Walter Apartments (SEC 50th & Leavenworth)

[S.O.Boy]

The day care across the street closed, very sad and unfortunate situation there. Maybe this development can spark some kind of retail there because the building looks decent from the outside. Looking forward to this one!

There has been some activity in that building. The other day I noticed curtains on all the windows closed.

[Vitruvius]

Ya'll are really acting like every building built back in the day was a stunning architectural marvel and we only just started building bland buildings in the last couple decades.

Who are "ya’ll"? The majority here have a tantrum when historic preservation is even mentioned and only view debates through a black-and-white prism.

It’s hard to say if “every building built back in the day was a stunning architectural marvel." Very little tangible evidence exists because the majority of the past has been demolished and left in a landfill somewhere.
It’s a good idea for everyone, especially the bean counters, to remember that architectural heritage is an economic resource.

As far as the last couple of decades, very little, if any building, will ever be considered an “architectural marvel," not in Omaha. There has to be art in the architecture to accomplish that, and mere construction is not architecture. Just because anyone with money can call themselves a developer doesn't mean they have any aptitude for architecture and design.
Healthy, responsible development can only happen when the pedestrian, as in the human being, becomes the priority once again, rather than the automobile.

Omaha continues to be filled with the vast majority of its architectural history. Neighborhood after neighborhood is filled with homes and buildings original to the early days of the city. Yes, there are several notable losses in the city like the old city hall, post office, and Jobbers canyon. But the vast majority of the city is just standard, small, single family homes with little architecture to note. Bland architecture has existed throughout history, and will continue to exist. Quite frankly, good architecture has and will continue to cost money and mostly be for the wealthy.

Are you arguing for better architectural standards or better urban design standards? While they are related, they are still two different things. Thus far all of your critiques have been architecture based. It’s very possible to have a human scale district filled with bland buildings.

My criticism is of both architectural and urban design. Omaha has an abysmal record of protecting and respecting it's architectural heritage. Most of what is built today is just a box covered in random selections of pre-fab materials. AI could probably produce better work and probably has. There's strong evidence a very real lack of design education has existed for many years.
To say that "several notable losses" is the extent of the record in Omaha is misleading and completely untrue.
And the character of the city's established and/or historic neighborhoods is at risk every day. They're given virtually no consideration or respect by the parties throwing up these 5/1 boxes.
Design doesn't require more money to be good, it requires talent and a first rate education... and putting the greater good before money and politics.

[thenewguy]

I watched something online the other day about why there are so many 5 over 1 boxes in the US vs cities in Europe and it has to do with fire code. Here, there is a requirement to have 2 stairwells in every building, so that means there's a significant portion of the interior occupied by a hallway and stairwells. In many European cities, they have a more functional layout to do smaller footprint apartment buildings as a result. It also means that they can fit more people into an area simply because there's a greater percentage of usable square footage than here. More people = need for more amenities, and thus creating that vibe we are all after (walkability, less need for a car, etc). That's why we keep seeing these nearly-city-block sized buildings that don't fit as many people as they could. And since every bedroom has to have a window, that limits how many 2 bed+ apartments a building can have (cause they are usually on corners, where as the ones along the central hall usually can only be 1 bed in order for the developer to get as many different tenants as possible). Not saying it's right or wrong, but certain regulations have direct impact on design. I suspect there is a compromise on materials and design as a result, in order to keep overall costs down

[TitosBuritoBarn]

Design doesn't require more money to be good, it requires talent and a first rate education... and putting the greater good before money and politics.

You stated that design doesn't cost money to be good and then listed two things that cost money.

Not to suggest that I think that there are not ways to improve development projects from a design perspective - I don't understand developers' frequent use of tiny windows or odd primary entry placements, as examples - but sometimes the best designs just don't work on the pro forma.

[legato9]

I regularly see designs that could be improved in ways that would likely cost less.

What we have are developers with bad or no taste who do not consult with professional designers / architects. (Or worse, they do consult with them, but hamstring them into making bad choices.)

I can just imagine these developers saying “Yeah, that looks good” while peering over a design that does not, in fact, look good by any rational criteria.

[Louie]

New rendering:

[Flyer14]

I prefer the new rendering, in case you all were wondering lol. To reiterate, anything is better than what is currently there. About three weeks ago a pickup with a bed liner full of yard waste and trash just simply drove up, pulled the liner full of trash out of the bed, dumped it, and drove away, and now there is another huge pile of |expletive| left there. Idk what that says about the state of some people's mind in our city.

[Louie]

I prefer the new rendering, in case you all were wondering lol. To reiterate, anything is better than what is currently there. About three weeks ago a pickup with a bed liner full of yard waste and trash just simply drove up, pulled the liner full of trash out of the bed, dumped it, and drove away, and now there is another huge pile of |expletive| left there. Idk what that says about the state of some people's mind in our city.

That pile of dirt on a plastic tarp is historic

[GenX]

Are they afraid of color?

[nativeomahan]

Are they afraid of color?

Have you priced paint lately?

[Vitruvius]

Design doesn't require more money to be good, it requires talent and a first rate education... and putting the greater good before money and politics.

You stated that design doesn't cost money to be good and then listed two things that cost money.

Not to suggest that I think that there are not ways to improve development projects from a design perspective - I don't understand developers' frequent use of tiny windows or odd primary entry placements, as examples - but sometimes the best designs just don't work on the pro forma.

I said, "Design doesn't require more money to be good." In other words, excellent design doesn't have to be expensive, especially when legitimate talent is involved. 
Unfortunately, Omaha seems to aspire to mediocrity.

[Vitruvius]

New rendering:

Overall, it's ever so representative of the character and history of the neighborhood. Such breathtaking eclecticism. The adobe hacienda influence is ingenious. The choice of white is, well, so very white. I suppose it may lack minimalism, but if it becomes any more minimal, it might be too appealing or visually hypnotic to anyone passing by on foot or bicycle.

[windsor]

Never judge a project buy the rendering, they never turn out the same. I love these great infill projects. This project will greatly transform this rundown midtown corner.

[Vitruvius]

Never judge a project buy the rendering, they never turn out the same. I love these great infill projects. This project will greatly transform this rundown midtown corner.

Yes, they're always more disappointing. Mediocrity is never great infill or transformative. The scale will overwhelm, and the aesthetic... well, there is no aesthetic; a plastic bucket has a greater aesthetic.

[Garrett]

“The scale will overwhelm” is Omaha also proposing a 1900 ft tower on this lot and I’m just missing it? It’s a 4 story building not the Burj Khalifa

[iamjacobm]

The new white brick makes me think of these buildings in Chicago that I always liked. (Yes I know the million dollar condos are different than apartments I still like the while brick)

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.9513694 ... ?entry=ttu

[Flyer14]

https://www.3newsnow.com/central-omaha ... -character

[iamjacobm]

Preserve Omaha's president using their voice to say "It was at one time a really neat mid-century strip mall or mid-century business park and I would have loved to see it get restored" is a total waste of what little political capital that organization has.

[halgy]

Delaying development to save a "historic laundromat" was a joke when San Fransisco did it. It is almost hilarious to see the same NIMBY attitude here.

[legato9]

There was a “for sale” sign on that building forever. This douchelord had every opportunity to buy it and turn it into anything he wanted.

[Vitruvius]

Preserve Omaha's president using their voice to say "It was at one time a really neat mid-century strip mall or mid-century business park and I would have loved to see it get restored" is a total waste of what little political capital that organization has.

Yes, it's a ridiculous statement. But what is even more ridiculous is a civic environment that relishes the demolition of history and embraces the practice of scorched-earth urban development.
"Political capital" is virtually impossible to build in a city where an elitist group has cornered the market on using 'political capital' to create non-inclusive urban development policy and a process that, with a few exceptions, delivers nothing more than insipid results.

[Vitruvius]

There was a “for sale” sign on that building forever. This douchelord had every opportunity to buy it and turn it into anything he wanted.

"douchelord"? Really?
Apparently developers and their groupies revert to the juvenile when anyone observes the mediocrity they push.
Don't remarks like that get a warning of expulsion? Or do the developer groupies get a pass?

[Vitruvius]

Delaying development to save a "historic laundromat" was a joke when San Fransisco did it. It is almost hilarious to see the same NIMBY attitude here.

At least San Francisco appears to be getting something close to architecture designed by an architect with taste and an idea.

[Nosebot]

You're The guy in that article huh?

[Louie]

Yes, it's a ridiculous statement. But what is even more ridiculous is a civic environment that relishes the demolition of history and embraces the practice of scorched-earth urban development.

When was the last time this happened in any scale?

[legato9]

I deleted a couple posts of mine. I may have jumped the gun.

I certainly support anyone’s right to advocate for what they believe in. For some reason, though, I had it in my head that someone had argued for government prevention of this project, which I believe is fundamentally wrong.

However, I don’t rightly know where I got that idea. It wasn’t in the article. So that’s my bad. Apologies.

[Vitruvius]

|||
___San Franscico_________Omaha
___2918 Mission__________50th & Leavenworth
___(replaces a laundromat)__(replaces a laundromat)
___relavent context.............................irrelavent context
___uplifting...............................................depressing
___pedestrian.........................................driver
___professional......................................amateur
___attractive............................................institutional
___graceful...............................................inelegant
___superb..................................................abysmal
___fulfillment................___.................dereliction

[OracleOfOmaha]

|||
___San Franscico_________Omaha
___2918 Mission__________50th & Leavenworth
___(replaces a laundromat)__(replaces a laundromat)
___relavent context.............................irrelavent context
___uplifting...............................................depressing
___pedestrian.........................................driver
___professional......................................amateur
___attractive............................................institutional
___graceful...............................................inelegant
___superb..................................................abysmal
___fulfillment................___.................dereliction

No way. The place 10 minutes from the ocean in one of the larger metropolitan cities in America has a better building plan than 50th and Leavenworth. That's crazy. The cost to purchase the land was $13.5 million in 2018? And has that building even broken ground yet?

We need to live in reality sometimes.

[halgy]

|||
___San Franscico_________Omaha
___2918 Mission__________50th & Leavenworth
___(replaces a laundromat)__(replaces a laundromat)
___relavent context.............................irrelavent context
___uplifting...............................................depressing
___pedestrian.........................................driver
___professional......................................amateur
___attractive............................................institutional
___graceful...............................................inelegant
___superb..................................................abysmal
___fulfillment................___.................dereliction

What do you propose happens with the land instead, and when do you plan to get started?

[bldgengineer2015]

As someone who is very familiar with this project, the current building design doesn't look like the rendering that is being bashed.

[Athomsfere]

|||
___San Franscico_________Omaha
___2918 Mission__________50th & Leavenworth
___(replaces a laundromat)__(replaces a laundromat)
___8 Stories.............................4 stories
___75 Units...............................................53 units
___Adds needed housing.........................................Adds needed housing
___Expensive contruction......................................5/1 is cheaper

That would be about how I'd do it...

[Nosebot]

I used to do street art, I can spray paint the building If that would help.

[Vitruvius]

|||
___San Franscico_________Omaha
___2918 Mission__________50th & Leavenworth
___(replaces a laundromat)__(replaces a laundromat)
___8 Stories.............................4 stories
___75 Units...............................................53 units
___Adds needed housing.........................................Adds needed housing
___Expensive contruction......................................5/1 is cheaper

That would be about how I'd do it...

Cheap is correct. But that's signature leadership for the last 50yrs - Kmart aesthetics and a waste of resources.
In 30 years it will look like the laundromat it's replacing. But of course that's what the demolition happy plan for.

[Flyer14]

Excavator was parked here over the weekend. Laundromat was destroyed and being hauled away today.

[Brad]

Excavator was parked here over the weekend. Laundromat was destroyed and being hauled away today.

Finally, great news!

[nativeomahan]

Yes I saw that over the weekend and thought “finally, evidence of something happening”. It’s been a true eyesore.

[Brad]

Foundation appears to be mostly in.

[BIGO88]

Updated rendering

[skinzfan23]

Definitely like that look a lot better than the previous rendering.

[windsor]

I love all these infill project. Omaha is getting better and better by the day. New rendering looks great too.