20 Story Tower Proposed for 12th & Q

[CapitalGuy]

20 Story Tower Proposed

[CapitalGuy]

240' feet proposed which would be 2nd tallest in Lincoln behind Capitol building.

[iamjacobm]

Woah!

[Louie]

Very unique lot, going to be a very thin building. But a good project, for sure.

[Doctor Fate]

Awesome!

[Linkin5]

Gonna keep my fingers crossed this doesn't fall to the same challenges of other projects we've seen get cancelled. As mentioned, this is such a narrow little lot, great to see an actual good use of it.

[buildomaha]

Why does omaha have such a problem with gaining any height downtown lately?!!!!!

[ita]

Sweet proposal. This looks like it would fit in the rumored site for MoO's new headquarters... I too hope this isn't just smoke and mirrors and actually materializes.

[edsas]

With 40% of units committed and a fairly small $30 million price tag, I hope that's enough to keep this project on track. This will obviously by huge for Lincoln.

[ita]

With 40% of units committed and a fairly small $30 million price tag, I hope that's enough to keep this project on track. This will obviously by huge for Lincoln.

Seems like a conservative estimate, but hopefully they can push this through.

[edsas]

With 40% of units committed and a fairly small $30 million price tag, I hope that's enough to keep this project on track. This will obviously by huge for Lincoln.

Seems like a conservative estimate, but hopefully they can push this through.

Yeah, when you consider that the other two big projects in the same area are in the $80 million range. I wonder if the low $30 million estimate has anything to do with this structure being so thin and built within a sturdy existing structure. It's like a massive add-on. If I'm reading correctly, the entire square footage of the footprint is only 3,000 square feet. So with 20 levels you would have 60,000 total square feet of new construction. $500 per square foot.

[daveoma]

Why does omaha have such a problem with gaining any height downtown lately?!!!!!

I totally agree. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy for Lincoln, but I wish someone could tell me why is it that there isn't more high rise residential development in Midtown and Downtown Omaha? Perhaps it's the lack of green space? I know the new Gene Leahy Park is controversial, but I'm hoping it will catalyze high rise residential in Downtown. Also, perhaps it's time for the city to incentivize in ways other than TIF and taxes on neighborhood businesses.

Or perhaps the explanation is the fact that Lincoln doesn't have multiple districts like Omaha. In Lincoln there's Downtown and the University. In Omaha there's Downtown, South Omaha, Midtown, Benson, Dundee, and Asksarben. Perhaps we have more redevelopment, but the demand for taller buildings isn't there, because development in Omaha is more spread out.

[PotatoeEatsFish]

This is beautiful! Looks like a development from Chicago or NYC.

[Louie]

Why does omaha have such a problem with gaining any height downtown lately?!!!!!

I totally agree. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy for Lincoln, but I wish someone could tell me why is it that there isn't more high rise residential development in Midtown and Downtown Omaha? Perhaps it's the lack of green space? I know the new Gene Leahy Park is controversial, but I'm hoping it will catalyze high rise residential in Downtown. Also, perhaps it's time for the city to incentivize in ways other than TIF and taxes on neighborhood businesses.

Or perhaps the explanation is the fact that Lincoln doesn't have multiple districts like Omaha. In Lincoln there's Downtown and the University. In Omaha there's Downtown, South Omaha, Midtown, Benson, Dundee, and Asksarben. Perhaps we have more redevelopment, but the demand for taller buildings isn't there, because development in Omaha is more spread out.

I think another reason is that there is ample space downtown to build, until the open property options start getting tighter the need for a developer to go vertical isn’t strong.

[Doctor Fate]

I have a friend who is a project manager for Hausmann Construction, the company building this tower. He said the owner of Hausmann has purched the top floor.

[Louie]

I have a friend who is a project manager for Hausmann Construction, the company building this tower. He said the owner of Hausmann has purched the top floor.

Lucky dog. That would be a cool pad. Windows all around.

[monkeyjokes]

I'm guessing luck had nothing to do with it.

[Huskers7664]

Walked by and saw Olsson taking samples in front of the proposed high rise. Pretty sure it isn’t for the water main replacement going on downtown.

[CapitalGuy]

Lied Place would take a lane from Q Street

Apparently, the building will actually be more like 22 stories due to the height of the restaurant and the mechanical equipment enclosed on the roof. So I guess the height will be closer to 250' than 240'.

I also so Olsson's doing soil sampling and would bet it was related to Lied Place and not the water main project.

On the issue of the lack of high rise development in Omaha. Folks need to remember that Lincoln zoning pretty much prohibits construction above 75' throughout town except for a small area northeast of the Capitol that allows buildings up to 150' and a small (like 15-20 square blocks) area NW of the Capitol that allows for buildings up to 275'. Omaha has a fair amount of buildings over 275' and they are allowed to be outside the CBD. Lincoln's restrictive zoning kind of functions to control the supply of building space so that eventually there will be more of this development in the 250ish foot range because there is only so much space. You can see this effect in the area of the Lied Place location where there are either plans or existing construction to add floors to three existing buildings. In Omaha, there seems to be a lot more available space in a lot more nodes (DT, MT, Aksarben, etc.) so that you don't have the incentive to do some of these things.

[almighty_tuna]

Folks need to remember that Lincoln zoning pretty much prohibits construction above 75' throughout town except for a small area northeast of the Capitol that allows buildings up to 150' and a small (like 15-20 square blocks) area NW of the Capitol that allows for buildings up to 275'. Omaha has a fair amount of buildings over 275' and they are allowed to be outside the CBD. Lincoln's restrictive zoning kind of functions to control the supply of building space so that eventually there will be more of this development in the 250ish foot range because there is only so much space.

I was under the impression that these zoning laws were in place so that the Capitol remained the predominant feature of the Lincoln skyline

[PotatoeEatsFish]

Folks need to remember that Lincoln zoning pretty much prohibits construction above 75' throughout town except for a small area northeast of the Capitol that allows buildings up to 150' and a small (like 15-20 square blocks) area NW of the Capitol that allows for buildings up to 275'. Omaha has a fair amount of buildings over 275' and they are allowed to be outside the CBD. Lincoln's restrictive zoning kind of functions to control the supply of building space so that eventually there will be more of this development in the 250ish foot range because there is only so much space.

I was under the impression that these zoning laws were in place so that the Capitol remained the predominant feature of the Lincoln skyline

They are, which is kind of stupid in my opinion.

[nebugeater]

Folks need to remember that Lincoln zoning pretty much prohibits construction above 75' throughout town except for a small area northeast of the Capitol that allows buildings up to 150' and a small (like 15-20 square blocks) area NW of the Capitol that allows for buildings up to 275'. Omaha has a fair amount of buildings over 275' and they are allowed to be outside the CBD. Lincoln's restrictive zoning kind of functions to control the supply of building space so that eventually there will be more of this development in the 250ish foot range because there is only so much space.

I was under the impression that these zoning laws were in place so that the Capitol remained the predominant feature of the Lincoln skyline

They are, which is kind of stupid in my opinion.

Really? Make a lot if sence to sice since it has been there since the Cap was built. No need to hide that building in a place like Lincoln.

[CapitalGuy]

Comprehensive Plan Amendment

First step in the approval process. Some more detailed renderings included. For the heigh-obsessed, renderings show that the building will have a maximum height of 252'8" which makes it the first building over 250' constructed in Nebraska since 2004 when the Union Pacific Center was completed.

[ita]

I have a friend who is a project manager for Hausmann Construction, the company building this tower. He said the owner of Hausmann has purched the top floor.

The proposal was approved by planning commissioners and looks to have a planned completion by 2021:

https://journalstar.com/business/local/ ... e.amp.html

In addition to the owner of Hausmann having purchased the top floor, according to the article half of the 40 units are already called for. This really looks like it will go all the way and DT Lincoln will get a cool, new high-rise in a couple years.

[Stvbec74]

From this Omahan...YOU GO LINCOLN!!!

[Cermak]

Hopefully Lincoln can make this happen.

[Stvbec74]

Fingers crossed! Downtown Lincoln has a lot going for it. This project will certainly raise its profile.

[RockHarbor]

Oh, wow! I have wanted Lincoln to get a new skyline-topping building for so long. And, what a perfect, sharp, slick design for Lincoln!! Great sharp building. I do love Lincoln, and especially Downtown Lincoln. It really is a great, cozy, hopping downtown. I still find it strange sometimes that Nebraska has two decent size cities (ones that have a true urban core, that eventually unravel into significant swaths of suburban housing), and felt all Lincoln was missing was a new, slick, taller building downtown, and a beltway.

Go Lincoln!

[RockHarbor]

Anymore news on this?! I would love if Lincoln got that new, crisp, clean-lined tall building downtown. It reminded me instantly of something when I saw it, but I wasn't sure what -- until the other day I came across a picture I took of Wilmington, Delaware's tallest building. It is similar to that (definitely in the same family of design). That type of design could work in most North American cities, especially on the northern half.

https://www.emporis.com/images/show/260 ... street.jpg

[Steve]

I think this one has a lot better chance of happening soon compared to the other "ideas" of development (i.e. 9th and O and 9th and P streets). It may be on the city council's agenda tomorrow, 1/14, and the linked article also seems to think there's a push to get it started this spring.

LJS article

[RockHarbor]

Thanks for the info. Im really hoping this for Lincoln. The city needs a new look.... I have an old postcard of their early 70's current tallest building -- which may have been inspired by Omaha's b&w striped 1969 Woodmen Tower.

[Cermak]

I like the Pei Wells Fargo building in DT Lincoln. The cities skyline has grown a little stale, with very few if any new tall buildings built in the last 30 years. I know they’ve had some projects stall out in recent years, hopefully this one makes it, they deserve it.

[Greg S]

I would agree that they really need this for the skyline. Downtown Lincoln though has been on a roll as of late. Love the transformation of the Haymarket and also how much housing has developed downtown and the university driven housing along Antelope Valley.

Greg

[edsas]

Thanks for the info. Im really hoping this for Lincoln. The city needs a new look.... I have an old postcard of their early 70's current tallest building -- which may have been inspired by Omaha's b&w striped 1969 Woodmen Tower.

Maybe I'm misreading your post, but the US Bank building lands considerably shy of being Lincoln's tallest.

Agree on Lincoln needing a skyline-changer, though. It's been such a long time. Lincoln's skyline from a distance looks relatively unchanged from 40 years ago (when Lincoln was a full 100,00 people smaller). But it sounds like this new tower is going to happen, and happen quickly.

Something people should get really excited about will be shots of the south endzone during football games. This new building should have quite a presence for everyone to see on a national broadcast.

[edsas]

Here's a shot of the south endzone showing the tops of building in downtown. This new scraper will have an incredible presence from this angle.




EDIT: Not sure why this picture is so tiny. If you look for it in google images, you'll be able to find a bigger version and you can pinpoint exactly where this building will stand.

[Louie]

I like the idea of televised Husker games getting that backdrop.

[RockHarbor]

Thanks for the info. Im really hoping this for Lincoln. The city needs a new look.... I have an old postcard of their early 70's current tallest building -- which may have been inspired by Omaha's b&w striped 1969 Woodmen Tower.

Maybe I'm misreading your post, but the US Bank building lands considerably shy of being Lincoln's tallest.

Agree on Lincoln needing a skyline-changer, though. It's been such a long time. Lincoln's skyline from a distance looks relatively unchanged from 40 years ago (when Lincoln was a full 100,00 people smaller). But it sounds like this new tower is going to happen, and happen quickly.

Something people should get really excited about will be shots of the south endzone during football games. This new building should have quite a presence for everyone to see on a national broadcast.

You know what I mean, Edsas! (Lol) I just saw this. Tallest building outside of Nebraska's "strange beautiful" capitol building -- of course. I should have said "tallest office building." Lincoln needs this new building -- so bad. Its like the last city that size in the USA that has that old of a skyline, and no beltway...I think. There's something about it that I feel could be oppressed by Omaha's ego -- or something? (Is that true in any way? I hope not.) Nebraska's "second city" shouldnt look stuck in another era. If it wasnt for the unique capitol, the city would have a look that could put anybody to sleep, I think. However, there are some great buildings downtown. Lincoln is a great city, and has a hoppin' & fun & cozy downtown. From the capitol's tower, you look down on an orderly city built on a strict grid, on a flat prairie -- all buildings & houses built square with the grid. Old pictures of Lincoln are really cool. It almost looks like a "train set" city built on a flat, table-top-like prairiescape. It almost makes me want to build a model of it.

[Cermak]

It seems like something always comes up to derail a proposed highrise building in Lincoln. Better not this time. Besides some parking garages I think the only tall buildings that have been built Downtown of any height has been the Embassy suites (9 floors) and the Larson building (10 floors) in the last 30 years. That’s it ! Anything taller than 15 floors I’m not even sure maybe not since the 70’s. Correct me if I’m wrong.

[Wrightfan]

Anything taller than 15 floors I’m not even sure maybe not since the 70’s. Correct me if I’m wrong.

https://www.emporis.com/city/102074/lincoln-ne-usa

[Cermak]

Just what I thought, nothing built since the 1970’s more than 15 floors. Time for a new high rise. You can do it Lincoln !!