 3:00 pm

Brad wrote:I toured the building today. Its Trashed! Mother nature did most of the damage with vandals adding a bit more.

However, there is a TON of potential in this building and its going to be great when its all fixed up!

Look for cleanup work to start very soon!

I sucks that they let it get this bad, but this is ideal for apartments. Â Wont be long before 15th is really hopping.

Post by **Brad** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 10:24 pm

I shot this back on 3/31/2012. Â The outside looks much better than the inside.

ItsAllAboutMe · Post by **ItsAllAboutMe** » Tue Apr 24, 2012 6:11 am

I think the outside is going to look stunning once it is "power washed" plus new windows

Seth · Post by **Seth** » Tue Apr 24, 2012 9:08 pm

ItsAllAboutMe wrote:I think the outside is going to look stunning once it is "power washed" plus new windows

I definitely agree. Â I love the art deco buildings downtown; they look fabulous and have aged really well.

OmahaJaysCU · Post by **OmahaJaysCU** » Tue Apr 24, 2012 10:04 pm

Howd you score that tour Brad?

Post by **Brad** » Tue Apr 24, 2012 10:13 pm

OmahaJaysCU wrote:Howd you score that tour Brad?

I took their "before" photos yesterday.

mj3141 · Post by **mj3141** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 2:52 pm

It looks like they've started cleaning out the inside. There's a dumpster in front of it on 15th St now.

OmahaJaysCU · Post by **OmahaJaysCU** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 7:31 pm

Brad wrote:
OmahaJaysCU wrote:Howd you score that tour Brad?
I took their "before" photos yesterday.

No sharing????? Â :D

Post by **Brad** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 8:13 pm

OmahaJaysCU wrote:No sharing????? :D

Honestly, I haven't even processed them yet. Â I will ask the client if they care if I share them.

l-dude · Post by **l-dude** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 8:15 pm

Yeahhh...please share...I remember the upper floors were mostly/all offices, but at least one 15th Street bay was a [cool] men's clothing store with lots of wood paneling and casework. Â Also, the Lobby(s...at least on the 15th Street side) were fairly impressive, with lots of brass and marble? terrazzo?? features.

l-dude · Post by **l-dude** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 8:16 pm

Yeahhh...please share...I remember the upper floors were mostly/all offices, but at least one 15th Street bay was a [cool] men's clothing store with lots of wood paneling and casework. Â Also, the Lobby(s...at least on the 15th Street side) were fairly impressive, with lots of brass and marble? terrazzo?? features.