Barker Building (15th and Farnam)

Historic Omaha · Post by **Historic Omaha** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 12:33 am

DTO Luv-

I have been thinking about making another attempt at contacting one of the owners of the building/project for a few days now...but keep getting "sidetracked" with other work. Then I saw your post this afternoon. and made the call.

I wouldn't say the project is dead yet - but part of the ownership is in flux.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 2:13 am

Glad I could help.

A few weeks ago it seemed like there was work being done, now nothing.

Would you happen to know if the building is going to be a rental as opposed to condos for certain tax breaks? I was wondering why they decided to go condo first then change it. I thought maybe it would help funding wise to go rentals.

Historic Omaha · Post by **Historic Omaha** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 1:09 pm

In order for a project to take advantage of the federal tax incentives for historic rehabilitation it would need to be income-producing (either commercial or residential). Condos are not income producing.

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 2:42 pm

Historic Omaha wrote:In order for a project to take advantage of the federal tax incentives for historic rehabilitation it would need to be income-producing (either commercial or residential). Condos are not income producing.

Would mixed use - condos AND commercial - be eligible?

-Big E

Historic Omaha · Post by **Historic Omaha** » Wed Aug 29, 2007 8:48 pm

E-

A mix of income producing and non-income producing within a project could work. However, a majority of the project must be income-producing and the tax credit would only apply to that portion (that is income producing).

If you wanted a mix of commercial and condo, a project would need a whole heck of alot of lease-able commercial space. It would be like adding a few penthouse condos on top of a commercial-focused building.

There is an oversight period by the National Park Service of five years. If any unauthorized changes (including changing apartments into condos) are made within that period... the IRS has the ability to recapture the tax credit.

If federal historic rehabilitation tax credit projects end up "going" condo... they end up doing it after the fifth year. There are many examples of this in downtown Omaha. Where things get a bit more complicated is when projects take advantage of low income housing tax credits. I believe that the oversight period is 12 or 15 years. So... projects like Drake Court that took advantage of both have awhile to go if they ever wanted to "go" condo.

Swift · Post by **Swift** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 4:16 am

I heard the period for low-income was like 40 years. However, you can pay all the back taxes, etc. to get out of it if you want, but it usually isn't financially feasible.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 12:01 am

I meant to write this earlier but spaced it off. The Building is now boarded up on the Farnam Street side. The big fancy entrance ways are now covered with plywood. This is sad to see.

the1wags · Post by **the1wags** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 1:43 am

I was going to post something about this too. Perhaps this is a good sign actually as usually the first step of any rehab project is to secure the building. ALL of the windows and doors are covered with plywood so maybe this is a sign of getting ready to get things moving in a positive direction. With all the new stuff on that corner (Jazz, Hush, Jimmy Johns, Sullivan's) you would think that is some hot property.

the1wags · Post by **the1wags** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 5:48 pm

This morning on my walk to work I saw two Dicon trucks sitting in front of the building on 15th street. They had the metal grade access hole thing in the sidewalk open and had a generator running next to it. I'm assuming hooking/unhooking utilities. Perhaps things are going to finally get going on this.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 5:49 pm

Hopefully some signs of progress: I had lunch with Wags today and he said he noticed crews working in/around the building this morning. I'll let him elaborate more since I'm not sure what kind of work they were actually doing.

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 8:27 pm

the1wags wrote:This morning on my walk to work I saw two Dicon trucks sitting in front of the building on 15th street. They had the metal grade access hole thing in the sidewalk open and had a generator running next to it. I'm assuming hooking/unhooking utilities. Perhaps things are going to finally get going on this.

If Dicon does whatever it is that is going to be done there, i can almost guarantee that it won't be done on time.

They did work on a project recently and it went from being a 5 month project to a 17 month project. Excuse after excuse...i can't believe that they are still in business. Now, Keiwit is a freakin' machine when it comes to gettin |expletive| done. That project on 16th, in CB, by the new viaduct? Yeah, they mean business. Sorry, didn't mean to go off on a tangent.

the1wags · Post by **the1wags** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 9:07 pm

Slight news update here. 3 Dicon guys were again at this building wearing hard hats. They had the 15th St door open and I could see a big job box in the entrance. Maybe we will see some work begining here soon. Then again, maybe they are just storing things in here while they work on that 2 story on Harney behind Patrick's Market. :?

Afternoon update: There are new large Dicon signage on the building now. Perhaps things really are going to get moving. Here's hoping.

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 10:28 pm

That would be fantastic! I really hope they are getting ready to start work.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 1:46 am

I noticed some guys in the back of the building in the alley working this week. There are signs saying it's a hard hat area now so maybe there is actual progress being made on the inside.

the1wags · Post by **the1wags** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 11:19 am

Yeah clean up work is going in here. I've seen workers on the second floor and there is temp lighting on 2 as well. They are dumping stuff into a large dumpster in the alley.

ItsAllAboutMe · Post by **ItsAllAboutMe** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 3:05 pm

It's going to be a boutique hotel

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 3:43 pm

I guess that's better than nothing. I was still hoping for residential.

annad · Post by **annad** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 12:38 am

ItsAllAboutMe wrote:It's going to be a boutique hotel

That's exciting. I love hotels. Where'd you hear that? Is there a source on this?

ItsAllAboutMe · Post by **ItsAllAboutMe** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 10:43 am

Where'd you hear that? Is there a source on this?

Yes,

annad · Post by **annad** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 6:14 pm

ItsAllAboutMe wrote:
Where'd you hear that? Is there a source on this?
Yes,

Care to expound on that at all? This isn't the rumors section, you know

Historic Omaha · Post by **Historic Omaha** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 12:13 pm

unless something has changed drastically... i wouldn't consider it "boutique".

the1wags · Post by **the1wags** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 12:15 pm

What the heck? Could someone just spill the beans already?

Erik · Post by **Erik** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 12:55 pm

the1wags wrote:What the heck? Could someone just spill the beans already?

LOL! I'm with you wags, there must be an underground urban-development club or something that I haven't been invited too!!

ItsAllAboutMe · Post by **ItsAllAboutMe** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 3:33 pm

Care to expound on that at all? This isn't the rumors section, you know

No, I don't care to expound.
If I thought it was rumor I would have posted it accordingly.
It will be a hotel, you may not consider it boutique but it will be a hotel.
(unless the developer goes under)

redfield · Post by **redfield** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 5:11 pm

The Barker building was just registered as a historic building according to the OWH. This probably means that the current owners are looking for historic tax credits to help restore the building.

Ben · Post by **Ben** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 6:32 pm

redfield wrote:The Barker building was just registered as a historic building according to the OWH. This probably means that the current owners are looking for historic tax credits to help restore the building.

Historic Omaha, don't you have an in on these applications? Can you share any more info on this project?

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 6:36 pm

Here is the OWH article:

Four Omaha sites added to historic list

JOHN P. ASKEW WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER wrote:The additions are: the Barker Building, 306 S. 15th St.; the Selma Terrace apartment building, 630, 634 and 636 Park Ave.; Terrace Court apartments, 836, 840 and 842 Park Ave.; and the Park Avenue Apartment District, with four buildings bounded by Leavenworth Street, Park Avenue and 30th Street.

The Barker Building represents the work of prominent local architects James Allan and Noel Wallace and contractor Kiewit Construction, now the Kiewit Corp. In 1886, the six-story building was nearly finished when it caught fire and collapsed. Rebuilt and completed in 1889, it burned down in 1928. It was rebuilt a second time in 1929 for $1 million. It was eligible for recognition because of its traditional modernism architecture — modern interiors masked by traditional exteriors. The building is also an example of a neo-gothic revival style, featuring limestone walls and stone trim.

Historic Omaha · Post by **Historic Omaha** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 11:56 pm

As far as I know...

The project is to be a hotel. Dicon Const. has retained a consultant to help them apply for the Federal Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits. The hotel chain has its own architects (or has retained an architecture firm that designs many of the chains' buildings/interiors).

OmahaChef · Post by **OmahaChef** » Sat Aug 23, 2008 3:24 am

It will not be a boutique hotel. I have a source who definitely knows what is going on and I can't say what it is, but....if you go to http://www.holidayinn.com and look for their brand that is suites (the name starts with an "S"), you will have the answer.

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Tue Aug 26, 2008 4:08 am

I must be dumb. I went to the site and under Staybridge Suites they only list one Nebraska location, in Lincoln, with no other sites "coming soon" in Nebraska.

OmahaChef · Post by **OmahaChef** » Sun Sep 07, 2008 9:58 pm

Probably a bit early to be listed as "coming soon". There is design work to be done, plans submitted to the city for approval, no doubt tax credits, TIF and gawd knows what else to be approved. That stuff alone can take months. I stand by what I was told.

RegisResident · Post by **RegisResident** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 11:41 pm

Any word on if this is still going to happen?

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 5:35 pm

maybe a sign of progress?

On may back to work over lunch the city was out putting those "No Parking" bags up around the building. They usually put those up around a building or area that's going to be getting worked on. Maybe something is finally starting.

windsor · Post by **windsor** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 3:27 pm

DTO Luv wrote:maybe a sign of progress?

On may back to work over lunch the city was out putting those "No Parking" bags up around the building. They usually put those up around a building or area that's going to be getting worked on. Maybe something is finally starting.

That was 2 work weeks ago, did they accomplish anything?

the1wags · Post by **the1wags** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 3:31 pm

I haven't seen anything. There has been people parking there again too. Perhaps it was a one day thing to locate utilities or something?

the1wags · Post by **the1wags** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 3:48 pm

Today there are two or three Dicon trucks there, one with a trailer full of pallets. They have the front door open and there are a few hard hats moving around. Yesterday Waste Management dropped of two big dumpers in the alley. Maybe something is finally going to get moving on this. Cross your fingers.

RegisResident · Post by **RegisResident** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 5:16 pm

Finally! Hopefully something will start to happen in this building. I'll have to look from my condo and see if I can see anything going on in the upper floors of the building.

TitosBuritoBarn · Post by **TitosBuritoBarn** » Mon Aug 01, 2011 6:33 am

Does anyone know the progress on this building?

Seth · Post by **Seth** » Sat Aug 20, 2011 3:28 pm

I've always wondered what was going on (or not going on, as the case is) with this building. I've always thought this was a beautiful Deco era building. It would be nice to finally see something done with it.

Bugeater · Post by **Bugeater** » Sun Aug 21, 2011 4:19 am

TitosBuritoBarn wrote:Does anyone know the progress on this building?

There isn't any. I've been working right next to this building for the past 8 months, and I haven't seen a single thing going on in that time period. It looks like it's a complete mess and many of the windows are broken or have been left open the entire time.