Lakeside Farms (Lonergan Lake)

West Omaha, Sarpy and Nebraska metro counties.

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Brad
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Lakeside Farms (Lonergan Lake)

Post by Brad »

I have noticed a lake north of Lake Cunningham over the past several years, but never new much about it. The DOGIS website says its called "Lonergan Lake". Its in the middle of a square mile of land. Interestingly enough, the land is all owned by ConAgra...

Boundaries
North - Pawnee
East - 72nd street
South - Bennington Road
West - 84th Street

Found out its for sale on Loop Net.
http://www.loopnet.com/Listing/15293656 ... -Omaha-NE/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

449 Acres of land surrounding a 119 acre lake. County values it at $2 million, but I don't see a listing price on the website.
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RNcyanide
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Re: Lonergan Lake

Post by RNcyanide »

Wasn't ConAgra threatening to leave downtown for this particular area if they didn't get their suburban style campus?
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Re: Lonergan Lake

Post by ricko »

RNcyanide wrote:Wasn't ConAgra threatening to leave downtown for this particular area if they didn't get their suburban style campus?
I could be wrong, but my understanding at the time was that they were threatening to leave the Omaha area altogether if they didn't get their way.
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Re: Lonergan Lake

Post by RNcyanide »

ricko wrote:
RNcyanide wrote:Wasn't ConAgra threatening to leave downtown for this particular area if they didn't get their suburban style campus?
I could be wrong, but my understanding at the time was that they were threatening to leave the Omaha area altogether if they didn't get their way.
I thought they were interested in an area north of 680, but I could be wrong too.
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Re: Lonergan Lake

Post by GetUrban »

Yeah, I've mentioned that piece of Conagra's land in my tirades about Jobber's Canyon. This is my recollection....I believe the story goes that Conagra bought the land to build a campus, but the City of Omaha really wanted to keep them downtown. They were in the new red brick 15-story twin Central Park Plaza buildings back in the 1980s. Mike Harper said the only way they would stay downtown was if they could build a campus, like they were planning out by Lonergan Lake. The City said OK, how about we give you land along the riverfront around a new lagoon and park. (later known as Heartland of America Park (gag)) Harper said I hate all of the ugly red brick buildings by the proposed park (aka Jobber's Canyon). Get rid of those and we will locate downtown. All of this was on top of the threat to leave Nebraska if Conagra wasn't granted tax breaks to stay. That's the abbreviated story as I know it.

This is a prime piece of scenic (for Nebraska) real estate. It's unique because the metro is really not growing real fast in that direction (probably because of school districting), although some farmland in the hills east of the North Omaha Airport has recently started being developed into Northern Hills Estates I & II, with about 65-70 1+ acre lots. Development into smaller lots is not allowed because there is no sewer service. All lots have their own septic fields. Building larger sewer treatment facilities has not been feasible. Most of the other land in the area is divided into 5,10, 20 and larger acreages. The Northern Hills and Ponca Hills overlay districts have fairly strict rules about how the loess hills of the area can be cleared & developed.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention...I recall seeing the property listed 3-4 years ago, by Noddle I think, for either 5.6 million...or was it 6.8 million? As soon as I win the lottery I'm buying it! Don't tell anyone else about it, please.
He said "They are some big, ugly red brick buildings"
...and then they were gone.
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Re: Lonergan Lake

Post by cdub »

Lonergan will be sewerable but isnt yet. The demand to the north is the real trick here. There is almost none.
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Re: Lonergan Lake

Post by NovakOmaha »

GetUrban wrote:Yeah, I've mentioned that piece of Conagra's land in my tirades about Jobber's Canyon. This is my recollection....I believe the story goes that Conagra bought the land to build a campus, but the City of Omaha really wanted to keep them downtown. They were in the new red brick 15-story twin Central Park Plaza buildings back in the 1980s. Mike Harper said the only way they would stay downtown was if they could build a campus, like they were planning out by Lonergan Lake. The City said OK, how about we give you land along the riverfront around a new lagoon and park. (later known as Heartland of America Park (gag)) Harper said I hate all of the ugly red brick buildings by the proposed park (aka Jobber's Canyon). Get rid of those and we will locate downtown. All of this was on top of the threat to leave Nebraska if Conagra wasn't granted tax breaks to stay. That's the abbreviated story as I know it.

This is a prime piece of scenic (for Nebraska) real estate. It's unique because the metro is really not growing real fast in that direction (probably because of school districting), although some farmland in the hills east of the North Omaha Airport has recently started being developed into Northern Hills Estates I & II, with about 65-70 1+ acre lots. Development into smaller lots is not allowed because there is no sewer service. All lots have their own septic fields. Building larger sewer treatment facilities has not been feasible. Most of the other land in the area is divided into 5,10, 20 and larger acreages. The Northern Hills and Ponca Hills overlay districts have fairly strict rules about how the loess hills of the area can be cleared & developed.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention...I recall seeing the property listed 3-4 years ago, by Noddle I think, for either 5.6 million...or was it 6.8 million? As soon as I win the lottery I'm buying it!  Don't tell anyone else about it, please.
Here is my now limited recollection. (Getting older is a b*tch)

ConAgra already had a presence in Knoxville and Mike Harper had a vision for downtown Omaha. I have no idea if he was ever serious about moving to Knoxville but Omaha was still smarting from Enron's complete abandonment of Omaha for Houston. Thousands of jobs and a stomach punch to the community. Harper also said Lonergan Lake was a great location for a campus. Not sure how serious he was about that either. You have to understand that his personality was so over the top and so charming. The company was growing like a weed and the stock was climbing really fast. I went to a few shareholder meeting and they we kind of like Berkshire's only much smaller, maybe a few hundred people. They had samples of the food they developed and Harper got up and charmed the audience.

When he told of his plans for a downtown campus it was sugar to the city. $80 million in investment and all the state had to do was do away with personal property taxes on things like corporate aircraft. It flew through the legislature like a rocket. The few voices of discontent were drowned out by the chamber easily.

The city also dropped the ball when Mercedes and BMW, as well as Micron, chose to go elsewhere. Rumor had it that BMW was ready to come to Omaha if only the land would be given to them for free. Didn't happen.

Look at it this way: Yes, jobbers canyon is gone and what replaced it is a very nice suburban campus. On the other hand, those buildings house hundreds of downtown workers who, along with the company, contribute in a huge way to the community. The alternative is jobbers canyon remained, and remained empty and ConAgra and hundreds of employees are enjoying the sweet life in Knoxville.
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Re: Lonergan Lake

Post by RNcyanide »

What were Mercedes and BMW doing here?
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Re: Lonergan Lake

Post by iamjacobm »

A manufacturing facility. Greenville-Spartanberg got it instead and the plant employs 10,000 there. Basically would of been one of Omaha's 3 largest employers if they picked here.
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Re: Lonergan Lake

Post by NovakOmaha »

RNcyanide wrote:What were Mercedes and BMW doing here?
Possibly locating factories in Omaha. BMW went to South Carolina & Mercedes went to Alabama. Micron, another big possibility, ended up in Utah. THAT was a huge battle.
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Re: Lonergan Lake

Post by GetUrban »

NovakOmaha wrote:
Harper also said Lonergan Lake was a great location for a campus.  Not sure how serious he was about that either.  
He must have been serious enough about the Lonergan Lake property to buy the big chunk of land. I'm surprised Conagra has held onto the land so long. They must have waited for the value to keep increasing before putting it on the market a few years ago. It would be interesting to research the value then vs now, and also find the info on when the lake was built. I'm of the opinion that the "Vision" which led to the Conagra Campus goes way back to the "Marina City" drawings around 1974. That earlier vision must have stuck in Harper's mind.

Back in 2004, I was looking at buying a 10 acre parcel with an original farmhouse southwest of 84th & hwy 36, which is near the northeast edge of Cunningham Lake. I found drawings for Lonergan Lake which showed the flood way into Cunningham. Can't remember when Lonergan was built though.

I noticed the property is listed by PJ Morgan now, but I couldn't find any info on the price, etc.
He said "They are some big, ugly red brick buildings"
...and then they were gone.
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Re: Lonergan Lake

Post by Brad »

GetUrban wrote:
NovakOmaha wrote:Can't remember when Lonergan was built though.
There is a 1988 aerial photo on Google Earth and it was already built and full by then.
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Re: Lonergan Lake

Post by GetUrban »

cdub wrote:Lonergan will be sewerable but isnt yet.  The demand to the north is the real trick here.  There is almost none.
Yeah, Lonergan drains into the Papio watershed. The area northeast of 72nd and Mckinley and the North Omaha Airport drains into Deer Creek, which runs northeast eventually draining directly into the Muddy Mo Southeast of Ft. Calhoun.

The area out by Bennington seems to be the next big area of growth for the metro.
He said "They are some big, ugly red brick buildings"
...and then they were gone.
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Re: Lonergan Lake

Post by Greg S »

That was definitely an interesting time in Omaha. HNG/Internorth (Enron) moving to Houston was a big blow to Omaha. If we had lost Con Agra on top of that, would have been a downhill spiral.

It would have been nice to have the Jobbers Canyon buildngs to rehab now or since then. That being said, Con Agra did really create some momentum downtown. Once they got the ball rolling in that area UP spent millions and moved employees into the Harriman Dispatch Center on the adjoining land. Then Hammonds got the Embassy Suites going. Also, a lot of the newer industrial development north of Eppley sprang out of this.

LB775 that kept Con Agra, also got Nebraska in the game on incentives for companies to move to or grow in Nebraska.

In addition to those factories, I remember the area going hard after the GM Saturn factory that ended up in Spring Hill. Honestly though, I'm not sure we were every just an incentive away from landing any of them. I do remember the legislature putting incentives for them, along with 775. If you notice, all the auto factories went to the southeast. I don't think that was a coincidence.

Greg
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Re: Lonergan Lake

Post by NovakOmaha »

Greg S wrote:That was definitely an interesting time in Omaha.  HNG/Internorth (Enron) moving to Houston was a big blow to Omaha.  If we had lost Con Agra on top of that, would have been a downhill spiral.  

It would have been nice to have the Jobbers Canyon buildngs to rehab now or since then.  That being said, Con Agra did really create some momentum downtown.  Once they got the ball rolling in that area UP spent millions and moved employees into the Harriman Dispatch Center on the adjoining land.   Then Hammonds got the Embassy Suites going.   Also, a lot of the newer industrial development north of Eppley sprang out of this.

LB775 that kept Con Agra, also got Nebraska in the game on incentives for companies to move to or grow in Nebraska.  

In addition to those factories, I remember the area going hard after the GM Saturn factory that ended up in Spring Hill.  Honestly though, I'm not sure we were every just an incentive away from landing any of them.  I do remember the legislature putting incentives for them, along with 775.  If you notice, all the auto factories went to the southeast.  I don't think that was a coincidence.

Greg
Mercedes was the one that Omaha had the best chance at. Word had it that if the land was free and a few other things Omaha had a real shot. Micron is based in Boise & conventional wisdom was that they were just using Omaha as a bargaining chip with Utah. BMW wanted a port. The whole country wanted Saturn but they also wanted somewhere in the southeast. Nebraska made a pitch but it didn't go anywhere.

Here's a little interesting history about Omaha's lost chances. Ford (or maybe GM) was looking to build a plant in Omaha. North downtown or near it. There was a little firehouse in the way. Peter Kiewit (yep, that one) had a grip on the city at the time. You want something, you go through him. Anyway, he didn't want the plant, for reasons passing understanding (maybe because his company wasn't going to build it) the city wouldn't move the firehouse & it ended up in Kansas City, where it still is.
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Re: Lonergan Lake

Post by bigredmed »

RNcyanide wrote:What were Mercedes and BMW doing here?
They were playing our mayor for a chump. PJ Morgan wanted to be a player. They were never even remotely serious about Omaha. BMW even said that the wanted to be in the eastern time zone and close to the Atlantic. Omaha didn't fit, but it was on a building boom and was credibly scary to Spartanburg to force favorable concessions. He got to be a player, and Mercedes and the Quant family took him to school.
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Re: Lonergan Lake

Post by OmahaOmaha »

I used to go fishing out at Lonergan Lake. It's a nice lake and I used to catch some nice sized fish out there. I'm sure it won't be long before this property gets snapped up and gets developed. Most likely it will end up being all residential, but I had a different idea. Wouldn't it be great if someone would buy up the property and build a lakeside amusement park? There's definately enough acres out there for a good sized park, plus plenty of room for several resort hotels. The location, being bordered by 72nd street would give it easy accessibility. I know it would require lots of new infustructure (water, sewer, street improvements, etc), but it could spur lots of other development in the area. I know I'm probably dreaming kind of big here. It's easy to dream when you're spending someone else's money.
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Re: Lonergan Lake

Post by GetUrban »

It would be great if Omaha had such an Amusement park, but I really think something of that intensity would be better suited along the I-80 corridor, possibly in Sarpy County between Omaha and Lincoln. The area around Lonergan Lake, including the Northern Hills and Ponca Hils is still very serene, and unique for the area. I'd hate to see that destroyed by all of the stuff that would come along with typical amusement park development, including chain hotels, restaurants, etc. Sorry to poopoo your idea, but I hope it doesn't happen in that location.
He said "They are some big, ugly red brick buildings"
...and then they were gone.
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Re: Lonergan Lake

Post by OmahaOmaha »

You have a good point, Geturban. I'd hate to see that kind of development too. I certainly wouldn't want that area to turn into a dumpy area, like International Drive in Orlando. I was just thinking it would be nice to have a couple of big resort hotels right on the same property as an amusement park. I would think there would be enough hotels along I-680 and 72 Street already. The last thing I'd like to see is a bunch of crappy Motel 6 type hotels popping up out there. Lots of people come to Omaha to visit the Zoo, the Botanical Garden, the Old Market, the shopping areas, the museums, and the casinos across the river. If we had a decent amusement park in this town, we could increase visitors stays in Omaha by one or two days. Just think how much money that could pump into the local economy.

By the way, Geturban, your post was number 666 for you. Just had to point that out.
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Re: Lonergan Lake

Post by GetUrban »

OmahaOmaha wrote: I was just thinking it would be nice to have a couple of big resort hotels right on the same property as an amusement park.

By the way, Geturban, your post was number 666 for you.   Just had to point that out.
Something like the Great Wolf Lodge by NFM in KC would be OK. Still not crazy about locating it by Lonergan though.

I hadn't noticed the 666 post number. The devil is in the details!
He said "They are some big, ugly red brick buildings"
...and then they were gone.
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Re: Lonergan Lake

Post by Greg S »

NovakOmaha wrote:
Greg S wrote:That was definitely an interesting time in Omaha.  HNG/Internorth (Enron) moving to Houston was a big blow to Omaha.  If we had lost Con Agra on top of that, would have been a downhill spiral.  

It would have been nice to have the Jobbers Canyon buildngs to rehab now or since then.  That being said, Con Agra did really create some momentum downtown.  Once they got the ball rolling in that area UP spent millions and moved employees into the Harriman Dispatch Center on the adjoining land.   Then Hammonds got the Embassy Suites going.   Also, a lot of the newer industrial development north of Eppley sprang out of this.

LB775 that kept Con Agra, also got Nebraska in the game on incentives for companies to move to or grow in Nebraska.  

In addition to those factories, I remember the area going hard after the GM Saturn factory that ended up in Spring Hill.  Honestly though, I'm not sure we were every just an incentive away from landing any of them.  I do remember the legislature putting incentives for them, along with 775.  If you notice, all the auto factories went to the southeast.  I don't think that was a coincidence.

Greg
Mercedes was the one that Omaha had the best chance at.  Word had it that if the land was free and a few other things Omaha had a real shot.  Micron is based in Boise & conventional wisdom was that they were just using Omaha as a bargaining chip with Utah.  BMW wanted a port.  The whole country wanted Saturn but they also wanted somewhere in the southeast.  Nebraska made a pitch but it didn't go anywhere.  

Here's a little interesting history about Omaha's lost chances.  Ford (or maybe GM) was looking to build a plant in Omaha.  North downtown or near it.  There was a little firehouse in the way.  Peter Kiewit (yep, that one) had a grip on the city at the time.  You want something, you go through him.  Anyway, he didn't want the plant, for reasons passing understanding (maybe because his company wasn't going to build it) the city wouldn't move the firehouse & it ended up in Kansas City, where it still is.
If memory serves, GM was scouting land near Ashland. My college roommate interned during the summers with GM (they paid for his schooling at UNL and he ended up being an engineer for them for years), and I remember a bunch of big wigs coming to town. They took us all out for dinner and drinks when they were in the area.
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Re: Lonergan Lake

Post by iamjacobm »

Of note, on the market for $10 Million.
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Re: Lonergan Lake

Post by Brad »

iamjacobm wrote:Of note, on the market for $10 Million.
That will be high end homes in no time flat...
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Re: Lonergan Lake

Post by GetUrban »

Brad wrote:
iamjacobm wrote:Of note, on the market for $10 Million.
That will be high end homes in no time flat...
It's been on the market for at least 4-5 years. ConAgra still owns it, last time I looked.

Northern Hills Estates, east of the North Omaha Airport has sold all of their 66 + lots and built quite a few houses recently though.
He said "They are some big, ugly red brick buildings"
...and then they were gone.
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Re: Lonergan Lake

Post by RockHarbor »

I've seen the For Sale signs around that lake, and wonder when it will be developed. It's definitely pretty and a cozy nook for residential development. My house as a teenager was an acreage right by that lake. Strange to think Con Agra almost built their campus there. The look of their campus would have fit well around that lake. I wonder if that area will ever fully develop? I think west of Lake Cunningham it will first. I really think the suburbs that are someday built around the Blair Highway (from the Washington County line & north) will be really neat & pretty. The land seems higher elevation out there.
I can get pushed out because I'm "too much" for some. Then, an observer of me comes suddenly swooping in to "fill my shoes." People are always more accepting of the new one, because their feathers aren't truly ruffled by them. (Yawn) I can count on it every time.
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Re: Lonergan Lake

Post by Reallytall »

My family sold a large portion of the land to developers in the 60s with the understanding it would be named after my great-great grandfather Dennis Lonergan. We moved to the old family farmhouse situated on the last 10 acres adjacent to the lake in 1972, and as long as I can remember it has been "For Sale". The original developers went belly-up in the 60s when the lake was completed with no hope of building anything on the horizon. During the 70s a new developer purchased the lake and the land around it for a development they were calling "North by Northwest". This was to be a mixed-use development including a mall, high-end housing and even a golf course. Needless to say this also fell through, and the weathered sign announcing the coming of "North by Northwest" sat along 72nd street for years. When ConAgra bought the property in the 80s we were sure a large offer would be made for our land as well, as we were situated at a logical access site to the property. We all know how that turned out. Rose Blumkin's son-in-law bought a large portion of the property in, I believe, the late 80s or early 90s. Their land includes the parcel that once belonged to my great uncle Will, Dennis Lonergan's son. Other than the few improvements they've made for lake access, not much has changed in the 30+ years ConAgra has owned it.

BTW, the land my family owned until 2000 is what is now called Lonergan Woods, a high-end subdivision with 7 homes and one outlot...
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Re: Lonergan Lake

Post by Coyote »

Thanks for that bit of history!
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Re: Lonergan Lake

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I was wondering if anyone could tell me why they drained Lonergan lake :?: , is it part of the Cunningham lake mussel problem?
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Re: Lonergan Lake

Post by NovakOmaha »

curtnay333 wrote: Mon May 06, 2019 6:40 pm I was wondering if anyone could tell me why they drained Lonergan lake :?: , is it part of the Cunningham lake mussel problem?
Well, it was owned, I believe, by Conagra, so maybe they took the water to Chicago?
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Re: Lonergan Lake

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curtnay333 wrote: Mon May 06, 2019 6:40 pm I was wondering if anyone could tell me why they drained Lonergan lake :?: , is it part of the Cunningham lake mussel problem?
It was drain because it had some invasive carp and since it drains in to Cunningham, it had to be killed off too.

https://www.omaha.com/news/metro/cunnin ... 2c2c2.html
Nancy Gaarder / World-Herald staff writer wrote: Also in the works is a companion plan to simultaneously drain Lonergan Lake, a private reservoir upstream of Cunningham. Officials think carp from Lonergan flushed down the Little Papillion Creek into Cunningham during high water.
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Re: Lonergan Lake

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Brad wrote: Mon May 06, 2019 9:16 pm
curtnay333 wrote: Mon May 06, 2019 6:40 pm I was wondering if anyone could tell me why they drained Lonergan lake :?: , is it part of the Cunningham lake mussel problem?
It was drain because it had some invasive carp and since it drains in to Cunningham, it had to be killed off too.

https://www.omaha.com/news/metro/cunnin ... 2c2c2.html
Nancy Gaarder / World-Herald staff writer wrote: Also in the works is a companion plan to simultaneously drain Lonergan Lake, a private reservoir upstream of Cunningham. Officials think carp from Lonergan flushed down the Little Papillion Creek into Cunningham during high water.
thank you
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Re: Lonergan Lake

Post by GetUrban »

curtnay333 wrote: Wed Jul 31, 2019 10:41 am
Brad wrote: Mon May 06, 2019 9:16 pm
curtnay333 wrote: Mon May 06, 2019 6:40 pm I was wondering if anyone could tell me why they drained Lonergan lake :?: , is it part of the Cunningham lake mussel problem?
It was drain because it had some invasive carp and since it drains in to Cunningham, it had to be killed off too.

https://www.omaha.com/news/metro/cunnin ... 2c2c2.html
Nancy Gaarder / World-Herald staff writer wrote: Also in the works is a companion plan to simultaneously drain Lonergan Lake, a private reservoir upstream of Cunningham. Officials think carp from Lonergan flushed down the Little Papillion Creek into Cunningham during high water.
thank you
Speaking of Lonergan Lake, I heard a rumor that the 449 acre Lonergan like property recently sold. Buyer unknown. Conagra has owned it since the 1980s. Anyone else heard anything?

Here's the listing:

https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/Benning ... E/3822608/
He said "They are some big, ugly red brick buildings"
...and then they were gone.
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Re: Lonergan Lake

Post by Brad »

GetUrban wrote: Wed Jul 31, 2019 11:51 am
Speaking of Lonergan Lake, I heard a rumor that the 449 acre Lonergan like property recently sold. Buyer unknown. Conagra has owned it since the 1980s. Anyone else heard anything?

Here's the listing:

https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/Benning ... E/3822608/
I'm sure its going to make a great hosing development for some developer.
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Re: Lonergan Lake

Post by MerciMe »

Curt Hofer purchased the lake and drained it in preparation for the work needing to be done to repair the sea walls and make the lake larger and deeper. He has been grading since February and planting trees. Large parcels of land (2, 10 acres and 4, 10 acres) were sold off on the north and north east side of the property. On the south side he has been resculpting the land for about a dozen 10 acre residential lots. He is very conservation conscious and the lake will be bigger and better when he finishes. If anyone was going to make this a more spectacular piece of property, I would put my monney on Curt. In response to the person who mentioned that the city could be bringing sewers in, I heard that the rights were sold to the Outlet Mall at Nebraska Crossing and there is no more capacity.
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Re: Lonergan Lake

Post by GetUrban »

Some major earth-moving / grading has been happening the last couple of weeks along the East side of this new future Curt Hofer residential development. They have built-up a 12-15’ high berm along the west side of 72nd for about 1/4 mile. Apparently they’re creating an earthen buffer to shield the potential traffic noise from the current 2-lane 72nd street north of Bennington road. It will also act as a buffer from the North Omaha airport, although it’s just a hobby airport now. You used to be able to see across the gently rolling hills to the west as the land sloped down to the west toward Lonergan lake, although you could not see the lake itself on the other side of the next hill.

It will be interesting to see how this develops, although it might end up be a gated community. It would be great if there could be public access to Lonergan lake that connected down to Cunningham. We’ll have to wait and see.
He said "They are some big, ugly red brick buildings"
...and then they were gone.
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Brad
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Re: Lakeside Farms (Lonergan Lake)

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