Gene Leahy Mall Remodel

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 9:35 pm

Hahaha!

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 9:58 pm

All joking aside... that's not just any old trash... those are pieces of wax paper to make the slide slicker!

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 10:04 pm

I can see the slogans for the next mayoral race now...

"I propose that we make the slides themselves slicker, eliminating the need for wax paper which often times ends up littering the environs. Solve the problem at the source."

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 10:25 pm

make the slides themselves slicker

The city attorney would probably shoot that proposal down before it got off the ground. Life just hasn't been the same since Ralph Nadar started carrying on about the need for seat belts.

DMRyan · Post by **DMRyan** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 9:12 pm

Or since Clark Griswold used that ultra-slick teflon polymer on the bottom of his snow tobbogen thing.

MTO · Post by **MTO** » Wed Sep 14, 2005 11:49 pm

Those slides rule! Well they did, for me until my fiancé kept telling me people upset down them.
I was a leather weapon on them 240lbs guy getting airborne, whew I bout killed a couple kids over the years.

almighty_tuna · Post by **almighty_tuna** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 12:53 am

pkiphd wrote:I was a leather weapon on them...

Please, the description alone would probably be worth a beer. Explain?

omahastylee459 · Post by **omahastylee459** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 10:39 am

oh we still go down the slides when we get a chance, on a couple nice non humid nights we have gone down there, after a few drinks usually, and we still have races and such

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 10:46 am

Even if it's one of those warmer nights, have some fun on the slides and then go cool off in the FNC fountains!!!

the1wags · Post by **the1wags** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 6:13 pm

Talked to the guys that ripped out the walls today, they are done with the wall, only things left are to redo the electrical for the lights and reset the lights, some sprinkler stuff and sod the dirt work. They had till Oct 1st for tearing out the walls, city guy is happy so they can push and get sod in before it gets too cold. Looks WAY better.

Yeah next on my list is to build my proposed 11th St ped bridge.

For those that don't recall.

Picture that with some nice lighting and maybe a half circle seating area in the middle facing west so people could sit and check out the skyline.

Blazepaw · Post by **Blazepaw** » Fri Sep 16, 2005 6:45 pm

Thanks "the1wags" that's the one I was speaking of! You show me as a lazy poster but that's cool... LOL.

Thanks for the wall updates as well. I haven't had a chance to go by the site. I think it looks great already. I had my doubts but I think it will be a nice improvement.

ItsAllAboutMe · Post by **ItsAllAboutMe** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 6:33 am

The Mayor has included $5 million dollars in next years budget for renovations to the mall. Thats less then half of what the entire renovation will costs. It will be interesting to see what parts of the renovation play will happen first. (of course this has to be approved by the city council first). It's great to see some money earmarked for this otherwise I thinkit was dead in the water

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Fri Jul 28, 2006 7:08 am

I hope they put the ice skating rink in first.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Tue Aug 01, 2006 11:38 am

I was at the Mall Sunday night and thought about some of the improvements they can add to the park.

The main thing is lights, lights, and more lights. Being a 6'7'' guy I won't have as much security concerns as a woman bringing her kids down to the slides. More bright lights at the entrances to the Mall and along the walking paths would be great. If anyone has ever seen Millenium Park at night you'll know what I'm talking about. It's bright as day down there.

the1wags · Post by **the1wags** » Tue Aug 01, 2006 12:01 pm

Exactly D'Shawn, they really need to brighten the place up. Especially along the walking paths. I'm guessing that lighting is part of the future GLM, at least I hope so.

midtown charlie · Post by **midtown charlie** » Tue Aug 01, 2006 12:03 pm

As long as they can do that without destroying the "cliche" night shot of downtown.

Post by **Brad** » Tue Aug 01, 2006 12:57 pm

THey also could start by removing that big pice of concrete sticking out of the water just east of the island. Second, they could trim the weeds on the island.

Uffda · Post by **Uffda** » Tue Aug 01, 2006 1:15 pm

Second, they could trim the weeds on the island.

hmmmm maybe eomaha community work day?

Post by **Brad** » Tue Aug 01, 2006 1:19 pm

Uffda wrote:
Second, they could trim the weeds on the island.
hmmmm maybe eomaha community work day?

There is a few of us the migh do that if we could have 24hour a day accesss to the island to photograph from it.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Tue Aug 01, 2006 1:41 pm

I think it was mowed the last time I was down there. They have a little platform they walk across and mow it.

Post by **Brad** » Tue Aug 01, 2006 1:51 pm

DTO Luv wrote:I think it was mowed the last time I was down there. They have a little platform they walk across and mow it.

Well with my concerns addressed sounds, throw up some lighting and everything will be great.

omahastylee459 · Post by **omahastylee459** » Tue Aug 01, 2006 1:53 pm

we used tp hang out on that island all the time. We would just have to jump down from the bridge and find our way through the bushes. There really arent that many prime photo spots on it though

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 8:48 am

I was driving by the Mall at about 9:30 last night and happened to notcie the west end by the library had no lights on. Coincidentally this was also the spot where about 60 derelicts were hanging around.

I'm betting that as residents move into the Paxton that their is more of a push to move out the bums and trouble makers.

omahastylee459 · Post by **omahastylee459** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 1:42 pm

do they still serve lunch at the west end of the mall? Im all for giving to those in need, but does it need to be in the heart of downtown activity? I think with the paxton opening up, things will change a bit in the area

MTO · Post by **MTO** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 2:00 pm

Nope no more food at the mall... I think that was the stupidest idea.

Uffda · Post by **Uffda** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 2:43 pm

I think that was the stupidest idea.

which part feeding them or the location?

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 3:01 pm

I was tempted to call that church and tell them I'd buy them a bus and pay for the food if they'd move everyone out to their West O parking lot every day.

I could never understand how someone could say "Let's feed all the homeless people right here" and then turn around and say "why are there so many homeless people right here?"

-Big E

Swift · Post by **Swift** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 5:50 pm

They should hide the meals through out downtown and then give each person a map to find a different meal.

Then no one would complain about "the bum congregation" 'cause they'd be all spread out among us. *WOO woo WOO*

MTO · Post by **MTO** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 7:51 pm

We can steel the maps and draw all the arrows to Village Point.

Post by **Brad** » Thu Aug 10, 2006 5:43 pm

Are they working on the island?

Are they putting up christmas lights already?

OmahaChef · Post by **OmahaChef** » Mon Aug 21, 2006 11:32 pm

Brad, the answer to your questions are...yes, and yes. I moved downtown the 30th of June, and the day after July 4th, the crews started working on hanging the lights in the trees. They are downtown every morning about 6:00, starting the process of stringing them up from stree to tree. Makes you wonder why they bother to take them down? But it keep three guys employed year round so I guess it's good for the economy.

I don't know what is planned for the island, but as of this week it is stripped bare, and a landscaping firm is working on it every day. It is totally dirt now.

As a very sad aside, one of the two swans on the Gene Leahy water dissappeared a week or two ago. The remaining one seems rather confused and spends a lot of time in the "pool" in front of the Greenhouse Apartments. They never bothered to come down here before.

Swift · Post by **Swift** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 12:55 am

Sad! I hope the other one is alright/alive/if not they'll get another one for the remaining swan.

Post by **Coyote** » Tue Aug 22, 2006 1:11 am

I also had not noticed the absence. I hope that someone didn't do a squeeze play and a mate will return, or will be provided.

Post by **Coyote** » Mon Sep 11, 2006 3:05 pm

Work Nearly Complete On Leahy Mall Island Renovation

Lively Omaha wrote:Nebraska natives are retuning to the island at the Leahy Mall. Over the last few weeks workers have begun transforming the area with plants that will strengthen its connection to the River. The work is sponsored by Omaha by Design and funded by grant from the Nebraska Environmental Trust.

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 12:46 am

well...it's a start...?

Post by **Coyote** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 11:12 am

Yeah, it looks like this is all we will get for this year.

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 11:50 am

Is it just me, or does it look COMPLETELY worse?

Now it looks like a patch of mud where the "tide" is low with weeds growing on it.

the1wags · Post by **the1wags** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 11:56 am

Usually grass and plants take time to grow.

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 12:00 pm

Oh really?

It's just that, it seems like there were already established grass, plants, and trees on the island.

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 12:05 pm

It looks COMPLETELY worse now..But it will look COMPLETELY better than before it's renovation in the not so distant future (think..Cup half-full for now)..

Thanks for the pics Coyote..

..Ciao..LiO....Peace