The Arthur (SEC 48th and Dodge)

[Brad]

Great to see work will start next week!

[Louie]

Great to see work will start next week!

Sounds like these neighbors are looking forward to it beginning, too.

[Brad]

Demo is underway.

[Louie]

[Dusty]

LOL! This picture made my day. Thanks for sharing!

It's always hard to let go of homes, but it is for the greater good of the corridor. Hopefully, they will tear down that ugly strip mall across the street on Dodge.

I wish more developers would offer condos vs. apartments. People like dense neighborhoods, but don't want to give up their single family home to go back to renting an apartment. I guess the perk of overbuilding apartments is the market becomes oversaturated and some sell off to become condos.

[Coyote]

Demolition paves way for new apartments on tired block of Dodge Street
City planner says building more density helps address Omaha's affordability crisis.



Demolition crews quickly tore down old houses and commercial buildings off 48th and Dodge, making way for a new apartment complex. The redevelopment project plans to bring 329 units of one- and two-bedroom apartments to the tired block of Midtown. An Omaha city planner says more density helps address Omaha's affordability crisis.

[Brad]

Glad to see the KETV story put a positive spin on this project.

[nativeomahan]

As happy as I am to see more urban density being added along major commuter corridors, I’m also sorry to see such beautiful old homes with great front porches demolished. I guess we can’t have our cake and eat it too.
And I agree that ideally that ugly strip center on the north side of Dodge Street could be replaced by something…anything…nice.

[Garrett]

As happy as I am to see more urban density being added along major commuter corridors, I’m also sorry to see such beautiful old homes with great front porches demolished. I guess we can’t have our cake and eat it too.
And I agree that ideally that ugly strip center on the north side of Dodge Street could be replaced by something…anything…nice.

Yeah there’s a constant conflict in urban growth between preservation and new development, granted, this conflict has kinda only emerged relatively recently. Billionaire’s Row in NYC with some of the tallest buildings in the worlds is on the site of what used to be big glamorous mansions from the gilded age, and had several steps of life in the intervening years.

[ricko]

As happy as I am to see more urban density being added along major commuter corridors, I’m also sorry to see such beautiful old homes with great front porches demolished. I guess we can’t have our cake and eat it too.
And I agree that ideally that ugly strip center on the north side of Dodge Street could be replaced by something…anything…nice.

Yeah there’s a constant conflict in urban growth between preservation and new development, granted, this conflict has kinda only emerged relatively recently. Billionaire’s Row in NYC with some of the tallest buildings in the worlds is on the site of what used to be big glamorous mansions from the gilded age, and had several steps of life in the intervening years.

Especially when you consider that a good number of these 8 figure condos on billionaire’s row aren’t often occupied; they’re just places for Middle Eastern shiek’s and Russian and Chinese oligarchs to park their money.

We have the same thing going on in the Virginia suburbs of DC; lots of big gaudy mansions that must be empty since I rarely see any lights on.

Regarding the Dodge St. apartments, from the renderings it looks like at least some of the units have balconies—-these boxy shaped apartment blocks that are all the rage right now look so much better with them, preferably recessed.

[Flyer14]

I don't see the homes town down as a loss, and with the preservation and renovation of the historical building I think it is a win-win. Being the first house or two off Dodge would be awfully annoying, imo, and I think that along Dodge is better served with a higher density. Just my opinions though.

[skinzfan23]

I am excited for the increased density....I still don't understand the historical significance to the building being saved. There are way more historically significant buildings that the city has allowed to be destroyed. I wish that building were being demolished as well.

[Brad]

I am excited for the increased density....I still don't understand the historical significance to the building being saved. There are way more historically significant buildings that the city has allowed to be destroyed. I wish that building were being demolished as well.

https://landmark.cityofomaha.org/articl ... horizontal.

Year Built: 1948

Architect: John Latenser & Sons

Builder: Unknown

Style: Art Moderne

Designated Omaha Landmark: 4/2/2006

In 1948, A.B. Pittman commissioned John Latenser & Sons to design a building for his veterinarian practice along the Dodge Street commercial corridor. John Latenser and Sons designed the one-story brick building in the Art Moderne Style with clean sweeping lines and an emphasis upon the horizontal. Curved glass block walls and integrated planters grace the ends of the front façade while a sign above the front door spells out the business’s name in neon letters. Dr. A.B. Pittman, Omaha’s first African American veterinarian and a respected civic leader, operated a successful practice out of the building until his death in 1990. A veterinarian practice continues to operate out of the building today.

[skinzfan23]

Sorry I should have been more specific, I have seen that writeup, but its hard to understand what deems a building worthy of staying...(prob a lot of cost analysis and whether it would be cheaper to rebuild or if the building is even structurally sound)

I just feel that there are a lot more historic and noteworthy buildings that have been destroyed (obviously Jobber's canyon, and more recently the old Sol's warehouse that was torn down in the builders district, but many others within the urban core as well) just wish that they would have been protected as well.

[Dusty]

I am excited for the increased density....I still don't understand the historical significance to the building being saved. There are way more historically significant buildings that the city has allowed to be destroyed. I wish that building were being demolished as well.

I agree. I think the building they are saving looks completely out of place. Some of the houses they tore down had more character than this building. Overall, love the added density.

[Athomsfere]

I am excited for the increased density....I still don't understand the historical significance to the building being saved. There are way more historically significant buildings that the city has allowed to be destroyed. I wish that building were being demolished as well.

I agree. I think the building they are saving looks completely out of place. Some of the houses they tore down had more character than this building. Overall, love the added density.

I've always been under the impression that historic and preserved buildings generally should check a few boxes other than just old, and has character.

Being one, or one of a few examples of a style, having a feature, or being from a distinct era.
e.g. A 1970 Victorian style home would be much more rare and defendable than an 1880s example since they were built often, and in huge numbers compared to any revival attempt of the 70s,

Or the Sprecht building being the only remaining example of a cast iron facade in Omaha.

Same with a famous architect. Any example is a good candidate for preservation, but especially an odd example from their portfolio.

Famous tenants are another good one. And in this case: The first vet clinic owned a black person in Omaha, who was involved in the community.


So yeah, I think this building deserves preservation more than those homes.

[GenX]

I am excited for the increased density....I still don't understand the historical significance to the building being saved. There are way more historically significant buildings that the city has allowed to be destroyed. I wish that building were being demolished as well.

I agree. I think the building they are saving looks completely out of place. Some of the houses they tore down had more character than this building. Overall, love the added density.

Famous tenants are another good one. And in this case: The first vet clinic owned a black person in Omaha, who was involved in the community.

Pretty sure it was the other way around...

[Athomsfere]

I am excited for the increased density....I still don't understand the historical significance to the building being saved. There are way more historically significant buildings that the city has allowed to be destroyed. I wish that building were being demolished as well.

I agree. I think the building they are saving looks completely out of place. Some of the houses they tore down had more character than this building. Overall, love the added density.

Famous tenants are another good one. And in this case: The first vet clinic owned a black person in Omaha, who was involved in the community.

Pretty sure it was the other way around...

The first involved in the community who was also a black person owned by a vet clinic?

That doesn't sound right at all...

[GenX]

I am excited for the increased density....I still don't understand the historical significance to the building being saved. There are way more historically significant buildings that the city has allowed to be destroyed. I wish that building were being demolished as well.

I agree. I think the building they are saving looks completely out of place. Some of the houses they tore down had more character than this building. Overall, love the added density.

Famous tenants are another good one. And in this case: The first vet clinic owned a black person in Omaha, who was involved in the community.

Pretty sure it was the other way around...

The first involved in the community who was also a black person owned by a vet clinic?

That doesn't sound right at all...

Should have said "The first vet clinic owned BY a black person in Omaha..."

[aubry19841]

[Brad]

Aerial Photo 11/15/2023

1.

20231115881A0543.jpg

[nativeomahan]

Judging from the massive hole in the ground they must be planning multiple levels of underground parking on the west side.

[bldgengineer2015]

Judging from the massive hole in the ground they must be planning multiple levels of underground parking on the west side.

Yep. There will be two levels of parking on the west end.

[almighty_tuna]

Very cool

[iamjacobm]

Wood framing is going up, should pop up pretty quickly now.

[skinzfan23]

[Brad]

Aerial Photo Update from Halloween.

1.

20241031881A9010.jpg

2.

20241031881A9025.jpg

[skinzfan23]

Coming along nicely.

[BRoss]

According to Grow Omaha, this is being called The Arthur, named for Dr. Arthur Pittman who was Omaha’s first African-American veterinarian and a prominent civic leader.

https://growomaha.com/developers-announ ... near-unmc/

[Brad]

Photo Update

1.

20250316881A4892.jpg

[skinzfan23]

Great photo update! The building itself looks a little sterile.

[daveoma]

Thank you for the photos Brad!

[GenX]

Photo Update

1.
20250316881A4892.jpg

How big is this vs Mercantile? It’s a massive building!

[Brad]

You're Welcome.

How big is this vs Mercantile? It’s a massive building!

379 for the Mercantile, 329 for the Arthur. The Mercantile has a lot of retail space too, where the Arthur has none.

[skinzfan23]

I think the finishes on the Mercantile are much more high-end as well. My guess is the rent is too.

[Mapguy]

Im kinda surprised with this being an entire city block they couldn't fit in 1 commercial bay for some kind of small convenience store for the residents and surrounding neighborhood. Dodge is very busy---it seems like a missed opportunity.

[skip]

don't need more commercial space when its not needed in the area. walk one block to get your coffee.

[F0R_L1F3]

With this project, this area very much needs to undergo a streetscape project. The development is nice but they can't rely solely on these new developments to improve the walking conditions. Continue walking past this project and at 49th and Dodge only shows how small those sidewalks are. There is a few businesses down the road as well that are nice but really need more sidewalk space on Dodge.

[TitosBuritoBarn]

With this project, this area very much needs to undergo a streetscape project. The development is nice but they can't rely solely on these new developments to improve the walking conditions. Continue walking past this project and at 49th and Dodge only shows how small those sidewalks are. There is a few businesses down the road as well that are nice but really need more sidewalk space on Dodge.

Precisely. It may seem intuitive that density should thrive on a heavily traveled arterial, but quite the opposite is true without proper accommodations. Dodge is not a comfortable walking environment. Nor is it a comfortable cycling environment. Even if they build a number of these apartment buildings with retail, it still wouldn't attract a lot of walkers without a streetscape adjustment because five lanes of commuting traffic feels uninviting and unsafe. The pollution created isn't particularly healthy either.

[mistergutierrez]

To be honest, I would reduce Dodge from 5 to 4 lanes between 48th and 52nd street, and give that gained extra space to sidewalks.