Walmart Supercenter (72 & Hickory - Ranch Bowl)

TitosBuritoBarn · Post by **TitosBuritoBarn** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 5:08 pm

Hmmm...at least it sounds like they are putting some aesthetics into it. But if they end build one of their traditional blue and gray pieces of |expletive|, I say we build an arson brigade and burn it down. Usually I'm a lot more anti-Wal-Mart than this, but it doesn't seem like there is any competeing retail in the area that this store could put out of business....nor is the Ranch Bowl building architecturally more appealing than a Wal-Mart.

I think if we want this Wal-Mart |expletive| to stop in the Omaha area, we need to get that Omaha native out of the communitiy affairs commission.

Swift · Post by **Swift** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 8:13 pm

With the southward expanding UNO campus, the former ranchbowl site would be a great place for cafes and clothes shops. Then on top there could be 5 or 6 stories of small apartments suitable for college students.

MTO · Post by **MTO** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 1:31 am

Swift wrote:With the southward expanding UNO campus, the former ranchbowl site would be a great place for cafes and clothes shops. Then on top there could be 5 or 6 stories of small apartments suitable for college students.

Unfortunately the people who have the money to make that happen don’t have the brains to do so and vice versa.

Swift · Post by **Swift** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 1:42 am

can tahe city flat out be like "no we don't want you to build a wal-mart there, just because we don't like you"?

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 1:43 am

Good point, Bob. This would be a DIRECT THREAT to successful businesses at Aksarben Village.

TitosBuritoBarn · Post by **TitosBuritoBarn** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 2:41 am

Swift wrote:can tahe city flat out be like "no we don't want you to build a wal-mart there, just because we don't like you"?

No. It's been tried a bijillion times. Wal-Mart always sues and wins...

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 9:59 am

Couldn't there be some sort of emergency "un-zoning" meeting? I can't help but think there has to be a legal way to keep WalMart out of your backyard.

-Bi E

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 10:48 am

Many cities are limiting new retail developments to 100,000 sq feet in size... specifically to throw a roadblock down to Walmart. Has Walmart built any new centers of such a small size? I don't know.

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 11:33 am

100K sqft for the devlopment or 100K sqft for the individual retailer? I'm assuming per retailer.

I'd hate to limit growth options, or more VP-esque development... or even a downtown mall/retail corridor.

-Big E

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 12:43 pm

Sorry, yes... that's per individual retailer... which may still be asking alot for todays big box stores. Although maybe it's not such a bad thing to have a 'big box free' zone... providing within in it some kinds of incentives for local entrepreneurship.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 1:50 pm

Yes this will kill some businesses alhtough not nearby. It will be visited by people in east Omaha who may not shop at the stores near 30th (in Florence) the sole Kmart near 50th and L St. This could also hurt any propects of something coming into the Target void on Saddlecreek.

MTO · Post by **MTO** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 1:54 pm

Correct me if im wrong but isn’t 221,000’ft quite big? Is that bigger than the W. O. 1s?

almighty_tuna · Post by **almighty_tuna** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 5:16 pm

TitosBuritoBarn wrote:Usually I'm a lot more anti-Wal-Mart than this, but it doesn't seem like there is any competeing retail in the area that this store could put out of business

Not that Wal-Mart would put it out of business, but Target will be just down the road at Crossroads. Honestly, as much as I hate to say such a thing, but Wal-Mart probably would've gotten more business had they relocated in the old Target building. It would've preserved shoppers' existing habits of going to that location for goods and probably retained many customers. I hate to say that wal-mart should go anywhere but the 9th circle of heck, but an asthetic building on Saddle Creek is better than a woefully retail underserved area.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 5:40 pm

A Saddle Creek location would be worse. It would kill any small place around there for miles.

almighty_tuna · Post by **almighty_tuna** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 5:47 pm

If Wal-Mart were to move into Target's old building I don't see how it would. They fundamentally sell the same genre of items. Its not like it would have the impact of being a new big box retailer in an area traditionally served by local businesses.

MTO · Post by **MTO** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 6:47 pm

I think its time to start flooding that damn street, just like Omaha by Design wants.

Swift · Post by **Swift** » Sun Nov 06, 2005 7:15 pm

maybe we could flood the street that Wal-Mart's corporate headquarters sits on.

rickylee4 · Post by **rickylee4** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 9:41 am

Dear EOmaha,

In response to the overwhelming opposition by neighbors to the development of a Wal Mart in the middle of the city at the old Ranch Bowl Site, we are searching for alternative ideas for this prime location.

One idea under consideration is a Rock and Roll Museum/ Recording Studio for the old Ranch Bowl Site.

This project will call for a unique modern eye catching building which will be dedicated to rock and roll memorabilia. Part of the building will be dedicated to local musicians that have made to the big time, like 311, Bright Eyes, Mannheim Steamroller, etc.

Also in the building, which will be a tourist magnet in itself, will be a state of the art recording studio. This will be a place where we will nurture the musical talent of the wonderful people in the area.

Wal Mart will ask for a "special use" permit at the Dec 7th Omaha Planning Board Meeting. Those of you who choose to oppose the Wal Mart plan should pay attention to this meeting.

There will be a meeting of those opposed to the Wal Mart plan on Monday, Nov 28th at 7:00 PM at the ABC building at 909 s 76 st.

Lets keep the Ranch Bowl spirit of musical inventiveness alive!

Ricky Fulton

[email protected]

Post by **Admin** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 9:48 am

Welcome to the forum Ricky. I've tacked your post to the top of the development forum for the time being.

rickylee4 · Post by **rickylee4** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 10:34 am

Thanks for you reply.
I seems to me that the Wal Mart proposed for the old Ranch Bowl site came about with no discussion about what is best for the area.
As far as I know, nobody from the Lund Company has met with any neighbors regarding the Wal Mart project.
Let us not rush into approving such a large, city-changing development without a lot of discussion.
Let the people have their say! Let the people decide if they want a Wal Mart in their neighborhood!

Ricky Fulton
Ambassador, Neighborhood Center for Greater Omaha

ladyred · Post by **ladyred** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 2:09 pm

Ricky,
It would be great if you could hook up with these folks Nebraska Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame.
http://www.nebrocks.org/main.html

They do not have a building all of thier stuff is online. I have been to two of their yearly shindigs and they are great! It would be nice to have a place to actually keep some of the pictures and information they have.

joeglow · Post by **joeglow** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 11:22 pm

rickylee4 wrote: Let the people have their say! Let the people decide if they want a Wal Mart in their neighborhood!

-I will support if you get everyone in the neighborhood to sign a pledge saying they will NEVER go to the Wal Mart in my neighborhood. I get tired of the arrogance of people saying their neighborhood is too good to have such-and-such store, but then see them shopping at the same store in my neighborhood. I trust that our free enterprise ecpnpmy will make sure that what goes there will ultimately be what needs to be there. That said, I hope you well in your fight.

omahastylee459 · Post by **omahastylee459** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 1:27 pm

a pledge? i suppose i will be number one!

I, Mike, as a resident of the Aksarben Neighborhood do solemly pledge to never shop at a walmart in any neighborhood or city, and continue the pursuit of a more adequate tenant for the proposed site.

Amen!

MTO · Post by **MTO** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 2:50 pm

That is a great idea and even better that you made many of us aware that there is an alternative. Please let me know what I and others can do to further help.
Unfortunately I have a feeling that the walmart would flourish in the area and of course there’s a lot of money behind that project and the museum faces astronomical odds.

Post by **Brad** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 12:28 am

What could we do.......so many "better" possiabilities

MTO · Post by **MTO** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 12:32 am

Man! I have some good memories from that place; I’m going to miss it.

Finn · Post by **Finn** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 9:07 am

Opposition growing to Wal-Mart on 72nd St.

About 30 area residents attended a public meeting to discuss the retailer's plans for the Ranch Bowl Entertainment Center property. City Councilman Franklin Thompson and representatives of Wal-Mart's legal and design teams also attended.

Corner Heights and the Ak-Sar-Ben-Elmwood Neighborhood Association's Wal-Mart Action Committee arranged a private meeting afterwards to discuss further plans.

Post by **Brad** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 5:28 pm

the1wags · Post by **the1wags** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 7:20 am

Omaha World Herald story on the city sending Walmart back to the drawing board on the proposed 72nd st (Ranch Bowl site) Walmart.

In the first test of how retail giant Wal-Mart will conform to new city design standards, Omaha planners have told the chain to revise its plans for a store proposed for 72nd Street.

Wal-Mart has made an effort to improve the appearance by adding windows and varying the roof line, Jensen said.

Link to the full WH story.

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=1636&u_sid=2125283

Asten · Post by **Asten** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 1:03 pm

the1wags wrote:Omaha World Herald story on the city sending Walmart back to the drawing board on the proposed 72nd st (Ranch Bowl site) Walmart.

In the first test of how retail giant Wal-Mart will conform to new city design standards, Omaha planners have told the chain to revise its plans for a store proposed for 72nd Street.

Wal-Mart has made an effort to improve the appearance by adding windows and varying the roof line, Jensen said.

Link to the full WH story.

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_pg=1636&u_sid=2125283

I appreciated the fact they were against the large wall butting up to 72nd. At least they remembered the ugliness and unexpectedness of the huge wall looming over 132nd and L...

adam186 · Post by **adam186** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 1:41 pm

Asten wrote:I appreciated the fact they were against the large wall butting up to 72nd. At least they remembered the ugliness and unexpectedness of the huge wall looming over 132nd and L...

If I remember correctly, they did get Wal-Mart, Sam's, and Home Depot(?) to change their design. They added a nice trim and changed the color which costed more more to build. Lets hope the same thing happens in this situation (not the design, but forcing them to change the design).

Asten · Post by **Asten** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 3:04 pm

adam186 wrote:
Asten wrote:I appreciated the fact they were against the large wall butting up to 72nd. At least they remembered the ugliness and unexpectedness of the huge wall looming over 132nd and L...
If I remember correctly, they did get Wal-Mart, Sam's, and Home Depot(?) to change their design. They added a nice trim and changed the color which costed more more to build. Lets hope the same thing happens in this situation (not the design, but forcing them to change the design).

I wasn't talking about the buildings - they *did* make them changes the buildings, but somehow the wall either wasn't reviewed, understood, or something, and came as a bit of a surprise. It's really quite hideous.

adam186 · Post by **adam186** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 3:33 pm

^Ya, when I lived in Omaha, I used to have to drive by it almost all the time. You're right, it did catch everyone off gaurd, they even had a story on the news and the people across the street were very upset about it. Thanks for explaining that, I misunderstood what you were talking about.

Asten · Post by **Asten** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 5:01 pm

adam186 wrote:^Ya, when I lived in Omaha, I used to have to drive by it almost all the time. You're right, it did catch everyone off gaurd, they even had a story on the news and the people across the street were very upset about it. Thanks for explaining that, I misunderstood what you were talking about.

No worries. I'm glad the city is stepping up and enforcing this.

However, I'm kind of annoyed that Wal Mart, having just gone through the process a couple years ago forgot and neglected to take this into consideration the first time around here. Of course, I still would rather the entire thing didn't happen at all. Walmarts just give me the heebie jeebies.

midtown charlie · Post by **midtown charlie** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 1:52 am

That huge wall and the whole Wall Sam Depot project was probably the best thing to ever happen to Omaha!!!

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 11:27 am

Asten wrote:I'm kind of annoyed that Wal Mart, having just gone through the process a couple years ago forgot and neglected to take this into consideration the first time around here.

Yeah, because they've been such a responsible corporate citizens with the best interests of the community in mind in the past.

-Big E

MTO · Post by **MTO** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 11:55 am

So we can tell the walmart how to look but we can’t stop the walmart from inundating an area? Go figure..

adam186 · Post by **adam186** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 1:15 pm

MTO wrote:So we can tell the walmart how to look but we can’t stop the walmart from inundating an area? Go figure..

That's what happens in a free enterprise nation.

Swift · Post by **Swift** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 2:59 pm

Hopefully the city is trying to "nickle and dime" them to the point that they no longer want to put a Wal-Mart on 72nd.

adam186 · Post by **adam186** » Wed Mar 01, 2006 3:27 pm

Swift wrote:Hopefully the city is trying to "nickle and dime" them to the point that they no longer want to put a Wal-Mart on 72nd.

I doubt that. Wal-Mart is too huge to even notice it on their radar. Unless Omaha wants them to have solid gold walls and even then I would assume they still may consider it.