There are actually still PLENTY of underutilized buildings in the Old Market, so this will be nice.
"The right to have access to every building in the city by private motorcar in an age when everyone possesses such a vehicle is actually the right to destroy the city."
Lewis Mumford, The Highway and the City, 1963
Omaha World Herald wrote:
City waves carrot, stick for building renovations
The Old Market's biggest eyesore is set to undergo a transformation into a luxury apartment showplace by this time next year, thanks in part to a $1 million boost from the city.
Old Market merchants and residents greeted the news with relief that perhaps something positive might be done with the 103-year-old Iler Building on Howard Street.
The City Council is expected to provide a $1 million carrot Tuesday to architect Don Prochaska, the owner. If the tax increment financing doesn't get Prochaska moving, city officials are ready with a big stick to hit him with citations for building code violations.
The building code file for 2004 is nearly 3 inches thick. There are 28 violations listed for just the basement of the six-story building. The problems include exposed wires, faulty plumbing, standing water, feces on the floor and mold.
Another 18 violations are listed for the exterior and 29 more on the first-floor bar, kitchen and storage on the first floor, where Godfather's Pizza and Ted and Wally's Ice Cream once operated.
The upper five floors have never been occupied since Prochaska bought it in 1987.
While the surrounding buildings have filled upper floors with apartments and condos, the second through sixth floor of the Iler stand empty.
The wait will be worth it, said Prochaska, who plans to move into the renovated building with his wife, Douglas County Judge Jane Prochaska.
The type of high-end development "was not occurring in Omaha" in the mid-1980s, Prochaska said.
"Three, four, five years ago," he said, "this type of housing was more a peculiarity than a staple."
For him, Prochaska said, "the toughest part was holding and not developing."
What he has in mind is an $8 million development of 23 to 26 luxury apartments with secure parking in the basement and commercial space on the first level.
To pull it off, Prochaska is receiving $1 million in tax increment financing and more than $800,000 from historical tax credits. Those credits require the project to be rentals for five years and then they can be converted to condominiums and sold.
"Anything would be an improvement," said Ron Samuelson, one of the owners of M's Pub and Vivace.
Any neighborhood gets concerned about a vacant and deteriorating building in its midst, Samuelson said.
With the fires that have struck Old Market buildings, problems with homeless people seeking shelter and the poor appearance of the Iler, other building and business owners have complained.
"Those concerns are well-founded," City Planning Director Bob Peters said. The city has made sure the building's sprinkler system has remained activated, he said.
Neighbors and city officials have heard promises before from Prochaska and want to see the plans become reality.
"I'm glad something is going to happen," Samuelson said. "I hope it goes off without a hitch."
It had better, Peters said.
From the moment the council approves the incentives, Peters said, the clock starts ticking. If nothing happens in 60 days, city building inspectors will return.
"We expect cooperation and performance," Peters said. "If those goals are achieved, the owner, the Old Market and the city all benefit."
Under Prochaska and the previous owner, the Iler has been waiting since the mid-1970s for improvements. "It's been a lost opportunity," Peters said.
This is absolutely STELLAR news for the Old Market! It's always BAFFLED me as to why a building with SO MUCH potential was sitting VACANT right at 11th and HOWARD.
Anyway, great news, and it looks like we'll start seeing improvements very soon.
I wonder what businesses will occupy the first floor.
"The right to have access to every building in the city by private motorcar in an age when everyone possesses such a vehicle is actually the right to destroy the city."
Lewis Mumford, The Highway and the City, 1963
It's the building just west of and attatched to the building that houses Spagetti Works.
"The right to have access to every building in the city by private motorcar in an age when everyone possesses such a vehicle is actually the right to destroy the city."
Lewis Mumford, The Highway and the City, 1963
I'm glad for the building. That strip of the OM has been kind of dead since Ted & Wally's moved. Glad to see that it will have rental units for a time too.
I'll bet the surrounding business and building tenants are VERY excited and relieved that it is being renovated. Great old building, but definitely needs a tuneup!
Ok, Its' been a long time since I've seen any progress on this project, that was until today. I noticed that Mcgill Restoration is doing a similar power wash on the front facade like they did to the Paxton. The difference is stunning. They have about half of the front done.
HOWEVER! this is all that seems to be happening. The building still has all the windows boarded up and there seems to be virtually no interior work being done. Despite the current power wash this has been an eyesore for too long and surprise surprise who's the General Contractor on the job? LUND-ROSS.
Lund-Ross has done a lot of structural repairs inside the building. Work that would be difficult to see by the average passers by. The building Onwer is still working through alot of design items before the job take off full speed.
Whoa! Just like the Paxton, who would have thought there was that much difference between what it looked like and what it was supposed to look like. It makes you look at all of the other buildings in the Old Market with a suspicious eye.
I actually liked the look of the dirty building combined with the oxidized copper.
However, it's still a great improvement.
I like this trend of powerwashing old buildings to go along with remodeling: Omaha Building, Paxton, and now P.E. Iler.
"The right to have access to every building in the city by private motorcar in an age when everyone possesses such a vehicle is actually the right to destroy the city."
Lewis Mumford, The Highway and the City, 1963
Agreed Streets. I can see it from my apartment, and it really looks much better. Half cleaned/half not. The difference is striking!
Always a business-oriented city hungry for growth and focused on development with laser intensity, Omaha aimed high, reached for momentum and found critical mass.
Last week I saw guys working on the back of the building facing toward Jackson Street, so progress does continue, even if at a somewhat slow pace. Â In a few weeks will be the one year anniversary of the announcement of the project. Â If I were a betting man, I'd say by Spring, this project will be moving full speed ahead.
Always a business-oriented city hungry for growth and focused on development with laser intensity, Omaha aimed high, reached for momentum and found critical mass.
Oops, I see it will be the two year anniversary. Â Hmmm...I haven't even been on this forum that long!
Always a business-oriented city hungry for growth and focused on development with laser intensity, Omaha aimed high, reached for momentum and found critical mass.
Many more months go by and no progress. Â The barricades in the back of the building have been removed, yet the scaffolding on Howard Street, designed to protect us citizens from the construction remain. Â It looks shabby! Â What department in the city should I call to complain about the sidewalk scaffolding for a project that has had no activity in a year? Â It makes Howard Street look bad! Â As a matter of interest, what city department do I call to complain that the street lights on Farnam between 9th and 10th haven't come on at night for over two months?
Always a business-oriented city hungry for growth and focused on development with laser intensity, Omaha aimed high, reached for momentum and found critical mass.
Last Friday while I was out in the Old Market the block just across from here was packed but the other side was slim. I think alot of it has to do with this scaffolding still being up. With as successful as other businesses in the OM are I don't know why the owner has taken so long to do anything. Maybe he doesn't have the funds.
Just on Channel 6 they were talking about this building. Business owners around the building were talking about how crappy it will look to out of towners during the CWS.
The last time any work was done on the building was last fall. Steve Jensen the city planner said part of what is taking so long is that since the building is old it has to go through Federal approval for some of the upgrades the owners want to do. They said the approval could come as soon as next week.
Prochaska & Assoc. Window submittal was approved by the National Park Service yesterday.
The major reason why the project is taking so long; the property owner (Don Prochaska) has completed work on the project as his architectural office had "slow" times with less clients. Â The recent Federal approval took about 30 day, the correct amount of time allowed by the National Park Service to review proposals. Â The project was initially approved back on August 19, 2004...since then there have been a few amendments to their application. Â The recent window amendment was their second (their first was denied). Â In order to take advantage of Federal Historic Tax Credits, projects must meet certain criteria...in this case the owners must replicate the existing windows as closely as possible if they are proposing replacing windows. Â It has been fairly difficult for the owner to do this, but the building has some amazing "Chicago-style" windows. Â Other architecture firms have been able to complete projects with federal historic tax credits in the as little as two years; it is still unclear why this project has still taken so long, then.
Brad, Just for the record, Zorinsky and Hruska are not projects involved with Federal Historic Tax Credits (Both are Federally owned, Hruska was a completely new building and Zorinsky is not listed on the Nat'l Register (a requirement to take advantage of the credits)Bra
I've said it before about many different projects, "Lund-Ross will eventually get the job done but expect what ever job they do to run far over the expected completion date".
They have a real problems with deadlines and don't know how to deal with unforeseen obstacles that always come up during construction jobs. Â Low bidder is rarely the best option for any construction job. Â
Now add Prochaska & Assoc,  Yikes! what a bad combination.  Even before this project  began I told one of my friends who has a business next door that if the project gets done in the next 5 years consider himself lucky.  I have experience with both of these firms and it's never been good. Â
Too bad for the Old Market, Â I for one am tired of all the excuses this dynamic duo come up with for the delays but everyone knows which construction firms get the job done and which either don't get it done or take for ever to do a job.
It wouldn't surprise me if the city has to step in once and again and put pressure on Prochaska to get things moving or else
OWH wrote:The P.E. Iler building near the intersection of 11th and Howard Streets has been boarded up for several years after a planned renovation stalled.
Some neighbors and nearby business owners say the 105-year-old building has become an eyesore that detracts from the ambiance and charm of the Old Market.
Scaffolding lines the sidewalk in front of the Iler, and the street-level facade is covered in plywood. The neighbors say they want the building fixed up or sold.
"Everybody else jumps through hoops to improve the Old Market, and we have this (vacant) building sitting smack in the middle of things," said Rich Anderson, who owns the Niche furniture store next to the Iler building. "It just needs to get fixed."
The owner, architect Don Prochaska, said he also wants to see the renovation move forward, but the project has faced several setbacks related to historic preservation. He said he is still making a major investment in the Old Market and that neighbors and owners of nearby businesses should be patient.
Sometime in the near future, replacement windows should be installed on the P.E. Iler Bldg. Â When work starts, could fellow forumners contribute to keep me posted. Â I really would like to get this project moving, and since I am in Lincoln... I am not able to visit as much as I would like. Â Thank you very much, in advance!
Okay, so what's the holdup on this eyesore now? Â We were promised some action after they got their permit to replace the windows from the historic review board (or whoever they were) back in June, but there's been absolutely no progress. Â Who's Prochaska blaming it on now? Â The window supplier?
I really wonder why the city hasn't gone after these folks. Â There's got to be some sort of law they're breaking with the decrepit nature of the building, and the permanent scaffolding along the street. Â I don't think I'd care so much about this project being stalled if it wasn't smack in the center of one of Omaha's most frequented tourist destinations... Â It really is a black eye in the center of an area teaming with development.
What possible window issues could still exist at this point? Â We're acting like this is the first historic building in the country to want to swap out its windows. Â Could there be more than 4 or 5 possible variables in this thing? Â
I call BS.
-Big E
(I'm not shooting the messenger, HistoricOmaha. Â This just sounds like a bunch of |expletive| to me.)
It is pretty much out of my hands - I just administer the Tax Credit Program for Nebraska, on behalf of the NPS, I don't babysit applicants. Â If anyone wants answers, then direct your questions and concerns to Prochaska & Assoc.
