Gene Leahy Mall Remodel

[Garrett]

My guess is the city will want to use it pretty frequently. People going to downtown events spend money downtown after all. I can see some kind of corporate sponsorship or grant set up similar to what is done at Aksarben Village, if for nothing else to cover security costs etc. I am sure there is no shortage of bands who would be interested.

Yeah I bet there will be a big push to move other events from around the city there, along with a summer concert series if not a music festival.

[ita]

My guess is the city will want to use it pretty frequently. People going to downtown events spend money downtown after all. I can see some kind of corporate sponsorship or grant set up similar to what is done at Aksarben Village, if for nothing else to cover security costs etc. I am sure there is no shortage of bands who would be interested.

Yeah I bet there will be a big push to move other events from around the city there, along with a summer concert series if not a music festival.

I listened to a recent Riverside Chat with the executive director of MAHA, Lauren Martin. She seemed to allude that MAHA may find its way to the riverfront once the project is complete.

[ita]

Here's an update regarding the dog park from the monthly newsletter:

On the heels of National Dog Day (Aug. 26), the design team is already planning the many ways Omaha’s furry friends will be celebrated every day at The RiverFront. Namely with the inclusion of an expansive, over 15,000-square-foot dog park on the east end of Gene Leahy Mall.

As more pets (and their humans) move to downtown Omaha, The RiverFront’s Dog Park will assuredly become a favorite destination – giving local canine companions a broad space customized just for them. Some of the exciting features to come include multiple tunnels for sneaking, structures for scaling, and seesaws for teetering, all within a wide-fenced area for running off-leash (and of course, making new friends), some of which can be seen in the render below.

The Dog Park layout is split into two separate sections, one side for large dogs and the other to accommodate smaller breeds. This helps to ensure that each dog may play and explore within an environment that they feel safe and comfortable. Durable artificial turf will landscape this area dotted by quickly maturing trees for both shade and sniffing. Pet waste stations can be found throughout the Dog Park, stocked with waste bags alongside multiple trash cans for convenient access.

As part of The RiverFront’s maintenance plan, the Dog Park’s artificial turf will be washed down regularly, and waste containers emptied on a routine basis.

During those hot, dog days of summer, keeping your pup cool and hydrated will be easier than ever. Pet-friendly water fountains will bubble and splash into ground-level bowls, assuring your best friend can always get a quick drink.

And don’t worry, Dog Park designers thought about you, too. Numerous armchairs and lines of benches will allow two-footed visitors an opportunity to sit back and relax while their pooch burns off some energy. The RiverFront activation team is already planning programming, training classes, and playdates for both the experienced dog-owner or proud new dog-parent. Perhaps even movie nights featuring favorite canine superstars – Lassie, Beethoven, or Rin Tin Tin!

While dogs must be leashed throughout the rest of The RiverFront, the Gene Leahy Mall Dog Park provides a secure spot for pet owners and their four-legged friends to call their own. With the freedom to run, play, and explore, this area is bound to make even the ruff-est days better at The RiverFront!

[omahahawk]

Considering how the GLM concert venue drew inspiration from the Hollywood Bowl, I thought this little video was pertinent.

[youtube][/youtube]

Building LA "Origins of The Hollywood Bowl"

[Omaha Cowboy]

Considering how the GLM concert venue drew inspiration from the Hollywood Bowl, I thought this little video was pertinent.

[youtube][/youtube]

Building LA "Origins of The Hollywood Bowl"

That’s an interesting clip…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[Brad]

Few photos from last week.

[ita]

Few photos from last week.

I like this one a lot with the Mercantile in the background. While I was bummed that it was about to be a 4+1 building, the additional height of the podium helps. Also, it does fit well with the Burlington Capital building and Greenhouse. Hopefully that surface lot gets developed in the near future with a taller midrise or something to really fill up that corner.

[Omaha Cowboy]

Few photos from last week.

Great looking photos …

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[Louie]

That is going to be an iconic piece of Omaha's look.

[Omaha Cowboy]

That is going to be an iconic piece of Omaha's look.

It certainly will be..

This is city and metropolitan area on the move..Grew by nearly 103,000 from 2010 to 2020..and I believe poised for its biggest growth decade in 70 years..

For a laugh, go to the Omaha sub Reddit page- there is a thread there with dilweed’s bashing on Omaha, that it’s hemorrhaging youth, lacking “cool” tech jobs and other nonsensical BS..if you call any of these negative nelly’s out and ask for proof of their assertions, they run for cover like a band of cockroaches once you flick the lights on in a Burger King kitchen..

It’s pathetic and comical at the same time ..

Onto real growth and future developments for the Big O…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[NEDodger]

Anyways - this has taken a detour. Back to the Gene Leahy Mall development.

[thenewguy]

When i drove by the other day, it looked like they had much of the landscaping done, but i'm not sure what it looks like from above.

[Brad]

on a side note, when i drove by the other day, it looked like they had much of the landscaping done, but i'm not sure what it looks like from above.

Few photos from last week.

Also in my last Grow Omaha construction update video

[youtube][/youtube]

[thenewguy]

thanks Brad, i missed those!

[Brad]

thanks Brad, i missed those!

They got buried fast. We should probably have put all the Rumors about the Library and the lot to the east in their own rumors thread and kept this thread more about the Gene Leahy Mall construction.

[Omaha Cowboy]

Nice piece regarding the developments of the GLM by KETV on their evening newscast Friday-



Ciao..LiO…Peace

[stadsborgare]

They finally paved the walkway next to the fountain/pool by 10th Street.

before

after

[omahahawk]

I like their choice of warm tone concrete materials far better then the old gray that was there previously.

[Omaha Cowboy]

They finally paved the walkway next to the fountain/pool by 10th Street.

before

after

Looks nice. I also agree with the choice of warm tone concrete materials here..

Thanks for the pic update …

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[BobbiDon]

Hello, long time lurker. I thought I would share this neat photo a buddy of mine took today of Gene Leahy Mall. He is a cargo pilot and snapped this cell phone pic on approach. Great things happening in this pic between the mall, science museum, steel house, and the mercantile (and I guess the moxy hotel, as you can technically see a tiny corner of that work site if you zoom). It’s no Brad Williams shot, but still figured people may get a kick out of it.

Thanks!

[ByrnesViceVersa]

Hello, long time lurker. I thought I would share this neat photo a buddy of mine took today of Gene Leahy Mall. He is a cargo pilot and snapped this cell phone pic on approach. Great things happening in this pic between the mall, science museum, steel house, and the mercantile (and I guess the moxy hotel, as you can technically see a tiny corner of that work site if you zoom). It’s no Brad Williams shot, but still figured people may get a kick out of it.

Thanks!

Wow I keep forgetting how much of downtown is under construction. Thanks for sharing

[ita]

Hello, long time lurker. I thought I would share this neat photo a buddy of mine took today of Gene Leahy Mall. He is a cargo pilot and snapped this cell phone pic on approach. Great things happening in this pic between the mall, science museum, steel house, and the mercantile (and I guess the moxy hotel, as you can technically see a tiny corner of that work site if you zoom). It’s no Brad Williams shot, but still figured people may get a kick out of it.

Thanks!

Wow I keep forgetting how much of downtown is under construction. Thanks for sharing

Yes, awesome aerial. Love to see all the construction coming along. Also, looking forward to see some of those surface parking lots developed in the near future.

[Omaha Cowboy]

Hello, long time lurker. I thought I would share this neat photo a buddy of mine took today of Gene Leahy Mall. He is a cargo pilot and snapped this cell phone pic on approach. Great things happening in this pic between the mall, science museum, steel house, and the mercantile (and I guess the moxy hotel, as you can technically see a tiny corner of that work site if you zoom). It’s no Brad Williams shot, but still figured people may get a kick out of it.

Thanks!

This is excellent. Thank you for posting this and welcome to the forum …

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[skinzfan23]

Thanks for the picture. That is great, even though a quick candid photo, really helps to capture all the development downtown.

Anyone know what the cement area with the rounded edges is north of the water fountain? Is that just a parking lot?

[JDJase]

Thanks for the picture. That is great, even though a quick candid photo, really helps to capture all the development downtown.

Anyone know what the cement area with the rounded edges is north of the water fountain? Is that just a parking lot?

I believe that is the skate ribbon.

[skinzfan23]

Thanks for the picture. That is great, even though a quick candid photo, really helps to capture all the development downtown.

Anyone know what the cement area with the rounded edges is north of the water fountain? Is that just a parking lot?

I believe that is the skate ribbon.

Thank you.

Any idea if they are going to connect Riverfront Dr back. I didn't realize that the museum was being built right where the street used to go.

[skinzfan23]

Yes, awesome aerial. Love to see all the construction coming along. Also, looking forward to see some of those surface parking lots developed in the near future.

I sound like a broken record, but I can't wait for those lots near the Old Market to be developed. Hopefully this transformation of the Gene Leahy mall will help to spur more growth.

[ita]

Yes, awesome aerial. Love to see all the construction coming along. Also, looking forward to see some of those surface parking lots developed in the near future.

I sound like a broken record, but I can't wait for those lots near the Old Market to be developed. Hopefully this transformation of the Gene Leahy mall will help to spur more growth.

Haha, I felt the same typing my prior statement. To add to that, this aerial cemented in my mind what the Mercantile, the entire Conagra campus project not just the residential project, can/will do for downtown.

[iamjacobm]

Thanks for the picture. That is great, even though a quick candid photo, really helps to capture all the development downtown.

Anyone know what the cement area with the rounded edges is north of the water fountain? Is that just a parking lot?

I believe that is the skate ribbon.

Thank you.

Any idea if they are going to connect Riverfront Dr back. I didn't realize that the museum was being built right where the street used to go.

If you look just a bit north of the skating ribbon you asked about you can see where they have already poured concrete to extend Douglas St to go under 480 and connect with the riverfront.

Just had the thought it might be natural for ORBT to go turn around down closer to the riverfront when everything is open.

[nebport5]

If you look just a bit north of the skating ribbon you asked about you can see where they have already poured concrete to extend Douglas St to go under 480 and connect with the riverfront.

Just had the thought it might be natural for ORBT to go turn around down closer to the riverfront when everything is open.

or did you mean Douglas St?

[BobbiDon]

One other thing that caught my eye is how close the Heartland of American Park’s fountain is to the beach area. I wonder if there are plans to move it. Otherwise when there is a stiff south wind, people might be getting pretty wet. Haha

[GetUrban]

One other thing that caught my eye is how close the Heartland of American Park’s fountain is to the beach area. I wonder if there are plans to move it. Otherwise when there is a stiff south wind, people might be getting pretty wet. Haha

It’s the “free shower” feature of the new GLM design.

[skinzfan23]

If you look just a bit north of the skating ribbon you asked about you can see where they have already poured concrete to extend Douglas St to go under 480 and connect with the riverfront.

Just had the thought it might be natural for ORBT to go turn around down closer to the riverfront when everything is open.

or did you mean Douglas St?

Thanks for pointing that out, I don't know how I missed that. Is this going to connect and run just to the west of the museum then (I would assume) or is it going to connect straight to the parking lots?

[nebport5]

If you look just a bit north of the skating ribbon you asked about you can see where they have already poured concrete to extend Douglas St to go under 480 and connect with the riverfront.

Just had the thought it might be natural for ORBT to go turn around down closer to the riverfront when everything is open.

or did you mean Douglas St?

Thanks for pointing that out, I don't know how I missed that. Is this going to connect and run just to the west of the museum then (I would assume) or is it going to connect straight to the parking lots?

This should clear things up.

Lewis & Clark Landing PDF

[skinzfan23]

Thank you. So according to that pdf, Dodge St would no longer have access beyond the railroad tracks, but Douglas will continue and meet up with Riverfront Dr.

[Stan]

One other thing that caught my eye is how close the Heartland of American Park’s fountain is to the beach area. I wonder if there are plans to move it. Otherwise when there is a stiff south wind, people might be getting pretty wet. Haha

That levy will be removed when they're done with the new concrete wall at that north end.

[ita]

Thank you. So according to that pdf, Dodge St would no longer have access beyond the railroad tracks, but Douglas will continue and meet up with Riverfront Dr.

I don't think Dodge had access beyond the tracks as I-480 west turns into Dodge after the exit. Riverfront drive was somewhat aligned with Dodge but tied north to south connecting to Capitol or Douglas. I really want to see Capitol extended to Riverfront Drive, but that is not currently showing in the most recent plans.

[Brad]

One other thing that caught my eye is how close the Heartland of American Park’s fountain is to the beach area. I wonder if there are plans to move it. Otherwise when there is a stiff south wind, people might be getting pretty wet. Haha

That levy will be removed when they're done with the new concrete wall at that north end.

I'm not sure why that keeps coming up, but that levy is only temporary. The lake will be rounded on the north end, like this, not cut off looking.

E5LVW6UXIAAbxsx.jpg

[WorldStreet]

I'm not sure why that keeps coming up, but that levy is only temporary. The lake will be rounded on the north end, like this, not cut off looking.

Great view point..really shows the new size of the lake... and the lovely sky in the shot is a nice bonus.

[JDJase]

Thank you. So according to that pdf, Dodge St would no longer have access beyond the railroad tracks, but Douglas will continue and meet up with Riverfront Dr.

I don't think Dodge had access beyond the tracks as I-480 west turns into Dodge after the exit. Riverfront drive was somewhat aligned with Dodge but tied north to south connecting to Capitol or Douglas. I really want to see Capitol extended to Riverfront Drive, but that is not currently showing in the most recent plans.

The street that crossed the tracks to connect to Riverfront Drive is technically still Dodge Street.