Aksarben Village (67th & Center)

omahastylee459 · Post by **omahastylee459** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 10:53 pm

TitosBuritoBarn wrote: A fourth issue I had, which dealing with the park itself, is why do the lighted squares along the perimeter just fade between dark and light blue?

I could be wrong but I thought I remember it fading through several colors including red and yellow?

TitosBuritoBarn · Post by **TitosBuritoBarn** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 9:40 am

The fountain did, the little squares didn't.

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 11:36 am

The fountain is another one. None of the jets shoot straight up. None. They're all at weird angles, and the heights are all different... and seemingly not intentionally.

Post by **Brad** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 9:57 pm

I need to do a night park photo shoot, but didn't have time tonight.

Here are a few quick ones from tonight.

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 11:00 pm

Great shots, Brad. I was in Aksarben Village tonight myself.

windsor · Post by **windsor** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 2:50 pm

The new BCBS building has risen above the trees on 72nd street. You can now see it while fueling your vehicle at Quick Trip by the Walmart.

Garrett · Post by **Garrett** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 4:35 pm

I saw it from the Interstate even.

windsor · Post by **windsor** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 4:42 pm

I have not been that way in a while. I usually take Dodge or Leavenworth when I leave downtown to check out whats going on around town.

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 3:34 pm

I can't believe no one has posted this.

DLR Group's new Aksarben Village headquarters design released:

From the OWH:

http://www.omaha.com/article/20090820/MONEY/708209980

Omaha firm goes solid green

By Jeffrey Robb
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

From top to bottom, DLR Group’s new office building will be a model of green design.

And it has earned the building a gold label.

Friday, the architecture and engineering firm will break ground on an office that will become the first privately owned building in Nebraska — and just the fourth overall in the state — with the respected LEED Gold environmental certification.

DLR, which will take up two of the three floors, also considers its new building a lab to demonstrate to clients how office systems operate.

The office will capitalize on natural light and limit water usage with low-flow toilets. Concrete used on the site will include fly ash recycled from coal plants. Toilet partitions will be made from recycled milk jugs and detergent bottles. The firm is looking at using wood flooring reclaimed from old buildings.

The article didn't say, but I'm assuming that with DLR using two of the three floors (most likely 2 and 3), they will leave the ground level for retail or other offices.

This is really a remarkable design and a wonderful contribution to AK Village, and Omaha's architectural heritage.

Post by **Brad** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 3:42 pm

Awesome. Where in AK Village will it be located?

Here is the image you tried to post streets:

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 3:48 pm

East of the big office building on 67th and Frances. Basically south side of Frances St between 64th and 67th Sts.

It's where "Building 5" is in this rendering:
http://www.aksarbenvillage.com/pdfs/PAR ... erview.pdf

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 3:50 pm

Brad wrote:Here is the image you tried to post streets:

Thanks. Did you just save it and host it yourself?

Post by **Brad** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 3:54 pm

StreetsOfOmaha wrote:East of the big office building on 67th and Frances. Basically south side of Frances St between 64th and 67th Sts.

It's where "Building 5" is in this rendering:
http://www.aksarbenvillage.com/pdfs/PAR ... erview.pdf

Thanks. I never thought that lot was that big.

Yes, I did a screen capture and hosted it on Imageshack.

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 11:07 am

I can't believe no one else has anything to say about this great announcement!

Post by **Brad** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 11:12 am

Wait for it........

Its in Aksarben and all the urbanest don't care. Which is really sad because its an AWESOME development.

justnick · Post by **justnick** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 11:23 am

Brad wrote:Wait for it........

Its in Aksarben and all the urbanest don't care. Which is really sad because its an AWESOME development.

I care. It's just I ain't actually seen any of it outside of pictures on here, so I can't really gush about how much I love it.
I've been meaning to drive through though. I want to see that obelisk thingy in person, I might hate it less.

OmahaJaysCU · Post by **OmahaJaysCU** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 11:29 am

I drove through the area the other day and wow! After only having phase 1 complete, the area already looks fantastic. I can't wait to see what it looks like when completed.

Post by **Brad** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 11:30 am

There are all kinds of photos in the past few pages.

GetUrban · Post by **GetUrban** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 10:13 pm

This is really shaping up to be a great higher density development, from the semi-high-rises, retail, restaurants, park/performance space, residential, walkable and bike-able, etc., and will serve as a good example for other infill developments in Omaha. The new DLR building will be a welcome addition. Cool design.

omahastylee459 · Post by **omahastylee459** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 3:40 am

drove by the free concert tonight and the place was packed! good to see that people are taking advantage of the new public space.

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 9:17 am

for some reason, i just still have not gotten very excited about this project...

GetUrban · Post by **GetUrban** » Sun Aug 23, 2009 10:28 am

thenewguy wrote:for some reason, i just still have not gotten very excited about this project...

Can you expand on the reason?

Admittedly, its not as exiting as some of the recent downtown projects, but a step in the right direction, nonetheless.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 8:51 pm

I finally saw that obelisk in person. If it had something other than that blue pyramid on top I think it would look a lot better. It was still sunny out so I'll have to save judgment on it with the lights for now.

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 8:54 pm

GetUrban wrote:
thenewguy wrote:for some reason, i just still have not gotten very excited about this project...
Can you expand on the reason?

Admittedly, its not as exiting as some of the recent downtown projects, but a step in the right direction, nonetheless.

I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that it's been overshadowed by the rapid progress of MoO. I was over there during the CWS and it wasn't going as strong as now, so my opinion may not be what it would be if i went and checked it out again. There wasn't much activity besides people staying at the hotel. I'm anxious for the rest to catch up, and have people down there shopping, eating, having drinks, etc. Just want a lot of everyday life to spring into it!

Post by **Brad** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 8:58 pm

DLR has a sign up already.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 9:10 pm

Is there going to be anything between BCBS and the AKV? I was under the impression this would all be right next to each other but driving by today it looked like there's a gap between the two projects.

Post by **Brad** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 9:22 pm

Eventually it will all fill in, but unlike MofO they are building this in phases because they did not have the baking the way MofO did.

lnkS · Post by **lnkS** » Mon Aug 24, 2009 10:11 pm

Brad wrote:Eventually it will all fill in, but unlike MofO they are building this in phases because they did not have the baking the way MofO did.

That must have been quite the bake sale.

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 7:05 am

$29 for a cupcake?? what is this, a nascar sponsrship??

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 11:12 am

Not to mention the Aksarben Village project is larger in area than the entirety of Downtown Omaha proper.

the1wags · Post by **the1wags** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 12:15 pm

What are you defining as downtown proper? I'm not at a pc to do some comparisons, but I find your statement doubtful.

GetUrban · Post by **GetUrban** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 8:39 pm

Interesting comparison.....

If you define Aksarben generously as the area bound by Pacific to Center by 63rd to 72nd, it is .75 miles x .75 miles = .5625 sq. miles

and you define Downtown conservatively as Cuming to Leavenworth by 24th to the River it is 1.08 miles x 1.23 miles = 1.353 sq. miles.

Downtown is more than twice the size. (using the measure tool on Google Earth.

Realistically, I think you could say downtown extends farther west to I-480 and farther north of Cuming and south of Leavenworth in a few places. It comes down to how you define it....but you could argue DT is more than 3X the size of Aksarben.

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Wed Aug 26, 2009 12:32 pm

It DEFINITELY depends on how you define it.

I took that straight from the mouth of Doug Bisson when I was working with him.

Judging by the Downtown Masterplan, which Doug and the HDR team facilitated, "Downtown" is looked at as being a larger geographic area with other identified districts within it, one of which could be "Downtown Proper", or what I would imagine to be the Central Business District, which would not include the Old Market, Park East, North Downtown, etc.

Anyway, I think the point is that it's a HUGE area.

GetUrban · Post by **GetUrban** » Wed Aug 26, 2009 7:03 pm

Yeah, I agree Aksarben is a huge area.

Downtown, no matter how you define it, probably has less develop-able land when you consider how much land the streets alone take up. Aksarben was/is pretty much a clean slate. This is not to say there isn't enough room to develop downtown much denser than it currently is, especially if surface lots are developed, and if buildings go higher.

It's good that the Master Plan breaks-up downtown into the sub-districts you mention, which makes it easier to focus on problems unique to each area.

windsor · Post by **windsor** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 1:11 pm

I don't really think it matters how its defined. Its just an all around fantastic project.

Post by **Brad** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 12:12 am

Photo Update 8/31/2009

1. Talk about Dynamic Lighting....

2. BCBS building

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Wed Sep 23, 2009 10:46 pm

BCBS HQ looking impressive in its beautiful setting:

New sidewalk/streetscape work:

Work progressing on DLR's HQ:

Post by **Brad** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 8:50 am

Thanks for the pic update streets. I hope BCBS is more urban than I think it is.

the1wags · Post by **the1wags** » Thu Sep 24, 2009 9:13 am

Brad wrote:Thanks for the pic update streets. I hope BCBS is more urban than I think it is.

If they had wanted it to be urban, they should have built it....well, you know where. ;)

JPenny · Post by **JPenny** » Wed Nov 25, 2009 4:11 pm

While driving by the other day it looked like they might be starting to work on "zone 5"? or just using that area for prep work on the blue cross building... The blue cross building is also starting to get some cladding on the west side! does anyone know when work on "zone 5" was suppose to begin?