Official: North Downtown Discussion

annad · Post by **annad** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 4:14 pm

I took a long-overdue tour of the new Fairfield Inn downtown this morning. It's a fairly small limited service hotel (113 rooms, I think), but what it doesn't have in size, it definitely makes up for in style. Seriously, I loved the property. The rooms are pretty typically sized, but the decorations are great. It's definitely modern, with a great punch of color (the carpet is navy and lime - loved it!). They offer a free continental breakfast, and the breakfast area has some great touches - there's a high-top bar area that overlooks the "living" area of the lobby, and the bar has electrical outlets and Internet connections. I don't know that there was anything that particularly distinguishes the FFI from any of the other 3 North Downtown properties, but it's a great hotel.

OmahaChef · Post by **OmahaChef** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 10:23 pm

I am still around. Had trouble logging in recently, but Lou helped me with that. Thanks Cowboy!

I agree, annad, the Fairfield has a VERY nice interior. They refer to it as the "Green Tea" experience, as it is a modern asian sort of decor. Bright colors, modern wood finishes, very nice for that level of chain hotel. We have been doing some catering for them, including their grand opening luncheon and dinner, and will be doing more catering during the Olympics. Both the Homewood and Hampton have some slick touches, but in my mind, they don't compare to the decor of the Fairfield.

Nothing on the Newstreet thing. Haven't heard a word.

Lots of people coming and going on the Alley Poyner move, but no actual work yet. They still say they want to be in by September. By the way, they did not take all the available space. The front corner facing Cuming and the front parking lot is available.

There is a letter of intent for the restaurant space in the Holiday Inn, as reported on other threads. As of last week, a signed lease was not yet in place. The other retail bays have not been leased yet. They are looking at a September opening.

Over at Slowdown, Blue Line Coffee did put up signs over the weekend, and maybe they will open soon. Studding went up at American Apparel, but the last week no work has been done. Perhaps they are taking the Blue Line Coffee approach.

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 10:36 pm

I LOVE the look of that Holiday Inn, with it's "curved" (I know it's not really a curve) corner and east wall that is fit to the RR tracks. Honestly, I don't mind the billboard there.

the1wags · Post by **the1wags** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 11:04 pm

I think they should take the pole down and just mount the billboard on that part of the hotel wall with no windows. Problem solved.

annad · Post by **annad** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 9:36 am

The lights from that billboard shine directly into a few guestrooms, so they'll have to figure something out.

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 11:08 pm

StreetsOfOmaha wrote: Honestly, I don't mind the billboard there.

???? Check your meds. Something is off kilter.

And pray tell who will be reading the sign on the west side of the pole?

MTO · Post by **MTO** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 8:26 pm

(the carpet is navy and lime - loved it!).

FABULOUUUS!

OmahaChef · Post by **OmahaChef** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 10:45 pm

As of this week the Holiday Inn is saying they will open by December 14th. Some of the delay is due to the restaurant, which has not completed design yet, so that area can not be worked on. The hotel has to have a restaurant to open, so.... The building should be "sealed up" within two weeks or so, so that interior work can begin in ernest. By the way, one of the owners of this hotel has moved to Omaha and is living downtown now.

Newstreet recently said they are planning to demolish the structure on Cuming at 16th, but still nothing has happened. Pieces of the building have really been falling off lately. Other North Downtown updates are posted on their individual project threads.

OmahaChef · Post by **OmahaChef** » Sun Sep 14, 2008 12:02 am

The exterior of the Holiday Inn is getting close to being finished. Just a bit of work to complete in the "back" and some work on the Cuming Street entrance to the building. Wallboard was being loaded into the upper floors, so the pace should pick up now. Still looking for a December opening.

Swift · Post by **Swift** » Sun Sep 28, 2008 11:47 am

I didn't see this anywhere else, but what are they doing to the west side of 15th st? It's torn up right now.

Ben · Post by **Ben** » Mon Sep 29, 2008 3:35 pm

Swift wrote:I didn't see this anywhere else, but what are they doing to the west side of 15th st? It's torn up right now.

You've got to scroll back a couple of pages to find it. To accommodate for the closing of 12th St by the ballpark site, both 14th and 15th are becoming 2 way in North Downtown. This street reconfiguration, in addition to the parking lot additions/mods, needs to be complete before they can close off 12th St and shut down the lots (D/E, right?) where the ballpark will be built per the contract with MECA.

Post by **Brad** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 10:39 pm

Holiday Inn Photo Update:

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Wed Oct 01, 2008 10:44 pm

Sweet! I haven't been out in North Downtown for a few weeks.

OmahaChef · Post by **OmahaChef** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 1:33 pm

The steel is going up for the first floor of the 22 Floors apartment building, the expansion of 13th and 14th Street is moving faster than I thought it would, and the utilities are being cut to the building at the southeast corner of 16th and Dodge. There are two pieces of equipment tucked behind the structure so it looks like they might finally be ready to tear this one down. There have been people clearing out the stuff inside for a week now.

Post by **Brad** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 1:40 pm

I am confused?

South East corner of 16th and Dodge is a park?

the1wags · Post by **the1wags** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 6:08 pm

You don't mean the fed building on the SW corner of 15th and Dodge do you? The one Big E said he'd chain himself to? I agree that it should not go. I hope it's not it.

OmahaChef · Post by **OmahaChef** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 2:37 pm

Sorry if I caused any heart attacks! I meant 16th and Cuming.

Post by **Brad** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 5:48 pm

Awesome! That's the building directly across from TipTop where the ballpark for the Royal's should have gone right!

Erik · Post by **Erik** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 11:10 pm

When do you expect more retail to start going into North Downtown? It seems to have a healthy start in clubs, entertainment facilities, hotels, residential living and a few specialty shops.. Do you think we will see more than just Urban Outfitters and American Apparel or do you think this is not prime land for that?

bargainhunter · Post by **bargainhunter** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 8:07 am

I talked to one of the owners of Frank's Pizza & he said that their new location at the Holiday Inn will be open mid-December under another name.

the1wags · Post by **the1wags** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 4:58 pm

The buildings at the SE corner of 16th and Cuming (that Chef mentioned) are starting to come down. They started on the 15th and Webster corner and have about a quarter of the block pancaked. Hopefully this is a sign that the developer (Nustyle?) is moving forward with things.

OmahaChef · Post by **OmahaChef** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 5:38 pm

The name of the LLC is Newstreet, wags. I used to get them confused too. Anyway....when they were going to tear these down in January, March, July, ect., the reason they gave was that it was costing them in insurance on the structure. Without the structure, they weren't required to have insurance on the building.

Post by **Brad** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 12:05 am

OmahaChef wrote:The steel is going up for the first floor of the 22 Floors apartment building, the expansion of 13th and 14th Street is moving faster than I thought it would, and the utilities are being cut to the building at the southeast corner of 16th and Cuming. There are two pieces of equipment tucked behind the structure so it looks like they might finally be ready to tear this one down. There have been people clearing out the stuff inside for a week now.

Here is the Demolition:

S33 · Post by **S33** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 9:28 am

I still don't get the name...

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 2:46 pm

What is this demolition for???

OmahaChef · Post by **OmahaChef** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 8:13 pm

As far as I know, it is being torn down for insurance purposes. The owners were required by lendors to maintain insurance on the structures on the property. By tearing down the property, they no longer need to carry insurance on those buildings. Get to know the owners and you would be surprised they are not walking the property every day, looking for discarded pennies.

As of about six weeks ago, I was under the impression they had not decided to move ahead with the plans they had for the four block area, and were still evaluating their options. Of course, things can change in six weeks. Given the current economic environment....

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 8:16 pm

Help me out... what did they tear down? I'm drawing a blank on what was there before.

windsor · Post by **windsor** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 1:09 pm

I believe it was a abandoned factory. It is directly across from the tip top entrance.

TitosBuritoBarn · Post by **TitosBuritoBarn** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 1:28 pm

I believe it was this one:

Stargazer · Post by **Stargazer** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 2:11 pm

Aw heck... it's too bad they couldn't have incorporated what was there into the new project.

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 4:06 pm

I was thinking that was the one. This city makes me want to poke my |expletive| eyes out some times.

Post by **Brad** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 4:21 pm

Big E wrote:I was thinking that was the one. This city makes me want to poke my |expletive| eyes out some times.

Stuff like this:
Power outage discharges wastewater into Missouri River
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2 ... d=10462753

When every freaking IMPORTANT building in town has a backup generator except this one....

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 4:32 pm

I think he's talking about the get rid of Jobber's Canyon mentality. I'm sad to see those buildings go to. They were some of the few original buildings in the area and it could have provided for a lot of character, but alas, may end up as a parking lot for Tip TOp.

Post by **Brad** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 4:36 pm

I forgot the [sarcasm] [/sarcasm] filter

At least they were short buildings

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 11:30 am

Ugh. What a |expletive| disappointment.

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 12:19 pm

Well, as of about 7:30 last night the three buildings that Tito posted a picture of (facing Cuming) were still standing, but as Chef said the interiors looked gutted. The rest of the block (as Brad showed) was a big pile of rubble with a major hole dug that I couldn't get a good look at (driving by and dark).

Possible they're just getting the whole site ready for a renovation? :crossfingers:

TitosBuritoBarn · Post by **TitosBuritoBarn** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 5:32 pm

Ah, that would be this then. This building isn't owned by Newstreet though (according to the assessor).

Ben · Post by **Ben** » Sun Oct 19, 2008 12:27 pm

And the North Downtown coffee wars begin.... In one of the windows in a commercial bay in the Holiday Inn, there's a "Scooters Coffeehouse comnng soon" sign. While Blue Line's business has been picking up some, from talking to the Baristas there, they're still not seeing the traffic they want. Gotta wonder what a second coffee shop (and one with a significantly name recognition and marketing budget) will do to Blue Line. I've got to hope that traffic to the area will pick up, and with the Slowdown apartments and 22 Floors eventually filling up, maybe demand will eventually be there to support 2 places, but I'm a bit doubtful.

OmahaChef · Post by **OmahaChef** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 11:43 am

Yeah, they signed Scooters a month or two ago. You have to wonder....two coffee houses, two sportsbars, and maybe 100 apartments once 22 Floors is done. Scooters and the new restaurant/sportsbar will have the hotel business, but as for the new Barleys and Blue Line....where are all the customers going to come from on a daily basis? Even if a major housing project were announced today, it would be 18-24 months till it opened. How do they draw customers in the meantime? It is still a destination.

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Sat Nov 22, 2008 2:04 pm

Unless I was looking at the wrong corner on my way back from the airport today, these are all bye-bye. Big flat dirt pad.

Mother |expletive|.