Omaha Children's Museum (750 Douglas St)

[Doctor Fate]

Really excited for this! Great use of this space.

[skinzfan23]

From the Snohetta webpage:





I know the other renderings were already posted, but bringing in the higher resolution:

[iamjacobm]

This is such a slam dunk development. DTO is on a roll!

[skinzfan23]

This is such a slam dunk development. DTO is on a roll!

Agree, I am so excited that they are bringing in even more to surround the parks. I saw a comment on Facebook about how this is a bad idea to block the park in. I think this does quite the opposite. By having a children's museum there, it will increase the amount of families visiting the area even more, which currently is a ton to begin with. The apt building is great for some more density and is going to look great either coming or going from Omaha on 480.

[nebport5]

And so...the existing Children's Museum land is acquired by the city and redeveloped into a new fire or police/fire facility?

[NEDodger]

Hopefully!

[Athomsfere]

Agree, I am so excited that they are bringing in even more to surround the parks. I saw a comment on Facebook about how this is a bad idea to block the park in. I think this does quite the opposite. By having a children's museum there, it will increase the amount of families visiting the area even more, which currently is a ton to begin with. The apt building is great for some more density and is going to look great either coming or going from Omaha on 480.

For the most part if I want the absolute worst read on a situation I'll start with Facebook. Maybe Twitter if I still had a twit account.

[Trips1]

What an awesome project. They mayor gets three developments for her choo choo train. Now we get to pay to expand the line because people can't walk two blocks. Good thing they won't need a parking garage now, oh wait.

In all seriousness, this looks like a great project and even better use of land.

[skinzfan23]

And so...the existing Children's Museum land is acquired by the city and redeveloped into a new fire or police/fire facility?

That is a good read and a decent possibility. They would only have to move 6 blocks west and have a much bigger piece of land to work with.

And then the current police and fire HQs land could be turned into residential that is only a block off the streetcar line and close to the Old Market.

[jessep28]

I know the other renderings were already posted, but bringing in the higher resolution:

What is this? A museum for ants?

[Garrett]

And so...the existing Children's Museum land is acquired by the city and redeveloped into a new fire or police/fire facility?

That is a good read and a decent possibility. They would only have to move 6 blocks west and have a much bigger piece of land to work with.

And then the current police and fire HQs land could be turned into residential that is only a block off the streetcar line and close to the Old Market.

And still relatively close to the city/county building as well as the courthouse.

[nebport5]

And so...the existing Children's Museum land is acquired by the city and redeveloped into a new fire or police/fire facility?

That is a good read and a decent possibility. They would only have to move 6 blocks west and have a much bigger piece of land to work with.

And then the current police and fire HQs land could be turned into residential that is only a block off the streetcar line and close to the Old Market.

Yes. And I would think easier/quicker access for emergency vehicles to 480(St. Mary's Ave is less of an obstacle). It would also be a location with less immediate surrounding housing(if sirens bother you).

[skinzfan23]

According to OWH article the early cost est is $113 Million for the museum.

[Stargazer]

According to OWH article the early cost est is $113 Million for the museum.

Boy, this city sure has some deep pocketed philanthropists.. they're on quite a roll, just on the cultural amenities alone.. Luminarium.. GLM, HOA, riverfront.. Steelhouse.. Joslyn.. Holland expansion.. now this.

[skinzfan23]

According to OWH article the early cost est is $113 Million for the museum.

Boy, this city sure has some deep pocketed philanthropists.. they're on quite a roll, just on the cultural amenities alone.. Luminarium.. GLM, HOA, riverfront.. Steelhouse.. Joslyn.. Holland expansion.. now this.

That is what makes Omaha unique and different from most other mid-size cities in the US. A lot of people here have wealth from Berkshire and other endeavors and they actually use it to better their community that they live in. I know when I lived in eastern Iowa that rarely happens there. Really, nothing happens amazing development wise. I have read numerous articles about people that aren't from Omaha moving here to help build a facility (ex, Luminarium CEO that just stepped down) and they are amazed by the philanthropic community and the support they give.

[skinzfan23]

The Nebraska Examiner article states the sq ft of the children's museum at 75,000. I think that is the first time that has been mentioned. The current children's museum is 60,000 sq ft and is in the top 15% size-wise in the country.

[nativeomahan]

I would say this is on the nature of being a Grand Slam Home Run for Omaha in general and downtown/the riverfront in particular. We all suspected that something very big would be announced yet this year and now we have it.
This museum location is within a fairly easy walk to the Luminarium, through the existing parks. The building definitely looks amazing on the outside…something we seldom witness in Omaha construction projects.

[skinzfan23]

The building definitely looks amazing on the outside…something we seldom witness in Omaha construction projects.

I agree, it looks more whimsical than most buildings we ever see in Omaha in a good way, especially for its intended use/audience.

[MTO]

Might be a good idea for the city to widen the path from here to the luminarium and add a barrier between it and the street.

[ItsAllAboutMe]

I have to wonder if the yellow and orange facade of the museum was chosen to mimic the colors of the play ground equipment. Call me crazy, I don't care.

[Ben]

Might be a good idea for the city to widen the path from here to the luminarium and add a barrier between it and the street.

There's the wooden/steel covered bridge already that goes through the park and over the tracks that should make this connection pedestrian friendly.

[MTO]

Might be a good idea for the city to widen the path from here to the luminarium and add a barrier between it and the street.

There's the wooden/steel covered bridge already that goes through the park and over the tracks that should make this connection pedestrian friendly.

Even better.

[omahahawk]

Anybody hear anything more about when this will start along with the Beam? Especially is the proposed steel tariffs go into effect.

[Erik]

Anybody hear anything more about when this will start along with the Beam? Especially is the proposed steel tariffs go into effect.

60-90 days

[Brad]

Anybody hear anything more about when this will start along with the Beam? Especially is the proposed steel tariffs go into effect.

Museum is going to start as soon as the CWS is over.

[Bob from Omaha]

Anybody hear anything more about when this will start along with the Beam? Especially is the proposed steel tariffs go into effect.

60-90 days

Well, if Brad is right you're not far off.

[skinzfan23]

]

Museum is going to start as soon as the CWS is over.

That is good news. Any idea when the apt project is going to begin? I know both of them were expected to be finished in 2028 I believe.

[stadsborgare]

]

Museum is going to start as soon as the CWS is over.

That is good news. Any idea when the apt project is going to begin? I know both of them were expected to be finished in 2028 I believe.

If the CWS gets extended to an extra game, the wait is going to feel interminable!

[arch_RP_planner]

]

Museum is going to start as soon as the CWS is over.

That is good news. Any idea when the apt project is going to begin? I know both of them were expected to be finished in 2028 I believe.

From what I can recall, the OCM would be complete by mid/late 2027, and the Beam was scheduled to finish sometime early/mid 2028.

[ItsAllAboutMe]

The street between the new children's museum and the park will soon be closing for a month. I assume this will be the beginning of site prep and construction

[skinzfan23]

I was thinking either this or the streetcar maintenance building.

[Cermak]

Looks like an exciting project. Especially like the 15 story building.

[skinzfan23]

From the kmtv skycam, there is an excavator on site working today, could this be the start of construction?

[stadsborgare]

All the shrubbery and trees have been removed, and they have a lot of dirt to move.

[Big E]

[mcarch]

[Renovator2559]

When I heard of the Children's Museum and the "Beam" apartments, this reinforced the idea; that the city is serious in being smart using space.

I also heard that the Des Moines "Iowa Pride Hall" a museum noting Iowa heroes, is going for all digital because its unable to have sufficient attendance and they have closed their doors.

So Omaha as a family friendly city is doing quite well, with the Luminarium being highly successful and the local museums doing quite well too. With the Children's Museum expanding, rather than shrinking.

[windsor]

All the shrubbery and trees have been removed, and they have a lot of dirt to move.

Great to hear this project is finally moving forward. Any idea if it will be vertical by the end of the year or is spring more likely?

[nebport5]

On Grow Omaha, Jeff said the 4 story parking garage will have ground level retail.

I’m all for this but a bit skeptical for regular foot traffic here and for anything in The Beam. I wonder if they already have something specific in mind. Maybe this will also mean a more “attractive” garage than what’s shown in the rendering.

[stadsborgare]

On Grow Omaha, Jeff said the 4 story parking garage will have ground level retail.

I’m all for this but a bit skeptical for regular foot traffic here and for anything in The Beam. I wonder if they already have something specific in mind. Maybe this will also mean a more “attractive” garage than what’s shown in the rendering.

This ground level retail will be a few feet from a streetcar stop.