Kelsey Stewart
A planned development spanning about 12 city blocks could bring new office space, apartments, an urban park and a small grocery store to downtown Omaha.
Developers are working on an ambitious schedule, hoping to begin construction on the first part of the project by next month. Once completed, the project would be an investment of about $500 million, said developer Jay Noddle of Noddle Cos.
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The development is working its way through the approval process, with one building already receiving the initial green light from the city’s Planning Board. The entire development could be finished in the next seven to eight years, developers said.
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Construction on the $57 million project is expected to start in September, wrapping up by the end of 2023. While no tenants are signed on yet, Noddle said the office market is strong, giving developers the confidence to start construction.
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The development also includes plans for additional office buildings and apartments. A space in renderings also shows a small-scale but still full-service grocery store, something the downtown area is lacking.
This most current renderings is kind of meh, though there are some interesting aspects like additional development on top of the Kiewit parking garage. Just seems like they are just building a bunch of parking garages and they are not even hidden. Seems kind of lazy for downtown and the project seems to lack density. Is it just me? Am I being over critical?
I am excited to see some growth for the area, but I think this is lacking. Look at all the parking spaces and green space when a world-class park has been developed just a few blocks away. I still think this area lacks any character as well. I still don't understand why they can't try to repurpose the big Sol's warehouse (maybe there are structural issues or something) But usually when you visit other cities, the coolest parts are where they were able to have new buildings but also keep the existing building and blend them in seamlessly.
I am confused as to why there are an additional 3 parking garages contemplated in the master plan (that's my count based on the rendering). The district really should have one additional garage and Kiewit should not have been a private garage. Make the garages taller/more floors if there really needs to be as much parking as planned for. I guess plans could always change, but this has been in the works for a while so I assume this is near it's final form from a master planning aspect.
I would say that I like the, what looks like, residential units on top of the garage north of the Kiewit parking garage, as long as there is commercial or retail on the ground floor.
skinzfan23 wrote: Thu Aug 25, 2022 9:50 am
I just really, really hate that Kiewit garage, it takes up so much space and is only 1-2 levels.
Isn’t that also the parking garage that Kiewit got an exception by the city to not have ground retail? This project is pretty underwhelming, would expect something more visionary from Kiewit.
skinzfan23 wrote: Thu Aug 25, 2022 9:50 am
I just really, really hate that Kiewit garage, it takes up so much space and is only 1-2 levels.
Isn’t that also the parking garage that Kiewit got an exception by the city to not have ground retail? This project is pretty underwhelming, would expect something more visionary from Kiewit.
yes I believe so, I understand, not every garage needs to have ground floor retail, but especially so close to the downtown core and major draws, we should really be shooting for much better.
mcarch wrote: Mon Aug 08, 2022 11:46 am
Was at the Planning Board Meeting on August 3rd. Everything that was on the Agenda for the 1501 Mike Fahey Building was Approved.
In this weeks issue of the MBJ, they are reporting a very aggressive timeline, essentially starting in September and being move in ready by the end of next year. I have read that mass timber decreases construction time over concrete and steel, but that seems very quick.
skinzfan23 wrote: Thu Aug 25, 2022 9:50 am
I just really, really hate that Kiewit garage, it takes up so much space and is only 1-2 levels.
My guess is they wanted the main building to stand out more, but yeah, it's about 3 levels as there is a slight downward parking slope on the main floor and another slope upwards on the top floor. It would have been better if they put in underground parking underneath the building and then an extension to that side leaving more room.
As for the rendering, there is a gap between the current parking garage and the sidewalk so I'm not sure if they plan on putting another structure within there and next to Kiewit's HQ.
skinzfan23 wrote: Thu Aug 25, 2022 9:50 am
I just really, really hate that Kiewit garage, it takes up so much space and is only 1-2 levels.
My guess is they wanted the main building to stand out more, but yeah, it's about 3 levels as there is a slight downward parking slope on the main floor and another slope upwards on the top floor. It would have been better if they put in underground parking underneath the building and then an extension to that side leaving more room.
As for the rendering, there is a gap between the current parking garage and the sidewalk so I'm not sure if they plan on putting another structure within there and next to Kiewit's HQ.
No argument on wanting it to stand out more, but man that's just more of a case why Kiewit's HQ should have been a bit taller....
I'm really underwhelmed by this. I think the best thing you can say about it is it puts "stuff" on land that's for the most part undeveloped. Instantly forgettable. I know I'm not necessarily in the majority on this, but I think this started off with a weak foundation with how the Kiewit campus was designed. It was ConAgra-ish, but with a few extra floors in my opinion.
skinzfan23 wrote: Thu Aug 25, 2022 9:50 am
I just really, really hate that Kiewit garage, it takes up so much space and is only 1-2 levels.
My guess is they wanted the main building to stand out more, but yeah, it's about 3 levels as there is a slight downward parking slope on the main floor and another slope upwards on the top floor. It would have been better if they put in underground parking underneath the building and then an extension to that side leaving more room.
As for the rendering, there is a gap between the current parking garage and the sidewalk so I'm not sure if they plan on putting another structure within there and next to Kiewit's HQ.
No argument on wanting it to stand out more, but man that's just more of a case why Kiewit's HQ should have been a bit taller....
I'm really underwhelmed by this. I think the best thing you can say about it is it puts "stuff" on land that's for the most part undeveloped. Instantly forgettable. I know I'm not necessarily in the majority on this, but I think this started off with a weak foundation with how the Kiewit campus was designed. It was ConAgra-ish, but with a few extra floors in my opinion.
I do work down here and you're right, it is completely underwhelming.
This is trash infill and density in basically the driveway of our city from the airport. Hopefully it’s just renderings and there is more to this. The grocery store was needed and exciting being the bright side to this.
I agree that it could have been done much more ambitiously. But when it comes down to it, this is what North Downtown was planned to be. Its not far off. Lo rise buildings, multi-use. it wasn't supposed to be a second Downtown, but a warehouse district, which is what North Downtown has always been, aside from a railyard. I definitely think if we had the streetcar in place already, we would have been entertaining the idea of 10-15 story residential. But this isn't much news as half of what is pictured in the rendering is already built. My only disappointment is the size of the parking garages.
Greg S wrote: Thu Aug 25, 2022 2:15 pm
Has Creighton weighed in on this?
God for |expletive| forbid this city do anything without licking Creighton’s balls first.
Where in the heck that did that come from? Not at all what I meant or was even suggesting.
I am not a Creighton guy, at all, but I do recognize over the last couple decades Creighton has poured tens of millions on the north side of downtown, and really spearheaded the development over there. I would wouldn't make a move like this withoutu seeing if CU had any development planned, and if you could combine it or feed off each other.
I've been thinking about this plan a little more. First, it seems like noddle is wanting to focus the district and activity on or around Mike Fahey, at the expense of killing activity North to south on 16th and 17th streets. Focusing on Mike Fahey helps connect TD Ameritrade to the district and Creighton's east campus, mainly Morrison and the sports facilities.
Secondly, I know Noddle is in the know with what's going on, but is the abundance of parking to help support future development around the builders district? Is it too far from the streetcar stop by CHI to be a parking district? The garage is replacing a lot of surface parking already in use. I am sure Creighton will benefit from the parking. Maybe folks attending soccer matches and baseball/softball games (since those appear to be moving north of Creighton's training facility and Morrison) will be utilizing the parking. Maybe it relieves additional surface lots under i-480 so something can happen there? I don't know, I am just postulating the justification for these massive lots.
I emailed Noddle Companies and expressed my disappointment in the rendering and plans, and why. They replied and said they would pass my concerns on to the development team.
Who knows if they actually will, but this is the email if any of you want to do the same: [email protected]
Doctor Fate wrote: Sat Aug 27, 2022 2:25 pm
I emailed Noddle Companies and expressed my disappointment in the rendering and plans, and why. They replied and said they would pass my concerns on to the development team.
Who knows if they actually will, but this is the email if any of you want to do the same: [email protected]
Let us know if someone responds, even though it is unlikely. I am interested to hear from the horse's mouth justifications of the choices being made for this district, particularly the prevalence of parking garages.
At this point, we should just build a 40-story tall parking garage to kill 2 birds with one stone. This city is obsessed with building parking garages and we always want new highrises, it's a win-win. I'll email the mayor from my fake development company with $5 in bitcoin attached as a bribe to get things moving.
Hopefully it evolves, but if they can put in a decent sized grocery store downtown, it might be worth it in the end. Will drastically help spur more residential growth downtown going forward in my opinion.
OracleOfOmaha wrote: Tue Aug 30, 2022 10:32 am
Hopefully it evolves, but if they can put in a decent sized grocery store downtown, it might be worth it in the end. Will drastically help spur more residential growth downtown going forward in my opinion.
Agreed, but a decent sized grocery store is not in the works here.
On the grocery topic, is the spot being contemplated for a grocery that single story building in the rendering between 16th and 17th, south of Cuming? If so, is this the best location for a grocery in North Downtown? It's kind of far away from major residential projects, but I guess it is near Creighton?
Linkin5 wrote: Tue Aug 30, 2022 11:33 am
Noddle really using shipping containers in this project. Did a DIY Tiktok-er design this thing.
If anything, the shipping containers is part of the temporary park (see rendering a couple posts above). In the final rendering those shipping containers are gone (well not all of them, but most of them).
OracleOfOmaha wrote: Tue Aug 30, 2022 10:32 am
Hopefully it evolves, but if they can put in a decent sized grocery store downtown, it might be worth it in the end. Will drastically help spur more residential growth downtown going forward in my opinion.
Agreed, but a decent sized grocery store is not in the works here.
"small scale full-service" from the release.
full service mean deli, meat, bakery, pharmacy? If so, that should suffice I suppose. Just smaller footprint of middle aisles.
OracleOfOmaha wrote: Tue Aug 30, 2022 3:00 pm
"small scale full-service" from the release.
That doesn't inspire much confidence in me. WE WANT HY-VEE!
And so continues the struggle of Downtown life. Do the people come first, or the (actual) grocery store? An actual grocery store might be an attraction for Downtown living, but at the same time, people living Downtown is a requirement for an actual grocery store. Its like we're in a stalemate on that front.
TitosBuritoBarn wrote: Tue Aug 30, 2022 3:32 pm
Wouldn't the Hy-Vee in downtown Des Moines be considered a small scale full-service store?
Yes and no. I'd love to have the Des Moines version of Hy-Vee in Downtown Omaha. I wouldn't call that small-scale. To me small-scale implies thoughts of "upstart", "independent" etc. In other words, "We're not going to have half of what you're looking for, and what we do have is highly overpriced". I don't think Hy-Vee would be in on anything small-scaled.
TitosBuritoBarn wrote: Tue Aug 30, 2022 3:32 pm
Wouldn't the Hy-Vee in downtown Des Moines be considered a small scale full-service store?
Yes and no. I'd love to have the Des Moines version of Hy-Vee in Downtown Omaha. I wouldn't call that small-scale. To me small-scale implies thoughts of "upstart", "independent" etc. In other words, "We're not going to have half of what you're looking for, and what we do have is highly overpriced". I don't think Hy-Vee would be in on anything small-scaled.
Hey vee would have most of what people need and what they have would be overpriced. I think it would work downtown.
TitosBuritoBarn wrote: Tue Aug 30, 2022 3:32 pm
Wouldn't the Hy-Vee in downtown Des Moines be considered a small scale full-service store?
Yes and no. I'd love to have the Des Moines version of Hy-Vee in Downtown Omaha. I wouldn't call that small-scale. To me small-scale implies thoughts of "upstart", "independent" etc. In other words, "We're not going to have half of what you're looking for, and what we do have is highly overpriced". I don't think Hy-Vee would be in on anything small-scaled.
Hey vee would have most of what people need and what they have would be overpriced. I think it would work downtown.
That HyVee in downtown Central Iowa isn’t even a HyVee anymore- from the Des Moines Iowa Register- Sept/2021-
“Hy-Vee will convert its downtown Des Moines supermarket into a version of the chain’s HealthMarket concept and a sit-down Chinese and sushi restaurant.
Spokesperson Christina Gayman said Tuesday that conversion of the store, on Court Avenue between Fourth and Fifth streets, will come "in the near future" The company has not announced when exactly the changes will occur, but said the store will remain open during the work.”
In any case, let’s not sell Omaha’s downtown core area short..Omaha is a fast growing, vibrant core area which would benefit from an urban grocery store at the level of Kansas City’s Consentino’s, a true, “smaller scale” urban market-
I like this development. I think it's not meant to be a highrise area but more of a tight urban neighborhood with a mix of office space, residential, restaurants and some retail. With Kiewit obviously being the center piece of the project. Looks good to me.
nebport5 wrote: Tue Aug 30, 2022 9:46 pm
I didn't really find Patrick's to be "full service" and I imagine something comparable is about all one can expect here.
That's what I'm saying. The definition of "full service" is to each their own... Especially so for someone trying to sell us their not-full-service grocery store
For real, the city needs to pave the way here. Make it loud and clear that it will be acceptable to have a single use grocer occupy one city block. Sacrificing the idea of mixed use and high rise can't hurt the overall vitality of Downtown if it facilitates a full-service Downtown grocery store.
But on that thought, if the direction of North Downtown is to have an eclectic sort of grocery store, then my new favorite spot for the theoretical Hy-Vee would be to tear down the State building on the SW corner of 13th & Farnam and build it there. And on that note, I now suppose a Whole Foods would be fine too. It's got a little more flavor than I prefer, but at least they have everything you need.
I wouldn't balk at a Hy-Vee downtown, though I think demographically Whole Foods makes more sense. I haven't been to a Cosentino's referenced in KC, though they look fine for what I can tell via Google. The two biggest issues when we're talking "full service" is square footage and hours. There's nothing "full service" about closing at 6 or 7 p.m.
