Omaha Police and Omaha Fire Dept HQ (Crossroads)

[Big E]

They might as well throw in the Jeddah Tower in the next article

Shame that was destroyed in a mining disaster.

[NEDodger]

I'll reiterate my land trade idea:

1.) Give the Children's Museum land on the riverfront, across from the Luminarium.
2.) Use the current Children's Museum land to build this Police/Fire HQ.
3.) Sell the current Police and Fire HQ's land for redevelopment.

You give the Children's Museum a better site to integrate it with other Omaha attractions, you get a mid-rise in the downtown area but in a spot that doesn't eat up better suited development in the core, and you can use the proceeds from the land sales to help with these transitions.

[OmahaJaysCU]

I'll reiterate my land trade idea:

1.) Give the Children's Museum land on the riverfront, across from the Luminarium.
2.) Use the current Children's Museum land to build this Police/Fire HQ.
3.) Sell the current Police and Fire HQ's land for redevelopment.

You give the Children's Museum a better site to integrate it with other Omaha attractions, you get a mid-rise in the downtown area but in a spot that doesn't eat up better suited development in the core, and you can use the proceeds from the land sales to help with these transitions.

THIS!

[Omaha Cowboy]

Friends-

I’d like to reiterate (again) that this potential development is a long, LONG way from happening..and it might not happen in downtown at all. It’s more expensive to build there. It’s likely this development (whenever it happens) will locate in the traditional “mid town” area where the old Mutual HQ’s is currently housed..

We’ll see…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[Linkin5]

If they want an actual tower built why not use the lot currently with the ugly three story red Nebraska state building? Based on the prior planning documents they wanted a tower on this lot.

[NEDodger]

Friends-

I’d like to reiterate (again) that this potential development is a long, LONG way from happening..and it might not happen in downtown at all. It’s more expensive to build there. It’s likely this development (whenever it happens) will locate in the traditional “mid town” area where the old Mutual HQ’s is currently housed..

We’ll see…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

!?!?!

If streetcar development is to be believed, isn't Mutual's current location going to be amongst the hottest property in the city?

I would think that would be significantly more expensive than the comparative hodgepodge location of 20th and Howard/St. Mary's Ave.

[Omaha Cowboy]

Friends-

I’d like to reiterate (again) that this potential development is a long, LONG way from happening..and it might not happen in downtown at all. It’s more expensive to build there. It’s likely this development (whenever it happens) will locate in the traditional “mid town” area where the old Mutual HQ’s is currently housed..

We’ll see…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

!?!?!

If streetcar development is to be believed, isn't Mutual's current location going to be amongst the hottest property in the city?

I would think that would be significantly more expensive than the comparative hodgepodge location of 20th and Howard/St. Mary's Ave.

Not sure about that.. But I guess I’m just not that fired up (yet) over this idea, which in its conceptual stages, might be 5-7 years (or longer) from a groundbreaking. The boondoggle that turned out to be the new Juvenile Justice Center (downtown) took 5 years to complete after it was proposed (and eventually scaled back)..

I wouldn’t be surprised if in the end, this development ends up outside of the downtown core area. But like I said, we’ll see what comes of this. I think whatever this morphs into, I predict will take awhile. And I have serious doubts it’ll end up as a 20 story highrise downtown (as much as my height obsessed soul would love to see).. Hope I’m wrong…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[NEDodger]

Friends-

I’d like to reiterate (again) that this potential development is a long, LONG way from happening..and it might not happen in downtown at all. It’s more expensive to build there. It’s likely this development (whenever it happens) will locate in the traditional “mid town” area where the old Mutual HQ’s is currently housed..

We’ll see…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

!?!?!

If streetcar development is to be believed, isn't Mutual's current location going to be amongst the hottest property in the city?

I would think that would be significantly more expensive than the comparative hodgepodge location of 20th and Howard/St. Mary's Ave.

Not sure about that.. But I guess I’m just not that fired up (yet) over this idea, which in its conceptual stages, might be 5-7 years (or longer) from a groundbreaking. The boondoggle that turned out to be the new Juvenile Justice Center (downtown) took 5 years to complete after it was proposed (and eventually scaled back)..

I wouldn’t be surprised if in the end, this development ends up outside of the downtown core area. But like I said, we’ll see what comes of this. I think whatever this morphs into, I predict will take awhile. And I have serious doubts it’ll end up as a 20 story highrise downtown (as much as my height obsessed soul would love to see).. Hope I’m wrong…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

Yeah, I don’t see it being 20. That would put it at about twice the size of the city building which just doesn’t seem realistic. Even with a parking garage base I can’t see it being above 10-12.

[thenewguy]

Friends-

I’d like to reiterate (again) that this potential development is a long, LONG way from happening..and it might not happen in downtown at all. It’s more expensive to build there. It’s likely this development (whenever it happens) will locate in the traditional “mid town” area where the old Mutual HQ’s is currently housed..

We’ll see…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

!?!?!

If streetcar development is to be believed, isn't Mutual's current location going to be amongst the hottest property in the city?

I would think that would be significantly more expensive than the comparative hodgepodge location of 20th and Howard/St. Mary's Ave.

Not sure about that.. But I guess I’m just not that fired up (yet) over this idea, which in its conceptual stages, might be 5-7 years (or longer) from a groundbreaking. The boondoggle that turned out to be the new Juvenile Justice Center (downtown) took 5 years to complete after it was proposed (and eventually scaled back)..

I wouldn’t be surprised if in the end, this development ends up outside of the downtown core area. But like I said, we’ll see what comes of this. I think whatever this morphs into, I predict will take awhile. And I have serious doubts it’ll end up as a 20 story highrise downtown (as much as my height obsessed soul would love to see).. Hope I’m wrong…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

you've been so right so often, I have to say i agree with you on this one. I could see it downtown, but not in the spots we all hope it'd be to 'fill in the holes'

i could see it being slightly north or south, just off the main core

[ita]

I like the Children's Museum/Riverfront swap. While the public safety HQ is a 'corporate' office, it also is a functional police and fire station. Especially for the fire station, they are considering response times. Moving the currently downtown location to somewhere in midtown throws that off. Additionally, from the police department side of things, if you move it to midtown, you're moving it farther away from the courthouses and the correctional facility, and future protentional mental health facility. Unless they are planning to open freestanding stations in downtown for both police and fire and just move the HQ's to midtown, ala OPL with the main branch move to 72nd, I think this is staying downtown and the Children's Museum property keeps it in the vicinity of the the current locations for maintaining response times and proximity to the courthouses and correctional facility.

Also, maybe the Children's museum is next on the big project list. After the Riverfront is done, the main OPL branch is the next big project Heritage is funding. Maybe they throw another $100 million at a new Children's Museum space? They could build bigger since they can reuse all the current exhibits, but provide a larger space. It's currently 60k sq. ft. and feels very crowded. The Luminarium is an 80k sq. ft. facility, but they had to pay for all new exhibits and programming. While still a well kept facility, it feels too small for our city. Positioning next/near to the Luminarium would be awesome. The Children's museum caters to the under 8 years old group and the Luminarium seems to be catered to older children and above. It is a nice 1-2 punch and creates a possible museum campus on the Riverfront.

[OmahaFan]

Looks like the city is moving ahead

[TitosBuritoBarn]

According to the World Herald, they're anticipating a 2027 opening date if the bonds go through.

https://omaha.com/news/local/govt-and-p ... -top-story

Not sure what the other renderings that were posted looked like, but omaha.com is showing this as an example of the building's potential scale (not it's design):

[Linkin5]

Wonder if they’ll also build the Haymarket buildings in the rendering.

[Omaha Cowboy]

This project, if it actually happens, is a long LONG way off..

Still not feeling this one.

I’m Much more excited for what we could develop downtown, based off the Riverfront Redevelopment Plan, Mutual Skyscraper and streetcar- Like a downtown grocery store, development at 1416 Dodge, along 10th street in the now bursting Mercantile development, the old Civic site also North Downtown etc etc..

Putting multiple votes before the public will essentially delay, if not completely kill this plan idea. I think 2027 is a pipe dream..

Sorry about the wet blanket…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[OmahaJaysCU]

Oh my god can no one read in media? It’s an example of a rendering. JFC

[Coyote]

Omaha City Council approves new fire and police headquarters plans



The Omaha City Council approves a plan to spend nearly $3 million on the early stages of designing a new headquarters for police and fire. The ultimate decision to build will come down to a vote of the people. The Omaha Fire Department’s downtown headquarters was built in 1965. The Omaha Police Department’s downtown headquarters was built in 1970. Experts say both buildings, in terms of function and efficiency, have outlived their usefulness.

[Cermak]

Hard to get to excited about this. Not really expecting much.

[MadJack]

Oh my god can no one read in media? It’s an example of a rendering. JFC

In all fairness, I think people -- including myself -- are befuddled as to how a police/fire headquarters could possibly require anywhere near that height. Furthermore, it's just weird that they used a primarily residential building that's being developed in nearby Lincoln. If they wanted to convey scale they could have chosen some random, generic office building.

[Athomsfere]

Oh my god can no one read in media? It’s an example of a rendering. JFC

In all fairness, I think people -- including myself -- are befuddled as to how a police/fire headquarters could possibly require anywhere near that height. Furthermore, it's just weird that they used a primarily residential building that's being developed in nearby Lincoln. If they wanted to convey scale they could have chosen some random, generic office building.

SO much we don't know about this project. Lot size could make it twice as tall, or 1/2 as tall

I will say: That the city thinks it will be done (with construction) in the Summer of 2027 sounds unrealistic. Unless this is further along than they are letting on.

Site selection
Architectural work
Land acquirement
City voting / approval
Bond acquisition
Construction

All in 4 years from a government body?

[Mjs5050ss]

I know everyone is up in arms about the picture, but I'm more confused about what we are spending $3,000,000 on.

$30K for a 2-day trip. I know I travel on a budget, but I feel I could take 6 people almost anywhere in the country for half of that, let alone Omaha.
$361K for programming? That seems like a lot to look around the current buildings and have a couple of meetings about the needs/wants.
$67K for Site Evaluations... OK sure
$371K for Concept Design. I could see it
$28K Site Due Diligence. So to go back and fix the things you didn't do correctly for $67k
$2 Million Dollars! To actually design it.

In the wake of having "Al Capone of South Omaha" on the City Council, I seem to be questioning the spending of this city a lot more. $3,000,000 seems like a lot of money to spend on something that while needed, probably won't make it past a public vote.

Are these types of projects bid on by other companies? Do we have access to see the bids that didn't win?

[OmahaFan]

I think if it were put to a vote it would win public support. People realize that the buildings that both police and fire have as HQ’s are past their useful life and it’s time for something new to be built. The city is saving money by combining fire and police into one building. As for the price tag they are stating that was the lowest bid on the project. Maybe Omaha could entice the State of Nebraska to pitch in and incorporate state offices inside the tower along with Douglas County Emergency management.

[Athomsfere]

I think if it were put to a vote it would win public support. People realize that the buildings that both police and fire have as HQ’s are past their useful life and it’s time for something new to be built. The city is saving money by combining fire and police into one building. As for the price tag they are stating that was the lowest bid on the project. Maybe Omaha could entice the State of Nebraska to pitch in and incorporate state offices inside the tower along with Douglas County Emergency management.

Might be one of the few good things the state is willing to do.

[Duggers_Dad]

Might be one of the few good things the state is willing to do.
[/quote]

Nebraska must be doing a few good things. US News ranks Nebraska as the 4th best state to live in!

[Brad]

LOL

[ita]

I listened to the portion of the City Council meeting. There are three components, the public safety HQ, a downtown precinct and downtown fire station. These three may or may not be combined. Bond vote in 2024 with goal of no tax increase. 2027 completion date. Rough cost estimate of $80 million. I don't think this is being shot down especially if they do it without increasing taxes. I am pretty confident the voting block in Omaha will get the bonds approved.

[ita]

I know everyone is up in arms about the picture, but I'm more confused about what we are spending $3,000,000 on.

$30K for a 2-day trip. I know I travel on a budget, but I feel I could take 6 people almost anywhere in the country for half of that, let alone Omaha.
$361K for programming? That seems like a lot to look around the current buildings and have a couple of meetings about the needs/wants.
$67K for Site Evaluations... OK sure
$371K for Concept Design. I could see it
$28K Site Due Diligence. So to go back and fix the things you didn't do correctly for $67k
$2 Million Dollars! To actually design it.

In the wake of having "Al Capone of South Omaha" on the City Council, I seem to be questioning the spending of this city a lot more. $3,000,000 seems like a lot of money to spend on something that while needed, probably won't make it past a public vote.

Are these types of projects bid on by other companies? Do we have access to see the bids that didn't win?

There were 8 other bids, according to the city public works guy at the counsel meeting. 3 were interviewed. While those other proposals aren't immediately available, I trust they chose a cost effective proposal. Omaha tends to like to do things on the cheap. Plus, who knows who many other local firms were in the running. Glad Leo A Daly, who already designed the award winning Elkhorn precinct, got the contract. They were able to ultimately help get that project completed under budget through they design and programming process (that's per the Leo A Daly page on the project).

[nebport5]

I listened to the portion of the City Council meeting. There are three components, the public safety HQ, a downtown precinct and downtown fire station. These three may or may not be combined. Bond vote in 2024 with goal of no tax increase. 2027 completion date. Rough cost estimate of $80 million. I don't think this is being shot down especially if they do it without increasing taxes. I am pretty confident the voting block in Omaha will get the bonds approved.

So is $80 mil the combined estimate?

[ita]

I listened to the portion of the City Council meeting. There are three components, the public safety HQ, a downtown precinct and downtown fire station. These three may or may not be combined. Bond vote in 2024 with goal of no tax increase. 2027 completion date. Rough cost estimate of $80 million. I don't think this is being shot down especially if they do it without increasing taxes. I am pretty confident the voting block in Omaha will get the bonds approved.

So is $80 mil the combined estimate?

It wasn't clear from the presentation, but I think it's for everything.

[Ben]

LOL

I knew that couldn't actually be a proposed config for a public safety building... Assumed they stole it from somewhere. Relatively local makes it even funnier and easier to spot.

I highly doubt they'll get a high rise. Decent density, yes, but its all about garage doors for fire, which usually leads to a larger footprint, and not necessarily tall. There are several nice recent examples out there of decent looking public safety campuses that are nice architecturally, mid-rise in stature and fit well in a relatively dense urban environment.

[ita]

I am still hoping the combine HQ is moved to the DC correctional center campus. They are potentially adding mental health community and correctional center facilities there, might as well move the combined public safety HQ there as well. Put it at the corner of Jackson and 18th and call it done.

[OmahaFan]

Haha by the jail aye?

[mgoett]

Put it at the civic and they can use the parking garage

[ita]

Isn't Leo A Daly supposed to finish the site selection study by around this time?

[nebport5]

Isn't Leo A Daly supposed to finish the site selection study by around this time?

October I believe for site selection and two design proposals.

[ita]

Anyone seen or heard any updates about this?

[Athomsfere]

I was just wondering about this too. Seems long overdue.

[OmahaFan]

Well I think the big snag right now is the 911 dispatch issue. If Douglas county and Omaha can’t come to agreement Omaha might need a 911 dispatch center inside there new headquarters then again I would hope they would have put that into the plans already and just move the entire 911 system to the new police headquarters. Personally think that all local law enforcement agencies Douglas county , city of Omaha and state should have offices inside the new building. They could also locate an underground bunker for an emergency command center as well.

[ita]

The mayor just threw this in her state of the City speech. Still working on it. At least it's not dead.

[Athomsfere]

The mayor just threw this in her state of the City speech. Still working on it. At least it's not dead.

Expect the announcement in October / November

[ita]

The mayor just threw this in her state of the City speech. Still working on it. At least it's not dead.

Expect the announcement in October / November

Did someone tell you that? That would put it a year after Leo Daly was scheduled to finish the site selection study.