Grain Elevator to Climbing Gym

[Big E]

I don't get it, did that used to by cylindrical concrete like the one off I-80? It looks way different.

The short part on the left was, but they were arranged in a square instead of a row.  I want to say it was something like eight rows of eight... maybe 6 x 6.  Don't remember for sure.  I believe that is mostly parking now.

The taller part on the right was the actual "elevator", I think, plus administrative, etc.  That's where the condo and retail are.

The views from there are absolutely insane.  It's actually one of the tallest buildings in Baltimore.  Plus, the zoning in south Baltimore does not allow for any new structures to be built over the standard height of three-story row homes (I forget what the actual number is...maybe 35-40 feet), so if you've bought one of those views nothing is going to be blocking it.

It was an active elevator until about 7-8 years ago when the elevated conveyor just fell over in the water one day.  I got to watch them blow that up one morning, too.  Awesome.

[StreetsOfOmaha]

@OmahaJaysCU,

Is it "Bad Sarcasm Month" or something?

[Ben]

I was at the Emerging Terrain dinner at the silos yesterday afternoon.  One of the best meals I've ever had.  A great collaboration of the top local chefs using some of the highest quality, freshest ingredients that Nebraska and Iowa have to offer.  NBC had some great beers there too.

[Big E]

Anyone happen to catch the coverage of this on channel 6 after the football game?  

The "A" team wasn't at the station, apparently, because after running the identical promo for the silo segment and the congressional campaign about 18 times in the last hour of the game, they managed to cut to and from segments and into and out of commercials about 7 times in the first 5 minutes.  It was pretty painful to watch.

[nebugeater]

Looks like the second phase the the art banners on the silos are in place.  The original are now moved to the North and there are new ones up in the original locations.  Has been very recently completed.

My girlfriend brought this HUGE-scaled art installation to my attention. I'm not sure if it is this same set of grain elevators, but unless it's the elevators north of North Downtown, this seems to be the most obvious.

From http://www.emergingterrain.org/

[iamjacobm]

They are also closing the 36th street bridge later this month for their fundraising dinner.

[Bugeater]

The new images are really cool. The only drawback to this is that I wonder if they can ever be fully appreciated by people blowing by at 60+ MPH.

[iamjacobm]

They are also closing the 36th street bridge later this month for their fundraising dinner.

Sounds like it was a pretty cool event.

http://www.omaha.com/article/20120604/NEWS01/706049917

The couple were two of about 500 people who dined on the 36th Street bridge in South Omaha as part of the Emerging Terrain “Elevate” dinner, a celebration of the group's second set of banners recently installed on grain elevators just north of Interstate 80.

[almighty_tuna]

If you haven't checked out the climbing routes yet they are definitely a must-attend!!  I've gone the last couple weeks with the fam and it's just a ridiculous amount of fun. There is gear there to use if you don't have any, people are willing to belay newer climbers and, while it's free, they do accept, and deserve, donations for a wholly unique climbing experience. Generally they're operating every Sunday from ~3-8pm but check their facebook page for confirmation. Bring some water and enjoy! This is a great thing for the area.

http://www.facebook.com/silosomaha

[iamjacobm]

I didn't know they actually did that!

[Modersin]

Yep, we climb most Sundays, weather permitting, from 3pm to 8pm. Anyone and everyone is welcome to attend and no experience is necessary. We have harnesses and shoes you can borrow while you're climbing with us. There is no charge to climb @ the silos but we do accept donations that go towards maintaining the equipment and facilities. If you have any questions please visit our Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/silosomaha) and ask them there, we will try and respond as quickly as possible. This Saturday we are having a meeting with volunteers to brainstorm ways to make the silos a better experience. We hope to see you this weekend.

[Omaha_Gabe]

This has closed: As per their facebookthey could not raise enough money and someone stole 50ft of chain link fence from the silo, so they gave up and closed.

[pseudoprometheus]

Well that sucks.  I was hoping to give the silos a try this summer.  :(

[Omababe]

So? Will the artwork stay?

[iamjacobm]

So? Will the artwork stay?

Two unrelated ventures I think.

[S33]

and someone stole 50ft of chain link fence from the silo, so they gave up and closed.

LOL!

[Coyote]

This is a sad commentary on our community. Hopefully it's time was just not yet.

Banners' creators are gone, and soon grain elevators' art will be, too

When that happens, Emerging Terrain will exist mostly as a collection of ideas on the organization's still-active website. Emerging Terrain wanted to engage in a conversation about development in and around Omaha. Lyn Wallin Ziegenbein, who advocated for Emerging Terrain as executive director of the Peter Kiewit Foundation and more recently in her role as director emeritus. "Maybe we're not curious enough as a community about what could be."

At its most ambitious, Emerging Terrain proposed the Belt Line, a new transit corridor and public trail running north-south through the middle of the city.

"Sometimes urban design seems like a luxury rather than a necessity," said Doug Bisson, an urban planner at HDR and Emerging Terrain's former board president. Emerging Terrain used design to explore issues like livability, job access and connectivity among citizens. "It addressed issues that don't get addressed," Bisson said. "It's going to be missed."

[RNcyanide]

This makes me pretty sad. I thought they were so neat looking. Eomahaforums kick starter project idea?

[iamjacobm]

ET was a collection of some very very bright and forward thinking individuals. Clearly this city wasn't ready to be progressive like that. Too bad they couldn't find the support they needed.

[Collin]

Banners are coming down today.

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[Coyote]

Banners coming down? Sounds like the whole structure is coming down!

Demolition Begins on Iconic Omaha Grain Silos

The pair of silos closest to the interstate need to be cleaned but the $30,000 in funds needed weren't available so officials opted to take them down instead.

[Coyote]

I noticed that KMTV has pulled that article down. Maybe a news organization was wrong

[Uffda]

I noticed that KMTV has pulled that article down. Maybe a news organization was wrong  :P

Just saw on the KMTV at 5 that the banners were coming down.

[Coyote]

I noticed that KMTV has pulled that article down. Maybe a news organization was wrong  :P

Just saw on the KMTV at 5 that the banners were coming down.

But just the banners, not the whole silos like they first reported.

[Coyote]

Grain elevator artwork comes down

Ziegenbein says an anonymous donor has offered to pay the $30,000 it will cost to clean the banners, and pay to rehang them.

The donor has one request: the banners must be hung in a location where there's high traffic and thousands of people can see them.

[RNcyanide]

Grain elevator artwork comes down

Ziegenbein says an anonymous donor has offered to pay the $30,000 it will cost to clean the banners, and pay to rehang them.

The donor has one request: the banners must be hung in a location where there's high traffic and thousands of people can see them.

In some of the capitol/shamrock renderings, they have banners promoting the swim trials. Maybe some might work there. Maybe others at midtown crossing, uno, Creighton, other brick buildings with long walls. If they choose to relocate them. Thank god someone donated that 30k. It would have been a tragedy to lose something as unique and quirky as those.

[Linkin5]

Grain elevator artwork comes down

Ziegenbein says an anonymous donor has offered to pay the $30,000 it will cost to clean the banners, and pay to rehang them.

The donor has one request: the banners must be hung in a location where there's high traffic and thousands of people can see them.

In some of the capitol/shamrock renderings, they have banners promoting the swim trials. Maybe some might work there. Maybe others at midtown crossing, uno, Creighton, other brick buildings with long walls. If they choose to relocate them. Thank god someone donated that 30k. It would have been a tragedy to lose something as unique and quirky as those.

Perfect candidate:

[MadMartin8]

Question;

In terms of these Grain Elevators....is it even possible to bring them down? I mean...there are a lot of houses pretty close to them.

[Collin]

That is the building I was thinking of too! I don't see why they aren't putting them back up on the silos though if they are not tearing them down.

[RNcyanide]

Perfect candidate:

OMG YES.

[Coyote]

Wow. The elevators look so... 1960s without the banners. So sad to see thm gone.

[RNcyanide]

Soooooo does anyone know if these are going to turn up somewhere anytime soon?

An idea for these elevators:

I noticed a while ago there appears to be some graffiti/artwork across the top (not sure if it is commissioned or not). I know in Montreal, they actually pay youth who would otherwise be tagging buildings to spraypaint the supports under highway overpasses. That might be a neat temporary display for this.

[U R my Helix]

The elevator silos do have some potential for art.
The CB casinos can paint them up as piles of poker chips.
Monster Energy Drink people and Red bull can wrap them.
How about a huge pile of Oreo's and milk.
Or paint them like a cutaway with some missiles inside. That should make people stop texting for a moment.

So much that could be done with them.

[Coyote]

The elevator silos do have some potential for art.
The CB casinos can paint them up as piles of poker chips.
Monster Energy Drink people and Red bull can wrap them.
How about a huge pile of Oreo's and milk.
Or paint them like a cutaway with some missiles inside. That should make people stop texting for a moment.

So much that could be done with them.

I like your thinking there!

[Omababe]

Or paint them like a cutaway with some missiles inside. That should make people stop texting for a moment.

ROFL!

[U R my Helix]

An example of what the Grain Elevators could look like. Was there a brand of beer made in Omaha?

[daveoma]

An example of what the Grain Elevators could look like. Was there a brand of beer made in Omaha?

OMG THAT'S AWESOME! !

[U R my Helix]

Or the family friendly idea for the Grain Elevator.

[Garrett]

[PotatoeEatsFish]

Make it into a cool hotel.