http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=1636&u_sid=1466750
Things are progressing south of Center Street. This is looking good for the future Aksarben Village. Too bad Noddle had to build his Shoppes of Aksarben next to it in such a suburban way. I hope this becomes an extremely dense village, and the adjacent uses follow the lead.
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Whatever happens, I am sure that the new development will be better than that god awful trailer park south of Center. If UNO gets Chili Greens developed into their sports complex that could be pretty cool.
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Expansion Finds Opposition
UNO Expansion Opposition
Business owners standing firm
http://www.wowt.com/home/headlines/1743057.html
UNO Expansion Opposition
Business owners standing firm
http://www.wowt.com/home/headlines/1743057.html
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The foundation could have used a little better public relations person to lessen the effect of their actions. Now they are just getting reamed. You can't really blame the businesses for wanting to stay, but in cases like this they will end up as victims of progress. In the long run, whatever replaces them will be a nice addition to the city.
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i live in the aksarben neighborhood, practically a block from the old grandstands, this project needs to get started and done right. It will help the land value of the area so much, especially if they get that trailer park out of there on center street. I cant wait to finally have somewhere to walk and do some eating/shopping. It will be a lot like other college campuses that have entertainment/shopping districts adjacent to campus.
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Exactly, Mike. I can't wait either.
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NU assures businesses it's planning no land grab
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=1636&u_sid=1469880
I hope they get rid of the trailer park!
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=1636&u_sid=1469880
I hope they get rid of the trailer park!
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Okay, I never figured I would be the one to say this, given all the trailer park jokes I have laughed at or told over the years, but hey, folks, if you "get rid of the awful trailer park" where do you propose moving it to? The residents of the park surely aren't all living there because of the prestigious address or the other amenities that flow from living in such a location. It is rather because it is affordable housing that doesn't much exist anywhere else. So let's all climb off of our high horses for a few minutes and acknowledge that fact. Those Omahans have as much a right to live where they do as anyone else, and I would suggest that if this overall development is responsible for promoting civic betterment that it make arrangements for subsititute neighborhood housing for anyone displaced by the development.
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From reading the quotes of the business owners, it sounds like the real estate agent and maybe the UNO Foundation are coming on a little strong. To say either take this offer or face eminent domain -- sounds threatening to me.
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It's not threatening, it's the way it is.
"The right to have access to every building in the city by private motorcar in an age when everyone possesses such a vehicle is actually the right to destroy the city."
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We'll just ship them out to 132nd and Maple by the Super Target or even out to King Lake, as has happened previously. There are lots of crappy homes out there to rent, it shouldn't be a big deal to relocate these folks.nativeomahan wrote:Okay, I never figured I would be the one to say this, given all the trailer park jokes I have laughed at or told over the years, but hey, folks, if you "get rid of the awful trailer park" where do you propose moving it to?
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The desert outside of LasVegasOkay, I never figured I would be the one to say this, given all the trailer park jokes I have laughed at or told over the years, but hey, folks, if you "get rid of the awful trailer park" where do you propose moving it to?
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Good points. hopefully, some LIHTC units can be part of the development. Mixed-income as well as mixed-use!Okay, I never figured I would be the one to say this, given all the trailer park jokes I have laughed at or told over the years, but hey, folks, if you "get rid of the awful trailer park" where do you propose moving it to? The residents of the park surely aren't all living there because of the prestigious address or the other amenities that flow from living in such a location. It is rather because it is affordable housing that doesn't much exist anywhere else. So let's all climb off of our high horses for a few minutes and acknowledge that fact. Those Omahans have as much a right to live where they do as anyone else, and I would suggest that if this overall development is responsible for promoting civic betterment that it make arrangements for subsititute neighborhood housing for anyone displaced by the development.
And let's not be ignorant, it does no good to displace less affluent people and move them further from employment and public transportation because we find their housing unattractive.
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Well it might be the way it is but that is only if the gov't body does it and goes through the steps set up. From reading the article, it sounds like the UNO Foundation is jumping the gun along with the realtor. The realtor told the owners if they didn't sell by August they would be dealing with the lawyers, leaving the owners to believe that it was going to happen soon. BUt according to the following it wouldnt happen for months:StreetsOfOmaha wrote:It's not threatening, it's the way it is.
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=1636&u_sid=1469880The process takes months. Eminent domain laws require, among other steps, notice to property owners that the university intends to use eminent domain; public hearings; open discussion of the proposed public use of the property; good-faith negotiations by the university to secure voluntary sales; and public votes by the NU Board of Regents.
The regents not only would have to vote to approve using eminent domain, they also could use it only for a specific project that is for a designated public use that they had already approved.
No such project has been proposed for the property in question.
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No, it's not "the way it is." UNO has no announced plans that I know of to open a third Omaha campus, which is what this would be. Or do you know something I don't, Streets? The story I read in the OWH indicated that the real estate company ("JerkCo"?) wasn't even hired by the University. The horrible publicity that has flowed from this debacle will likely end this project dead in its tracks, for at least the foreseeable future.StreetsOfOmaha wrote:It's not threatening, it's the way it is.
Look at the hue and cry over the recent US Supreme Court decision opening the door to greater eminent domain use. I have read that moves are now underway in most states to end this possibility through legislative action.
Mind you, I am in favor of judicious use of eminent domain. Most of what has happened in Omaha has been for civic betterment. But many Omahans still have bad tastes in their mouths for what UNO did in the 1960s and 70s in taking over the neighborhood to its west. This bad blood surely will haunt UNO in any expansion plans into existing neighborhoods. If UNO is in such need of space, why do they design buildings (the library) and parking garages that are shaped like square pancakes?
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first off, the people who live in that trailer park do not own the land. Therefore, there would be no need for eminent domain as far as the trailer park goes. They own their homes but they dont own the land that is sits on, so whatever the city wants to do with that is up to them. Yes, it is unfortunate that they will have to move, but that is one of the downsides of living in a MOBILE home. The same exact thing is going to happen to the park on 168th and dodge, there is a volvo dealership and half million dollar homes going up around it, you cant expect it to be there that much longer. I live in the neighborhood across the street from the one on center, and it is clearly an eyesore. The people do not take care of their homes or the property, and some of the people who walk out of there are questionable; people i wouldnt want wandering around my neighborhood. It severely brings down the land value of the area and i wouldnt want to walk over there at night. As far as the businesses are concerned, I can see that being a bitter fight to the end. I see UNO being triumphant in that case, only because I think they will be able to get away with it. Although, i think there should be someway the current businesses can work with Noddle or someone to stay open maybe into a new building.
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after the last few posts.... 
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UNO land acquisition update...
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=164 ... nd=3257552
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=164 ... nd=3257552
World Herald graphic...The University of Nebraska Board of Regents said yes Friday to acquiring land for an expansion of the Omaha campus, but no to using eminent domain to do it.
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I think UNO will have expanded down to Sarpy County before they ACTUALLY fill up their main campus and make it what IT should be.
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why dont they fill up their south campus first before they start building more random buildings that are unwalkable.
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I know.
And they absolutely need to make the main campus more dense before they expand anywhere else. They won't though. They'll build on south campus.
They need to consolidate their big parking lots on the west side of the main campus into several large garages with offices and maybe restaurants, etc. on the ground level. Then they would have some space to add more, denser student housing on the main campus.
Same thing with South campus. Build some large garages then add more student housing and improve the shuttle bus service between the two campuses.
And they absolutely need to make the main campus more dense before they expand anywhere else. They won't though. They'll build on south campus.
They need to consolidate their big parking lots on the west side of the main campus into several large garages with offices and maybe restaurants, etc. on the ground level. Then they would have some space to add more, denser student housing on the main campus.
Same thing with South campus. Build some large garages then add more student housing and improve the shuttle bus service between the two campuses.
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Is anyone expecting this to become Omaha's premiere shopping district? Putting stores typically found in much bigger cities... C&B, Restoration Hardware (do they even put these things in outdoor shopping centers?), a 2 story B&Noble, etc, etc. Is there really as much room as the renderings show? They've got a chance to do something real special here in the heart of Omaha. I hope they've got people backing them up and I hope they've got people backing the backups up. 
As other cities grow and bleed less and less shopping to Omaha, let's stop our own bleeding to KC. Let's make this unique. To Developers: from here on out, do one thing everyday that scares you about making this place a marvel... because if you don't - we're all going to find you, sit you down, and give you a nice hot lunch on your back 
As other cities grow and bleed less and less shopping to Omaha, let's stop our own bleeding to KC. Let's make this unique. To Developers: from here on out, do one thing everyday that scares you about making this place a marvel... because if you don't - we're all going to find you, sit you down, and give you a nice hot lunch on your back God created alcohol to keep the Irish from taking over the world!
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I am not expecting this to become Omaha's 'premier' shopping district. I am sorry, but the demographics just aren't there today.
What I AM expecting... is for this to become a high visibility infill project (along with Mutual's project) which adds yet another area to those where more affluent home buyers are going to discover the appeal of urban living... and hopefully, with time... draws the kinds of retailers/restaurants you're talking about to central and east Omaha.
It's not going to happen overnight.
What I AM expecting... is for this to become a high visibility infill project (along with Mutual's project) which adds yet another area to those where more affluent home buyers are going to discover the appeal of urban living... and hopefully, with time... draws the kinds of retailers/restaurants you're talking about to central and east Omaha.
It's not going to happen overnight.
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I think the demographic could be there. This would be the primary shopping/lifestyle center for Happy Hollow, Dundee, Aksarben/Elmwood Park, and District 66 neighborhoods, and of course it would draw from the entire metro. Not to mention the COMPLETELY underserved retail/nightlife market in the area around UNO.
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Perhaps it is feasible. Here are some of the statistics some of the businesses are likely looking at (looking 5 miles out from each of these developments)...
Shoppes at Aksarben Village
306,365 people, 132,408 households, Household income: $52,406 average $41,114 median, Average age: 34
Westroads
260,320 people, 109,908 households, Household income: $66,811 average $50,507 median
Village Pointe
140,742 people, 52,005 households, Household income: $93,188 average $73,196 median
No doubt they're also looking at future population growth. Central and east Omaha need to draw a more wealthy demographic back.
Shoppes at Aksarben Village
306,365 people, 132,408 households, Household income: $52,406 average $41,114 median, Average age: 34
Westroads
260,320 people, 109,908 households, Household income: $66,811 average $50,507 median
Village Pointe
140,742 people, 52,005 households, Household income: $93,188 average $73,196 median
No doubt they're also looking at future population growth. Central and east Omaha need to draw a more wealthy demographic back.
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There's a lot of overlap in those numbers.jhuston wrote: Shoppes at Aksarben Village
306,365 people, 132,408 households, Household income: $52,406 average $41,114 median, Average age: 34
Westroads
260,320 people, 109,908 households, Household income: $66,811 average $50,507 median
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Yes, District 66... can it sustain Westroads, Regency Court, One Pacific Place AND Aksarben Village?
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Aksarben Village will really have to rely on new business from the Fairacres/UNO/ areas. This is the closest retail to that area, so location, location location!
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Also, it is important to remember that Ak will include condos ect in the upper floors.jhuston wrote:Perhaps it is feasible. Here are some of the statistics some of the businesses are likely looking at (looking 5 miles out from each of these developments)...
Shoppes at Aksarben Village
306,365 people, 132,408 households, Household income: $52,406 average $41,114 median, Average age: 34
Westroads
260,320 people, 109,908 households, Household income: $66,811 average $50,507 median
Village Pointe
140,742 people, 52,005 households, Household income: $93,188 average $73,196 median
No doubt they're also looking at future population growth. Central and east Omaha need to draw a more wealthy demographic back.
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So I guess there’s gonna be a cricket, dollar tree, dollar general, family dollar, rogers jewelry, sally’s, easy money, paycheck advance, sol’s and etc there.. Darn. This place will pry take what is ever left in the crossroads too.
Butt hey that’ll bee good, they need to blow it up anyways.
Butt hey that’ll bee good, they need to blow it up anyways.
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Aw heck... I think Noddle will have a little more success drawing tenants than that. 
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dont know if anyone else had heard this, but it looks like they are clearing the way to build some retail. They have torn down the old mcdonalds and tsing tao restaurant on the south side of center, and from what I have heard, the residents in the trailer court all got a big fat eviction notice....merry christmas!!! 
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mmm.. tsing tao. Surprisingly tasty chinese beer.omahastylee459 wrote:dont know if anyone else had heard this, but it looks like they are clearing the way to build some retail. They have torn down the old mcdonalds and tsing tao restaurant on the south side of center, and from what I have heard, the residents in the trailer court all got a big fat eviction notice....merry christmas!!!
Err, yeah, i saw them tearing that out today. I also saw the 7 story pile of dirt on the aksarben campus!
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That's great news! Finally some progress on this project. Too bad for the trailer residents though, but I'm sure they'll have plenty of time to relocate.
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another building came down today, this time a house that i believe was some sort of business. Thats 4 buildings torn down so far in the span of less than 2 weeks, they are moving along quickly on this. Now there are only a couple buildings remaining, including amatos catering...the weeks to come could be messy with that one. The city will eventually get its way, but i think there could be a big fight coming up.
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The discussion the last two weeks has focused on the new Retail Development on the southside of Center, not on Aksarben Village, where the pile of dirt is located.
As you may have heard, this Retail Development will include the trailer court behind the cleared building. Channel 6 News on December 19th ran a story “Mobile Home Evictions” reporting, the residents of this trailer court 64 Mobile Home Park have about a month to move.
http://www.wowt.com/home/headlines/2092872.html
Also there is video of this story online.
It is not in good taste to ask them to move a month after Christmas. They need two or three months to move.
I gather from this story, Columbo Incorporated, will build a 50,000-square foot retail center at site of the present trailer court and the cleared buildings.
What impact will this Retail Development have on the, people friendly Aksarben Village (think old market, Dundee) and the future UNO campus and sport complex south of Center?
It could slow the development of Aksarben Village and put dumper on the UNO expansion..
As you may have heard, this Retail Development will include the trailer court behind the cleared building. Channel 6 News on December 19th ran a story “Mobile Home Evictions” reporting, the residents of this trailer court 64 Mobile Home Park have about a month to move.
http://www.wowt.com/home/headlines/2092872.html
Also there is video of this story online.
It is not in good taste to ask them to move a month after Christmas. They need two or three months to move.
I gather from this story, Columbo Incorporated, will build a 50,000-square foot retail center at site of the present trailer court and the cleared buildings.
What impact will this Retail Development have on the, people friendly Aksarben Village (think old market, Dundee) and the future UNO campus and sport complex south of Center?
It could slow the development of Aksarben Village and put dumper on the UNO expansion..
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Yeah, that kind of stinks. A little bit more time would have been nice. Merry Christmas everyone!!
On a different note. I am very curious what this retail center will look like. It should tie in with the aksarben village or I am not sure I would be in support of it. (You know buildings about 3-4 stories with retail on the ground floor and front up to the sidewalk along Center St. I do like the idea of more retail offerings in the neighborhood just not another strip or lifestyle center. I don't think I could choke another one of those down. They reference nothing about it being mixed-used so my money is on a ugly strip mall with maybe a wasteful buffer and a few trees for 1/2 |expletive| measure.
Sorry to be so negative but have we yet seen any kind of development in Omaha that even closely resembles what was agreed upon by Omaha by design. No...glorified lifestyle centers don't count because that was not what was agreed upon. I would like to see the weird herold do a piece on development reality after Omaha by Design.
I hope they prove me wrong......If not then we are better leaving the trailers as is. We don't need to waste a good opportunity with a low density strip mall.
What do others think?
On a different note. I am very curious what this retail center will look like. It should tie in with the aksarben village or I am not sure I would be in support of it. (You know buildings about 3-4 stories with retail on the ground floor and front up to the sidewalk along Center St. I do like the idea of more retail offerings in the neighborhood just not another strip or lifestyle center. I don't think I could choke another one of those down. They reference nothing about it being mixed-used so my money is on a ugly strip mall with maybe a wasteful buffer and a few trees for 1/2 |expletive| measure.
Sorry to be so negative but have we yet seen any kind of development in Omaha that even closely resembles what was agreed upon by Omaha by design. No...glorified lifestyle centers don't count because that was not what was agreed upon. I would like to see the weird herold do a piece on development reality after Omaha by Design.
I hope they prove me wrong......If not then we are better leaving the trailers as is. We don't need to waste a good opportunity with a low density strip mall.
What do others think?
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Does anyone have any update on Ak Village as a whole? It seems like we've heard nothing since the announcement, and their website is still that same rendering. Does eomaha.com have a project investigation team?
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I feel ya brother, I personally have given up on that.Sorry to be so negative but have we yet seen any kind of development in Omaha that even closely resembles what was agreed upon by Omaha by design. No...glorified lifestyle centers don't count because that was not what was agreed upon. I would like to see the weird herold do a piece on development reality after Omaha by Design.
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