Juvenile Justice Center at 18th and Harney - 8 stories

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Tue Oct 16, 2018 8:24 pm

Housing Authority submitted plans for $350k renovations for the Historic Library of 32k SF.

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Wed Oct 31, 2018 8:56 am

https://www.omaha.com/money/development ... 0b3b9.html

They said building construction would cost $97 million. Of that, a 10-story tower — with juvenile courtrooms and offices for judges, attorneys, juvenile probation and unnamed community programs, and a skywalk across Harney Street to the current city-county building — would cost about $67 million. A four-story juvenile detention center, designed to house 48 youths with possible expansion to 64 — would cost about $26 million. They estimated site preparation at $4.2 million.

They also included $5.7 million in contingency costs.

The 168,000-square-foot tower would include six finished courtrooms for the Douglas County Juvenile Court, and the shells of two additional courtrooms.

The 60,000-square-foot detention center would include a clinic, educational space and a green roof that could be used for recreation.

Mohlman told Cavanaugh that a five-story garage would cost about $7 million and the site acquisition would cost about $4 million.

HDR and Burlington estimated nonconstruction costs at $13.9 million. Those would include $7.3 million for HDR as architect and engineer, and $2.5 million for Burlington as project manager.

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Wed Oct 31, 2018 12:23 pm

This proposal has a long, LONG way to go before there’s an official groundbreaking.. And I have my doubts, given the circumstances, it will ever happen...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

PotatoeEatsFish · Post by **PotatoeEatsFish** » Sat Nov 10, 2018 2:27 pm

I'm late but thank god they won't take a whole block, it's so unessisary.

hatwate · Post by **hatwate** » Wed Nov 14, 2018 2:00 pm

Omaha Cowboy wrote: Wed Oct 31, 2018 12:23 pm This proposal has a long, LONG way to go before there’s an official groundbreaking.. And I have my doubts, given the circumstances, it will ever happen...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

The World-Herald is reporting today that the eminent domain lawsuit for the other building is on hold until at least January.

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Wed Nov 14, 2018 2:44 pm

hatwate wrote: Wed Nov 14, 2018 2:00 pm
Omaha Cowboy wrote: Wed Oct 31, 2018 12:23 pm This proposal has a long, LONG way to go before there’s an official groundbreaking.. And I have my doubts, given the circumstances, it will ever happen...

Ciao..LiO...Peace
The World-Herald is reporting today that the eminent domain lawsuit for the other building is on hold until at least January.

I read that earlier today. This project is going to be held up in a boondoggle for quite a long period of time..

And ultimately, I still question if it’ll ever get off the ground.. At least as presently proposed...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

Doctor Fate · Post by **Doctor Fate** » Wed Nov 14, 2018 4:44 pm

What problem was there with the 12 story proposal?

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Thu Nov 15, 2018 12:25 am

CyborgKen wrote: Wed Nov 14, 2018 4:44 pm What problem was there with the 12 story proposal?

The actual proposal, which is currently being stalled, is the 10 story proposal.. The 12 story proposal was an alternative, brought forth by a county board member I believe.. Which is less likely for any consideration at this point...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Tue Nov 20, 2018 8:34 pm

https://www.omaha.com/money/development ... aefe0.html

The new round of talks with MUD could move the project one block east and could take the contentious century-old building out of the argument over the justice center.

The talks involve the entire city block on which MUD’s office building sits at 1723 Harney St., across the street from the Douglas County Courthouse, The World-Herald has learned. The block stretches from 17th Street on the east to 18th Street on the west, and from Harney Street on the north to Howard Street on the south.

MUD’s historic headquarters building would be preserved and could undergo interior renovations to become part of the county complex. It’s unclear if, or where, MUD would relocate its offices if it were to sell the property to the county.

This makes just a world of sense, the MUD lot is almost all parking. I still am not totally sold on the juvenile detention center part, but if they move forward with this lot it won't have any real opposition.

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Wed Nov 21, 2018 12:11 pm

This should have been the original plan...

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Wed Nov 21, 2018 1:44 pm

Louie wrote: Wed Nov 21, 2018 12:11 pm This should have been the original plan...

Agreed..

Could have avoided the “Eminent Domain” boondoggle the proposed plan pretty much had from it’s beginning...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

Mapguy · Post by **Mapguy** » Wed Nov 28, 2018 1:04 pm

MUD doesnt want to keep its headquarters downtown. I'd expect them to move out west towards the geographic center of their service area and employees.

I doubt they would reject a respectable bid that values the property fairly. The headquarters building is probably filled with asbestos and would need a major overhaul in the 20+ million range to make it class A office space. The County buying MUD out does MUD a favor.

Cermak · Post by **Cermak** » Thu Nov 29, 2018 3:40 pm

Hope this happens, seems like to much surface parking on that lot, would be nice to increase density in that location of CBD.

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Thu Nov 29, 2018 4:52 pm

Cermak wrote: Thu Nov 29, 2018 3:40 pm Hope this happens, seems like to much surface parking on that lot, would be nice to increase density in that location of CBD.

Filling that lot would make that stretch of Harney East of 20th super dense.

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Tue Dec 04, 2018 9:00 am

https://www.omaha.com/news/metro/dougla ... 8dd38.html

Douglas County has made a conditional offer to buy the Metropolitan Utilities District’s headquarters site in downtown Omaha.

The county would buy the entire city block southwest of 17th and Harney Streets on which MUD’s headquarters are located.

The MUD board of directors plans to discuss the offer in public and take public comment on the matter at the board’s meeting Wednesday but isn’t expected to vote on it before January. The meeting is scheduled for 8:15 a.m. at the district’s headquarters at 1723 Harney St.

The offer is contingent on Douglas County Board approval. The County Board would have to discuss the proposal and vote on it at a public meeting.

ita · Post by **ita** » Tue Dec 04, 2018 10:09 am

Omaha Cowboy wrote: Wed Nov 21, 2018 1:44 pm
Louie wrote: Wed Nov 21, 2018 12:11 pm This should have been the original plan...
Agreed..

Could have avoided the “Eminent Domain” boondoggle the proposed plan pretty much had from it’s beginning...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

According to the newest article, buying the lot next to MUD was the original plan. Sounds like it fell through last year, but the terms have changed, ie. the County will purchase the whole block and MUD will vacate their current HQ.

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Tue Dec 04, 2018 6:25 pm

ita wrote: Tue Dec 04, 2018 10:09 am
Omaha Cowboy wrote: Wed Nov 21, 2018 1:44 pm
Louie wrote: Wed Nov 21, 2018 12:11 pm This should have been the original plan...
Agreed..

Could have avoided the “Eminent Domain” boondoggle the proposed plan pretty much had from it’s beginning...

Ciao..LiO...Peace
According to the newest article, buying the lot next to MUD was the original plan. Sounds like it fell through last year, but the terms have changed, ie. the County will purchase the whole block and MUD will vacate their current HQ.

The “plot” thickens.. This entire situation is as clear as mud..

Obviously time will tell what happens...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

almighty_tuna · Post by **almighty_tuna** » Sat Dec 08, 2018 5:03 pm

Omaha Cowboy wrote: Tue Dec 04, 2018 6:25 pm This entire situation is as clear as mud..

I see what you did there....

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Sat Dec 08, 2018 9:21 pm

almighty_tuna wrote: Sat Dec 08, 2018 5:03 pm
Omaha Cowboy wrote: Tue Dec 04, 2018 6:25 pm This entire situation is as clear as mud..
I see what you did there....

Kind of like a Stout I drank once

...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Tue Dec 11, 2018 8:52 am

https://www.omaha.com/news/metro/downto ... 40fa1.html

Douglas County would offer $6 million for the Metropolitan Utilities District’s headquarters building and the city block of downtown land it occupies.

That’s the figure in a proposed purchase offer that the Douglas County Board will discuss Tuesday and is likely to vote on Dec. 18. Proponents of a proposed downtown justice center want the MUD property as a site for a courthouse annex and juvenile detention center.

County Board member P.J. Morgan, a real estate executive, said $6 million “would be a fair price for both parties.”

The MUD board said last week that it needs a formal offer from the county, approved by the County Board, before it will vote on whether to accept a purchase of its building. MUD’s headquarters building would remain standing and become part of the justice center project. The public gas and water company has not said where it would move.

Under a preliminary schematic presented Monday by HDR Inc., the juvenile detention center would be situated along Howard Street on the south part of MUD’s block. It would be connected to a new eight-story building, which would be connected via a skywalk over Harney Street to the Douglas County Courthouse.

ita · Post by **ita** » Tue Dec 11, 2018 9:34 am

In before the "only 8-stories!" comments. It's still a nice design and I like the idea of having the juvenile center being a standalone. This is a third mid-rise to adopt 8-stories that I can think of, the others are the Keiwit HQ and rumored MoO HQ.

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Tue Dec 11, 2018 3:41 pm

On a parking lot as well. This is at the very least good for some density.

Cermak · Post by **Cermak** » Tue Dec 11, 2018 9:55 pm

slowly but surely these surface parking lots are starting to disappear. Nobody will miss them.

GetUrban · Post by **GetUrban** » Wed Dec 12, 2018 10:06 am

I sure hope this new plan on the MUD property goes through. It's always best to add to the existing building stock rather than tear down perfectly re-habbable buildings after forcibly taking them by eminent domain. Plus, in this new plan, they seem to have abandoned the idea of closing 18th street south of Harney. The green space they're showing appears to be internal to the MUD block. Finally, people appear to have come to their senses, unless I just jinxed it!

I wonder where the MUD offices will go if they aren't still accommodated in this new plan somewhere.

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Sat Dec 15, 2018 11:15 am

GetUrban wrote: Wed Dec 12, 2018 10:06 am I sure hope this new plan on the MUD property goes through. It's always best to add to the existing building stock rather than tear down perfectly re-habbable buildings after forcibly taking them by eminent domain.

I completely agree with this point. The W-H had a pretty well thought out and balanced editorial supporting this new plan a few days back. I like what it’s morphed into much better now..

But I sense we still have quite a ways to go on this one...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

Cermak · Post by **Cermak** » Sat Dec 15, 2018 11:24 pm

I hope this gets built. And in a reasonable time frame and they don’t make it any shorter.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Sat Dec 22, 2018 9:19 am

Sherwood Foundation offers $10 million to proposed Douglas County justice center — with conditions

2Adam29 · Post by **2Adam29** » Sat Dec 22, 2018 12:02 pm

I'm not a subscriber. What are the conditions?

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Sat Dec 22, 2018 12:11 pm

2Adam29 wrote: Sat Dec 22, 2018 12:02 pm I'm not a subscriber. What are the conditions?

That the detention center be near the court and juvenile services and be limited to 45-60 beds.
Half the money goes toward the building and half to programs.

daveoma · Post by **daveoma** » Sat Dec 22, 2018 11:40 pm

I like that idea

ita · Post by **ita** » Wed Jan 02, 2019 11:28 am

https://www.omaha.com/news/metro/mud-bo ... 46919.html

Looks like the MUD site will be the spot. MUD has 12 months to vacate, according to the article. Any guesses where?

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Wed Jan 02, 2019 11:51 am

They have something like 6 acres of land they own that appears unused off of 61st and Grover, if they wanted to build new. There is an office building on site already with a bunch of industrial space. They may already have long term plans there though.

ita · Post by **ita** » Wed Jan 02, 2019 2:52 pm

The other question is what happens with the old MUD HQ? It was cost prohibitive for MUD to bring it up to modern standards, so what is the County going to do with it? Repurpose for multi-tenant offices? Retail/restaurant space? Small museum or gallery?

Sgoharley · Post by **Sgoharley** » Wed Jan 02, 2019 10:20 pm

Makes perfect sense to tear down a building that actually is architectually attractive and save a couple ugly warehouse type buildings. Maybe they can be made into more apartments with zero character.

ita · Post by **ita** » Thu Jan 03, 2019 12:24 pm

Sgoharley wrote: Wed Jan 02, 2019 10:20 pm Makes perfect sense to tear down a building that actually is architectually attractive and save a couple ugly warehouse type buildings. Maybe they can be made into more apartments with zero character.

I believe the agreement with the County includes a condition that they use the MUD HQ. How they end up using it is still unknown. The justice center will be built, presumably, on the remaining undeveloped portions of the MUD lot.

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Thu Jan 03, 2019 4:32 pm

ita wrote: Thu Jan 03, 2019 12:24 pm
Sgoharley wrote: Wed Jan 02, 2019 10:20 pm Makes perfect sense to tear down a building that actually is architectually attractive and save a couple ugly warehouse type buildings. Maybe they can be made into more apartments with zero character.
I believe the agreement with the County includes a condition that they use the MUD HQ. How they end up using it is still unknown. The justice center will be built, presumably, on the remaining undeveloped portions of the MUD lot.

Yes this has been made quite clear that the MUD building will be kept the same.

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Thu Jan 24, 2019 1:45 am

Yet another fly in the ointment. From the W-H-

“A proposed $120 million bond issue for a Douglas County justice center headed into a big vote Thursday without enough support to pass.

The Omaha-Douglas Public Building Commission is scheduled to vote Thursday on issuing the bonds for the controversial project. The measure needs three votes from the five-member commission to pass. On the eve of the vote, it appeared to be falling short of that, according to interviews with commission members.

Two members, Mike Boyle and Aimee Melton, said this week that they will not vote to approve the bonds. A third member, Brinker Harding, said he was uncommitted but as of Wednesday still had too many unanswered questions about the proposal to support it.”..

The complete W-H story link:

https://www.omaha.com/news/plus/propose ... 8e32a.html

This plan is looking more and more like it is years away, if ever, from coming to fruition...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Thu Jan 24, 2019 1:17 pm

And boom goes the dynamite..

The building commission rejected the plan...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

ita · Post by **ita** » Thu Jan 24, 2019 2:31 pm

Omaha Cowboy wrote: Thu Jan 24, 2019 1:17 pm And boom goes the dynamite..

The building commission rejected the plan...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

Yeah, I am disappointed, though I hope we can still get this done. I understand the dissenters had some questions, but they already had their minds made up and it didn't matter what was said at by the public. At least that's the impression I got from the live tweets on OWH.

obvious2677 · Post by **obvious2677** » Wed Feb 06, 2019 8:13 am

Anyone else bothered by the emotion that Clare Duda has while vociferously defending this project and claiming it's such a necessity - basically steamrolling it through? It's almost like he has something to gain from it...