Official: North Downtown Discussion

the1wags · Post by **the1wags** » Sat Nov 22, 2008 3:24 pm

No you are correct, they are gone. I can live with it as long as it gets developed into something good. Sadly, it will probably turn into surface parking for the catering across the street. :evil:

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Sun Nov 23, 2008 8:45 am

North Downtown: Enjoy Parking Here!

GetUrban · Post by **GetUrban** » Sun Nov 23, 2008 4:32 pm

Big E wrote:

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|.

Argh....not another surface lot....Sorry to see that building go. I used to drive by it every day. It had some good, subtle Art Deco features on the Cuming street side. Whatever replaces it, I hope it's built right up next to the street/sidewalk to maintain that urban edge we still have further west on Cuming. Of course all of those buildings along Cuming will probably see some major transformation as the area develops after the stadium is built. Hopefully it will be incremental, fun, small scale infill development to enhance the stadium experience for visitors to the area....utilizing the existing buildings where possible.

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Sun Nov 23, 2008 9:47 pm

GetUrban wrote:Argh....not another surface lot....

Heh, you wish. It's only flat |expletive| dirt right now.

Over/unders on this being utilized for anything other than a weed field before the first game at the new stadium?

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 10:37 am

In an effort to make sure NDT sucks as much as possible, MECA has decided to cut the ground level retail from the stadium! Yay!!!

http://omaha.com/index.php?u_page=1208&u_sid=10497270

Post by **Brad** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 10:41 am

Design of new ballpark worries some

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=1 ... 70&u_rss=1&

BY CHRISTINE LAUE WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER wrote:
Some future neighbors of the north downtown ballpark are worried that it won't have the ground-level retail as originally recommended.

Jason Kulbel, one of the developers of the Saddle Creek Records complex near 14th and Webster Streets, said he saw building plans in September with only limited retail space around the stadium.

He said he learned last week that the Metropolitan Entertainment and Convention Authority, which runs the Qwest Center Omaha and is overseeing the stadium's design and operation, eliminated retail space because of cost but that it could be added later.

Roger Dixon, MECA president and chief executive officer, told The World-Herald that no final decisions on the retail component or overall stadium design have been made.

The City Council is scheduled to vote today on a contract to develop a new downtown master plan, an updated north downtown plan and a mass transit streetcar analysis.

Although the stadium design has changed from the original 2005 plan, the city's overall vision to create a bustling urban environment with a strong retail element remains, said City Planning Director Steve Jensen and Joe Gudenrath, a spokesman for Mayor Mike Fahey.

Kulbel said retail space around the ballpark is essential to generating foot traffic, which is what Saddle Creek developers envisioned when they invested $10 million in the area.

"When you're trying to build out a new neighborhood, you need to think about the long term," Kulbel said. "You need to have things like restaurants, retail and shops to play off the stuff that is already here and coming. You can't drop something that is two blocks or three blocks wide with brick walls and expect that people will want to come down to the area."

Kulbel, business partner Robb Nansel and Rachel Jacobson, executive director of Film Streams, initiated meetings several months ago with MECA members and city officials.

Jacobson, whose nonprofit independent film theater is part of the Saddle Creek complex, said she hopes MECA will consider more than the cost and also share its plans with the public.

"I understand that MECA needs to balance their budget and that's not the easiest task," Jacobson said. "This is pretty gigantic, and it's pretty much a public project. I'm not sure why they are keeping it as secret as they are."

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 11:59 am

I'm SO happy to see the Saddle Creek folks being vocal and proactive with their concerns! The City and MECA know the ballpark needs ground-level retail and they're trying to cut corners saying it can be "added later"... The stadium won't be done until 2011!!! What "later" are they talking about?

I applaud Jason Kulbel, Robb Nansel and Rachel Jacobson for their entrepreneurial spirit and leadership in North Downtown.

the1wags · Post by **the1wags** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 1:01 pm

They should look no further than their own MECA controlled Qwest Center and realize that you should just build it in the first place. Adding seats later at the Qwest Center anyone? It will just end up costing more in the long run to do it later, put the retail bays in now.

Bobcat · Post by **Bobcat** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 3:01 pm

To quote the article "I'm not nearly as concerned with that as I am finding additional uses for the ballpark so it's used more than two weeks a year," said Jerry Banks, portfolio director at Newstreet LLC, a private real estate investment company that owns empty lots between Cuming and Webster and 14th and 16th Streets."

Kulbel and co. are barking up the wrong tree. Sure, retail on the stadium is fine. The most important area of focus needs to be getting the Royals as a tenant. Why there is not a representative from the Royals on the advisory committee is flabbergasting.

The Royals attendance statistics are posted on another thread. Seventy nights of additional activity and 350,000 people would have a much larger impact on retail and entertainment around the new stadium than including a few small retail bays during construction.

It makes no sense for the Omaha area to potentially be building two new stadiums (Sarpy and Downtown). If anything, Rosenbaltt should have been remodeled for the CWS and the Royals should move downtown. Not sure who to blame on this one. Fahey clearly screwed the pooch with his approach, but I also get the feeling that something larger is at play that the public is not privy to. I'll go out on a limb and theorize that it's a cockfight between Sokol and Buffet. Sokol learned last year that he is not the chosen one to succeed Buffet at Berkshire. Now there's a chance for David Sokol to flex his muscle and force the Royals to find a new home. Ha ha! Any other theories out there? This just doesn't make ay sense!!

GetUrban · Post by **GetUrban** » Tue Nov 25, 2008 10:18 pm

From the OWH article above:

Dixon said the design would be available to the public "within the next month or two."

"Right now we're in the design process, and when we roll it out to the public, everybody can see it at the point," he said.

He said it was premature and inappropriate to discuss design specifics because it is continually evolving.

"There's really nothing I can give you at this point," Dixon said.

I disagree with Dixon. Within the design process is EXACTLY the time they should be seeking public input. Rolling it out to the public after the design is done is too late. With their tight schedule, the drawings will be much too far along to change without delay, if they seek public "input" after the design is done. The drawings probably already are pretty far along if they're breaking ground in January.

Also from the same OWH article:

Jennifer Mahlendorf, a Fahey appointee to the MECA board, said she recommended public meetings so citizens could weigh in on stadium design.

"I've constantly had people come up to me (asking) what's going on with the design, what's happening, what's it going to look like? . . . It is a huge investment that the City of Omaha is making, and I think it is important for the citizens of Omaha to at least be heard," she said. "You can't make everyone happy. But I think everyone should be heard."

Jennifer got it right, but the rest of Meca wouldn't listen, apparently.

ricko · Post by **ricko** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 12:21 am

No retail, white elephant.

Post by **Brad** » Wed Nov 26, 2008 11:14 am

Speaking of Ballpark Retail....

Grow Omaha 11/26/2008 with David Brown:
http://www.growomaha.com/archivedshows/show244.mp3

nebport5 · Post by **nebport5** » Tue Dec 02, 2008 12:50 pm

maybe this is another occasion to mass e-mail the powers that be. No Royals + No Retail= Nonsense!

OmahaChef · Post by **OmahaChef** » Thu Dec 25, 2008 8:34 pm

On a more cheerful note, the Holiday Inn is supposed to open January 15th....maybe. The hotel will be ready, but the Union Bar & Grill (I think that is the name) will likely not be ready in time. Unless you want to eat in a space with studding and cement floors and no kitchen.

And I wouldn't do much betting on that empty lot where the incredibly stunning art deco warehouse was ruthlessly destroyed. Last I heard, Newstreet leased the lot short term to Tip-Top, Barley's, Brandeis, Fairfield, for overflow parking on a "temporary" basis. Of course, now that Newstreet has put all plans for development of the site on hold, since they too are upset off about the new stadium design, it just might be a long term gravel lot. Hmmm...reminds me of the Pinnacle site. From future exciting development opportunities to a permanent parking lot. It is a trend I see catching on big time. And more parking means jobs for more people waving those lighted wands enticing you to "park here, park here", thus rescuing Omaha from the throes of this horrific economic downturn.

I love this city!!

Post by **Brad** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 11:40 pm

Group hopes to transform vacant building into North Downtown creative center

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2 ... d=10530408

CHRISTINE LAUE WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER wrote:An artist-led group wants to transform a mostly vacant north downtown building into a creative center with studios, classrooms, theater space, shops and restaurants.

The Omaha Creative Institute, an initiative of the Hot Shops Art Foundation, formed more than a year ago with the goal of promoting the creative process in the area. The Omaha Community Foundation and Bellevue University, which eventually might offer classes at the center, provided money for a recently completed feasibility study.

The survey of 75 community and business leaders indicated support for the idea, so organizers are moving forward. They are developing workshops to start this month, and they are negotiating the purchase or lease of the Mastercraft Furniture building at 1111 N. 13th St., just north of the Hot Shops Art Center.

Organizers say the building would be the north anchor of north downtown. The center would help to define Omaha as a hot spot for cultural tourism, would retain and attract young professionals of the "creative class," and would serve youths increasingly facing arts budget cuts in school.

OWH Image:

OmahaJaysCU · Post by **OmahaJaysCU** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 12:26 am

Absolutely amazing idea. I really hope they can get this done!

justnick · Post by **justnick** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 12:54 am

OmahaJaysCU wrote:Absolutely amazing idea. I really hope they can get this done!

I agree - it would be an amazing addition to Omaha.

riceweb · Post by **riceweb** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 6:58 am

Great news. That area is absolutely frightening today and in desperate need of revitalization.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 7:22 am

Frightening or just absolutely no reason to go there?

Omababe · Post by **Omababe** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 9:05 am

DTO Luv wrote:Frightening or just absolutely no reason to go there?

http://omababe.blogspot.com/2008/09/dar ... -North Downtown.html

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 9:52 am

I'm familiar with the area. I don't think it's so much crime ridden or scary as it is there is just really nothing there to go to for any reason. Nice shots by the way.

Alt(Bayern)München · Post by **Alt(Bayern)München** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 3:45 pm

Weird... I have the Tuesday paper & it has that same exact picture,
except none of the items in red (condos, row housing, retail) are shown in the drawing or mentioned in the article...

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 5:18 pm

i think that's just what North Downtown needs. It'd be great to have a museum dedicated to independent art in the area, too. I saw a van today that had on the side "MONA" which was for Museum Of Nebraska Art, out of western Nebraska. Something like that for the Omaha area would be great too. Some friends of mine would love to have a place like that to display their pieces, and i'd enjoy going. That would also put people in the area to help support the businesses when events aren't in swing, and it would definitely help spur other development, IMO. I'm anxious to see further details!

the1wags · Post by **the1wags** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 5:47 pm

Signage is up on the new Holiday Inn in NDT.

the1wags · Post by **the1wags** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 11:56 am

Post by **Brad** » Sun Feb 08, 2009 7:31 pm

Nice Pic, when are they opening?

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 3:54 am

i believe i heard thursday, or a week from thursday.

ricko · Post by **ricko** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 1:30 am

My NDT fantasy: Someone commissions Frank Ghery to build a museum to house the Phillip Schrager collection (Omaha's best kept art secret).

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 6:59 pm

correction: i think they open tomorrow.

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 1:35 am

ricko wrote:My NDT fantasy: Someone commissions Frank Ghery to build a museum to house the Phillip Schrager collection (Omaha's best kept art secret).

I have a North Downtown fantasy, but I don't think I can post it here.

Post by **Brad** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 9:43 pm

SaOmaha wrote:Last Saturday, On my winter trek across the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge , I took these photos of the new
Downtown baseball Stadium Construction site / North Downtown Motel District from the ...

... Spiral ramp to the Bridge.

... Nebraska side bridge tower / Southside river overlook.

If all things go as planned, in two years a shining new stadium will be in front of the North Downtown Motels. What a sight to see as you approach Omaha on the bridge.

I may post pictures of Stadium construction progress from this angle from time to time.

Thanks for the photos Steve. However I would guess that the Hotels don't like to be called motels. Apparently too many people think of a motel as a downgrade.

Historic Omaha · Post by **Historic Omaha** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 7:53 am

If they didn't want to be called "motels" then they should have not constructed a motel. The Holiday Inn is so poorly designed and relates to its site/context much worse than the other two fronting Cuming St. that I would be "putting down" motels by calling it a "motel". What's worse than a motel? A Hostel? A Boarding House? Those seem too nice of a description for that building. My dogs have **** nicer looking poop on their walks.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 8:22 am

I wish Omaha did have a hostel. That would be sweet.

stadsborgare · Post by **stadsborgare** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 8:53 am

Historic Omaha wrote:If they didn't want to be called "motels" then they should have not constructed a motel. The Holiday Inn is so poorly designed and relates to its site/context much worse than the other two fronting Cuming St. that I would be "putting down" motels by calling it a "motel". What's worse than a motel? A Hostel? A Boarding House? Those seem too nice of a description for that building. My dogs have **** nicer looking poop on their walks.

I happen to like the Holiday Inn and dislike the others. The Holiday Inn (to me) looks like more of a fit with the history of the area. It gives the appearance of being a very solid block compared to the others. There are a few small annoyances I may have about it, but it looks good from a distance.

Those other hotels, though, look more like they could have been placed in West Omaha. And I hate the roofs, especially of the tall one. That ash tray motif just doesn't do it for me. Maybe they're taking inspiration from the Qwest Center, but I don't think, design-wise, that's something worth getting inspired by.

Bob from Omaha · Post by **Bob from Omaha** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 11:56 am

Brad wrote:
SaOmaha wrote:Last Saturday, On my winter trek across the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge , I took these photos of the new
If all things go as planned, in two years a shining new stadium will be in front of the North Downtown Motels. What a sight to see as you approach Omaha on the bridge.

I may post pictures of Stadium construction progress from this angle from time to time.
Thanks for the photos Steve. However I would guess that the Hotels don't like to be called motels. Apparently too many people think of a motel as a downgrade.

I'd suggest that if you want to call it a hotel build a hotel. 20 stories, a couple of restaurants, a bar and a lobby bar, a gift shop & maybe some more retail, covered parking, blah, blah, blah. Check out the Des Moines Marriot. That is a hotel. The Omaha Hilton, while nice, looks like a motel.

I have been in one of the North Downtown motels...I forgot the name & it doesn't matter. It's a cookie cutter suburban motel. Nothing wrong with it except that it adds nothing to the neighborhood...well, it does add lodging.

justnick · Post by **justnick** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 12:09 pm

Bob from Omaha wrote:
I'd suggest that if you want to call it a hotel build a hotel. 20 stories, a couple of restaurants, a bar and a lobby bar, a gift shop & maybe some more retail, covered parking, blah, blah, blah. Check out the Des Moines Marriot. That is a hotel. The Omaha Hilton, while nice, looks like a motel.

I have been in one of the North Downtown motels...I forgot the name & it doesn't matter. It's a cookie cutter suburban motel. Nothing wrong with it except that it adds nothing to the neighborhood...well, it does add lodging.

you tell 'em, sister. They're boring. And as boring as they are, I can't wait until I'm out of school and working in one.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 12:12 pm

I haven't seen the Holiday Inn or paid much attention to any of the other hotels but from times I kind of remember seeing them they didn't seem as bad as the Hilton.

Post by **Brad** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 12:44 pm

Here is a picture of the Holiday in that the1wags posted...

the1wags wrote:

Sorry I think of motels as the one level motel you see in small towns. I hardly think of a 4 or even 8 story hotel with no parking of the main road a motel. I didn't notice the "Free HBO" sign out front either.

Holiday Inn will have restaurants and bars, Homewood Inn is looking for a Restaurant to fill out their parcel.

Besides that we could have had something taller, I still don't see whats wrong with the Hilton, It has a restaurant and bar, no surface parking... Its beautiful inside.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 12:46 pm

Eh, that one's a bit shizery but the other ones didn't seem as bad.

Post by **Brad** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 12:50 pm

DTO Luv wrote:Eh, that one's a bit shizery but the other ones didn't seem as bad.

However its the only one that included any kind of street level retail...