Omaha Forums

edsas wrote:I heard Stothert on KFAB this morning. It sounds like LOT B in downtown is very much in play for HDR. It was one of 12 sites the city initially proposed to HDR. The issue with the initial site appears to be that HDR doesn't want the city to acquire any property on its behalf through imminent domain.

Anyway, it blows that groundbreaking for this isn't going to happen this summer as discussed, but the HQ is not a dead project. I'm not sure why the hasty move to Projects Never Built. By all accounts, this project is going forward but at a different location. I say move it back to development until the new site is chosen. If it's downtown, great. The thread stays as is. If it's out by Old Mill or Boys Town, then move it to suburbs. But why put it here when "never built" is not an accurate reflection of the project's status?

GetUrban wrote:I'd rather see them go to the Old UP site (former Wallstreet tower) and combine it with a residential tower/parking garage to make enough income to make it happen. I don't think anything over 6 stories would be appropriate for the lot B site. Best to keep the towers closer to the CBD core.

I see the LOT B site as more suitable for entertainment/residential/retail development, more so than office.

So, the way the OWH article was written and Little was quoted, it makes it sound like a downtown is out of the running for HDR's site....I wonder if that is really true? Or is there still hope?

Coyote wrote:This was moved to Projects never built since it was their attempt at a downtown project, if another project with different plans and designs show up we can start a new thread for that location.

nativeomahan wrote:Let's say I think that I have enough money to design my new house, and I want to have it built on this perfect lot in a perfect neighborhood. But I don't own the lot. I could go forward with my plan by:
(A) First purchasing the lot outright, or at least securing an option to buy the lot for an agreed to price. Then I could finish the design plans for the house and see if I can actually afford to build it.
Or,
(B) I could shell out beau coup bucks to finish the design plans for my dream house, and agree to move out of my existing house by a date certain, and then and only then I try to reach an agreement with the property owner to sell me the land at a price I determine I am willing to pay.

One path is the path of prudence and business sense. The other is the path of folly, and the Heigth of being Dumb and Ridiculous, or HDR for short.

edsas wrote:I heard Stothert on KFAB this morning. It sounds like LOT B in downtown is very much in play for HDR. It was one of 12 sites the city initially proposed to HDR. The issue with the initial site appears to be that HDR doesn't want the city to acquire any property on its behalf through imminent domain.

MadMartin8 wrote:

edsas wrote:I heard Stothert on KFAB this morning. It sounds like LOT B in downtown is very much in play for HDR. It was one of 12 sites the city initially proposed to HDR. The issue with the initial site appears to be that HDR doesn't want the city to acquire any property on its behalf through imminent domain.

HDR on Lot B? God help us all. Yikes.

RNcyanide wrote:Parking wasn't an issue? |expletive|, please.

choke wrote:

RNcyanide wrote:Parking wasn't an issue? |expletive|, please.

Right???? If New York, LA, Dallas, Denver, etc. can build a dense downtown and figure out parking, Omaha (population nothing) should be able to figure out parking with our not-so-dense downtown. Gimme a break.

choke wrote:

RNcyanide wrote:Parking wasn't an issue? |expletive|, please.

Right???? If New York, LA, Dallas, Denver, etc. can build a dense downtown and figure out parking, Omaha (population nothing) should be able to figure out parking with our not-so-dense downtown. Gimme a break. And, yes I understand they have better mass transit systems. But we can't improve ours until we start needing to do it. Sorry. I added on after you replied.

NEDodger wrote:

MadMartin8 wrote:

edsas wrote:I heard Stothert on KFAB this morning. It sounds like LOT B in downtown is very much in play for HDR. It was one of 12 sites the city initially proposed to HDR. The issue with the initial site appears to be that HDR doesn't want the city to acquire any property on its behalf through imminent domain.

HDR on Lot B? God help us all. Yikes.

Yeah....the only way I see that potentially working is if it were a 7-8 floor building like the Hilton and it borders Cass. Alvine going to 12th and Cass would make it a little more palatable.

edsas wrote:

Coyote wrote:This was moved to Projects never built since it was their attempt at a downtown project, if another project with different plans and designs show up we can start a new thread for that location.

Fair enough. I was trying to remain upbeat about this horrible news and I didn't realize where Lot B actually was.

jessep28 wrote:It's disappointing, but not the end of the world. At least the company isn't relocating across the river. In my opinion, as long as the city has a public transportation system that is joke West of 72nd St., commuting concerns will be a large barrier for any company with a large suburban dwelling workforce locating an office downtown.

choke wrote:

RNcyanide wrote:Parking wasn't an issue? |expletive|, please.

Right???? If New York, LA, Dallas, Denver, etc. can build a dense downtown and figure out parking, Omaha (population nothing) should be able to figure out parking with our not-so-dense downtown. Gimme a break.

RockHarbor wrote:

choke wrote:

RNcyanide wrote:Parking wasn't an issue? |expletive|, please.

Right???? If New York, LA, Dallas, Denver, etc. can build a dense downtown and figure out parking, Omaha (population nothing) should be able to figure out parking with our not-so-dense downtown. Gimme a break.

Lol...the way you said that. "Population nothing..." lol (Hey...we've almost reached a million people!)

TORNADO: Thanks for your response. It sounds like that lot won't ever get built on. But, that is attractive spot in downtown, I would think. I'm surprised by the turn of events in a way, but these deals can be fragile. I agree with another forum member that said something like "I won't believe a proposal anymore...until I see cranes on the skyline" (or something like that).

I just saw an article in the paper today. As much as we are disappointed, and the city, it sounds like HDR has some disappointments of their own, too. I'm looking forward to seeing where they build in the metro. Are they going to use the same sharp design they revealed, I wonder?

Speaking of empty lots, I would love if they would build on that woodsy large lot right east of Westroads. Is anybody going to ever build on that? I hope one spectacular & tall suburban office building goes up there. It would be very visible from all over, and could be an architectural landmark to anchor the area. If you can believe it, there's still a fairly narrow lot available between the Regency Marriott and the Regency Center -- but, I don't think that lot is near big enough for them.

nativeomahan wrote:Maybe LaViata will lure them to Westport. Direct interstate access. Hotels nearby. And corn fields.

Honestly, if I was in upper management of HDR I don't know how I could get up this morning and face the world. I would bet that even my 10-year-old child's classmates would be laughing at me as I dropped my little urchin off at school. Talk about a humiliating turn of events for this once proud corporation.

nativeomahan wrote:Maybe LaViata will lure them to Westport. Direct interstate access. Hotels nearby. And corn fields.

Honestly, if I was in upper management of HDR I don't know how I could get up this morning and face the world. I would bet that even my 10-year-old child's classmates would be laughing at me as I dropped my little urchin off at school. Talk about a humiliating turn of events for this once proud corporation.

HR Paperstacks wrote:I think the city doesn't really want any more density in Old Mill since there's only one way in/out and that would cause more traffic problems. TDA had to get some kind of pass to build their headquarters there.

Omaha Cowboy wrote:

nativeomahan wrote:Maybe LaViata will lure them to Westport. Direct interstate access. Hotels nearby. And corn fields.

Honestly, if I was in upper management of HDR I don't know how I could get up this morning and face the world. I would bet that even my 10-year-old child's classmates would be laughing at me as I dropped my little urchin off at school. Talk about a humiliating turn of events for this once proud corporation.

LOL. Agreed...

And for those that reason HDR's decision isn't "the end of the world" as they claim to want to retain an Omaha HQ base.. I agree. However, how they came to their decision to reject downtown Omaha is what I have an issue with.. Don't release a presser in June/2015 triumphantly claiming a new HQ move to downtown Omaha.. Then, after "careful consideration" on January 25th, 2016, roll out to local media multiple renderings, specs and a timetable for groundbreaking and completion.. THEN a mere 73 days later, float the TURD that you've scrapped your plans..

That's complete and utter BS. I have no issue with a company wanting to locate their "world HQ's" in suburban Omaha.. Just don't sell the public with the pomp and circumstance that you're building in downtown.. Then yank the idea like a butt hurt school child..

Again, that's what I have the issue with.. And HDR has lost my respect over it.. And I suspect I'm not the only one who feels the same way...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

choke wrote:

Omaha Cowboy wrote:

nativeomahan wrote:Maybe LaViata will lure them to Westport. Direct interstate access. Hotels nearby. And corn fields.

Honestly, if I was in upper management of HDR I don't know how I could get up this morning and face the world. I would bet that even my 10-year-old child's classmates would be laughing at me as I dropped my little urchin off at school. Talk about a humiliating turn of events for this once proud corporation.

LOL. Agreed...

And for those that reason HDR's decision isn't "the end of the world" as they claim to want to retain an Omaha HQ base.. I agree. However, how they came to their decision to reject downtown Omaha is what I have an issue with.. Don't release a presser in June/2015 triumphantly claiming a new HQ move to downtown Omaha.. Then, after "careful consideration" on January 25th, 2016, roll out to local media multiple renderings, specs and a timetable for groundbreaking and completion.. THEN a mere 73 days later, float the TURD that you've scrapped your plans..

That's complete and utter BS. I have no issue with a company wanting to locate their "world HQ's" in suburban Omaha.. Just don't sell the public with the pomp and circumstance that you're building in downtown.. Then yank the idea like a butt hurt school child..

Again, that's what I have the issue with.. And HDR has lost my respect over it.. And I suspect I'm not the only one who feels the same way...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

I agree. We, personally, don't have anything at stake. But I am sure there are some projects in conception or currently being built downtown that were depending on HDR building on that site. So I wonder how many projects just had the brakes put on because HDR backed out. HDR could have at least considered another location downtown. Lot B would be just fine, it is a huge lot, no different than the Capitol District project.

GetUrban wrote:Yeah, it's hard to believe the City and OPA didn't know something was amiss. I think OPA and HDR are playing the card that says "see what happens when you don't give the movers and shakers exactly what they want from the start."

Now Omaha is stuck with a block of barren surface parking in the heart of downtown with no higher use in sight for the foreseeable future, due to the majority owner, OPA.

RockHarbor wrote:As much as there is major disappointment among us, I think of HDR's recent decision kind of this way: If somebody backs out of getting married at the alter, with a huge wedding all planned around them, and everybody's dressed up, and the tall cake is ready to be cut, and the DJ is ready to play music, it is naturally disappointing to many souls when the wedding is off, but I don't blame the one who backed out. Because = It is their life ultimately, not the crowd around them. Did they have plenty of time to back out before the wedding? Yes. Would it have all been easier and less costly if they did so? Yes. But somehow, they were pulled straight forward to the wedding day, through all the nagging doubts, telling themselves they were doing the right thing, feeling pressured, probably fearing disappointing people. But, before the vows were said, they knew they had to back out, and run out of the church. So, I just try to find understanding & sympathy with everybody's feelings.