The Builders District (15th and Mike Fahey)

[iamjacobm]

Sols Warehouse will start coming down on Monday the 17th.
Also, not sure if this has been shared recently.

Woah, where'd you find that? There's some interesting things happening in this new rendering. Taller garages, taller residential buildings, residential on top of garages. It looks like there's new buildings 8+ stories. Here's a render from last year.

This was in the marketing package I linked a few posts up, some other interesting info in there.

[skinzfan23]

Still super sad to see the Sol’s building go. I am sure it’s at least close to 100 years old.

I do like those newer rendering much better though. Definitely much more appealing than just some parking garages.

[ita]

Sols Warehouse will start coming down on Monday the 17th.
Also, not sure if this has been shared recently.

Woah, where'd you find that? There's some interesting things happening in this new rendering. Taller garages, taller residential buildings, residential on top of garages. It looks like there's new buildings 8+ stories. Here's a render from last year.

This was in the marketing package I linked a few posts up, some other interesting info in there.

Huh, how did I miss that? So, at best they were at around 300 residential units. Under the newest rendering, they are more than doubling the estimate to somewhere around 700-800. That's awesome! Still could be more, but that's much better than before. Also, I am liking the mixed residential, hotel building next to the Wareham.

[Stan]

Sols Warehouse will start coming down on Monday the 17th.
Also, not sure if this has been shared recently.

Woah, where'd you find that? There's some interesting things happening in this new rendering. Taller garages, taller residential buildings, residential on top of garages. It looks like there's new buildings 8+ stories. Here's a render from last year.

I didn't see Iamjacobm's post, but these items were posted internally at Kiewit.

[ita]

Sols Warehouse will start coming down on Monday the 17th.
Also, not sure if this has been shared recently.

Woah, where'd you find that? There's some interesting things happening in this new rendering. Taller garages, taller residential buildings, residential on top of garages. It looks like there's new buildings 8+ stories. Here's a render from last year.

I didn't see Iamjacobm's post, but these items were posted internally at Kiewit.

Oh interesting. What was the context of the internal communication? Was it just like, this is what is happening next door type of deal, or did they provide other information?

[Stan]

Sols Warehouse will start coming down on Monday the 17th.
Also, not sure if this has been shared recently.

Woah, where'd you find that? There's some interesting things happening in this new rendering. Taller garages, taller residential buildings, residential on top of garages. It looks like there's new buildings 8+ stories. Here's a render from last year.

I didn't see Iamjacobm's post, but these items were posted internally at Kiewit.

Oh interesting. What was the context of the internal communication? Was it just like, this is what is happening next door type of deal, or did they provide other information?

I would say that those were the most important details of it. I have heard that the renderings are correct and that they will place another slim building in the grassy area next to our parking garage. No idea what it will be used for though.

[ita]

Sols Warehouse will start coming down on Monday the 17th.
Also, not sure if this has been shared recently.

Woah, where'd you find that? There's some interesting things happening in this new rendering. Taller garages, taller residential buildings, residential on top of garages. It looks like there's new buildings 8+ stories. Here's a render from last year.

I didn't see Iamjacobm's post, but these items were posted internally at Kiewit.

Oh interesting. What was the context of the internal communication? Was it just like, this is what is happening next door type of deal, or did they provide other information?

I would say that those were the most important details of it. I have heard that the renderings are correct and that they will place another slim building in the grassy area next to our parking garage. No idea what it will be used for though.

Hmmm, there is a site plan on the prior page of this thread where that slim building in the grassy area next to the garage is marked as a possible Kiewit expansion and more parking. If Kiewit is not looking to expand anymore, I am glad there is could be something going there. It will help hide that massive parking structure.

[Renovator2559]

I am surprised that Kiewit being a Fortune 500 company and being a construction company, Kiewit chose to build a campus that spans multiple blocks, instead of building a highrise.
Is the Kiewit campus and proximity to Creighton the reason of their decision to build low density buildings?
Still, I am not going to lie, what Kiewit has done to north downtown looks nice too.

[Athomsfere]

I am surprised that Kiewit being a Fortune 500 company and being a construction company, Kiewit chose to build a campus that spans multiple blocks, instead of building a highrise.
Is the Kiewit campus and proximity to Creighton the reason of their decision to build low density buildings?
Still, I am not going to lie, what Kiewit has done to north downtown looks nice too.

I can spitball some reasons it could make sense:

Kiewit has a lot of more blue collar business interactions and employees where a shorter building feels less like a liberal conspiracy or something run by big city yuppies that wouldn't "get it" for a less urban site.

But by being downtown, a downtown they have mostly built, they can easily show off projects that they have been a part of. It also gives them easier access to the airport for clients and increasingly a concentrated workforce from the core.

[ita]

I am surprised that Kiewit being a Fortune 500 company and being a construction company, Kiewit chose to build a campus that spans multiple blocks, instead of building a highrise.
Is the Kiewit campus and proximity to Creighton the reason of their decision to build low density buildings?
Still, I am not going to lie, what Kiewit has done to north downtown looks nice too.

I can spitball some reasons it could make sense:

Kiewit has a lot of more blue collar business interactions and employees where a shorter building feels less like a liberal conspiracy or something run by big city yuppies that wouldn't "get it" for a less urban site.

But by being downtown, a downtown they have mostly built, they can easily show off projects that they have been a part of. It also gives them easier access to the airport for clients and increasingly a concentrated workforce from the core.

I think cost is a big factor. Additionally, their HQ isn't a traditional one, where they are housing all of their white collar workforce. The types of jobs you would see at a traditional corporate HQ is diffused among multiple locations. When the Omaha HQ was planned, the offices in KC and Denver were also in the works/under construction. There's even another large office in Omaha which just moved to Paypal. It's just how they've planned their office space with not concentrating all the office jobs in one place.

[Stan]

I am surprised that Kiewit being a Fortune 500 company and being a construction company, Kiewit chose to build a campus that spans multiple blocks, instead of building a highrise.
Is the Kiewit campus and proximity to Creighton the reason of their decision to build low density buildings?
Still, I am not going to lie, what Kiewit has done to north downtown looks nice too.

I can spitball some reasons it could make sense:

Kiewit has a lot of more blue collar business interactions and employees where a shorter building feels less like a liberal conspiracy or something run by big city yuppies that wouldn't "get it" for a less urban site.

But by being downtown, a downtown they have mostly built, they can easily show off projects that they have been a part of. It also gives them easier access to the airport for clients and increasingly a concentrated workforce from the core.

I think cost is a big factor. Additionally, their HQ isn't a traditional one, where they are housing all of their white collar workforce. The types of jobs you would see at a traditional corporate HQ is diffused among multiple locations. When the Omaha HQ was planned, the offices in KC and Denver were also in the works/under construction. There's even another large office in Omaha which just moved to Paypal. It's just how they've planned their office space with not concentrating all the office jobs in one place.

This is exactly it. They built the space they needed here rather than a larger high rise that would sit half empty. We keep our IT group out west and then across the US and Canada, we have regional offices - not just KC and Denver. Proximity to the airport was the other draw for this location with a lot of people traveling to and from Omaha.

[ita]

I am really impressed by how this project is evolving. The Kiewit HQ's garage was a big black eye, in my opinion, for this development, and there have long been free standing garages in the plans. The most recent iteration is a huge step up and I hope Noddle keeps tinkering with it to make it a really vibrant district. It would be sweet to have three or four additional structures in the District with similar massing and height as 37th West.

Also, seeing how Noddle has really improved upon the initial plan, especially since the streetcar and their involvement there, it gets me even more excited about what could happen at the streetcar stop adjacent Lot B property in North Downtown. Instead of the 4+1's we saw in renderings way back when, maybe we get a bunch of CFS or mass timber buildings in the 8+ story range.

[Athomsfere]

I think cost is a big factor.

I would expect the cost difference to be small, no? Wasn't it already steel and concrete? My understanding is that the material choices are the most expensive choice by far, and whether it goes laterally or vertically has a much smaller impact (excluding cost of land).

[Brad]

Sols Warehouse will start coming down on Monday the 17th.

The three or four story red brick building immediately north of the mass timber building? If so, there’s two ambulances and five fire trucks in front of that building right now on Sunday morning.

[nativeomahan]

With the cost of land at a record high I don’t understand why we don’t see more 8-12 story residential buildings? Land cost per unit keeps dropping as you add units to the land. You also add amenities for the people who will buy/lease their homes, such as larger outdoor terraces, a rooftop swimming pool/BBQ/Entertainment area. People happily pay more for more value.

[skip]

With the cost of land at a record high I don’t understand why we don’t see more 8-12 story residential buildings? Land cost per unit keeps dropping as you add units to the land. You also add amenities for the people who will buy/lease their homes, such as larger outdoor terraces, a rooftop swimming pool/BBQ/Entertainment area. People happily pay more for more value.

because prices for materials are also record high...

[Brad]

Photo Update on the Mass Timber building:

[Athomsfere]

That was a hybrid, correct?

[Brad]

That was a hybrid, correct?

Yeah, they are calling it Mass Timber, but its really only the columns around the outside and what I presume will be the lobby.

[Athomsfere]

It is still awesome and gorgeous!

The Conagra is supposed to be a non-hybrid mass timber, from memory though.

[Cermak]

This building should look good, I saw it the other day when I was in North Downtown. This whole development could turn out to be a sleeper and turn out much better than we imagined it would when it was initially announced. As each building gets added it's looking better and better.

[buildomaha]

This building should look good, I saw it the other day when I was in North Downtown. This whole development could turn out to be a sleeper and turn out much better than we imagined it would when it was initially announced. As each building gets added it's looking better and better.

Yes, I am hoping this district goes the way of aksarben and surpassing expectations, since this is also a middle development.

[daveoma]

Thank you for the photo Brad! :-)

[Samuel]

The Mass Timber Building is starting to look sleek! I love the modern take on a warehouse district!

[thenewguy]

it could look cool if they somehow could keep the exterior as sheets of plywood

[Garrett]

Wow this went up fast. Definitely shows some of the advantages of mass timber.

[Samuel]

There’s a lovely similarity in the architecture as that of Mutual of Omaha’s current headquarters. A bit of deco with the long vertical window design. They have started tearing down the Sols warehouse also. N. Downtown will be all shiny and new with the Builder’s District and Millwork Common developments.

[skinzfan23]

I saw that Sol's is already 1/4 of the way down. Still wish they could have found a way to repurpose that building. Unless something is wrong with it. This building has way more character than any building that they are going to build down there.

My guess that Happy Bar is next. I don't understand how other cities can somehow integrate old buildings into everything.

Omaha's philosophy: tear it down, turn it into a parking lot to sit vacant for 20 yrs and then maybe something will be built on the lot.

[Stan]

I am very likely mistaken, but I thought the Happy Bar occupied a protected building. I know it's not showing in the plans so could easily be wrong.

[skip]

I am very likely mistaken, but I thought the Happy Bar occupied a protected building. I know it's not showing in the plans so could easily be wrong.

I believe you are correct. Happy Bar's building will remain.

[skinzfan23]

Posted this in the haunted houses thread as well, but Mystery Manor is closing permanently after 38 years.

Just looked up the property and Creighton purchased the building on 7/31/23 for $425,000. The house was built in 1890. Sad to see it go, and wonder if Creighton is going to acquire the properties to the west on the same block. Hopefully so, those precision tools buildings are ugly.

[JDJase]

Kiewit posted on Facebook a few days ago that the topping-off ceremony was recently held, and the building is expected to be completed in the Spring. 108,000sf, of which 14,000sf will be ground level retail.

Edit: The Facebook post says 14,000 but I noticed the sign says 24,000, which makes more sense.

[Garrett]

This building went up incredibly quickly. Construction started in January, so it’s probably one of the fastest projects I’ve ever seen in the metro. Really good press for anyone else considering a mass timber build in the city.

[Coyote]

Omaha to rename street after war veteran who founded legendary bakery



Near 16th and Cass streets, it begins the story of a 70-year-old north Omaha bakery, now well known as Pettit’s Pastry. As you first walk in, you’re welcomed by the sweet aroma of its donuts and its friendly family service. “My father and my grandpa started the business and my dad took it over in 1962,” said bakery owner Mark Pettit said. “He worked here for over 50 years making fresh pastries and donuts every day and delivering them all over town.” His dad, the late Richard Pettit, took over the business after returning from the Korean War.

[thenewguy]

the reporter kept pronouncing it "pet it", which stuck out to me

[Dusty]

I'm NOT a fan of changing street names for the sake of a few blocks. It's super confusing for navigation. I also find it super annoying in other cities when a street has 3 names. I would be fine honoring the Pettit family a different way. A statue or artwork involving donuts. Picture a giant donut like Chicago's bean, but named Pettit Place. Just leave our streets alone.

Keep 16th street as 16th street
Change Mike Fahey Rd back to Webster
Change Park Ave to 29th Ave

[skinzfan23]

We park outside there for all the Jays games, and coming back to the car for night games, it always smells so delicious!

[jjjjhskr]

I'm NOT a fan of changing street names for the sake of a few blocks. It's super confusing for navigation. I also find it super annoying in other cities when a street has 3 names. I would be fine honoring the Pettit family a different way. A statue or artwork involving donuts. Picture a giant donut like Chicago's bean, but named Pettit Place. Just leave our streets alone.

Keep 16th street as 16th street
Change Mike Fahey Rd back to Webster
Change Park Ave to 29th Ave

It will still be called 16th St but there will be a historic designation street sign also - I think they’re in brown (or some other color)

[ita]

The office building looks mostly done right across Kiewit HQ. This will be a good test for the downtown office market. This is one of the few new construction speculative office buildings/space in downtown for a while. I drove past last week and saw the now leasing sign, so we'll see how it fills up.

[skip]

I checked the Crexi page for the new office building.... Check out this rendering! I haven't seen this one yet. Its a rendering of an apartment building to the south of the new office building.

New Builder's District Rendering - The Square.jpg