Biggest (positive) Story in Omaha 2011

Post by **Brad** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 1:06 pm

Biggest Story in Omaha 2011

What do you think is the biggest (positive - growth and development) story in the Omaha Metro in 2011.

(No particular order)
1. Opening of TD Ameritrade Park Omaha.
2. Opening of Werner Park.
3. Shamrock Development.
4. Five different old market Apartments.
5. Construction of the TD Ameritrade Tower in Old mill.
6. 318 North End.
7. New Restaurants (Chick-fil-a, Cheddars, Joes Crabshack).
8. Hilton Expansion.
9. New CSG Headquarters.
10. Work begins on old Northern Natural Gas building.

Omababe · Post by **Omababe** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 4:04 pm

Brad wrote:7. New Restaurants (Chick-fil-a, Cheddars, Joes Crabshack).

Not to be a total snot here, but if things like the opening of Chic-Fil-A and Cheddars are major news stories of the year for the area, something is wrong!

Post by **Brad** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 4:05 pm

Omababe wrote:
Brad wrote:7. New Restaurants (Chick-fil-a, Cheddars, Joes Crabshack).
Not to be a total snot here, but if things like the opening of Chic-Fil-A and Cheddars are major news stories of the year for the area, something is wrong!

Just throwing out ideas based on the amount of discussion I remember on the forum. Not a big deal to me, but apparently some people wasted a day off for the opening of Chicken Fillet...

Post by **nebugeater** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 4:23 pm

There is a positive side to the flood although the general flavor was neg. I read and experienced a lot of people coming
together to help each other in tough times. This is deff. Positive and for sure one of the biggest thins of the year

bigredmed · Post by **bigredmed** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 6:33 pm

Sorry Brad, no offense, but I wouldn't put any of those on the top 10 good news items.

Here are a few items I would add (in no specific order).
1. UNMC continuing to build regional cancer center with new lab space and a significant jump in funding.
2. Creighton men's bball team plays non-conference schedule that included teams we have actually heard of and several that were legitimately good programs.
3. UNO men's hockey team having a 3rd place finish in the WCHA and making it to the NCAA playoffs.
4. OWH getting bought by Berkshire Hathaway.
5. ConAgra stock going up in response to corporate strategic shifts despite a general downturn in the market and in it's sector.

Agree with OmahaBabe, that any new restaurant opening being big news is a sign that your city is slipping. The exception to that would be new ethnic or local places that are unique.

Post by **Brad** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 7:33 pm

Like I said, I was just jotting down things I remember people talking about a lot on the forum. I wasn't saying mine were the end all be all.

Post by **Brad** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 7:35 pm

By the way, as a huge Mavs fan, #3 was high on my list, but I know there was way more talk about a Chicken Fillet than the Mavs... Sad, but true.

S33 · Post by **S33** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 7:37 pm

All things considered, I think Omaha did pretty well this year. I don't think Omaha has taken any steps backward since the 70's. The city's definitely not "slipping".

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 7:38 pm

I would have to divide this question into development/sports/events...
But in the end I would have to vote on Downtown development.

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 8:21 pm

Five Old Market hotels?

For me, it's a tie between the Shamrock development and the NNG building residential conversion.

Post by **Brad** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 8:26 pm

Apartments, fixed now.

OmahaJaysCU · Post by **OmahaJaysCU** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 8:59 pm

Just for conversation sake.

How much "news" did things like the Shamrock Development really garner? Other than an OWH article and a blurb on the local news stations, this project seems relatively unknown.

That being said though, the stupid Zestos would be the biggest news story if we gauged it by actual press/publicity.

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 9:02 pm

The question seems to imply that we're talking about what the biggest news story to us nerdy development folks was.

Stargazer · Post by **Stargazer** » Thu Dec 29, 2011 4:53 pm

It's pretty obvious to me... Brad is looking for development stories... that IS the root from which this forum grew.

Linkin5 · Post by **Linkin5** » Thu Dec 29, 2011 5:39 pm

Stargazer wrote:It's pretty obvious to me... Brad is looking for development stories... that IS the root from which this forum grew.

No doubt. It kind of sucks that this forum really doesn't revolve around development as much anymore. Its kind of like what happened to the chamber forum (and the reason it was disbanded).

Linkin5 · Post by **Linkin5** » Thu Dec 29, 2011 5:46 pm

With that said:

1) TD Ameritrade Park
2) New apartment buildings downtown
3) The new proposed Hyatt
4) Shamrock Development
5) The emerging Capitol District
6) Northern Gas Building apartment conversion
7) Werner Ballpark

North Downtown shaping up (9ines, Zesto, new brewery, etc)
9) TD Ameritrade Tower topping out
10) Renier's Piano Building getting redone

SaveOmaha · Post by **SaveOmaha** » Thu Dec 29, 2011 6:22 pm

The Nicholas Street Historic District area is a favorite of mine, and a very underrated area, in my opinion.

Who knows, maybe that area will turn into an area similar to the Old Market or the up-and-coming Market West.

Thoughts?

SaveOmaha · Post by **SaveOmaha** » Thu Dec 29, 2011 6:26 pm

I really loved seeing the building on the NW corner of 49th & Dodge renovated. Who knew there was such a handsome building under all the modifications?

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Thu Dec 29, 2011 6:37 pm

Welcome to eOmahaForums Josh!

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Thu Dec 29, 2011 8:07 pm

1. TD Ameritrade Park
2. NNG apartments
3. Park Ave apartments(surprised no one mentioned this yet)
4. Old Market Apartments
5. TD Tower
6. North Downtown progress
7. Shamrock Project(would be #1 if if broke ground this year)
8. Hyatt Old Market
9. Werner
10. Renier renovation
11. Crossroads Redevelopment(would of been 2 if it broke ground this year)
12. Aksarben Village progress

Linkin5 · Post by **Linkin5** » Thu Dec 29, 2011 9:02 pm

OmahaJosh618 wrote:I also really loved seeing the Piano Building project completed. As a kid, I went to the Sorensen Community Center just up the street a lot and that building always intrigued me for whatever reason. Who knew there was such a handsome building under all that cover up!

No doubt! For a year I lived across the street from this building and I never thought it would looks this good.

As well, I completely forgot about the Park Ave Apartments. When they cleaned the facade and put new windows in this building looked amazing.

twiztid1 · Post by **twiztid1** » Fri Dec 30, 2011 11:43 pm

For me, it has to be Shamrock. It's a very large and high profile project, and that kind of development is not happening a lot around the country these days. That's a big lot. So it's not a matter of building a simple hotel. Filling up that lot is a big task. Long term, it's going to be that missing piece connecting North Downtown with the central part of downtown. If you ever walk south from the CenturyLink or Hilton, it's just a dead zone until you reach DJ's. You can see the skyline, but you feel very isolated. The MECA lots make it even worse.

I just hope it gets built.

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