Gene Leahy Mall Remodel

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Wed Mar 20, 2019 7:42 am

Cermak wrote: Tue Mar 19, 2019 9:31 am
RockHarbor wrote: Fri Mar 15, 2019 8:19 pm

Funny, there has been a lot of new stuff go into Downtown Omaha in the last 15 years, but I have to remind myself that it is not hardly any office. Trendy Aksarben Village has taken some possible opportunities away from downtown, possibly, and suburban office parks.
Right Gavidee has been pretty much it for new office space the last 10 yrs or so. It looks like some office space is supposed to be built at Capitol district, but not much. Almost all of Omaha’s new office space is built out west or AK village.

A couple blocks to the north, Kiewit will be building their new HQ’s building and don’t forget the builders district.. There will be an influx of new office space downtown within the next 2-5 years...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

GrowUpFrances · Post by **GrowUpFrances** » Wed Mar 20, 2019 7:45 am

HR Paperstacks wrote: Thu Mar 14, 2019 11:18 pm I just noticed there's a February 2019 project update with lots of pictures.

Also a project schedule.

It looks like The Cap and Riverfront Promenade from earlier renderings are no longer being considered for Heartland of America? If so, that would really lessen the connection to the riverfront imo.

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Wed Mar 20, 2019 7:48 am

GrowUpFrances wrote: Wed Mar 20, 2019 7:45 am
HR Paperstacks wrote: Thu Mar 14, 2019 11:18 pm I just noticed there's a February 2019 project update with lots of pictures.

Also a project schedule.
It looks like The Cap and Riverfront Promenade from earlier renderings are no longer being considered for Heartland of America? If so, that would really lessen the connection to the riverfront imo.

Not sure that’s the case. We’ll know soon enough however...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

RockHarbor · Post by **RockHarbor** » Thu Mar 21, 2019 1:04 pm

Who? What? Where?! I'm kinda glad they are tinkering with less. Honestly, that monstrous Missouri lately would make anybody reconsider building a Riverfront Boardwalk.

Post by **Brad** » Sat Mar 30, 2019 3:58 pm

Gene Leahy Mall Photo Update:

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Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Sat Mar 30, 2019 4:23 pm

Very nice photo update Brad

..

It’ll be interesting to take photos 5 years from now at these same angle locations and compare them to these 2019 photos; to see how much the landscape has changed...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

RockHarbor · Post by **RockHarbor** » Sat Mar 30, 2019 4:50 pm

I'm so glad to see these. Thanks for posting these nice clear pics, as you always do, BW...

It is so weird; Besides the Landmark Center & UP Building & Performing Arts Center, it almost looks like the pictures from the early 80's when the park and the red twins were brand spankin' new, when the trees were very small and newly planted. Everything was very open and there hardly was any foliage. (This book has big pics of Omaha at that stage: )

I do feel bad for all the trees, since they are technically living things. But, landscaping revamp projects require removal of trees often. And, street widening requires tree removal sometimes. Heck, storms take out trees now & then, too.

I will miss the lagoon (blah, blah, blah...I've said that a million times). However, I'm looking forward to it being a flat lawn, too. It's nice Omaha is getting a freshening makeover.

Cermak · Post by **Cermak** » Sat Mar 30, 2019 5:39 pm

Wow, very sterile looking. Shows how important trees are.

Post by **Brad** » Sun Mar 31, 2019 12:13 am

Omaha Cowboy wrote: Sat Mar 30, 2019 4:23 pm Very nice photo update Brad ..

RockHarbor wrote: Sat Mar 30, 2019 4:50 pm I'm so glad to see these. Thanks for posting these nice clear pics, as you always do, BW...

Thanks Guys!

ita · Post by **ita** » Sun Mar 31, 2019 12:22 pm

I was just there a couple weeks ago and there were plenty of trees still there. The work commences! Thanks for documenting the progress Brad.

Post by **Brad** » Sun Mar 31, 2019 9:53 pm

ita wrote: Sun Mar 31, 2019 12:22 pm I was just there a couple weeks ago and there were plenty of trees still there. The work commences! Thanks for documenting the progress Brad.

No problem. I was hoping to get there before the fence went up but I missed that by a few days.

WBR_Tom · Post by **WBR_Tom** » Tue Apr 16, 2019 2:48 pm

Renderings went up on the perimeter fencing today.

ScrattyB · Post by **ScrattyB** » Fri Apr 19, 2019 9:49 am

Wow, they pumped all the water out. There's a picture on omaha.com today

Post by **Brad** » Fri Apr 19, 2019 2:53 pm

ScrattyB wrote: Fri Apr 19, 2019 9:49 am Wow, they pumped all the water out. There's a picture on omaha.com today

The pulled the drain plug in March and its been slowly going down ever since. They are just pumping out the low spots that don't drain now.

RockHarbor · Post by **RockHarbor** » Tue Jun 04, 2019 4:52 pm

Im curious how the park is looking nowadays. Any pics?!

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Tue Jun 04, 2019 4:59 pm

RockHarbor wrote: Tue Jun 04, 2019 4:52 pm Im curious how the park is looking nowadays. Any pics?!

I’ll try to swing by before heading home. I’m curious as well.

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Tue Jun 04, 2019 5:52 pm

Louie wrote: Tue Jun 04, 2019 4:59 pm
RockHarbor wrote: Tue Jun 04, 2019 4:52 pm Im curious how the park is looking nowadays. Any pics?!
I’ll try to swing by before heading home. I’m curious as well.

The area looks like a construction zone right now. But if you take any pics, we’ll all be happy to see ‘em

...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

RockHarbor · Post by **RockHarbor** » Tue Jun 04, 2019 6:50 pm

Although sad the lagoon is a thing of the past, I'm almost looking forward to the change of having this straight horizontal line at the base of the twins & Woodmen looking west from the middle of the park. In the middle of the park, any direction you look, there will be an expanse of flat grass & trees with buildings beyond.

(Plus, I almost forget there will be that watery area that will at least remind of the former lagoon a bit...)

Even with simply the trees now gone, the clean, boxy lines of the skyline seem more apparent to me. All I've known is the contrast of curvy lines of sloping hills, and a wiggly, meandering lagoon waterway at the base of the straight, boxy lines of the skyline. Now it will basically be straight lines everywhere. I think it will probably give Omaha a more crisp, clean, modern, sophisticated, urban look.

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Tue Jun 04, 2019 7:51 pm

RockHarbor wrote: Tue Jun 04, 2019 6:50 pm Although sad the lagoon is a thing of the past, I'm almost looking forward to the change of having this straight horizontal line at the base of the twins & Woodmen looking west from the middle of the park..
Even with simply the trees now gone, the clean, boxy lines of the skyline seem more apparent to me. I think it will probably give Omaha a more crisp, clean, modern, sophisticated, urban look.

I agree. At least this is what I’m hoping for anyway...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

Spatial77 · Post by **Spatial77** » Wed Jun 05, 2019 10:17 am

Photo of the GLM... sorry about the birds in the way

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Wed Jun 05, 2019 11:34 am

Spatial77 wrote: Wed Jun 05, 2019 10:17 am Photo of the GLM... sorry about the birds in the way

Nice pic

..,

Ciao..LiO...Peace

RockHarbor · Post by **RockHarbor** » Wed Jun 05, 2019 12:16 pm

I can see the lagoon still hasn't been removed yet... Thanks for that pic from the Woodmen.

Omaha Cowboy: I'm glad you see what I mean. For example, with the trees gone, it is nice to clearly see the upbeat, retro dash effect of the windows of the nice-looking Performing Arts Center along the mall. (It compliments the nearby UP Headquarters well, I think.) And, the nice, long lines of the Performing Arts Center will be even more clear from the park once that lumpy hill is removed, and the terrain is flat w/ the street.

Also: If you visit Mahoney or Platte River State Park, seeing limestone walls and watery coves with swans & ducks is serene and pretty to be around on the Marina deck, or on a paddle boat. But, I don't feel that look/feel truly belongs in the midst of a cosmopolitan city's downtown. This park will be more urban & sophisticated. (NYC's Central Park is an exception, I think, because those Manhattanites need a true green, wild, nature retreat from the tiring & oppressive brick & mortar, steel & glass city. It's also a huge reserve that was intended to contrast with the city. It's not the same as a fairly narrow city park, only a block wide, in the middle of a downtown -- which should probably stick to a city/urban feel, imo.)

Also: It will be nice to be able to walk from the Old Market to North Downtown a lot easier. I can't tell you how many times I had to park north of the park, and walk to the Old Market (because Omaha is a bigger & bigger city, it is more & more difficult finding a parking space in the Old Market), and I had to go way out of my way to cross the park on one of the bridges. That, plus that long, Titanic-length data center blocks you, too. Unfortunately, that still will be in the way. I almost wish they would just get rid of that semi-odd data center, and leave the Landmark Center standing solo, allowing a street to connect.

I really hope Omaha develops a "Portland, Oregon mindset" regarding the city's core -- not necessarily so strict on sprawl. I think Des Moines seems to have more of that than Omaha.

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Wed Jun 05, 2019 12:18 pm

I failed, sorry fam.

RockHarbor · Post by **RockHarbor** » Wed Jun 05, 2019 12:23 pm

Louie wrote: Wed Jun 05, 2019 12:18 pm I failed, sorry fam.

We have our high expectations, but we are a forgiving forum family. Always remember: "Thicker Than Water." (lol Have you ever seen that Hallmark movie with Melissa Gilbert? She's a lawyer, and she's so cute in that film. The countryside is so serene. There's also neat views of L.A. I love that movie. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0433649/)

Kidding and being cheesy. Just take pics of the park anytime you can!

omahahawk · Post by **omahahawk** » Wed Jun 12, 2019 1:06 pm

Also noticed today it looks like work has begun in earnest now. Trucks and heavy equipment starting to gut the place.

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Tue Jun 18, 2019 5:37 pm

omahahawk wrote: Wed Jun 12, 2019 1:06 pm Also noticed today it looks like work has begun in earnest now. Trucks and heavy equipment starting to gut the place.

Good choice of words.
This entire re-do just nauseates me,

Ersatz · Post by **Ersatz** » Thu Jun 20, 2019 3:25 pm

<t>The design of this park is such a snooze. The city is also missing an amazing opportunity to finish excavating the whole park down to the bottom and install a huge park wide, multi-story, underground parking lot that is covered by the new park. The parking would provide an amazing opportunity for parking starved events, downtown in general, Holland, Old Market as well as the park events. 
 
A small corner section should have been reserved for the construction of a tall and thin skyscraper with an exclusive high end boutique hotel and residential usages with a beautiful restaurant opening up into the park at ground level with a portion of proceeds going to the park coffers. 
 
That awful Omaha World Herald building needs to be torn down and replaced with office and residential towers. 
 
The Nebraska government and Kiewit Conference center needs to be torn down and replaced with two tall residential towers atop an office, parking and ground floor retail podium. They should move forward with the elliptical 42 story Holland House condominium tower floating in a water garden pool adjacent to the theater. Marriott should move forward with their 27 story a-Loft branded “sky loft” skyscraper that includes ten floors of hotel topped by fourteen floors of luxury rental loft apartments and a three story penthouse of shared amenities located at the northwest corner of 10th & Douglas. Marriott should also finish their stronghold of downtown hospitality by moving forward with their fifteen story Old Market “Parkside” WESTIN and WESTIN Residences on the parking lot located at the northeast corner of 10th and Douglas.</t>

The Library needs to be flanked by two twenty story glass apartment towers with street level retail with apartments atop elevated parking wrapped with efficiency lofts with partial proceeds going to the Library. The roof of the library will be transformed into a lush sky park amenities deck for the two towers. The Southeast corner of 11th and Farnam should be developments with a large scale apartment high rise with both park and river views.

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Thu Jun 20, 2019 4:05 pm

Yes. And throw me a $1B in cash while you're at it.

daveoma · Post by **daveoma** » Sat Jun 22, 2019 5:39 pm

Ersatz wrote: Thu Jun 20, 2019 3:25 pm <t>The design of this park is such a snooze. The city is also missing an amazing opportunity to finish excavating the whole park down to the bottom and install a huge park wide, multi-story, underground parking lot that is covered by the new park. The parking would provide an amazing opportunity for parking starved events, downtown in general, Holland, Old Market as well as the park events. 
 
A small corner section should have been reserved for the construction of a tall and thin skyscraper with an exclusive high end boutique hotel and residential usages with a beautiful restaurant opening up into the park at ground level with a portion of proceeds going to the park coffers. 
 
That awful Omaha World Herald building needs to be torn down and replaced with office and residential towers. 
 
The Nebraska government and Kiewit Conference center needs to be torn down and replaced with two tall residential towers atop an office, parking and ground floor retail podium. They should move forward with the elliptical 42 story Holland House condominium tower floating in a water garden pool adjacent to the theater. Marriott should move forward with their 27 story a-Loft branded “sky loft” skyscraper that includes ten floors of hotel topped by fourteen floors of luxury rental loft apartments and a three story penthouse of shared amenities located at the northwest corner of 10th & Douglas. Marriott should also finish their stronghold of downtown hospitality by moving forward with their fifteen story Old Market “Parkside” WESTIN and WESTIN Residences on the parking lot located at the northeast corner of 10th and Douglas.</t>

The Library needs to be flanked by two twenty story glass apartment towers with street level retail with apartments atop elevated parking wrapped with efficiency lofts with partial proceeds going to the Library. The roof of the library will be transformed into a lush sky park amenities deck for the two towers. The Southeast corner of 11th and Farnam should be developments with a large scale apartment high rise with both park and river views.

I love the vision, and I think the underground parking idea is great--or perhaps an underground train station?

Imagining a forest of beautiful skyscrapers is great, but I'm not sure that the city is adequately incentivizing developers to build high rise residential buildings--especially with Stothert and her laissez-faire, anyone else can do it but me leadership style. I think the second part of it is the lack of demand. Omaha isn't a tourist mecca, an immigrant mecca, or a super wealthy place like NYC or San Francisco. You can create that demand however by creating new densely populated neighborhoods using progressive tax incentives for individuals who buy condominiums in the urban core. More people will lead to more amenities which will encourage the use of mass transit, and higher demand for more high density development.

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Sat Jun 22, 2019 8:02 pm

I really like the underground garage parking idea. Don’t they have that sort of thing underneath a portion of Grant Park in downtown Chicago? I mean, most of the excavation work was already done!

Cermak · Post by **Cermak** » Sat Jun 22, 2019 10:11 pm

I’m actually OK with the Omaha World Herald building. I’ve been inside, it’s recently been remodeled and is definitely class “A” office space. I agree the outside doesn’t look the best but that style of architecture was briefly popular during the mid to late 70’s.

RockHarbor · Post by **RockHarbor** » Mon Jun 24, 2019 10:32 pm

Ersatz wrote: Thu Jun 20, 2019 3:25 pm <t>The design of this park is such a snooze. The city is also missing an amazing opportunity to finish excavating the whole park down to the bottom and install a huge park wide, multi-story, underground parking lot that is covered by the new park. The parking would provide an amazing opportunity for parking starved events, downtown in general, Holland, Old Market as well as the park events. 
 
A small corner section should have been reserved for the construction of a tall and thin skyscraper with an exclusive high end boutique hotel and residential usages with a beautiful restaurant opening up into the park at ground level with a portion of proceeds going to the park coffers. 
 
That awful Omaha World Herald building needs to be torn down and replaced with office and residential towers. 
 
The Nebraska government and Kiewit Conference center needs to be torn down and replaced with two tall residential towers atop an office, parking and ground floor retail podium. They should move forward with the elliptical 42 story Holland House condominium tower floating in a water garden pool adjacent to the theater. Marriott should move forward with their 27 story a-Loft branded “sky loft” skyscraper that includes ten floors of hotel topped by fourteen floors of luxury rental loft apartments and a three story penthouse of shared amenities located at the northwest corner of 10th & Douglas. Marriott should also finish their stronghold of downtown hospitality by moving forward with their fifteen story Old Market “Parkside” WESTIN and WESTIN Residences on the parking lot located at the northeast corner of 10th and Douglas.</t>

The Library needs to be flanked by two twenty story glass apartment towers with street level retail with apartments atop elevated parking wrapped with efficiency lofts with partial proceeds going to the Library. The roof of the library will be transformed into a lush sky park amenities deck for the two towers. The Southeast corner of 11th and Farnam should be developments with a large scale apartment high rise with both park and river views.

I see you have your dreams for Omaha, like many of us had growing up, and still have...

That underground parking is a very interesting idea, creating a big number of parking spaces for Downtown Omaha, yet covering it and disguising it with the park. I was thinking about that more. Could that work with lawns being watered above it, and tree roots growing downward, ect.? I would imagine there would be structural and water problems eventually... Not sure. Interesting idea -- for sure.

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Mon Jun 24, 2019 10:54 pm

DTO Luv, I mean Ersatz, welcome (back) to the forum!..

...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

JDJase · Post by **JDJase** » Tue Jun 25, 2019 1:37 pm

13th Street bridge will be shutting down Thursday and remain closed until May 2020

https://www.omaha.com/news/metro/th-str ... 98305.html

RockHarbor · Post by **RockHarbor** » Tue Jun 25, 2019 2:17 pm

JDJase wrote: Tue Jun 25, 2019 1:37 pm 13th Street bridge will be shutting down Thursday and remain closed until May 2020

https://www.omaha.com/news/metro/th-str ... 98305.html

It's hap-pen-ing... ("They-re he-re..." tone)

guy4omaha · Post by **guy4omaha** » Thu Jun 27, 2019 12:52 pm

Omaha Cowboy wrote: Mon Jun 24, 2019 10:54 pm DTO Luv, I mean Ersatz, welcome (back) to the forum!..

...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

DTO? Is that you?

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Thu Jun 27, 2019 2:42 pm

guy4omaha wrote: Thu Jun 27, 2019 12:52 pm
Omaha Cowboy wrote: Mon Jun 24, 2019 10:54 pm DTO Luv, I mean Ersatz, welcome (back) to the forum!..

...

Ciao..LiO...Peace
DTO? Is that you?

In Wizard of Oz terms, I suspect DTO Luv is “the man behind the curtain”

..

In any case, construction continues for Phase I of the GLM...

Ciao..LiO...Peace

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Wed Jul 03, 2019 9:02 am

Looks like they took the red lattice structure down and put it on a flatbed truck. I wonder if they are re-purposing that somewhere in town.

Post by **Brad** » Wed Jul 03, 2019 9:04 am

iamjacobm wrote: Wed Jul 03, 2019 9:02 am Looks like they took the red lattice structure down and put it on a flatbed truck. I wonder if they are re-purposing that somewhere in town.

I was wondering why they demoed everything on that block except that. Probably art that was commissioned back in the 70's or 80's.

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Wed Jul 03, 2019 9:12 am

Brad wrote: Wed Jul 03, 2019 9:04 am
iamjacobm wrote: Wed Jul 03, 2019 9:02 am Looks like they took the red lattice structure down and put it on a flatbed truck. I wonder if they are re-purposing that somewhere in town.
I was wondering why they demoed everything on that block except that. Probably art that was commissioned back in the 70's or 80's.

My guess is this structure will land somewhere else in the metro.. Never to return to the GLM area...

Ciao..LiO...Peace