Omaha Central library (SWC 72 & Dodge)

[omahahawk]

Omaha Public Library less than a year away from move to new central location



https://www.wowt.com/2024/10/16/omaha-p ... -location/

[windsor]

Update photos from this afternoon.

1.
202410202X4A7044.jpg

2.
202410202X4A7041.jpg

This is so cool. It looks like they are stacking Lego on that west end.

[skinzfan23]

I just came across this and it is a nice video about the new library:

https://www.heritageomaha.org/projects/ ... ic-library

There is a nice 7-8 min video here talking about the design of the building.

[skinzfan23]

OWH update:

[HighWinds]

OWH update:

I drive by that library a lot, it's been very cool seeing it progress over the last few months!

[Cermak]

Love the high profile location, this building has a nice presence at 72nd and Dodge. Probably Omaha’s most iconic intersection.

[Brad]

Couple update photos from this afternoon. Notice the lower middle area is starting to get the exterior finish.

1.

20241117881A1090.jpg

2.

20241117881A1096.jpg

[guy4omaha]

looks a bit like an ark

[skinzfan23]

Nice update photos as always, and just a tad better than the OWH I might add

[HighWinds]

Couple update photos from this afternoon. Notice the lower middle area is starting to get the exterior finish.

1.
20241117881A1090.jpg

2.
20241117881A1096.jpg

You can see the final façade coming together in the bottom right corner of the building. Looks sweet.

[Brad]

Nice update photos as always, and just a tad better than the OWH I might add

Thanks! Should look really cool when a little more of that exterior material is on.

[HighWinds]

Nice update photos as always, and just a tad better than the OWH I might add

Thanks! Should look really cool when a little more of that exterior material is on.

How true! The little bit already there looks amazing.

[Busguy2010]

Are we coming around on this? I know there was high friction about moving the library from Downtown to Central. I'm really liking this in its location.

[Garrett]

Eh. I'm still a bit meh on location. The design is incredible and it will be a state of the art library when its complete. I'll just wonder what it would be like downtown instead, especially with the growing number of cultural institutions along the Riverfront.

I'll continue my optimism that 72nd/Dodge becomes a better neighborhood in the years to come though.

[HighWinds]

Eh. I'm still a bit meh on location. The design is incredible and it will be a state of the art library when its complete. I'll just wonder what it would be like downtown instead, especially with the growing number of cultural institutions along the Riverfront.

I'll continue my optimism that 72nd/Dodge becomes a better neighborhood in the years to come though.

With this library, alongside Crossroads, I could see this neighborhood becoming a phenomenal place in the coming years.

[Garrett]

Eh. I'm still a bit meh on location. The design is incredible and it will be a state of the art library when its complete. I'll just wonder what it would be like downtown instead, especially with the growing number of cultural institutions along the Riverfront.

I'll continue my optimism that 72nd/Dodge becomes a better neighborhood in the years to come though.

With this library, alongside Crossroads, I could see this neighborhood becoming a phenomenal place in the coming years.

Maybe! The key will be making sure people feel comfortable walking along and crossing Dodge street. Crossroads could be the neighborhood of the century, but if Dodge isn't safe or doesn't feel safe to cross, that's a big miss

[skinzfan23]

Eh. I'm still a bit meh on location. The design is incredible and it will be a state of the art library when its complete. I'll just wonder what it would be like downtown instead, especially with the growing number of cultural institutions along the Riverfront.

I'll continue my optimism that 72nd/Dodge becomes a better neighborhood in the years to come though.

100% agree. I would have loved to see this downtown, but still very glad it is being built in Omaha.

[Busguy2010]

Eh. I'm still a bit meh on location. The design is incredible and it will be a state of the art library when its complete. I'll just wonder what it would be like downtown instead, especially with the growing number of cultural institutions along the Riverfront.

I'll continue my optimism that 72nd/Dodge becomes a better neighborhood in the years to come though.

With this library, alongside Crossroads, I could see this neighborhood becoming a phenomenal place in the coming years.

Maybe! The key will be making sure people feel comfortable walking along and crossing Dodge street. Crossroads could be the neighborhood of the century, but if Dodge isn't safe or doesn't feel safe to cross, that's a big miss

I still dream of the halo over 72nd & Dodge. I see absolutely no reason not to build such a structure. Make a direct 2nd or third floor entrance and connection on the NE corner of the library.

[mcarch]

Eh. I'm still a bit meh on location. The design is incredible and it will be a state of the art library when its complete. I'll just wonder what it would be like downtown instead, especially with the growing number of cultural institutions along the Riverfront.

I'll continue my optimism that 72nd/Dodge becomes a better neighborhood in the years to come though.

100% agree. I would have loved to see this downtown, but still very glad it is being built in Omaha.

I 1000% agree. The other issue with this is the building is still too small. It's the Juvenile Detention Center all over again - too small for its needs. You shouldn't need to house your Archives in a Vacant Shopko on 84th Street. The cities archives should be housed IN the Main Library Downtown so the Public can Access them. This building is smaller than the Main Library was before and that building still didn't have enough room.

I understand MOO wanting the spot... I would have moved the Library to the site of the Old Mutual of Omaha where a 3-Story Brick State Office Building Stands.



I would have incorporated a larger design, 2nd or 3rd floor outdoor balcony with Cafe that serves Food & Coffee (for a date/meet up spot) that overlooks the park and city (a private entity - not gov't owned - so the food is great) and stays open later at night. Incorporate a small Art Museum for local artists. And a building big enough for all of Omaha's archives, so it doesn't need to lease other space (saving the city/library money on leasing costs).

[Brad]

This building is smaller than the Main Library was before and that building still didn't have enough room.

The top floor of the old library wasn't even being used the last several years so its hard to see how that old building was too small?

[mcarch]

This building is smaller than the Main Library was before and that building still didn't have enough room.

The top floor of the old library wasn't even being used the last several years so its hard to see how that old building was too small?

Then I definitely question why they were keeping storage elsewhere at the time when they had a whole floor empty (it wasn't at the old Shopko at that time, but remember it being somewhere else off site). Clearly it was a waste of city/library dollars. Nothing is more of a waste of money than leasing several spaces when you can combine your spaces into one - especially when you own your own building.

[almighty_tuna]

Idk, seems like a natural organization of frequently used resources vs infrequently.

[Busguy2010]

I really like how this building is looking. It doesn't even look like a building. It looks like an asteroid, or a giant boulder that came to rest at 72nd & Dodge.

[F0R_L1F3]

I think the city really needs to look at investment in this area. You got the apartments near the JJs down the road and the Crossroads hopefully getting jumpstarted. Read through the Reddit with some pictures of it and saw similar opinions, people think it should have more greenspace around it. I agree. This is gonna be out of touch with the intersection and I really hope that they push for more change. Like not having a MegaSaver across the street instead of repurposing it into something better.

[Brad]

I think the city really needs to look at investment in this area. You got the apartments near the JJs down the road and the Crossroads hopefully getting jumpstarted. Read through the Reddit with some pictures of it and saw similar opinions, people think it should have more greenspace around it. I agree.

I could see the bank going away some day and adding green space to the south side.

[FishFighter92]

I think the city really needs to look at investment in this area.

Like not having a MegaSaver across the street instead of repurposing it into something better.

How do you propose the city does that? Do you want the city to use our tax dollars to start buying land all over and only selling it to developers where they are required to get development approval when buying the land?

[Athomsfere]

I think the city really needs to look at investment in this area.

Like not having a MegaSaver across the street instead of repurposing it into something better.

How do you propose the city does that? Do you want the city to use our tax dollars to start buying land all over and only selling it to developers where they are required to get development approval when buying the land?

Lane diet, add dedicated transit (green) and add continuous sidewalks (red)!



Boom. Half decent area.

[FishFighter92]

I think the city really needs to look at investment in this area.

Like not having a MegaSaver across the street instead of repurposing it into something better.

How do you propose the city does that? Do you want the city to use our tax dollars to start buying land all over and only selling it to developers where they are required to get development approval when buying the land?

Lane diet, add dedicated transit (green) and add continuous sidewalks (red)!



Boom. Half decent area.

How does that stop an "undesirable" development?

[Athomsfere]

How does that stop an "undesirable" development?

Good design helps everything. Maybe we'd get a full-service convenience store there without the lot for gas instead of that Mega Mart. Or a Mega Mart with more concessions and skip the fueling bays.

And while I far from love this development, at least it isn't a Buccees.

[F0R_L1F3]

I think the city really needs to look at investment in this area.

Like not having a MegaSaver across the street instead of repurposing it into something better.

How do you propose the city does that? Do you want the city to use our tax dollars to start buying land all over and only selling it to developers where they are required to get development approval when buying the land?

There were some renderings I saw from a document, I forgot what but it was talking about plans for ORBT expanding throughout the city. One of them was through 72nd I believe and had renderings of the possibility of what the area can turn into. Something as small as even maintaining the sidewalks at this point would be better or beautifying them, it's awful what they are and with developments like Crossroads and the Central Library coming around, that is what I refer to. I don't mean the city buying land and wanting like 15 skyscrapers right on the spot but making it at least a little bit decent looking with new developments like those two and the apartments down the block, it's gonna be a new center for development. There should be SOME efforts to make it a little bit pleasing especially with more amenities going up. Who knows, maybe with this library, it could also jumpstart more riders using ORBT. That might require it's own transit lanes.

[GenX]

I think the city really needs to look at investment in this area.

Like not having a MegaSaver across the street instead of repurposing it into something better.

How do you propose the city does that? Do you want the city to use our tax dollars to start buying land all over and only selling it to developers where they are required to get development approval when buying the land?

Lane diet, add dedicated transit (green) and add continuous sidewalks (red)!



Boom. Half decent area.

And how, exactly, do you expect the city to handle the limited traffic without a public transit option to take up some of that traffic?

[Athomsfere]

I think the city really needs to look at investment in this area.

Like not having a MegaSaver across the street instead of repurposing it into something better.

How do you propose the city does that? Do you want the city to use our tax dollars to start buying land all over and only selling it to developers where they are required to get development approval when buying the land?

Lane diet, add dedicated transit (green) and add continuous sidewalks (red)!



Boom. Half decent area.

And how, exactly, do you expect the city to handle the limited traffic without a public transit option to take up some of that traffic?

Obviously build transit. I Mean that green line would suggest we'd have some.

[Athomsfere]

Are we coming around on this? I know there was high friction about moving the library from Downtown to Central. I'm really liking this in its location.

The project was always a cool rendering. The location still sucks for a Central Library in a city that I want.

[FishFighter92]

So, how does that stop an "undesirable" development? If building out transit makes the land more expensive, then the undesirables will just pay more in rent.

[Linkin5]

So, how does that stop an "undesirable" development? If building out transit makes the land more expensive, then the undesirables will just pay more in rent.

Couldn’t the city create design standards, zoning restrictions, in certain districts or areas?

[TitosBuritoBarn]

So, how does that stop an "undesirable" development? If building out transit makes the land more expensive, then the undesirables will just pay more in rent.

Couldn’t the city create design standards, zoning restrictions, in certain districts or areas?

Indeed they can.

Also, increased land value would weed out some of the undesirable land uses. The pockets of many undesirables are only so deep.

[Nosebot]

I still don't think the city would sacrifice lanes for having better pedestrian access on one of if not the busiest streets in omaha.. they are either gonna have to deviate dodge or tunnel it if they're gonna make it happen imo

[FishFighter92]

So, how does that stop an "undesirable" development? If building out transit makes the land more expensive, then the undesirables will just pay more in rent.

Couldn’t the city create design standards, zoning restrictions, in certain districts or areas?

No businesses that earn a majority of their revenue from gasoline, tobacco, vape supplies within 1 mile of 72nd and Dodge? Is that what we want?

A new bus route is not stopping Mega Saver.

[Linkin5]

So, how does that stop an "undesirable" development? If building out transit makes the land more expensive, then the undesirables will just pay more in rent.

Couldn’t the city create design standards, zoning restrictions, in certain districts or areas?

No businesses that earn a majority of their revenue from gasoline, tobacco, vape supplies within 1 mile of 72nd and Dodge? Is that what we want?

A new bus route is not stopping Mega Saver.

I didn’t say that is what I want is that what you want? I think creating some new design/zoning standards within a block or two from your new city library wouldn’t be a bad idea though.

[Brad]

I think creating some new design/zoning standards within a block or two from your new city library wouldn’t be a bad idea though.

The MegaSaver property already has an ACI-2 Overlay (Areas of Civic Importance) on it.

The ACI areas of civic importance overlay district is intended to implement the urban design element of the city's comprehensive plan by creating four overlay district types for those parts of the city which, is because of their characteristics, uses, design or period of development, are also of primary importance in shaping the city's physical image (to be known as the "ACI-1", "ACI-2", "ACI-3", and "ACI-4" districts):

(2)ACI-2 district (urban).
•Buildings and building entrances relate directly to the street;
•Some parallel or diagonal on-street parking; potential exists for on-street parking;
•Historically pedestrian-oriented, street car era areas;
•Relatively strong uniform building line;
•Generally no off-street parking between the building and the street;
•Vehicular access to site is allowed directly from arterial street; and
•Width of pavement of the arterial is similar to ACI-1, but there is less on-street parking and the through traffic is faster moving making it more difficult for pedestrian to cross the arterial than in ACI-1; some relationship between buildings across the arterial, but not as strong as in ACI-1.

ACI:
https://library.municode.com/ne/omaha/c ... _S55-610PU