Old Union Pacific Headquarters Lot

[nebport5]

I’m very interested in how many RFP’s there sill be..

I wonder if “a lot of interest” in this parcel, as the mayor states, reflects 5 or 6 developers/developments, which the city can whittle down to the final 2. I’m very interested to see what winds up as the final chosen development for this parcel. We know it needs to be significant and tall (per what the city has always wanted)..I’m still thinking we’ll get mixed use residential/hospitality/office-retail..within a high rise design in that 350-400 foot range…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

The mayor said on Grow Omaha that developers wanted to put a mixed-use upscale hotel, office, residential, retail building on this site. And based on the doc last year by the Urban Planning Committee, the building they had on the site was quite a bit taller than the UP HQ. It look at least 400 ft and I would think that was intentional, signaling what they want there.

I'm excited see these RFPs this year, hopefully.

Ok, I'm getting a wishlist idea where the Double Tree is scuttled restoring 16th St and maybe Hilton upgrades a tier here in the hotel family for the hospitality component.

[Omaha Cowboy]

I’m very interested in how many RFP’s there sill be..

I wonder if “a lot of interest” in this parcel, as the mayor states, reflects 5 or 6 developers/developments, which the city can whittle down to the final 2. I’m very interested to see what winds up as the final chosen development for this parcel. We know it needs to be significant and tall (per what the city has always wanted)..I’m still thinking we’ll get mixed use residential/hospitality/office-retail..within a high rise design in that 350-400 foot range…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

The mayor said on Grow Omaha that developers wanted to put a mixed-use upscale hotel, office, residential, retail building on this site. And based on the doc last year by the Urban Planning Committee, the building they had on the site was quite a bit taller than the UP HQ. It look at least 400 ft and I would think that was intentional, signaling what they want there.

I'm excited see these RFPs this year, hopefully.

Ok, I'm getting a wishlist idea where the Double Tree is scuttled restoring 16th St and maybe Hilton upgrades a tier here in the hotel family for the hospitality component.

Love to speculate here..

I really think there will be a hospitality component to whatever plan the city decides on at this parcel..

The long standing “word” for several years is that a W Hotel will be the hotel component of The Mercantile development. As recently as last week, I’ve heard the same thing..

So if there is a W Hotel going up at the Mercantile, I wonder if the hotel component for 1416 Dodge could be an Omni Hotel??.. I stayed at the flagship Omni Hotel in downtown Dallas during the Christmas holiday a couple or so weeks back and damn, it was impressive..

Before anyone thumbs their noses at the mere thought of Omaha landing both a W and an Omni, I say why not? We could support both- and what a feather in the cap this would be for our downtown core…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[Omaha Cowboy]

I’m very interested in how many RFP’s there sill be..

I wonder if “a lot of interest” in this parcel, as the mayor states, reflects 5 or 6 developers/developments, which the city can whittle down to the final 2. I’m very interested to see what winds up as the final chosen development for this parcel. We know it needs to be significant and tall (per what the city has always wanted)..I’m still thinking we’ll get mixed use residential/hospitality/office-retail..within a high rise design in that 350-400 foot range…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

I would certainly love to see all of the proposals and their developers. It would reflect on hopefully other potential developments we could see in the city.

It absolutely would imo ..

Can’t wait. to see the needle start moving here…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[Athomsfere]

As much as reconnecting the grid is, I still hate the idea of losing the Double Tree before we get more buildings of about that size in.

But also, getting off topic a bit.

[nebport5]

As much as reconnecting the grid is, I still hate the idea of losing the Double Tree before we get more buildings of about that size in.

But also, getting off topic a bit.

Kind of like destroying a fine building for another empty block and twenty years of iffy failed proposals? Back on topic.

[nebport5]

I’m very interested in how many RFP’s there sill be..

I wonder if “a lot of interest” in this parcel, as the mayor states, reflects 5 or 6 developers/developments, which the city can whittle down to the final 2. I’m very interested to see what winds up as the final chosen development for this parcel. We know it needs to be significant and tall (per what the city has always wanted)..I’m still thinking we’ll get mixed use residential/hospitality/office-retail..within a high rise design in that 350-400 foot range…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

The mayor said on Grow Omaha that developers wanted to put a mixed-use upscale hotel, office, residential, retail building on this site. And based on the doc last year by the Urban Planning Committee, the building they had on the site was quite a bit taller than the UP HQ. It look at least 400 ft and I would think that was intentional, signaling what they want there.

I'm excited see these RFPs this year, hopefully.

Ok, I'm getting a wishlist idea where the Double Tree is scuttled restoring 16th St and maybe Hilton upgrades a tier here in the hotel family for the hospitality component.

Love to speculate here..

I really think there will be a hospitality component to whatever plan the city decides on at this parcel..

The long standing “word” for several years is that a W Hotel will be the hotel component of The Mercantile development. As recently as last week, I’ve heard the same thing..

So if there is a W Hotel going up at the Mercantile, I wonder if the hotel component for 1416 Dodge could be an Omni Hotel??.. I stayed at the flagship Omni Hotel in downtown Dallas during the Christmas holiday a couple or so weeks back and damn, it was impressive..

Before anyone thumbs their noses at the mere thought of Omaha landing both a W and an Omni, I say why not? We could support both- and what a feather in the cap this would be for our downtown core…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

Either would be good gets as well as good competition for Hilton's downtown dominance. Securing both would indeed be a good sign of things to come.

[Doctor Fate]

Love to speculate here..

I really think there will be a hospitality component to whatever plan the city decides on at this parcel..

The long standing “word” for several years is that a W Hotel will be the hotel component of The Mercantile development. As recently as last week, I’ve heard the same thing..

So if there is a W Hotel going up at the Mercantile, I wonder if the hotel component for 1416 Dodge could be an Omni Hotel??.. I stayed at the flagship Omni Hotel in downtown Dallas during the Christmas holiday a couple or so weeks back and damn, it was impressive..

Before anyone thumbs their noses at the mere thought of Omaha landing both a W and an Omni, I say why not? We could support both- and what a feather in the cap this would be for our downtown core…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

I think getting a high end hotel like an Omni here would help attract an office tenant too. I read an article about how many developers have seen the value in creating synergistic mixed-use environments where a hotel can be used by the corporate visitors of the office tenant(s) and the residents and office employees can use the hotel amenities, including roof top restaurants and bars. And getting one often helps attract the other.

Having something like that here will help bring 24/7 activity to this area as well.

[Omaha Cowboy]

Love to speculate here..

I really think there will be a hospitality component to whatever plan the city decides on at this parcel..

The long standing “word” for several years is that a W Hotel will be the hotel component of The Mercantile development. As recently as last week, I’ve heard the same thing..

So if there is a W Hotel going up at the Mercantile, I wonder if the hotel component for 1416 Dodge could be an Omni Hotel??.. I stayed at the flagship Omni Hotel in downtown Dallas during the Christmas holiday a couple or so weeks back and damn, it was impressive..

Before anyone thumbs their noses at the mere thought of Omaha landing both a W and an Omni, I say why not? We could support both- and what a feather in the cap this would be for our downtown core…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

I think getting a high end hotel like an Omni here would help attract an office tenant too. I read an article about how many developers have seen the value in creating synergistic mixed-use environments where a hotel can be used by the corporate visitors of the office tenant(s) and the residents and office employees can use the hotel amenities, including roof top restaurants and bars. And getting one often helps attract the other.

Having something like that here will help bring 24/7 activity to this area as well.

I completely agree..

I almost think Omaha stepping up it’s hospitality offerings game by potentially adding a hotel like an Omni, is practically a requirement to get our city to that next level..

Fingers crossed…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[Omaha Cowboy]

I’m very interested in how many RFP’s there sill be..

I wonder if “a lot of interest” in this parcel, as the mayor states, reflects 5 or 6 developers/developments, which the city can whittle down to the final 2. I’m very interested to see what winds up as the final chosen development for this parcel. We know it needs to be significant and tall (per what the city has always wanted)..I’m still thinking we’ll get mixed use residential/hospitality/office-retail..within a high rise design in that 350-400 foot range…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

The mayor said on Grow Omaha that developers wanted to put a mixed-use upscale hotel, office, residential, retail building on this site. And based on the doc last year by the Urban Planning Committee, the building they had on the site was quite a bit taller than the UP HQ. It look at least 400 ft and I would think that was intentional, signaling what they want there.

I'm excited see these RFPs this year, hopefully.

Ok, I'm getting a wishlist idea where the Double Tree is scuttled restoring 16th St and maybe Hilton upgrades a tier here in the hotel family for the hospitality component.

Love to speculate here..

I really think there will be a hospitality component to whatever plan the city decides on at this parcel..

The long standing “word” for several years is that a W Hotel will be the hotel component of The Mercantile development. As recently as last week, I’ve heard the same thing..

So if there is a W Hotel going up at the Mercantile, I wonder if the hotel component for 1416 Dodge could be an Omni Hotel??.. I stayed at the flagship Omni Hotel in downtown Dallas during the Christmas holiday a couple or so weeks back and damn, it was impressive..

Before anyone thumbs their noses at the mere thought of Omaha landing both a W and an Omni, I say why not? We could support both- and what a feather in the cap this would be for our downtown core…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

Either would be good gets as well as good competition for Hilton's downtown dominance. Securing both would indeed be a good sign of things to come.

Absolutely- and also Marriott’s downtown presence as well. Correct on all counts..

Would Love to see This happen …

Ciao

[Flyer14]

I keep seeing renderings of the new mutual tower being reposted with the upcoming groundbreaking ceremony, and I can't stop from imaging what a 400' tower (or more) would do for the skyline on this lot. Specifically looking from the Northeast, say on Abbott coming into town. From this angle the gap looks huge between Mutual and FNB, and there is a need in my eye for an aesthetic and tall building. I can understand NYC's desire for more height for all most any project now, well maybe that last part is a stretch lol

[Athomsfere]

I'd love to see something of decent height in North Downtown and South of the current skyline. Drag it out a bit and it will look much, much larger.

Nothing practical to these wishes, though.

[ita]

I'd love to see something of decent height in North Downtown and South of the current skyline. Drag it out a bit and it will look much, much larger.

Nothing practical to these wishes, though.

I wouldn't say there is nothing practical in wanting more height downtown. More height usually means more density. More density means more people using transit, spending dollars at businesses. Higher property tax values than existing empty lots, parking lots, and low rise buildings. Wanting a more impressive skyline fulfills our egos and some practical implications to the city.

[Omaha Cowboy]

I keep seeing renderings of the new mutual tower being reposted with the upcoming groundbreaking ceremony, and I can't stop from imaging what a 400' tower (or more) would do for the skyline on this lot. Specifically looking from the Northeast, say on Abbott coming into town. From this angle the gap looks huge between Mutual and FNB, and there is a need in my eye for an aesthetic and tall building. I can understand NYC's desire for more height for all most any project now, well maybe that last part is a stretch lol

A 400 footer on this parcel, would do wonders in balancing out our downtown skyline..

The good news is, the city is pretty much on the same page for this wish- a tall, significant, skyline enhancing building…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[Doctor Fate]

I keep seeing renderings of the new mutual tower being reposted with the upcoming groundbreaking ceremony, and I can't stop from imaging what a 400' tower (or more) would do for the skyline on this lot. Specifically looking from the Northeast, say on Abbott coming into town. From this angle the gap looks huge between Mutual and FNB, and there is a need in my eye for an aesthetic and tall building. I can understand NYC's desire for more height for all most any project now, well maybe that last part is a stretch lol

A 400 footer on this parcel, would do wonders in balancing out our downtown skyline..

The good news is, the city is pretty much on the same page for this wish- a tall, significant, skyline enhancing building…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

I'm envisioning a big first floor lobby with retail and a large conference room, 10 floors for a high end hotel and amenities (including a top floor pr roof top restaurant and bar), 10 floors for office, and 7+ floors for residential.

That would cover everything the mayor said that developers are telling Hee they want to put here. I like that too because you don't need a huge office tenant to start commit before starting construction, you could get one or two medium sized companies. Or maybe a larger company who doesn't have to bring all their Omaha employees to a new downtown location. And the hotel and its amenities/restaurant/bar could be attractive to potential tenants and residents.

[Omaha Cowboy]

I keep seeing renderings of the new mutual tower being reposted with the upcoming groundbreaking ceremony, and I can't stop from imaging what a 400' tower (or more) would do for the skyline on this lot. Specifically looking from the Northeast, say on Abbott coming into town. From this angle the gap looks huge between Mutual and FNB, and there is a need in my eye for an aesthetic and tall building. I can understand NYC's desire for more height for all most any project now, well maybe that last part is a stretch lol

A 400 footer on this parcel, would do wonders in balancing out our downtown skyline..

The good news is, the city is pretty much on the same page for this wish- a tall, significant, skyline enhancing building…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

I'm envisioning a big first floor lobby with retail and a large conference room, 10 floors for a high end hotel and amenities (including a top floor pr roof top restaurant and bar), 10 floors for office, and 7+ floors for residential.

That would cover everything the mayor said that developers are telling Hee they want to put here. I like that too because you don't need a huge office tenant to start commit before starting construction, you could get one or two medium sized companies. Or maybe a larger company who doesn't have to bring all their Omaha employees to a new downtown location. And the hotel and its amenities/restaurant/bar could be attractive to potential tenants and residents.

I agree with your vision for this. I really believe a high end hospitality component will be a major part of whatever plan ends up landing here…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[Kminustwo]

Agreed! How sweet would a mix use, hotel, condo development be for this site?

[Omaha Cowboy]

Agreed! How sweet would a mix use, hotel, condo development be for this site?

I would be- Very!..

And welcome to the forum …

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[Athomsfere]

I'd love to see something of decent height in North Downtown and South of the current skyline. Drag it out a bit and it will look much, much larger.

Nothing practical to these wishes, though.

I wouldn't say there is nothing practical in wanting more height downtown. More height usually means more density. More density means more people using transit, spending dollars at businesses. Higher property tax values than existing empty lots, parking lots, and low rise buildings. Wanting a more impressive skyline fulfills our egos and some practical implications to the city.

In my thought process: 50+ stories in a city like Omaha is super cool. But also sort of an indication of something else having gone horribly wrong in our history.

Really gross examples: Devon Tower in OKC with two blocks of parking lots leading up to it. It creates a terrible pedestrian experience to have 1/2 of your "walkshed" to have nothing for the pedestrian there. 3 270 foot buildings would be more practical overall than that single 800ft tower.

Or Elmwood here. Our ~3rd tallest building right next to detached SFH housing?

Surely it's better/ more practical to have rowhouses, townhomes, and mixed use in the general area rather than a single high rise.


So from the perspective of: We could have a city of attached, single family housing all along Dodge, Center, Pacific etc, to 72nd st, and mid rise buildings dotting the core with mixed use splashed in both and it would be far more practical overall. As well as lending us the density to satisfy the north american concept of "density requirements" to give us real transit.

So from that perspective: I say there is no real practical reason to want high rises north and south of our CBD. There are more immediate and practical goals we should want. But I want the coolness of more highrises too.

[skip]

Rumor alert: 50 story mixed use skyscraper going on this location. Very reliable source.

[Garrett]

Sweet mother of god I can't with all of these rumors hahaha

[ita]

Sweet mother of god I can't with all of these rumors hahaha

Yeah on a Sunday night with no significant development news. Nice.

Skip is new but seems like a real person, unless they've been acting like a real user for 3 months just to string us along and drop this 50 story rumor.

[Doctor Fate]

Sweet mother of god I can't with all of these rumors hahaha

Yeah on a Sunday night with no significant development news. Nice.

Skip is new but seems like a real person, unless they've been acting like a real user for 3 months just to string us along and drop this 50 story rumor.

From a very reliable source, skip is npdodger12's dad.

[thenewguy]

Rumor alert: 50 story mixed use skyscraper going on this location. Very reliable source.

Not being cynical...but prove it

[Doctor Fate]

Rumor alert: 50 story mixed use skyscraper going on this location. Very reliable source.

Is this one of the submitted RFPs or the one that was selected?

[Garrett]

And what exactly is going in it?

[skip]

Yeah it’s one of the submitted RFPs and it sounds like the city will be going with this option. But like I said, it is a rumor and I can’t 100% confirm it. Figured to toss it on the thread when I heard about this weekend.

[skip]

And what exactly is going in it?

Didn’t get any details on what was going in it except for Luxury condos/penthouses - but I don’t know how much office/retail/hotel is going in it.

[stormchaser]

I’m cautiously optimistic but it’s difficult to be anything more than that. More details/announcement timeline, etc would maybe help but even then, as we all know, until dirt is being moved, steel is going up, etc it can still fail to happen.

Here’s hoping something like this does…

[Doctor Fate]

Yeah it’s one of the submitted RFPs and it sounds like the city will be going with this option. But like I said, it is a rumor and I can’t 100% confirm it. Figured to toss it on the thread when I heard about this weekend.

Didn’t get any details on what was going in it except for Luxury condos/penthouses - but I don’t know how much office/retail/hotel is going in it.

Thanks for the info! If this pans out, it will be an awesome addition.

[Garrett]

While residential buildings do tend to be shorter, they could end up reaching for tallest building with this.

[ita]

Yeah it’s one of the submitted RFPs and it sounds like the city will be going with this option. But like I said, it is a rumor and I can’t 100% confirm it. Figured to toss it on the thread when I heard about this weekend.

Didn’t get any details on what was going in it except for Luxury condos/penthouses - but I don’t know how much office/retail/hotel is going in it.

Thanks for the info! If this pans out, it will be an awesome addition.

Skip, thanks for the info and for being upfront. This is all just a rumor.

The optimistic side of me thinks the developer on this potential residential mixed used highrise knows what's going on at the mercantile. Whoever is landing there will need significantly more nearby high quality housing. All conjecture but I want to believe.

To Garrett's point, even if it's all residential, this is a 500+ footer. Two true skyscrapers in a decade would be huge for downtown.

Edit: I know I am putting the cart before the horse, but I looked up a recent residential high rise in Austin, their tallest, the Independent. It's 58 stories at 690 feet, or about 11.8 feet per story. So a 50 story tower would put this rumored tower at around 590 feet.

[Doctor Fate]

To Garrett's point, even if it's all residential, this is a 500+ footer. Two true skyscrapers in a decade would be huge for downtown.

Edit: I know I am putting the cart before the horse, but I looked up a recent residential high rise in Austin, their tallest, the Independent. It's 58 stories at 690 feet, or about 11.8 feet per story. So a 50 story tower would put this rumored tower at around 590 feet.

The Modern Austin Residences tower is under construction and will be 55 floors and 658 ft. That's about 11.96 ft per floor, which would put this at 598 ft if it's all residential. But from what the mayor has said, it'll be mixed use...which would make this another 600 footer.

[NEDodger]

No offense to Skip (I don't think he's lying - I just question the accuracy of the person he's hearing it from), but I'd prefer to hear something from Omaha Cowboy's buddy before I jump through any excitement hoops.

[stormchaser]

Yeah, who knows.

IF the rumor IS true, I'd assume an official announcement can't be too far off?

Maybe 60-90 days?

But seriously, I'd assume we will hear something relatively soon...

[Athomsfere]

I'd put the odds here at like 20%.

While we are almost half the size of Austin, and they have several really tall resi towers, we don't have:

1) The money of Austin's tech, 2) The explosive growth of the sunbelt (Healthy growth, but...) 3) Any proven local projects to entice an investment like this 4) Austin's level of focus on adding density

On top of that, Omaha tends to undershoot major projects. Some exceptions of course like the Qwest / CHI center.

It isn't that I think it wouldn't work, I just don't expect any of our local developers to take on that risk there.

[Louie]

No offense to Skip (I don't think he's lying - I just question the accuracy of the person he's hearing it from), but I'd prefer to hear something from Omaha Cowboy's buddy before I jump through any excitement hoops.

Cowboy, please confirm this rumor as true. For all of us.

[SunMan]

Curb your Enthusiasm - Larry David

[Omaha Cowboy]

No offense to Skip (I don't think he's lying - I just question the accuracy of the person he's hearing it from), but I'd prefer to hear something from Omaha Cowboy's buddy before I jump through any excitement hoops.

Cowboy, please confirm this rumor as true. For all of us.

The Cryptic Rumor Department has no knowledge of the info skip is relaying; but if I am provided any Intel, it will be communicated here..

Here’s what we do know- the city has currently received multiple RFP’s for this parcel. Nothing has been shared with any media outlets as it relates to any specifics of any of these proposals..

It is possible the info skip is relaying is a piece of one of the proposed RFP’s..and I don’t doubt that skip is honestly relaying what he heard- which we do appreciate ..

Right now, let’s just digest this..and like I said, if any intel comes my way, I’ll share what I can here…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[Doctor Fate]

It is possible the info skip is relaying is a piece of one of the proposed RFP’s..and I don’t doubt that skip is honestly relaying what he heard- which we do appreciate ..

Skip did say it was one of the RFPs and the one that it seemed like the city was going to go with.

[Bob from Omaha]

Put me in for the Jimmy Johns on the 35th and the dollar store on the 42nd.