Pacific Life HQ @ Aksarben Village

Downtown, Midtown, and all parts east of 72nd.

Moderators: Coyote, nebugeater, Brad, Omaha Cowboy, BRoss

User avatar
RNcyanide
Planning Board
Posts: 2780
Joined: Thu Mar 28, 2013 10:37 am
Location: Boston

Re: Pacific Life HQ @ Aksarben Village

Post by RNcyanide »

MTO wrote:Is that building white and orange or black and blue.
It depends on how the light enters the eye, I suppose :shrug:
When fortune smiles on something as violent and ugly as revenge, it seems proof like no other that not only does God exist, you're doing his will.

The Bride
hatwate
Library Board
Posts: 268
Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2014 7:25 pm
Location: Aksarben Village

Re: Pacific Life HQ @ Aksarben Village

Post by hatwate »

I cannot help myself. I spy with my little eye that the garage is concrete gray and the Pacific LIfe is reddish orange. Of course, I think 'the dress' is white and gold so you might not be able to trust my eye :D 8) O.K. I am done and hope that I haven't started something.
User avatar
BRoss
IT Director
Posts: 10002763
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 7:39 pm
Location: West Central Omaha

Re: Pacific Life HQ @ Aksarben Village

Post by BRoss »

MTO wrote:Is that building white and orange or black and blue.
It''s actually yellow and green.
User avatar
Seth
Parks & Recreation
Posts: 1437
Joined: Mon Jan 11, 2010 4:59 pm
Location: Ford Birthsite Neighborhood

Re: Pacific Life HQ @ Aksarben Village

Post by Seth »

MTO wrote:Is that building white and orange or black and blue.
Please tell me the "what color is the dress" trend hasn't infected eomahaforums too.
User avatar
Coyote
City Council
Posts: 32937
Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2003 11:18 am
Location: Aksarben Village
Contact:

Re: Pacific Life HQ @ Aksarben Village

Post by Coyote »

Pre-fab garage forms rolling in, hoisted up in no time at all:

Image
User avatar
skinzfan23
City Council
Posts: 9134
Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2004 11:26 am
Location: Omaha/Bellevue

Re: Pacific Life HQ @ Aksarben Village

Post by skinzfan23 »

Doesn't look great aesthetically. I wonder if they are going to at least paint the garage. I doubt there will be any brickwork done on it.
User avatar
RNcyanide
Planning Board
Posts: 2780
Joined: Thu Mar 28, 2013 10:37 am
Location: Boston

Re: Pacific Life HQ @ Aksarben Village

Post by RNcyanide »

I'm not too worried about it. There's going to be other buildings in front of the garage, so at least it will be mostly hidden.
When fortune smiles on something as violent and ugly as revenge, it seems proof like no other that not only does God exist, you're doing his will.

The Bride
User avatar
skinzfan23
City Council
Posts: 9134
Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2004 11:26 am
Location: Omaha/Bellevue

Re: Pacific Life HQ @ Aksarben Village

Post by skinzfan23 »

RNcyanide wrote:I'm not too worried about it. There's going to be other buildings in front of the garage, so at least it will be mostly hidden.
That is true, I forgot that buildings will surround the garage similar to the other garage behind Liv Lounge and Jones Bros.
User avatar
RNcyanide
Planning Board
Posts: 2780
Joined: Thu Mar 28, 2013 10:37 am
Location: Boston

Re: Pacific Life HQ @ Aksarben Village

Post by RNcyanide »

If I'm not mistaken, they also painted that one to match the buildings around it though, so it wouldn't be completely hideous.
When fortune smiles on something as violent and ugly as revenge, it seems proof like no other that not only does God exist, you're doing his will.

The Bride
hatwate
Library Board
Posts: 268
Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2014 7:25 pm
Location: Aksarben Village

Re: Pacific Life HQ @ Aksarben Village

Post by hatwate »

I think there will be apartments or townhouses between it and the street on the west side of it.
lmdramos
Library Board
Posts: 315
Joined: Sat Oct 20, 2012 4:26 pm
Location: New England

Re: Pacific Life HQ @ Aksarben Village

Post by lmdramos »

It doesn't look like there's enough space for a building there. It's gonna have to be pretty narrow.
User avatar
skinzfan23
City Council
Posts: 9134
Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2004 11:26 am
Location: Omaha/Bellevue

Re: Pacific Life HQ @ Aksarben Village

Post by skinzfan23 »

This is the site plan:
Image
User avatar
Coyote
City Council
Posts: 32937
Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2003 11:18 am
Location: Aksarben Village
Contact:

Re: Pacific Life HQ @ Aksarben Village

Post by Coyote »

lmdramos wrote:It doesn't look like there's enough space for a building there. It's gonna have to be pretty narrow.
Yes, narrow, but room enough, probably not many windows on the east side though...

Image
User avatar
RNcyanide
Planning Board
Posts: 2780
Joined: Thu Mar 28, 2013 10:37 am
Location: Boston

Re: Pacific Life HQ @ Aksarben Village

Post by RNcyanide »

They may just build it right up against the parking garage.
When fortune smiles on something as violent and ugly as revenge, it seems proof like no other that not only does God exist, you're doing his will.

The Bride
User avatar
GetUrban
Planning Board
Posts: 2634
Joined: Sun Nov 23, 2008 3:07 pm
Location: Omaha

Re: Pacific Life HQ @ Aksarben Village

Post by GetUrban »

Looks like the lofts will be about 40'-50' deep, with a good view of the little Papio to the west.

This is a great example of how more developments should be done in Omaha. Higher-density, street frontage for retail and residential, with parking hidden behind the higher uses. Too bad the land out at 192nd & West Dodge isn't being used this wisely. One can hope that area will eventually fill-in once clear land is no longer available.
He said "They are some big, ugly red brick buildings"
...and then they were gone.
User avatar
RNcyanide
Planning Board
Posts: 2780
Joined: Thu Mar 28, 2013 10:37 am
Location: Boston

Re: Pacific Life HQ @ Aksarben Village

Post by RNcyanide »

GetUrban wrote:Looks like the lofts will be about 40'-50' deep, with a good view of the little Papio to the west.

This is a great example of how more developments should be done in Omaha. Higher-density, street frontage for retail and residential, with parking hidden behind the higher uses. Too bad the land out at 192nd & West Dodge isn't being used this wisely. One can hope that area will eventually fill-in once clear land is no longer available.
This is a good step in the right direction. Let's see how other developments in key parts of town pan out.
When fortune smiles on something as violent and ugly as revenge, it seems proof like no other that not only does God exist, you're doing his will.

The Bride
User avatar
iamjacobm
City Council
Posts: 10376
Joined: Sat Apr 10, 2010 6:52 am
Location: Chicago

Re: Pacific Life HQ @ Aksarben Village

Post by iamjacobm »

GetUrban wrote:Looks like the lofts will be about 40'-50' deep, with a good view of the little Papio to the west.

This is a great example of how more developments should be done in Omaha. Higher-density, street frontage for retail and residential, with parking hidden behind the higher uses. Too bad the land out at 192nd & West Dodge isn't being used this wisely. One can hope that area will eventually fill-in once clear land is no longer available.
A/V is a great example of the mostly right way to do infill. North Downtown is a more likely future peer than West Dodge though.
MTO
City Council
Posts: 7806
Joined: Wed Mar 09, 2005 11:49 am
Location: Dundee

Re: Pacific Life HQ @ Aksarben Village

Post by MTO »

It's a creak not The French Riviera. But yeah this is how it should be done in North Downtown as well.
15-17, 26, 32
User avatar
iamjacobm
City Council
Posts: 10376
Joined: Sat Apr 10, 2010 6:52 am
Location: Chicago

Re: Pacific Life HQ @ Aksarben Village

Post by iamjacobm »

I'm not even as much as a skyscraper fanboy anymore. Give me buildings the scale of PacLife or Gordman's on every empty lot downtown and we would have a crazy vibrant core.
User avatar
GetUrban
Planning Board
Posts: 2634
Joined: Sun Nov 23, 2008 3:07 pm
Location: Omaha

Re: Pacific Life HQ @ Aksarben Village

Post by GetUrban »

iamjacobm wrote:
GetUrban wrote:Looks like the lofts will be about 40'-50' deep, with a good view of the little Papio to the west.

This is a great example of how more developments should be done in Omaha. Higher-density, street frontage for retail and residential, with parking hidden behind the higher uses. Too bad the land out at 192nd & West Dodge isn't being used this wisely. One can hope that area will eventually fill-in once clear land is no longer available.
A/V is a great example of the mostly right way to do infill. North Downtown is a more likely future peer than West Dodge though.
For all practical purposes, the A/V property was pretty much a blank slate (similar to the farm fields out west) after the Aksarben racetrack and associated buildings and pavement were cleared away. But I agree, it's a good example of how to do infill too. :yes: it just took good planning on how to maximize the development potential and blend into the existing urban fabric.

Edit: I should add... I agree it would be a good model of how to develop North Downtown too. But I see no reason that 40 acre (or larger) parcels out west couldn't be developed the same way. It helps that the street grid was partially reestablished through A/V so that it could tie-in with earlier or future developments bordering the development. Street Grids... What a novel idea!
Last edited by GetUrban on Fri Mar 06, 2015 1:26 pm, edited 2 times in total.
He said "They are some big, ugly red brick buildings"
...and then they were gone.
User avatar
Coyote
City Council
Posts: 32937
Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2003 11:18 am
Location: Aksarben Village
Contact:

Re: Pacific Life HQ @ Aksarben Village

Post by Coyote »

AV had the Futures Trust, and then chose Noddle to envision a plan. Having fewer voices at the table helped out immensely, having a tabula rasa didn't hurt either.
User avatar
Garrett
Planning Board
Posts: 3487
Joined: Wed Nov 26, 2008 6:29 pm
Location: New York City

Re: Pacific Life HQ @ Aksarben Village

Post by Garrett »

iamjacobm wrote:I'm not even as much as a skyscraper fanboy anymore. Give me buildings the scale of PacLife or Gordman's on every empty lot downtown and we would have a crazy vibrant core.
Exactly. Most of the European cities we want to emulate aren't known for their skyscrapers. Even most of the thriving small urban centers in the United States are the same. Madison, Portland... Lincoln....
OMA-->CHI-->NYC
User avatar
TitosBuritoBarn
Planning Board
Posts: 3035
Joined: Mon Nov 08, 2004 7:08 pm
Location: St. Louis

Re: Pacific Life HQ @ Aksarben Village

Post by TitosBuritoBarn »

I will further the agreement that Aksarben Village is pretty much how urban infill should be done.

One thing that really really bothers me is how the Pinhook and Broadmoor apartments don't have front doors on the street, or even auxiliary doors. Only fire doors lead to the street. Otherwise you have to go in and out through the inner parking lot. If you want to walk to the retail area you have to go alllll the way around the building. It seems minor, but there is a lot of psychology in urban planning and that sort of thing can ruin a walking environment. Seriously, how hard is it to add a couple auxiliary doors to the street?
"Video game violence is not a new problem. Who could forget in the wake of SimCity how children everywhere took up urban planning." - Stephen Colbert
User avatar
Seth
Parks & Recreation
Posts: 1437
Joined: Mon Jan 11, 2010 4:59 pm
Location: Ford Birthsite Neighborhood

Re: Pacific Life HQ @ Aksarben Village

Post by Seth »

TitosBuritoBarn wrote:I will further the agreement that Aksarben Village is pretty much how urban infill should be done.

One thing that really really bothers me is how the Pinhook and Broadmoor apartments don't have front doors on the street, or even auxiliary doors. Only fire doors lead to the street. Otherwise you have to go in and out through the inner parking lot. If you want to walk to the retail area you have to go alllll the way around the building. It seems minor, but there is a lot of psychology in urban planning and that sort of thing can ruin a walking environment. Seriously, how hard is it to add a couple auxiliary doors to the street?
+1
hatwate
Library Board
Posts: 268
Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2014 7:25 pm
Location: Aksarben Village

Re: Pacific Life HQ @ Aksarben Village

Post by hatwate »

The Broadmoor fire doors have security pads on them so the residents don't have to go all the way around the building
.
User avatar
TitosBuritoBarn
Planning Board
Posts: 3035
Joined: Mon Nov 08, 2004 7:08 pm
Location: St. Louis

Re: Pacific Life HQ @ Aksarben Village

Post by TitosBuritoBarn »

Are they allowed to use them? Looking at Google Streetview, each door has "NOT AN ENTRANCE" written on it.
"Video game violence is not a new problem. Who could forget in the wake of SimCity how children everywhere took up urban planning." - Stephen Colbert
hatwate
Library Board
Posts: 268
Joined: Wed Sep 10, 2014 7:25 pm
Location: Aksarben Village

Re: Pacific Life HQ @ Aksarben Village

Post by hatwate »

I believe that sign is for non-residents. I see residents using them all the time.
User avatar
iamjacobm
City Council
Posts: 10376
Joined: Sat Apr 10, 2010 6:52 am
Location: Chicago

Re: Pacific Life HQ @ Aksarben Village

Post by iamjacobm »

Haha those apartments are par of he reason I said mostly right infill. A/V isn't perfect but it was Omaha's first real experience with that type of modern development.
User avatar
Coyote
City Council
Posts: 32937
Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2003 11:18 am
Location: Aksarben Village
Contact:

Re: Pacific Life HQ @ Aksarben Village

Post by Coyote »

With the Parking Garage to the North, I guess this is the next best vantage point:

Image



Image
User avatar
RNcyanide
Planning Board
Posts: 2780
Joined: Thu Mar 28, 2013 10:37 am
Location: Boston

Re: Pacific Life HQ @ Aksarben Village

Post by RNcyanide »

Once the get the granite cladding on and the white accents, this place will look pretty sharp. I know I criticized it pretty hard earlier, but for a simple design, it is rather elegant. A lighting scheme at night would do wonders for this place.
When fortune smiles on something as violent and ugly as revenge, it seems proof like no other that not only does God exist, you're doing his will.

The Bride
User avatar
skinzfan23
City Council
Posts: 9134
Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2004 11:26 am
Location: Omaha/Bellevue

Re: Pacific Life HQ @ Aksarben Village

Post by skinzfan23 »

RNcyanide wrote:Once the get the granite cladding on and the white accents, this place will look pretty sharp. I know I criticized it pretty hard earlier, but for a simple design, it is rather elegant. A lighting scheme at night would do wonders for this place.
I think it will look good for the location, but I do wish they would have done something a little more bold as far as the overall design of the building.
User avatar
iamjacobm
City Council
Posts: 10376
Joined: Sat Apr 10, 2010 6:52 am
Location: Chicago

Re: Pacific Life HQ @ Aksarben Village

Post by iamjacobm »

One I hadn't seen yet.

Image
User avatar
RNcyanide
Planning Board
Posts: 2780
Joined: Thu Mar 28, 2013 10:37 am
Location: Boston

Re: Pacific Life HQ @ Aksarben Village

Post by RNcyanide »

Huh. I guess that little part that kicks out at the top adds some interest.
When fortune smiles on something as violent and ugly as revenge, it seems proof like no other that not only does God exist, you're doing his will.

The Bride
User avatar
Coyote
City Council
Posts: 32937
Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2003 11:18 am
Location: Aksarben Village
Contact:

Re: Pacific Life HQ @ Aksarben Village

Post by Coyote »

iamjacobm wrote:One I hadn't seen yet.

Image
Image
User avatar
Coyote
City Council
Posts: 32937
Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2003 11:18 am
Location: Aksarben Village
Contact:

Re: Pacific Life HQ @ Aksarben Village

Post by Coyote »

Image
User avatar
GetUrban
Planning Board
Posts: 2634
Joined: Sun Nov 23, 2008 3:07 pm
Location: Omaha

Re: Pacific Life HQ @ Aksarben Village

Post by GetUrban »

I was kind of liking the orange...similar to the Gordman's building.
But the understated grey and white will be fine. Not every building needs to draw a lot of attention to itself. A nice background is good to.
He said "They are some big, ugly red brick buildings"
...and then they were gone.
User avatar
iamjacobm
City Council
Posts: 10376
Joined: Sat Apr 10, 2010 6:52 am
Location: Chicago

Re: Pacific Life HQ @ Aksarben Village

Post by iamjacobm »

Parking garage is basically done. It is massive. It did seem like the space for the proposed building between the garage and the creek is very small.
User avatar
RNcyanide
Planning Board
Posts: 2780
Joined: Thu Mar 28, 2013 10:37 am
Location: Boston

Re: Pacific Life HQ @ Aksarben Village

Post by RNcyanide »

Unless they put it directly against the parking garage or there won't be a setback on the street, I'm having trouble visualizing how exactly they will fit it on that tiny strip of land.
When fortune smiles on something as violent and ugly as revenge, it seems proof like no other that not only does God exist, you're doing his will.

The Bride
User avatar
Brad
City Council
Posts: 1033311
Joined: Sat Feb 28, 2004 6:03 pm
Location: Omaha, NE
Contact:

Re: Pacific Life HQ @ Aksarben Village

Post by Brad »

RNcyanide wrote:Unless they put it directly against the parking garage or there won't be a setback on the street, I'm having trouble visualizing how exactly they will fit it on that tiny strip of land.
The lot is 80' Deep and tapers to 50' at the north end.

The actual buildings at SoMA and Riverfront row houses are only 50' Deep. And for old school, Travers Row are only 30' deep.
User avatar
iamjacobm
City Council
Posts: 10376
Joined: Sat Apr 10, 2010 6:52 am
Location: Chicago

Re: Pacific Life HQ @ Aksarben Village

Post by iamjacobm »

^^Nice.

It probably looked small to me with the random collection of equipment and the presence of the garage giving it a different scale.
Post Reply