Juvenile Justice Center at 18th and Harney - 8 stories

skinzfan23 · Post by **skinzfan23** » Thu Jul 22, 2021 8:56 am

Looking at the WOWT citycam, steel is also going up on the 4 story section just to the south/southwest of the tower.

GLASSHOLE23 · Post by **GLASSHOLE23** » Sat Jul 24, 2021 2:44 pm

Here is a couple of pics from the 5th floor.

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Sat Jul 24, 2021 3:25 pm

Thanks for posting those pics

…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

GLASSHOLE23 · Post by **GLASSHOLE23** » Sat Jul 24, 2021 7:08 pm

No problem, I'm on sight almost daily so if anyone wants anything specific pics let me know.

ita · Post by **ita** » Sun Aug 08, 2021 9:57 pm

I wish I took a picture but I was driving. It looks good and impacts the skyline driving into downtown on 16th street. Kind of caught me by surprise today.

Athomsfere · Post by **Athomsfere** » Mon Aug 09, 2021 10:16 am

ita wrote: Sun Aug 08, 2021 9:57 pm I wish I took a picture but I was driving. It looks good and impacts the skyline driving into downtown on 16th street. Kind of caught me by surprise today.

I sort of thought the same thing coming down 19th the other day. It really fills in that part of DT.

GLASSHOLE23 · Post by **GLASSHOLE23** » Thu Aug 12, 2021 7:04 pm

Windows are showing up.

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Thu Aug 12, 2021 7:46 pm

GLASSHOLE23 wrote: Thu Aug 12, 2021 7:04 pm Windows are showing up.

Thanks for the update.. Whatever impact this low rise will have on the skyline, will be more pronounced once glass gets installed..

Other than density, I really don’t think this building will have much impact on the skyline at all. It’ll get drowned out by other, taller buildings around it. You’d have to really fight to find the angle view to see any skyline enhancement..But I’d rather have the building downtown than not…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

Cermak · Post by **Cermak** » Fri Aug 13, 2021 8:41 am

The last time I drove past it I thought it helped the corner feel a little more dense and not so open. That was always one of the worst surface lots downtown because it was basically in the city’s core. Now at least we have a building on all four corners of 17th and Harney. A nice improvement.

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Fri Aug 13, 2021 10:21 am

We go to Omaha Dog Bar in Little Bohemia rather frequently and the view to the north with that building under construction is really cool. I'll try to grab a crappy phone pic next time we go.

GLASSHOLE23 · Post by **GLASSHOLE23** » Tue Aug 17, 2021 6:02 pm

Windows are going in

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Tue Aug 17, 2021 6:31 pm

GLASSHOLE23 wrote: Tue Aug 17, 2021 6:02 pm Windows are going in

Good looking start!..

Thanks for the update

…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

Cermak · Post by **Cermak** » Tue Aug 17, 2021 8:52 pm

Once construction finally started, this is moving along swiftly. Will be a good addition to downtown.

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Tue Aug 17, 2021 10:36 pm

From an overall density standpoint, it’s a nice addition to downtown. Nothing earth shattering as it relates to skyline impact..the building’s purpose is not remotely constructed to have skyline impact in the first place..I mean, the reality is, it’s an 8 story low rise lol..

Anyway..

As I stated in an earlier post, I’d rather have this building downtown than not…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

skinzfan23 · Post by **skinzfan23** » Wed Aug 18, 2021 8:47 am

The glass reminds me of HDR's HQ's in AV.

Cermak · Post by **Cermak** » Sat Sep 18, 2021 4:32 pm

skinzfan23 wrote: Wed Aug 18, 2021 8:47 am The glass reminds me of HDR's HQ's in AV.

Agree it does. Drove by this today it looks good. Even at just 8 floors it really fills up this corner well, glad to get rid of the parking lot and get some more density in the core.

GLASSHOLE23 · Post by **GLASSHOLE23** » Wed Sep 22, 2021 8:17 pm

South east corner

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Wed Sep 22, 2021 8:36 pm

GLASSHOLE23 wrote: Wed Sep 22, 2021 8:17 pm South east corner

Looks good..

Nice pic

…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

SiliconFarmer · Post by **SiliconFarmer** » Tue Oct 05, 2021 10:57 am

The catwalk over Harney street connecting the Justice Center and the Courthouse was put in place over the weekend.

Vitruvius · Post by **Vitruvius** » Wed Oct 06, 2021 1:52 pm

SiliconFarmer wrote: Tue Oct 05, 2021 10:57 am The catwalk over Harney street connecting the Justice Center and the Courthouse was put in place over the weekend.

So, I take it... because it was never shown in the renderings... that they're planting that skywalk into the facade of the courthouse?
That's a poor design solution to put it mildly. If the courthouse was another contemporary or modern building that would make acceptable sense.

In addition, was a Section 106 Review completed on this project? Federal funds are involved are they not?
The Douglas County Courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

"SECTION 106: WHAT IS AN ADVERSE EFFECT?
If a project may alter characteristics that qualify a specific property for inclusion in the National Register in a manner that would diminish the integrity of
the proper ty, that project is considered to have an adverse effect. Integrity is the ability of a property to convey its significance, based on its location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association.
Adverse effects can be direct or indirect and include the following:

physical destruction or damage

alteration inconsistent with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Proper ties

relocation of the property

change in the character of the property’s use or
setting

introduction of incompatible visual, atmospheric, or audible elements

neglect and deterioration

transfer, lease, or sale of a historic property out of federal control without adequate preservation restrictions

GLASSHOLE23 · Post by **GLASSHOLE23** » Sat Oct 09, 2021 7:52 am

Anything done to that courthouse is an improvement. It's not pleasing to the eyes.

Vitruvius · Post by **Vitruvius** » Sat Oct 09, 2021 4:20 pm

ita wrote: Wed Jul 14, 2021 10:35 pm https://www.wowt.com/2021/07/15/final-s ... ce-center/

The tower is officially topped off!

"Tower"?

Vitruvius · Post by **Vitruvius** » Sat Oct 09, 2021 4:25 pm

GLASSHOLE23 wrote: Sat Oct 09, 2021 7:52 am Anything done to that courthouse is an improvement. It's not pleasing to the eyes.

Don't look at it then. Or why don't you tear it down if you're such an authority on aesthetics and good design?

GLASSHOLE23 · Post by **GLASSHOLE23** » Sat Oct 09, 2021 9:14 pm

For now I have to look at it, the tree is a nice touch.

Mapguy · Post by **Mapguy** » Mon Oct 11, 2021 2:46 pm

I think its really telling how different the mindset is in preservation between Omaha and Des Moines. In Des Moines they passed a law that skywalks cant cross Court Avenue to preserve the public's view of their historic courthouse extending blocks away. Here in Omaha we are attaching ugly utilitarian skywalks out of convenience directly onto ours. This is 100+ million dollar project and they couldnt put in a tunnel underground? What a lazy and cheap mindset the city of Omaha Planning department has to allow this.

Athomsfere · Post by **Athomsfere** » Mon Oct 11, 2021 3:33 pm

I can't believe out of all the things Omaha has done, a skywalk is an issue.

It's going to be fine. The courthouse looks good with or without it. The skywalk serves a real purpose. Now, if we could do something about the Federal Buildings surface lot.

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Mon Oct 11, 2021 10:42 pm

Athomsfere wrote: Mon Oct 11, 2021 3:33 pm I can't believe out of all the things Omaha has done, a skywalk is an issue.

It's going to be fine. The courthouse looks good with or without it.

Agreed…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

PotatoeEatsFish · Post by **PotatoeEatsFish** » Tue Oct 12, 2021 1:45 am

Mapguy wrote: Mon Oct 11, 2021 2:46 pm I think its really telling how different the mindset is in preservation between Omaha and Des Moines. In Des Moines they passed a law that skywalks cant cross Court Avenue to preserve the public's view of their historic courthouse extending blocks away. Here in Omaha we are attaching ugly utilitarian skywalks out of convenience directly onto ours. This is 100+ million dollar project and they couldnt put in a tunnel underground? What a lazy and cheap mindset the city of Omaha Planning department has to allow this.

We also are like the only city without a skywalk system so be grateful. What view are you trying to preserve the back of the courthouse? They need to threaten to tear an actual historic building down so you people have something to do.

Mapguy · Post by **Mapguy** » Tue Oct 12, 2021 8:46 am

Harny is a main thoroughfare into downtown. 90% of the city lives west of 18th st. Anyone who goes to the courthouse will see the building from Harny st since its a one way going east. The facade of the building is consistent on all four sides---so to say the backside doesnt matter because it doesnt have a yard is BS. If a buildings facade is historic its historic wherever that facade ends. You dont see congress adding wings onto the "backside" of the US Capitol.

Also a skywalk system? Omaha will never have or develop one of those. This is 1 bridge over 1 road that the public will probably never use. Its a skywalk to walk children in custody over a street, not worth bastardizing a building for IMO.

Athomsfere · Post by **Athomsfere** » Tue Oct 12, 2021 1:19 pm

I am trying very hard to see the issue here, but my thoughts so far:

Mapguy wrote: Tue Oct 12, 2021 8:46 am Harny is a main thoroughfare into downtown. 90% of the city lives west of 18th st.

OK, so that sucks. But what's the bearing here?

Mapguy wrote: Tue Oct 12, 2021 8:46 am If a buildings facade is historic its historic wherever that facade ends. You dont see congress adding wings onto the "backside" of the US Capitol.

The capital does have a subway / people mover system however. So obviously modernizing / updating the infrastructure is fine? But Omaha currently has next to zero ability to support something like this.

Mapguy wrote: Tue Oct 12, 2021 8:46 am
Also a skywalk system? Omaha will never have or develop one of those. This is 1 bridge over 1 road that the public will probably never use. Its a skywalk to walk children in custody over a street, not worth bastardizing a building for IMO.

I have a hard time seeing how "Omaha doesn't have them", when it does have at least some, equates to we won't or shouldn't ever have them.

Children's safety isn't worth adding something like a skybridge? Buildings are meant for utility first. Aesthetics are nice, but not a primary purpose of a building.

I would agree that maybe more of these sorts of infrastructure elements should be publicly accessible.

Linkin5 · Post by **Linkin5** » Tue Oct 12, 2021 3:04 pm

This is silly, the skywalk is fine.

Cermak · Post by **Cermak** » Tue Oct 12, 2021 9:16 pm

I think it is to, no problem with it at all.

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Tue Oct 12, 2021 10:11 pm

Linkin5 wrote: Tue Oct 12, 2021 3:04 pm This is silly, the skywalk is fine.

Yep- ^ This ^^^^…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Wed Oct 13, 2021 8:38 am

Has anyone had a chance to snap a pic of the aforementioned skywalk? I'm curious now...

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Wed Oct 13, 2021 8:50 am

Athomsfere · Post by **Athomsfere** » Wed Oct 13, 2021 10:33 am

iamjacobm wrote: Wed Oct 13, 2021 8:50 am

If I had to make an assesment:

I'd say "Geez, that looks great"

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Wed Oct 13, 2021 10:39 am

Athomsfere wrote: Wed Oct 13, 2021 10:33 am
iamjacobm wrote: Wed Oct 13, 2021 8:50 am
If I had to make an assesment:

I'd say "Geez, that looks great"

Yeah, I don't see what the fuss is about. It looks fine.

Vitruvius · Post by **Vitruvius** » Thu Oct 14, 2021 12:31 pm

PotatoeEatsFish wrote: Tue Oct 12, 2021 1:45 am
Mapguy wrote: Mon Oct 11, 2021 2:46 pm I think its really telling how different the mindset is in preservation between Omaha and Des Moines. In Des Moines they passed a law that skywalks cant cross Court Avenue to preserve the public's view of their historic courthouse extending blocks away. Here in Omaha we are attaching ugly utilitarian skywalks out of convenience directly onto ours. This is 100+ million dollar project and they couldnt put in a tunnel underground? What a lazy and cheap mindset the city of Omaha Planning department has to allow this.
We also are like the only city without a skywalk system so be grateful. What view are you trying to preserve the back of the courthouse? They need to threaten to tear an actual historic building down so you people have something to do.

It is "an actual historic building". The Douglas County Courthouse is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Vitruvius · Post by **Vitruvius** » Thu Oct 14, 2021 12:34 pm

Athomsfere wrote: Mon Oct 11, 2021 3:33 pm I can't believe out of all the things Omaha has done, a skywalk is an issue.

It's going to be fine. The courthouse looks good with or without it. The skywalk serves a real purpose. Now, if we could do something about the Federal Buildings surface lot.

What would you like to see done with the Federal Buildings surface lot?

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Thu Oct 14, 2021 12:37 pm

Vitruvius wrote: Thu Oct 14, 2021 12:34 pm
Athomsfere wrote: Mon Oct 11, 2021 3:33 pm I can't believe out of all the things Omaha has done, a skywalk is an issue.

It's going to be fine. The courthouse looks good with or without it. The skywalk serves a real purpose. Now, if we could do something about the Federal Buildings surface lot.
What would you like to see done with the Federal Buildings surface lot?

That spot irks me as well. But with the church on the lot it certainly makes redevelopment difficult.