Mutual of Omaha Tower (14th & Farnam)

[HighWinds]

Found this image today...

It looks to be an early prototype of the Mutual tower site, as well GLM.

There appears to be a residential tower on the current Mutual lot, as well as mixed use and office space.

[Garrett]

Yeah I think that's an early conceptual rendering from the GLM redesign.

[Doctor Fate]

Found this image today...

It looks to be an early prototype of the Mutual tower site, as well GLM.

There appears to be a residential tower on the current Mutual lot, as well as mixed use and office space.

Before the Mutual tower was announced a MECA executive told me the rendering had a residential tower on the library site with the plan to have it be over 400 ft. Obviously that all changed.

[HighWinds]

Yeah I think that's an early conceptual rendering from the GLM redesign.

That's what I assumed.

It's still cool to see what could've been in another reality...

[almighty_tuna]

Flew back from Nashville yesterday (boy my arms are tired) and you can now see MoO starting to peek up in the skyline.

[nebport5]

https://soundcloud.com/user-697126902/q ... na-edition

[almighty_tuna]

lol

[Linkin5]

Great shot Tuna. Another good spot is the expressway viaduct in CB, it’s beginning to look prominent in the skyline.

[skinzfan23]

Coming southbound on I29, it’s starting to stand out as well.

[nativeomahan]

Was downtown today. Snapped this photo from my car.

[Busguy2010]

Not complaining in any way, I just find it funny how even though the streetcar was part of the deal with this getting done, that so much of it is parking garage. Again, no complaints, because it makes the whole thing bigger and it won't look like garage in the end, just funny.

[frankt]

Not complaining in any way, I just find it funny how even though the streetcar was part of the deal with this getting done, that so much of it is parking garage. Again, no complaints, because it makes the whole thing bigger and it won't look like garage in the end, just funny.

Well, the street car is just so mutual can sell it's languishing midtown properties on farnam for a substantial profit. It was never about anything else.

[Garrett]

Not complaining in any way, I just find it funny how even though the streetcar was part of the deal with this getting done, that so much of it is parking garage. Again, no complaints, because it makes the whole thing bigger and it won't look like garage in the end, just funny.

Well, the street car is just so mutual can sell it's languishing midtown properties on farnam for a substantial profit. It was never about anything else.

Yeah, it’s all about Mutual, it’s not like that exact route has been proposed for 25 years or anything as the most logical start of a streetcar system

[stadsborgare]

Not complaining in any way, I just find it funny how even though the streetcar was part of the deal with this getting done, that so much of it is parking garage. Again, no complaints, because it makes the whole thing bigger and it won't look like garage in the end, just funny.

Well, the street car is just so mutual can sell it's languishing midtown properties on farnam for a substantial profit. It was never about anything else.

Yeah, it’s all about Mutual, it’s not like that exact route has been proposed for 25 years or anything as the most logical start of a streetcar system

But yet the streetcar route as it turns out seems to me the most logical. From the CHI arena past the Capitol District, Steelhouse, GLM, up Farnam past 16th St (Orpheum), close by Joslyn, through Midtown Crossing, ending at Blackstone district close to Med Center, I cannot think of a better starter route than that, whether Mutual had anything to do with it or not.

There's already so many attractions built up along this route with also plenty of opportunities for developing empty lots in between.

[Busguy2010]

Not complaining in any way, I just find it funny how even though the streetcar was part of the deal with this getting done, that so much of it is parking garage. Again, no complaints, because it makes the whole thing bigger and it won't look like garage in the end, just funny.

Well, the street car is just so mutual can sell it's languishing midtown properties on farnam for a substantial profit. It was never about anything else.

Yeah, it’s all about Mutual, it’s not like that exact route has been proposed for 25 years or anything as the most logical start of a streetcar system

I love Sarcastaball...

Really though, nothing wrong with it. Mutual is clearly the main driver of it now. This route is definitely the most logical, Mutual is just a beneficiary of being on Farnam. I do want to point out that the route only became clear after the central Omaha transportation alternative analysis concluded in 2014, so only 10 years. Omaha was very different even only 10 years ago. To put it in perspective, the Blackstone neighborhood hadn't even begun it's renaissance yet.

[Athomsfere]

To put it in perspective, the Blackstone neighborhood hadn't even begun it's renaissance yet.

I don't think that's true. I moved here 10 years ago (nearly, a few months to go). And Blackstone was already the coolest place in town to my new-comer brain. MTC tried, Benson was cool but far away from me who randomly landed on Park Ave.

[Garrett]

To put it in perspective, the Blackstone neighborhood hadn't even begun it's renaissance yet.

I don't think that's true. I moved here 10 years ago (nearly, a few months to go). And Blackstone was already the coolest place in town to my new-comer brain. MTC tried, Benson was cool but far away from me who randomly landed on Park Ave.

Blackstone became the cool neighborhood basically exactly 10 years ago. It wasn't anything when I left town in 2013, hadn't even heard of it before.

[Busguy2010]

To put it in perspective, the Blackstone neighborhood hadn't even begun it's renaissance yet.

I don't think that's true. I moved here 10 years ago (nearly, a few months to go). And Blackstone was already the coolest place in town to my new-comer brain. MTC tried, Benson was cool but far away from me who randomly landed on Park Ave.

Blackstone became the cool neighborhood basically exactly 10 years ago. It wasn't anything when I left town in 2013, hadn't even heard of it before.

I was going to say exactly that Garrett, as I was typing my reply. It was pretty much exactly 10 years ago. Those few months difference mentioned, Athomsfere, was likely the difference for you.

I was also going to mention any of the earliest new builds in Blackstone date back to 2015. Well anyway, it was just an aside to my point of Mutual being in the driver's seat. Mutual built MTC, which all things considered is relatively struggling, or at least not living up to their expectations. They're ditching their old HQ, they're building their new HQ, they own Turner Park East. All on Farnam. They own a significant chunk of land out there and a streetcar would serve them well. The new HQ and streetcar both bargaining chips. It's no secret, and it was discussed here and in the streetcar thread.

And as I said, nothing wrong with it. We're all getting what we want out of it, I just thought it was funny how big the garage is.

[Louie]

Nite Owl opened in 2014, as did Scriptown, Mula, and that's when Sullivan's moved to their new location on the south side of Farnam. I believe those were the first of the revitalization. Not counting the classics like Crescent Moon and Brothers (pour one out).

[Busguy2010]

Nite Owl opened in 2014, as did Scriptown, Mula, and that's when Sullivan's moved to their new location on the south side of Farnam. I believe those were the first of the revitalization. Not counting the classics like Crescent Moon and Brothers (pour one out).

Right, I just looked at the Blackstone thread. Some of the new businesses were in place this time. Just barely. It blew up quickly, pretty much exactly 10 years ago. But still my point was, okay, I'll revisit it. The transportation analysis concluded in 2014, Blackstone was unrecognizable at that time (despite a few of the businesses being open), the Farnam streetcar route had just been identified. So I was refuting Garrett's seemingly sarcastic claim that Mutual had no hand in the streetcar because the route had been around 25 years, which was untrue. My comment about the garage being so large wasn't saying mutual was up to anything nefarious with the streetcar. We all knew when this building was announced, the streetcar was part of the deal.

[Louie]

Nite Owl opened in 2014, as did Scriptown, Mula, and that's when Sullivan's moved to their new location on the south side of Farnam. I believe those were the first of the revitalization. Not counting the classics like Crescent Moon and Brothers (pour one out).

Right, I just looked at the Blackstone thread. Some of the new businesses were in place this time. Just barely. It blew up quickly, pretty much exactly 10 years ago. But still my point was, okay, I'll revisit it. The transportation analysis concluded in 2014, Blackstone was unrecognizable at that time (despite a few of the businesses being open), the Farnam streetcar route had just been identified. So I was refuting Garrett's seemingly sarcastic claim that Mutual had no hand in the streetcar because the route had been around 25 years, which was untrue. My comment about the garage being so large wasn't saying mutual was up to anything nefarious with the streetcar. We all knew when this building was announced, the streetcar was part of the deal.

Oh, I was just adding the context, I don't really have skin in this discussion.

[Athomsfere]

I guess I had perfect timing then!

I guess a lot of things had just happened, but the old building stock made it feel like it had been there a while at least.

When I moved here and joined this forum eventually: I remember the second street car / LRT study came out right around then. I believe there was another from around 2007.

[nebport5]

Nite Owl opened in 2014, as did Scriptown, Mula, and that's when Sullivan's moved to their new location on the south side of Farnam. I believe those were the first of the revitalization. Not counting the classics like Crescent Moon and Brothers (pour one out).

Right, I just looked at the Blackstone thread. Some of the new businesses were in place this time. Just barely. It blew up quickly, pretty much exactly 10 years ago. But still my point was, okay, I'll revisit it. The transportation analysis concluded in 2014, Blackstone was unrecognizable at that time (despite a few of the businesses being open), the Farnam streetcar route had just been identified. So I was refuting Garrett's seemingly sarcastic claim that Mutual had no hand in the streetcar because the route had been around 25 years, which was untrue. My comment about the garage being so large wasn't saying mutual was up to anything nefarious with the streetcar. We all knew when this building was announced, the streetcar was part of the deal.

I also left in early 2014. I recall some of those places were either announced or just getting up and running.

In terms of it being all about Mutual don't forget UNMC also had a vested interest in the streetcar before project Beacon was announced.

[Garrett]

Nite Owl opened in 2014, as did Scriptown, Mula, and that's when Sullivan's moved to their new location on the south side of Farnam. I believe those were the first of the revitalization. Not counting the classics like Crescent Moon and Brothers (pour one out).

Right, I just looked at the Blackstone thread. Some of the new businesses were in place this time. Just barely. It blew up quickly, pretty much exactly 10 years ago. But still my point was, okay, I'll revisit it. The transportation analysis concluded in 2014, Blackstone was unrecognizable at that time (despite a few of the businesses being open), the Farnam streetcar route had just been identified. So I was refuting Garrett's seemingly sarcastic claim that Mutual had no hand in the streetcar because the route had been around 25 years, which was untrue. My comment about the garage being so large wasn't saying mutual was up to anything nefarious with the streetcar. We all knew when this building was announced, the streetcar was part of the deal.

I'm not really arguing against you, more so the guy implying that the streetcar development was only done for Mutual's benefit. I looked through some documents, and the Farnam route has been the preferred alternative since the 2010 Downtown Omaha Master Plan, so not 25 years like I said, but still a fairly long time.

[PotatoeEatsFish]

[Nebraska>Iowa]

Nice. The core is FULLY @ 22 floors.

[Busguy2010]

I like the dystopian angle you took there.

[mcarch]

Nice. The core is FULLY @ 22 floors.

So, about 1/2 Way.

[thenewguy]

The garage has what, 2 more floors to go?

[skinzfan23]

The garage has what, 2 more floors to go?

I would say so. Last I saw this weekend they were working on the flooring for the 13th floor and it will be 14. So probably just another month or so until that is finished.

[Damtheplatte]

Someone set the line. What’s the over/under on number of times this parking garage being full over its lifespan?

[Busguy2010]

Someone set the line. What’s the over/under on number of times this parking garage being full over its lifespan?

O/U 1.5 in my lifetime. I could see if we bag a another weekend like when the swim trials and CWS happened at the same time. Maybe.

I just think the prospect of driving 15 floors or stopping 15 times in the elevator sounds daunting and not worth.

[nebugeater]

Someone set the line. What’s the over/under on number of times this parking garage being full over its lifespan?

O/U 1.5 in my lifetime. I could see if we bag a another weekend like when the swim trials and CWS happened at the same time. Maybe.

I just think the prospect of driving 15 floors or stopping 15 times in the elevator sounds daunting and not worth.

I will go there. No more daunting than multiple stops on the streetcar to get where you want to go. I am not opposed to the street car either, just a different perspective

[Oakland_Red]

I just think the prospect of driving 15 floors or stopping 15 times in the elevator sounds daunting and not worth.

I'm surprised nobody has noticed this given the weekly overhead shots we get from the north side but nobody is going to be driving up 15 floors. The north side ramp is a double helix, meaning it's two separate ramps that never join each other, one is 6 levels and the other is 7. On the south side, there is a single ramp for the first 6 floors, and then it flattens out and inherits the ramp from the north side the rest of the way up. So the maximum amount of floors you might drive up is if you entered from the south, went 6 floors up, and then crossed over to the north side and went through levels 8, 10, 12, and parked on 14 would be 10, and you'd have to really try to get to that number. Most people will go 3-4 floors before parking, which is pretty par-for-the-course. As far as elevators go, well just look at the shear core. The is going to be a huge battery of elevators in there, and I'm sure many of them will have dedicated service floors; I doubt elevator frequency or stops will be a problem.

[Brad]

I'm surprised nobody has noticed this given the weekly overhead shots we get from the north side but nobody is going to be driving up 15 floors. The north side ramp is a double helix, meaning it's two separate ramps that never join each other, one is 6 levels and the other is 7. On the south side, there is a single ramp for the first 6 floors, and then it flattens out and inherits the ramp from the north side the rest of the way up. So the maximum amount of floors you might drive up is if you entered from the south, went 6 floors up, and then crossed over to the north side and went through levels 8, 10, 12, and parked on 14 would be 10, and you'd have to really try to get to that number. Most people will go 3-4 floors before parking, which is pretty par-for-the-course.

It was mentioned several pages ago in this thread.

[Garrett]

I'm surprised nobody has noticed this given the weekly overhead shots we get from the north side but nobody is going to be driving up 15 floors. The north side ramp is a double helix, meaning it's two separate ramps that never join each other, one is 6 levels and the other is 7. On the south side, there is a single ramp for the first 6 floors, and then it flattens out and inherits the ramp from the north side the rest of the way up. So the maximum amount of floors you might drive up is if you entered from the south, went 6 floors up, and then crossed over to the north side and went through levels 8, 10, 12, and parked on 14 would be 10, and you'd have to really try to get to that number. Most people will go 3-4 floors before parking, which is pretty par-for-the-course.

It was mentioned several pages ago in this thread.

Well if we didn’t have to repeat information every few pages, what else would we do?

[iamjacobm]

They are going to have newish elevator tech too where you pick your destination floor outside the cab and the elevators communicate and figure out the most efficient path so there shouldn’t be 10 people going to 10 different floors in the same cab.

[guy4omaha]

I'm surprised nobody has noticed this given the weekly overhead shots we get from the north side but nobody is going to be driving up 15 floors. The north side ramp is a double helix, meaning it's two separate ramps that never join each other, one is 6 levels and the other is 7. On the south side, there is a single ramp for the first 6 floors, and then it flattens out and inherits the ramp from the north side the rest of the way up. So the maximum amount of floors you might drive up is if you entered from the south, went 6 floors up, and then crossed over to the north side and went through levels 8, 10, 12, and parked on 14 would be 10, and you'd have to really try to get to that number. Most people will go 3-4 floors before parking, which is pretty par-for-the-course.

It was mentioned several pages ago in this thread.

This newer explanation clarified the concept for me. I wasn't tracking 100% previously with how this will work.

[skinzfan23]

Me as well, I haven't paid close enough the design of the parking aspect, but I appreciate the info.

[Athomsfere]

They are going to have newish elevator tech too where you pick your destination floor outside the cab and the elevators communicate and figure out the most efficient path so there shouldn’t be 10 people going to 10 different floors in the same cab.

Like they have at BCBS?

That tech worked well on off-peak times. But I swear it freaked out and was worse at 8 and 5.