Blackstone Business Improvement District

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Fri Nov 16, 2012 3:55 pm

The Cheaters bar has been closed for a while, but they have been gutting it for a few days now. Anyone know any plans here?

EDIT: Thread now called Blackstone Business Improvement District (formerly 40th and Farnam Cheaters Building)

Blackstone Business Improvement District Thread Index

-#-
38 St. Lofts on Farnam (Brite Ideas)
4016 Farnam Street (Building Demo)

-A-
Re: Almost Music / Solid Jackson Books (Iwen Exposures)

-B-
Blackstone Center
Blackstone Depot (38th Avenue and Harney Street)
Blackstone Flats
Blackstone Knoll (3902 Harney)
Blackstone Meatball / Ground Floor Guitar
Blackstone Station on 38
Blackstone Social
Blackstone Union (41st and Harney)

-C-
Colonial Hotel - Blackstone (38th and Farnam)
Crescent Moon Ale House, Beertopia, Huber Haus

-D-
Dante's Pizza - Blackstone
Dundee Bank - Blackstone - McFosters (38th & Farnam)

-F-
Farnam House Brewing Company (3568 Farnam St)

-K-
Kiewit Building

-M-
Mansion Flats
MULA Mexican Kitchen and Tequila Lounge (40th and Farnam)

-N-
Noli's Pizza - Blackstone (40th & Farnam)

-P-
Phi Kappa Psi house Redevelopment (36th and Farnam)

-S-
Scriptown Brewery
Security National Bank
Stirnella - Blackstone

Post by **Brad** » Fri Nov 16, 2012 4:00 pm

iamjacobm wrote:That bar has been closed for a while, but they have been gutting it for a few days now. Anyone know any plans here?

We saw that last night. That place was completely gutted. It doesn't surprise me since it was condemned.

byrdrules · Post by **byrdrules** » Fri Nov 16, 2012 4:15 pm

The ownership of Sullivans is currently renovating the property and will be moving the bar across the street as soon as it is finished.

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Fri Nov 16, 2012 6:04 pm

byrdrules wrote:The ownership of Sullivans is currently renovating the property and will be moving the bar across the street as soon as it is finished.

Cool thanks for the info. I hope something else can take the other empty storefront on that corner. I am always kind of surprised that corner isn't more popular.

lisanstan · Post by **lisanstan** » Fri Nov 16, 2012 9:40 pm

Cheaters tainted that corner. Ill never forget coming home about 2:30a and wating at the red light on farnam as two guys from cheaters beat the |expletive| out of each other in the intersection. The shooting not long before closed sealed its fate.

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 4:49 pm

iamjacobm wrote:
byrdrules wrote:The ownership of Sullivans is currently renovating the property and will be moving the bar across the street as soon as it is finished.
Cool thanks for the info. I hope something else can take the other empty storefront on that corner. I am always kind of surprised that corner isn't more popular.

Looks like someone has already been working on upgrading that area.

http://www.wowt.com/home/headlines/Blac ... 13821.html

The success the Blackstone Group wants to emulate is Midtown Crossing. In the beginning some questioned the ability to create a neighborhood but Midtown Crossing as become a destination and now businesses west of Midtown Crossing want to extend that magic.

This is also interesting. I would support making Farnam two way all the way to Saddle Creek.

One of the first things on the Blackstone Business Improvement Board’s list is to extend Farnam's two way street to include the area in front of their businesses, in Midtown.

CFA Jay · Post by **CFA Jay** » Wed Dec 19, 2012 1:16 pm

iamjacobm wrote:
This is also interesting. I would support making Farnam two way all the way to Saddle Creek.

One of the first things on the Blackstone Business Improvement Board’s list is to extend Farnam's two way street to include the area in front of their businesses, in Midtown.

I disagree. I think that Farnam one way is too important for rush hour traffic to go two way. Would you make Harney two way as well?

Interesting nonetheless.

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Wed Dec 19, 2012 6:47 pm

I don't see having two westbound lanes and one eastbound having too much negative effect on rush hour traffic. Consider that it is already two way for a portion east of 36th street and two way west of 42nd I don't think making that half mile match those other two sections would hurt traffic too much. Making the street safer and growing the economic opportunities that two way streets bring would outweigh the bit of traffic slowdown for one hour a day.

Busguy2010 · Post by **Busguy2010** » Thu Dec 20, 2012 3:42 pm

I always though it would be a good idea to make Farnam two-way to Saddle Creek. I wondered why when they made Farnam two-way at MC, they made two westbound and one eastbound, but now it's clear to me. If they end up doing this, however, I think they should also make Harney two-way to the extent they do it with Farnam.

pseudoprometheus · Post by **pseudoprometheus** » Thu Feb 07, 2013 8:39 pm

I had been wondering about what was going on at this intersection. I walk through it pretty much daily, and have noticed the work being done.

As of this posting, the former Cheaters is still seeing a good deal of interior work, the former Reading Grounds has been seeing activity inside too (work lighting, lots of plastic sheets, scaffolding, a full rental dumpster out back, etc.). The building two spots east of Sullivan's has scaffolding in front of it. Anyone have any idea what plans might be for the other two buildings (other than Cheaters) seeing activity?

Either way, it'll be interesting to see what changes come about. :)

windsor · Post by **windsor** » Tue Feb 12, 2013 9:17 am

pseudoprometheus wrote:the former Reading Grounds has been seeing activity inside too (work lighting, lots of plastic sheets, scaffolding, a full rental dumpster out back, etc.). The building two spots east of Sullivan's has scaffolding in front of it. Anyone have any idea what plans might be for the other two buildings (other than Cheaters) seeing activity?

I got a quick look at this area today. It looks like one of the buildings on the north side of the street, east of Farnam, has been completely stripped back to the brick.

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Wed Feb 20, 2013 5:26 pm

Benson Brewery guys must be involved in something going on at this corner. They posted a few pictures on their facebook saying "Mystery Location 2.0" I would guess it is the storefront with the scaffolding in front as they completely replaced the roof structure. This is so close to my place...I can't wait to see this corner updated.

cdub · Post by **cdub** » Thu Feb 21, 2013 7:36 am

North side under new owners. Redeveloping totally and looking for new tennants. Bar moving across to south side, will look 100% better than we're all used to!

Post by **Brad** » Mon Feb 25, 2013 3:34 pm

Blackstone Business Improvement District

Brad Iwen from Iwen exposures was on Grow Omaha this past Saturday to talk about the Blackstone BID.

Notes from the Grow Omaha Show:
1. Farnam 36th to 40th.
2. Historically called the "West Farnam District" is now becoming the "Blackstone District".
3. Better geographical fit than "The Gold Coast Neighborhood".
4. Goal of slowing traffic down, making it more pedestrian friendly and converting Farnam back to 2 way.
5. Improved lighting
6. looking at streetscaping.

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Tue Feb 26, 2013 2:52 pm

Workers were pulling off the exterior on the building on the NE corner of 40th and Farnam today. Original brick being exposed.

Post by **Brad** » Tue Feb 26, 2013 2:59 pm

iamjacobm wrote:Workers were pulling off the exterior on the building on the NE corner of 40th and Farnam today. Original brick being exposed.

They pulled off some other exteriors the other day. I was going to snap a photo but there was a broken down car in the way all piled up in snow. I was going to come back and try again later, but never got to it.

What I saw so far looked good.

Post by **Brad** » Sat Mar 09, 2013 6:31 pm

Photo Update:

1.

2.

3.

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Thu Mar 14, 2013 10:54 pm

Thanks for the picture updates everywhere Brad, always appreciated! This will be my corner if it develops like I hope.

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Thu Mar 14, 2013 11:03 pm

iamjacobm wrote:This will be my corner if it develops like I hope.

How much you charge?

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Fri Mar 15, 2013 2:25 pm

Big E wrote:
iamjacobm wrote:This will be my corner if it develops like I hope.
How much you charge?

I expect to end up in the red.

Post by **Brad** » Thu Mar 21, 2013 11:22 am

Couple's enthusiasm to reclaim 40th and Farnam area energizes others

http://www.omaha.com/article/20130321/M ... zes-others

Great story on the Blackstone District.

The People opening the Besnon Brewery and the Omaha Brewery in North Downtown are also opening a Brewery in the Blackstone district.

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Thu Mar 21, 2013 2:23 pm

Pretty incredible how many different people and development teams have come together at basically the same time to change this area. Could easily be Dundee-esque in a year or two.

pseudoprometheus · Post by **pseudoprometheus** » Fri Apr 05, 2013 4:15 pm

Brad wrote:Couple's enthusiasm to reclaim 40th and Farnam area energizes others

http://www.omaha.com/article/20130321/M ... zes-others

Great article, thanks for posting Brad! The momentum behind this revitalization project is exciting - a Dundee-esque transformation would be great to see here.

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Tue Apr 23, 2013 8:49 pm

They have some of the crappy wood pulled off of the old Cheaters building, brick is back!

Post by **Brad** » Sun Apr 28, 2013 10:20 pm

Another Amazing Transformation!

Photo Update!
1.

2.

3.

guitarguy · Post by **guitarguy** » Mon Apr 29, 2013 4:28 pm

I know I've said it before but watching these rehab projects happen is just amazing for our city. There is so much historical beauty under years of halfA'd renovations that you wonder if we could actually have a thriving new area of the city that was left for dead years ago. The best part about it is the costs are minimal and the pay offs huge. Keep it coming Omaha.

-adam

skinzfan23 · Post by **skinzfan23** » Mon Apr 29, 2013 4:48 pm

guitarguy wrote:I know I've said it before but watching these rehab projects happen is just amazing for our city. There is so much historical beauty under years of halfA'd renovations that you wonder if we could actually have a thriving new area of the city that was left for dead years ago. The best part about it is the costs are minimal and the pay offs huge. Keep it coming Omaha.

-adam

I completely agree.

Post by **Brad** » Mon Apr 29, 2013 10:00 pm

skinzfan23 wrote:
guitarguy wrote:I know I've said it before but watching these rehab projects happen is just amazing for our city. There is so much historical beauty under years of halfA'd renovations that you wonder if we could actually have a thriving new area of the city that was left for dead years ago. The best part about it is the costs are minimal and the pay offs huge. Keep it coming Omaha.

-adam
I completely agree.

I was talking to the1wags a little bit ago and its like these beautiful old buildings have had a bad Halloween costume on for the past couple years!

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Mon May 13, 2013 5:32 pm

Windows are in.

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Tue Aug 20, 2013 5:22 pm

http://www.omaha.com/article/20130820/L ... -on-farnam

Four blocks to the west, John Fahrer and Scott Stephens are in the midst of renovating what will soon be Scriptown.

Stephens is one of the owners of Lot 2 and Baxter’s in Benson, and Fahrer makes small batches of beer for both restaurants. At both places, Fahrer’s brews have been very popular.

"We cannot keep up with the product," Stephens said.

Stephens and Fahrer began discussing plans for a brewery about a year ago and signed the lease on their space earlier this summer. Fahrer, who has been a homebrewer since 1986 and was named the national homebrewer of the year in 1996, can make just about anything. He’ll continue to make beer specially for Lot 2 and Baxter’s — which won’t be available at Scriptown or elsewhere — and to cycle through small batches of a diverse variety of beers at Scriptown. They’ll begin with four or six taps, Stephens said, and slowly add more as they get going.

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Mon Sep 16, 2013 9:39 am

Planning board passed the two way conversion 7-0.

Post by **BRoss** » Tue Sep 17, 2013 5:56 pm

iamjacobm wrote:Planning board passed the two way conversion 7-0.

Are you talking about converting a one-way to two-way? If so, which street?

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Tue Sep 17, 2013 5:58 pm

HR Paperstacks wrote:
iamjacobm wrote:Planning board passed the two way conversion 7-0.
Are you talking about converting a one-way to two-way? If so, which street?

Farnam. Needs to go before the City Council before it happens.

Linkin5 · Post by **Linkin5** » Tue Sep 17, 2013 6:18 pm

iamjacobm wrote:
HR Paperstacks wrote:
iamjacobm wrote:Planning board passed the two way conversion 7-0.
Are you talking about converting a one-way to two-way? If so, which street?
Farnam. Needs to go before the City Council before it happens.

Hopefully it happens.

Post by **BRoss** » Tue Sep 17, 2013 6:22 pm

So I'm guessing 36th through 40th? Or will they go all the way to 42nd?

Post by **Brad** » Tue Sep 17, 2013 8:08 pm

HR Paperstacks wrote:So I'm guessing 36th through 40th? Or will they go all the way to 42nd?

I hope 42nd all the way though Midtown Crossing.

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Tue Oct 15, 2013 5:04 pm

Sullivan's posted this awesome picture of what 40th and Farnam looked like back in the day.

MTO · Post by **MTO** » Tue Oct 15, 2013 10:44 pm

Will this re-dev effort get a new restaurant in where that dirt hippy place cafe is?

Post by **Brad** » Tue Oct 15, 2013 10:47 pm

MTO wrote:Will this re-dev effort get a new restaurant in where that dirt hippy place cafe is?

Lol... McFosters?

MTO · Post by **MTO** » Wed Oct 16, 2013 9:28 am

Brad wrote:
MTO wrote:Will this re-dev effort get a new restaurant in where that dirt hippy place cafe is?
Lol... McFosters?

Yes, is it inside of the redevelopment boundaries?