Mercantile (Conagra campus development)

[iamjacobm]

I didn't want to snip that b/c I don't think it is a rendering for Omaha. I think those pictures in that plat doc were more concepts of what things could look like from other projects. I could be wrong though.

[iamjacobm]

Here is the phase info straight from the documents given to the city.

1A Estimated Delivery 2021:
375 MF Units
720 Stall Garage
42K SF of Ground Floor Retail/Office
Activated and Amenitized Boulevard

1B Estimated Delivery 2022:
220 Key Hotel
284 Stall Garage
25K SF of ground floor retail

2A Estimated Deliver 2024:
237 MF units
550 Stall Garage
20K SF ground floor retail/flex

2B Estimated Delivery 2023:
250K SF office space
750 stall garage

2C Estimated Delivery 2024:
7500 SF of Event Space

4A Estimated Delivery 2025
200K SF of office
750 stall garage

4B Estimated Delivery 2026:
250 unit high rise MF or condo
375 stall garage

Totals:
862 Residential Units
450K SF Office Space
87K SF Retail Space
220 Hotel Rooms
7500 SF Event Space
3429 Parking Stalls

[Cermak]

Wonder what chances are this actually gets built out as proposed?

[Louie]

That office is bold. Love it.

[Bob from Omaha]

Wonder what chances are this actually gets built out as proposed?

One Jimmy Johns
One Check Cashing Place
One Subway
One Runza (if you're lucky)
One Empty Space
One Dollar Store
One Pawn Shop

[Cermak]

The Runza would be nice. We don’t have one downtown.

[Omaha Cowboy]

That office is bold. Love it.

Agreed...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

[ita]

Nearly 3500 in parking stalls...I thought we were trying to move towards more public transportation, especially downtown. It would be nice to see that reduced somewhat and replaced with other uses, especially as the ORBT line is rolled out... and if we ever get going on with that darn Street Car .

[Garrett]

Wow, this is a fairly tall building. Is this really part of this development? Nothing previously looked this tall. Any idea what it is?? (found it in the renderings here: https://planning.cityofomaha.org/images ... ber/11.pdf)

**Edit: Looks like it's 2B which is 250,000 square feet of office space so apparently it is...

Based on my count that's 31 stories, but a fair amount of it looks residential (the balconies).

Based on the building height calculator, that's somewhere between 350 and 450 ft tall depending on the usage.

[iamjacobm]

I am fairly confident that is an early rendering for a Hines project that just broke ground in Dallas.

I wouldn't put too much stock into the specific design or floor count there right now. I think just the fact that they have a highrise in their sights is the big news.

[MadMartin8]

Stupid question, so bear with me here. But what height does a building become technically a "high rise"?

[Garrett]

Stupid question, so bear with me here. But what height does a building become technically a "high rise"?

It varies from entity to entity and from place to place, but most architects usually accept anything above 8 stories.

[Cermak]

I’ve heard 12 floors is technically a high rise. Obviously 12 floors is nothing in NYC but a big deal in Sioux City.

[iamjacobm]

Nearly 3500 in parking stalls...I thought we were trying to move towards more public transportation, especially downtown. It would be nice to see that reduced somewhat and replaced with other uses, especially as the ORBT line is rolled out... and if we ever get going on with that darn Street Car .

I didn't catch it the first time through the TIF doc, but the city is financing the first garage.

[stormchaser]

I am fairly confident that is an early rendering for a Hines project that just broke ground in Dallas.

I wouldn't put too much stock into the specific design or floor count there right now. I think just the fact that they have a highrise in their sights is the big news.

I agree, it will be interesting to see how things come together. Looks like the image of that high rise is not in-fact from this development (as you suspected) and is instead from "La Colombe d'Or" in Houston, TX (which is a Hines project) - https://munozalbin.com/project/la-colombe-dor/

[iamjacobm]

I am fairly confident that is an early rendering for a Hines project that just broke ground in Dallas.

I wouldn't put too much stock into the specific design or floor count there right now. I think just the fact that they have a highrise in their sights is the big news.

I agree, it will be interesting to see how things come together. Looks like the image of that high rise is from "La Colombe d'Or" in Houston, TX (which is a Hines project) - https://munozalbin.com/project/la-colombe-dor/

You might be right. I thought it looked an awful lot like The Victor which just broke ground in Dallas. I think they both are the same architect and obviously have very similar design elements.

[ita]

I find it interesting that both this and the Riverfront Revitalization have a similar timeline for total built out, around 2025-26. With Kiewit in North DT and the Builders District and Millwork Commons north of Cuming, and even River's Edge in CB, we will be looking at a completely transformed DT in less than 10 years. Despite the concerns that developments like Hearwood and Avenue One may have an impact on DT growth, I may be wrong, but I don't think we have to worry.

[MadMartin8]

Stupid question, so bear with me here. But what height does a building become technically a "high rise"?

It varies from entity to entity and from place to place, but most architects usually accept anything above 8 stories.

Thanks! Always been curious about that.

[Garrett]

Nearly 3500 in parking stalls...I thought we were trying to move towards more public transportation, especially downtown. It would be nice to see that reduced somewhat and replaced with other uses, especially as the ORBT line is rolled out... and if we ever get going on with that darn Street Car .

I didn't catch it the first time through the TIF doc, but the city is financing the first garage.

Take that up with the city. Parking minimums are a legal thing.

[GetUrban]

Stupid question, so bear with me here. But what height does a building become technically a "high rise"?

It varies from entity to entity and from place to place, but most architects usually accept anything above 8 stories.

Thanks! Always been curious about that.

According to the International Building Code (IBC) "A high-rise building is defined in Chapter 2 of the IBC as a “building with an occupied floor located more than 75 feet (22 860 mm) above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access.”"

[iamjacobm]

Nearly 3500 in parking stalls...I thought we were trying to move towards more public transportation, especially downtown. It would be nice to see that reduced somewhat and replaced with other uses, especially as the ORBT line is rolled out... and if we ever get going on with that darn Street Car .

I didn't catch it the first time through the TIF doc, but the city is financing the first garage.

Take that up with the city. Parking minimums are a legal thing.

CBD doesn't have parking minimums in Omaha. The garage portion being financed by the city is surely at the request of the developer for financial reasons.

[stormchaser]

World Herald's story about this redevelopment which includes a few renderings - https://www.omaha.com/money/development ... fd881.html

[TitosBuritoBarn]

This looks like a really good project. Perhaps a little more parking than necessary, but in general I hope it turns out as planned.

[Stvbec74]

This is definitely a project to be excited about!

[bigredmed1]

What happens to Heartland of America Park? Looks like it is about half gone now.

[TitosBuritoBarn]

What happens to Heartland of America Park? Looks like it is about half gone now.

It's a bit deceiving from that picture but nothing actually, unless you count the private grassy fields that only employees of the office park were allowed to go into. Most of those are going away. Other than that, the lake and trail stay unchanged.

[iamjacobm]

What happens to Heartland of America Park? Looks like it is about half gone now.

It's a bit deceiving from that picture but nothing actually, unless you count the private grassy fields that only employees of the office park were allowed to go into. Most of those are going away. Other than that, the lake and trail stay unchanged.

A bit might be chopped off the northern part of the lake for the Riverfront Park expansion. Like you said though a very large chunk of that greenspace was actually fenced off and not open to the general public.

The only accessible park space going away is the front lawn that faces 10th. That land has been Conagra's all along though, not city property.

[Bob from Omaha]

I know, I know. I posted quite a few times before about Conagra and Jobbers Canyon and the atmosphere in the mid 80s.

HOWEVER, this whole convoluted plan is happening because one guy with a huge ego wanted his own empire downtown and a punk with a thing for Giordano's can't wait the 10 or so years to get some in Omaha.

I'm sorry but looking at the renderings and map all I can do is feel bad that what could have been a comprehensive, interesting and important part of downtown Omaha and it's skyline will instead be this hodge podge of I have no idea what with mid rise buildings at best.

[Omaha Cowboy]

I’ll reserve any further opinion on this development until I see more “visual aid” and get more detail on its upcoming phases..

As much as the Mike Harper/ConAgra/Jobbers Canyon demolition sucked (and it did, BIG TIME),. My hope is the city makes the most out of this development moving forward. I’d be lying if I thought this initial plan wasn’t a good start...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

[Cermak]

Looks good, big improvement over how it looks now. A little concerned about how easy it will be to fill up the retail part though.

[bmt]

Anyone else a little concerned about the phase 1 building taking up 2 blocks? I would rather see that split into 2 separate buildings.

[skinzfan23]

Anyone else a little concerned about the phase 1 building taking up 2 blocks? I would rather see that split into 2 separate buildings.

I agree, I would rather have the blocks divided up. That is one area that I feel that downtown Omaha really misses on. Developers feel that every development needs to be a super block. When you have streets that don't go through, it really ruins them and makes them less pedestrian friendly. Look at the Landmark block or the Doubletree Hotel block as examples.

[ita]

Anyone else a little concerned about the phase 1 building taking up 2 blocks? I would rather see that split into 2 separate buildings.

I agree, I would rather have the blocks divided up. That is one area that I feel that downtown Omaha really misses on. Developers feel that every development needs to be a super block. When you have streets that don't go through, it really ruins them and makes them less pedestrian friendly. Look at the Landmark block or the Doubletree Hotel block as examples.

I agree with these points. They could incorporate some pass through for the public to get from Harney to Farnam about where 9th street would be, but the design doesn't seem to incorporate anything like that. Too bad.

[GetUrban]

Anyone else a little concerned about the phase 1 building taking up 2 blocks? I would rather see that split into 2 separate buildings.

I agree, I would rather have the blocks divided up. That is one area that I feel that downtown Omaha really misses on. Developers feel that every development needs to be a super block. When you have streets that don't go through, it really ruins them and makes them less pedestrian friendly. Look at the Landmark block or the Doubletree Hotel block as examples.

I agree with these points. They could incorporate some pass through for the public to get from Harney to Farnam about where 9th street would be, but the design doesn't seem to incorporate anything like that. Too bad.

I also agree. Now that we have another chance, it's still not too late to learn from our past mistakes! There just needs to be more consensus between competing parties. It's the role of city leaders, planners and hired architects to make sure past mistakes aren't repeated. But they have to agree on what the mistakes were first.

[RockHarbor]

How's spacious & loose & open "Brasilia, NE" coming along? (Lol...jk. I still think "Grrr!" overall towards this project, and Omaha not working towards becoming more tight & urban. And, that's why I can only check-in here once in awhile. I get too obsessive with the O.) I do like that office building, too.

[Cermak]

Hines has a good reputation. With them involved I’m hoping this will be successful and look good.

[Coyote]

The Embassy Suites here is doing major renovations.
$2,775,000.00 Guestroom and Guestroom Corridor Renovation
$1,950,000.00 Public Space Renovation

[Ben]

The Embassy Suites here is doing major renovations.
$2,775,000.00 Guestroom and Guestroom Corridor Renovation
$1,950,000.00 Public Space Renovation

Glad to see they're reinvesting in this property. It was beginning to look a little worn down. With all of the new hotels in DT/North Downtown over the last couple of years, this is needed to remain competitive.

[GenX]

Anyone else a little concerned about the phase 1 building taking up 2 blocks? I would rather see that split into 2 separate buildings.

I agree, I would rather have the blocks divided up. That is one area that I feel that downtown Omaha really misses on. Developers feel that every development needs to be a super block. When you have streets that don't go through, it really ruins them and makes them less pedestrian friendly. Look at the Landmark block or the Doubletree Hotel block as examples.

I agree with these points. They could incorporate some pass through for the public to get from Harney to Farnam about where 9th street would be, but the design doesn't seem to incorporate anything like that. Too bad.

I'm also not a fan of super blocks, but I'm okay with it in this instance because the block to the north is also a super block. At least Harney and 8th street will finally be connected again.

[Cermak]

ConAgra stock in the dumps, hope it doesn’t delay this project.