Gene Leahy Mall Remodel

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

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

MTO
City Council
Posts: 7806
Joined: Wed Mar 09, 2005 11:49 am
Location: Dundee

Re: Official: Gene Leahy Mall

Post by MTO »

I thought they were trying to do something a little different.
15-17, 26, 32
User avatar
skinzfan23
City Council
Posts: 9136
Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2004 11:26 am
Location: Omaha/Bellevue

Re: Official: Gene Leahy Mall

Post by skinzfan23 »

MTO wrote:I thought they were trying to do something a little different.
Maybe they are, but it doesn't look very good. Almost like they half-assed it.
User avatar
Coyote
City Council
Posts: 32938
Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2003 11:18 am
Location: Aksarben Village
Contact:

Re: Official: Gene Leahy Mall

Post by Coyote »

MTO wrote:I thought they were trying to do something a little different.
They city changed the layout this year because of certain complaints that the lights were taking too much focus off the Holland.
User avatar
RNcyanide
Planning Board
Posts: 2780
Joined: Thu Mar 28, 2013 10:37 am
Location: Boston

Re: Official: Gene Leahy Mall

Post by RNcyanide »

Coyote wrote:
MTO wrote:I thought they were trying to do something a little different.
They city changed the layout this year because of certain complaints that the lights were taking too much focus off the Holland.
You've got to be kidding...
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: 9136
Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2004 11:26 am
Location: Omaha/Bellevue

Re: Official: Gene Leahy Mall

Post by skinzfan23 »

Just to be clear, I thought the rest of the lights were ok but thee First National lights look ridiculous. I don't remember having the Holland Center in past years having the lights they have this year. I think they look alright, but if that is true about changing other lights for the Holland Center, that is horrible. The city just bows down to them.
MTO
City Council
Posts: 7806
Joined: Wed Mar 09, 2005 11:49 am
Location: Dundee

Re: Official: Gene Leahy Mall

Post by MTO »

The Holland is becoming an agent of evil.

But I thought they complimented each other very well.
15-17, 26, 32
User avatar
Coyote
City Council
Posts: 32938
Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2003 11:18 am
Location: Aksarben Village
Contact:

Re: Official: Gene Leahy Mall

Post by Coyote »

I posted that in jest...
User avatar
RNcyanide
Planning Board
Posts: 2780
Joined: Thu Mar 28, 2013 10:37 am
Location: Boston

Re: Official: Gene Leahy Mall

Post by RNcyanide »

Coyote wrote:I posted that in jest...
Look what you did.
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: 32938
Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2003 11:18 am
Location: Aksarben Village
Contact:

Re: Official: Gene Leahy Mall

Post by Coyote »

RNcyanide wrote:
Coyote wrote:I posted that in jest...
Look what you did.
Too soon?
User avatar
BRoss
IT Director
Posts: 10002763
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 7:39 pm
Location: West Central Omaha

Re: Official: Gene Leahy Mall

Post by BRoss »

Coyote wrote:
RNcyanide wrote:
Coyote wrote:I posted that in jest...
Look what you did.
Too soon?
Well after getting the city to buy the buildings next to them, it's not too much of a stretch I guess.
MTO
City Council
Posts: 7806
Joined: Wed Mar 09, 2005 11:49 am
Location: Dundee

Re: Official: Gene Leahy Mall

Post by MTO »

And I thought I was the only troll.
15-17, 26, 32
User avatar
Coyote
City Council
Posts: 32938
Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2003 11:18 am
Location: Aksarben Village
Contact:

Re: Official: Gene Leahy Mall

Post by Coyote »

MTO wrote:And I thought I was the only troll.
Coyotes don't troll, they only jest.
MadMartin8
Planning Board
Posts: 2959
Joined: Sun Mar 11, 2012 12:48 pm
Location: Beyond Thunderdome

Re: Official: Gene Leahy Mall

Post by MadMartin8 »

Coyote wrote:
MTO wrote:And I thought I was the only troll.
Coyotes don't troll, they only jest.

Don't they also |expletive| in the woods?

Oh wait, no...no..that's bears.
No posts exist for this topic
User avatar
PotatoeEatsFish
Human Relations
Posts: 747
Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2015 11:59 pm

Re: Official: Gene Leahy Mall

Post by PotatoeEatsFish »

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I saw that in the Sunday comics too.
#SaveTheUglyGrainSilos2024
User avatar
iamjacobm
City Council
Posts: 10377
Joined: Sat Apr 10, 2010 6:52 am
Location: Chicago

Re: Official: Gene Leahy Mall

Post by iamjacobm »

In the article about the HDR TIF plan it sounds like a new pedestrian bridge to connect 11th is in the works.
User avatar
Coyote
City Council
Posts: 32938
Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2003 11:18 am
Location: Aksarben Village
Contact:

Re: Official: Gene Leahy Mall

Post by Coyote »

iamjacobm wrote:In the article about the HDR TIF plan it sounds like a new pedestrian bridge to connect 11th is in the works.
I will have to look at that...! Since this proposal has been in the air I have thought that this would make complete sense!
User avatar
Brad
City Council
Posts: 1033312
Joined: Sat Feb 28, 2004 6:03 pm
Location: Omaha, NE
Contact:

Re: Official: Gene Leahy Mall

Post by Brad »

iamjacobm wrote:In the article about the HDR TIF plan it sounds like a new pedestrian bridge to connect 11th is in the works.
About Time! The1wags started that conversation one here a decade ago!
User avatar
GetUrban
Planning Board
Posts: 2634
Joined: Sun Nov 23, 2008 3:07 pm
Location: Omaha

Re: Official: Gene Leahy Mall

Post by GetUrban »

Brad wrote:
iamjacobm wrote:In the article about the HDR TIF plan it sounds like a new pedestrian bridge to connect 11th is in the works.
About Time! The1wags started that conversation one here a decade ago!
The City of Omaha should really open up the bridge design to an international design competition....not just to HDR. But I guess if TIF money from the HDR project will be used, (is that even allowed?) it's easy to guess who will have their hands all over it, along with more pats on the back.

Brad, you'll have to re-take your signature GLM photos, with any luck.
He said "They are some big, ugly red brick buildings"
...and then they were gone.
User avatar
iamjacobm
City Council
Posts: 10377
Joined: Sat Apr 10, 2010 6:52 am
Location: Chicago

Re: Official: Gene Leahy Mall

Post by iamjacobm »

TIF can be used for public infrastructure improvements. Usually that means the immediate sidewalks/landscaping, but HDR said they see a value in connecting their HQ to the Old Market. I think the article said a little under 700K out of the TIF for the bridge, I am thinking it will be a pretty simple one.
User avatar
GetUrban
Planning Board
Posts: 2634
Joined: Sun Nov 23, 2008 3:07 pm
Location: Omaha

Re: Official: Gene Leahy Mall

Post by GetUrban »

Hopefully, the new bridge will have a more interesting design than the existing utilitarian bridge through the GLM island. The 11th street location will be much more prominent, since both ends will need to start up higher close to street level. Maybe matching funds can be raised to do something really worthwhile. HDR would gain more support if they emphasized it could be more than a handy shortcut for their employees to walk to the Old Market.
He said "They are some big, ugly red brick buildings"
...and then they were gone.
User avatar
Brad
City Council
Posts: 1033312
Joined: Sat Feb 28, 2004 6:03 pm
Location: Omaha, NE
Contact:

Re: Official: Gene Leahy Mall

Post by Brad »

GetUrban wrote:Brad, you'll have to re-take your signature GLM photos, with any luck.
I have really struggled to get a GLM photo I have really liked since the renovations. Its just not the same. May be a new bridge will open up some other possibilities. However, I have been thinking about skyline photos lately, once the Capitol District and HDR are finished, you won't see them from the regular GLM photos anyways so it might be time to completely re-think the shot as a whole.
Louie
County Board
Posts: 3759
Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2011 4:23 pm
Location: Dundee

Re: Official: Gene Leahy Mall

Post by Louie »

Brad wrote:
GetUrban wrote:Brad, you'll have to re-take your signature GLM photos, with any luck.
I have really struggled to get a GLM photo I have really liked since the renovations. Its just not the same. May be a new bridge will open up some other possibilities. However, I have been thinking about skyline photos lately, once the Capitol District and HDR are finished, you won't see them from the regular GLM photos anyways so it might be time to completely re-think the shot as a whole.
The best skyline views will be from the north I would assume, especially after Tetrad. North dt is ripe for some killer south facing balconies.
User avatar
Brad
City Council
Posts: 1033312
Joined: Sat Feb 28, 2004 6:03 pm
Location: Omaha, NE
Contact:

Re: Official: Gene Leahy Mall

Post by Brad »

Louie wrote:The best skyline views will be from the north I would assume, especially after Tetrad. North dt is ripe for some killer south facing balconies.
I was talking more about the Gene Leahy Mall Skyline photos. Yes, the photo from Abbot Drive will still be nice and and I think the photos from the Bluffs will still be nice. I do think photos from the roof of the Old Market Lofts and Heartland of America Park will benefit the most from the new buildings. However looking at my signature photo, you will loose TD Ameritade Park Omaha from the Old Market Lofts photo.
daveoma
Parks & Recreation
Posts: 1211
Joined: Thu Nov 06, 2014 7:18 pm

Re: Official: Gene Leahy Mall

Post by daveoma »

GetUrban wrote:
Brad wrote:
iamjacobm wrote:In the article about the HDR TIF plan it sounds like a new pedestrian bridge to connect 11th is in the works.
About Time! The1wags started that conversation one here a decade ago!
The City of Omaha should really open up the bridge design to an international design competition....not just to HDR. But I guess if TIF money from the HDR project will be used, (is that even allowed?) it's easy to guess who will have their hands all over it, along with more pats on the back.

Brad, you'll have to re-take your signature GLM photos, with any luck.
Great idea!
daveoma
Parks & Recreation
Posts: 1211
Joined: Thu Nov 06, 2014 7:18 pm

Re: Official: Gene Leahy Mall

Post by daveoma »

Brad wrote:
GetUrban wrote:Brad, you'll have to re-take your signature GLM photos, with any luck.
I have really struggled to get a GLM photo I have really liked since the renovations. Its just not the same. May be a new bridge will open up some other possibilities. However, I have been thinking about skyline photos lately, once the Capitol District and HDR are finished, you won't see them from the regular GLM photos anyways so it might be time to completely re-think the shot as a whole.
How have the renovations changed the view?
User avatar
Brad
City Council
Posts: 1033312
Joined: Sat Feb 28, 2004 6:03 pm
Location: Omaha, NE
Contact:

Re: Official: Gene Leahy Mall

Post by Brad »

daveoma wrote:How have the renovations changed the view?
The Biggest problem is the bubblers that they put in the water. Back in the day the lake would get supper mirror image reflection on a calm night. Now you get ripples from the bubbles rising to the surface all night long. The new retaining wall is not terrible, but its way larger than it use to be. Below is a photo I took before the renovations. I want to re-Create this photo with the CenturyLink sign replacing the Quest sign. I keep hoping the bubble breaks down some day, or at least trips the breaker for a night...

Image
daveoma
Parks & Recreation
Posts: 1211
Joined: Thu Nov 06, 2014 7:18 pm

Re: Official: Gene Leahy Mall

Post by daveoma »

I see it now, huge difference! Thanks for sharing. :-)
choke
Human Relations
Posts: 696
Joined: Sun Nov 01, 2015 8:46 am
Location: North Omaha

Re: Official: Gene Leahy Mall

Post by choke »

Magnificent picture. Anyone know what happened to the FirstComp letters on the Central Park Plaza building?
User avatar
RNcyanide
Planning Board
Posts: 2780
Joined: Thu Mar 28, 2013 10:37 am
Location: Boston

Re: Official: Gene Leahy Mall

Post by RNcyanide »

choke wrote:Magnificent picture. Anyone know what happened to the FirstComp letters on the Central Park Plaza building?
They were supposed to be vacating along with REX to yet to be announced place out west. Their website still lists CPP as their address.
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
PotatoeEatsFish
Human Relations
Posts: 747
Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2015 11:59 pm

Re: Official: Gene Leahy Mall

Post by PotatoeEatsFish »

Brad wrote:
daveoma wrote:How have the renovations changed the view?
The Biggest problem is the bubblers that they put in the water. Back in the day the lake would get supper mirror image reflection on a calm night. Now you get ripples from the bubbles rising to the surface all night long. The new retaining wall is not terrible, but its way larger than it use to be. Below is a photo I took before the renovations. I want to re-Create this photo with the CenturyLink sign replacing the Quest sign. I keep hoping the bubble breaks down some day, or at least trips the breaker for a night...

Image
Sounds like you have something planned :;):
#SaveTheUglyGrainSilos2024
User avatar
Brad
City Council
Posts: 1033312
Joined: Sat Feb 28, 2004 6:03 pm
Location: Omaha, NE
Contact:

Re: Official: Gene Leahy Mall

Post by Brad »

choke wrote:Magnificent picture.
Thanks!

PotatoeEatsFish wrote:Sounds like you have something planned :;):
Nothing planned, but everything in the GLM/HofA/Ped Bridge seems to break often, I am just patiently waiting for that to happen...
MTO
City Council
Posts: 7806
Joined: Wed Mar 09, 2005 11:49 am
Location: Dundee

Re: Official: Gene Leahy Mall

Post by MTO »

Brad wrote:
daveoma wrote:How have the renovations changed the view?
The Biggest problem is the bubblers that they put in the water. Back in the day the lake would get supper mirror image reflection on a calm night. Now you get ripples from the bubbles rising to the surface all night long. The new retaining wall is not terrible, but its way larger than it use to be. Below is a photo I took before the renovations. I want to re-Create this photo with the CenturyLink sign replacing the Quest sign. I keep hoping the bubble breaks down some day, or at least trips the breaker for a night...

Image
Ahh the good old "cliche" shot, it's about to get a bit bigger thanks to HDR.
15-17, 26, 32
User avatar
Brad
City Council
Posts: 1033312
Joined: Sat Feb 28, 2004 6:03 pm
Location: Omaha, NE
Contact:

Re: Official: Gene Leahy Mall

Post by Brad »

MTO wrote:Ahh the good old "cliche" shot, it's about to get a bit bigger thanks to HDR.
That's what we were talking about, it won' even be in the "Omaha Cliche Shot". Lanoaha might depending on how its designed.
MTO
City Council
Posts: 7806
Joined: Wed Mar 09, 2005 11:49 am
Location: Dundee

Re: Official: Gene Leahy Mall

Post by MTO »

Oh my bad, you guys cackle back-and-forth so much it's like keeping up with the Kardashians around here.
15-17, 26, 32
User avatar
Seth
Parks & Recreation
Posts: 1437
Joined: Mon Jan 11, 2010 4:59 pm
Location: Ford Birthsite Neighborhood

Re: Official: Gene Leahy Mall

Post by Seth »

That is an awesome photo, Brad!
User avatar
Coyote
City Council
Posts: 32938
Joined: Tue Nov 18, 2003 11:18 am
Location: Aksarben Village
Contact:

Re: Missouri River Commons (Riverfront Development)

Post by Coyote »

image.jpeg
image.jpeg (83.81 KiB) Viewed 1831 times
User avatar
Brad
City Council
Posts: 1033312
Joined: Sat Feb 28, 2004 6:03 pm
Location: Omaha, NE
Contact:

Re: Official: Gene Leahy Mall

Post by Brad »

Why did the Omaha Riverfront Revitalization committee have to bring the Gene Leahy Mall in to this? The City just dumped a bunch of money in to improving the park, and now they want to fill it in again. The GLM is great as it is. It could use a couple minor improvements, but not this.

There are so many other parks in town that need improvements before this needs to happen.

And more events lawns performance pavilions? Because all the other public events areas are full and successful.... hardly.

How many times in the past 20 years has that Event Lawn and "stage area" in the Heartland of America Park been used?
EastCB
Library Board
Posts: 365
Joined: Thu Oct 05, 2006 11:30 am
Location: Council Bluffs

Re: Official: Gene Leahy Mall

Post by EastCB »

Brad wrote:Why did the Omaha Riverfront Revitalization committee have to bring the Gene Leahy Mall in to this? The City just dumped a bunch of money in to improving the park, and now they want to fill it in again. The GLM is great as it is. It could use a couple minor improvements, but not this.

There are so many other parks in town that need improvements before this needs to happen.

And more events lawns performance pavilions? Because all the other public events areas are full and successful.... hardly.

How many times in the past 20 years has that Event Lawn and "stage area" in the Heartland of America Park been used?
Totally agree!!!!!
User avatar
Garrett
Planning Board
Posts: 3487
Joined: Wed Nov 26, 2008 6:29 pm
Location: New York City

Re: Official: Gene Leahy Mall

Post by Garrett »

EastCB wrote:
Brad wrote:Why did the Omaha Riverfront Revitalization committee have to bring the Gene Leahy Mall in to this? The City just dumped a bunch of money in to improving the park, and now they want to fill it in again. The GLM is great as it is. It could use a couple minor improvements, but not this.

There are so many other parks in town that need improvements before this needs to happen.

And more events lawns performance pavilions? Because all the other public events areas are full and successful.... hardly.

How many times in the past 20 years has that Event Lawn and "stage area" in the Heartland of America Park been used?
Totally agree!!!!!
I disagree. I think it's a brilliant renovation to bring more use to a drastically underused park. Adding cafes and restaurants is smart. And how often are the event lawns at Aksarben and MTC used? Quite often. In its current form, you can basically walk around, take some pictures, and that's about it. From a design perspective, it may be nice to look at, but it's not super functional as a public space. The most successful parks in the country, from Grant Park/Millennium Park here in Chicago to Central Park, Washington Square Park, and Bryant Park in NYC are all relatively simple and flat.

This redesign could even fit events like a multi-stage music festival, so you don't end up having stages set up in parking lots like a certain festival of the past.
OMA-->CHI-->NYC
User avatar
iamjacobm
City Council
Posts: 10377
Joined: Sat Apr 10, 2010 6:52 am
Location: Chicago

Re: Official: Gene Leahy Mall

Post by iamjacobm »

http://riverfrontrevitalization.com/|expletive| ... _11X17.pdf

http://riverfrontrevitalization.com/|expletive| ... Slides.pdf

Posting these here as well. They are all under the same study, but the riverfront and GLM obviously have different discussions and goals.
Post Reply