Civic Square (former Civic Auditorium)

[skinzfan23]

I doubt this project will ever happen, but do we even want it to in its current state. I think we can do much better.

[Garrett]

I doubt this project will ever happen, but do we even want it to in its current state. I think we can do much better.

Correct. It’s just so crazy to me that even this milquetoast development can’t get through. Really doesn’t reflect well on White Lotus

[GenX]

I doubt this project will ever happen, but do we even want it to in its current state. I think we can do much better.

Correct. It’s just so crazy to me that even this milquetoast development can’t get through. Really doesn’t reflect well on White Lotus

Maybe I’m just seeing things wrong, but they sure seem to be tied to a few projects that never quite got built as envisioned or not at all.

[mcarch]

I doubt this project will ever happen, but do we even want it to in its current state. I think we can do much better.

Agreed! 1000%

[Athomsfere]

I doubt this project will ever happen, but do we even want it to in its current state. I think we can do much better.

Meh. If it got built it would be OK.

But I certainly would prefer a little more than the renderings offered. Especially on the SE corner and the low-rises in the middle.

[skinzfan23]

I just think things have changed in Omaha in the past 5 years or so. If I'm the city, for spaces like this I would demand 5 floor minimums. With the ORBT and streetcar, transportation has/will improve and we should be building these areas more densely, like the projects announced last week for the children's museum and apt tower.

[riceweb]

All over the city on individual lots we see larger apartment buildings going in, with retail space on the first floor. Yet somehow with Crossroads and Civic Square and the WallStreet Tower lot nothing ever happens. It's 100% a failure of the city leadership. Simply subdividing the Civic Square lot into individual lots without a cohesive plan would yield *something*.

[skinzfan23]

I have said this for a long time and I agree they should divide these lots. We don't need these huge structures taking up a whole city block everywhere. Yes, it might not be as cohesive, but if you get individual lots built on, it gives it some diversity as well.

[Brad]

Looks like its already been divided up?

civic.JPG

[Garrett]

Looks like its already been divided up?

civic.JPG

That's just the subdivision for the theoretical White Lotus development, so kinda.

[Brad]

Looks like its already been divided up?

civic.JPG

That's just the subdivision for the theoretical White Lotus development, so kinda.

I don't think they add new lot lines to the GIS site unless a final plat is approved and recorded, so something has been done? That said, I don't see anything on the Douglas County Engineer's page? Strange.

[Garrett]

Looks like its already been divided up?

civic.JPG

That's just the subdivision for the theoretical White Lotus development, so kinda.

I don't think they add new lot lines to the GIS site unless a final plat is approved and recorded, so something has been done? That said, I don't see anything on the Douglas County Engineer's page? Strange.

I think everything for the project to be built has been submitted, it’s just that they haven’t started it for whatever reason.

[skip]

Sounds like this development is having trouble finalizing anchor tenants. With the grocery store most likely going on Creighton's campus, there is most likely no need for one going in at this development. Developer most likely has to pivot.

Also they have a good amount of office space that they need to get at least one large anchor tenant in. I've heard they are struggling in that space as well.

Personally, I hope they just add more residential to replace the grocery space and office space.

[skinzfan23]

Just heard that the Trader Joe’s rumors at Creighton are false.

[Louie]

Just heard that the Trader Joe’s rumors at Creighton are false.

From Creighton intel?

[skinzfan23]

Rumor busted! Creighton says Trader Joe's is not coming to campus

Rumors circulated about Trader Joe's opening in North Downtown neighborhood.
Creighton University confirmed the rumors are false.
Misquote by a student publication led to the misunderstanding.

[Greg S]

Just heard that the Trader Joe’s rumors at Creighton are false.

From Creighton intel?

Did not see that coming, considering it was Creighton's President that just spoke of Trader Joes coming to or near their campus. Once he spoke I thought it was a done deal or close to it.

Greg

[Athomsfere]

Just heard that the Trader Joe’s rumors at Creighton are false.

From Creighton intel?

Did not see that coming, considering it was Creighton's President that just spoke of Trader Joes coming to or near their campus. Once he spoke I thought it was a done deal or close to it.

Greg

Same. I mean he said they were working for it at the very least. Maybe there are multiple prongs to this: President wants it and the publication ran with it calling it more certain than it was?

[Greg S]

For reference from Grow Omaha:

Could Trader Joe’s Be Coming to North Downtown?
Oct 27, 2024

In his annual Presidential Town Hall program last month, Creighton University president Fr. Daniel Hendrickson said Trader Joe’s grocery store may be built on or near the university’s North Downtown campus. A Creightonian article says, “Hendrickson also noted that an on-campus Trader Joe’s is in the works.” No other details were provided. Creighton is currently building a sophomore residence hall as well as new baseball and softball fields along the south side of Cuming Street.

[skinzfan23]

Haha thats funny, wonder why he would state that and now completely say it isn't true.

[Omaha Cowboy]

For reference from Grow Omaha:

Could Trader Joe’s Be Coming to North Downtown?
Oct 27, 2024

In his annual Presidential Town Hall program last month, Creighton University president Fr. Daniel Hendrickson said Trader Joe’s grocery store may be built on or near the university’s North Downtown campus. A Creightonian article says, “Hendrickson also noted that an on-campus Trader Joe’s is in the works.” No other details were provided. Creighton is currently building a sophomore residence hall as well as new baseball and softball fields along the south side of Cuming Street.

As reported by the Cryptic Rumor Dept 1 year ago-

https://eomahaforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=24347

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[Garrett]

For reference from Grow Omaha:

Could Trader Joe’s Be Coming to North Downtown?
Oct 27, 2024

In his annual Presidential Town Hall program last month, Creighton University president Fr. Daniel Hendrickson said Trader Joe’s grocery store may be built on or near the university’s North Downtown campus. A Creightonian article says, “Hendrickson also noted that an on-campus Trader Joe’s is in the works.” No other details were provided. Creighton is currently building a sophomore residence hall as well as new baseball and softball fields along the south side of Cuming Street.

As reported by the Cryptic Rumor Dept 1 year ago-

https://eomahaforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=24347

Ciao..LiO…Peace

So you caused this sordid game of telephone?

[Omaha Cowboy]

For reference from Grow Omaha:

Could Trader Joe’s Be Coming to North Downtown?
Oct 27, 2024

In his annual Presidential Town Hall program last month, Creighton University president Fr. Daniel Hendrickson said Trader Joe’s grocery store may be built on or near the university’s North Downtown campus. A Creightonian article says, “Hendrickson also noted that an on-campus Trader Joe’s is in the works.” No other details were provided. Creighton is currently building a sophomore residence hall as well as new baseball and softball fields along the south side of Cuming Street.

As reported by the Cryptic Rumor Dept 1 year ago-

https://eomahaforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=24347

Ciao..LiO…Peace

So you caused this sordid game of telephone?

Don’t believe everything you read on the local media..

The Cryptic Rumor Dept knows for a FACT that the Creighton president said to his leadership team a year ago that there was a good chance Trader Joe’s was coming to north downtown..

Stay tuned…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[Brad]

Jeff Beals from Grow Omaha is at the press conference. He said during the Mayor's press Conference today, she mentioned that there could be a new developer with a new plan taking over the civic site!

[BRoss]

Nice! Hopefully something much more exciting.

[nebport5]

Jeff Beals from Grow Omaha is at the press conference. He said during the Mayor's press Conference today, she mentioned that there could be a new developer with a new plan taking over the civic site!

The press conference is on Facebook via KETV. The Mayor said "other interest", "for other projects", and "another idea for development" there.

I'm going to speculate again that White lotus lost the grocer competition in regard to their last site plan.

[skip]

spoke to CRE representative for this site. they are having a tough time finding a tenant for a grocer. trader joe's was a maybe and they ended up backing out.

[Doctor Fate]

spoke to CRE representative for this site. they are having a tough time finding a tenant for a grocer. trader joe's was a maybe and they ended up backing out.

Did TJ’s back out of this site or all of downtown?

[MadJack]

Regarding the Mayor's comments today, I interpret that as a different developer or user has plans for the site. Would that entity buy it from White Lotus? Might it involve the Kiewit Foundation's plans for something big in the urban core?

Anyone have any guesses?

[Garrett]

Regarding the Mayor's comments today, I interpret that as a different developer or user has plans for the site. Would that entity buy it from White Lotus? Might it involve the Kiewit Foundation's plans for something big in the urban core?

Anyone have any guesses?

I think there’s a reversion to city ownership clause in one of the most recent contracts but I’m fuzzy on specifics

[nebport5]

Regarding the Mayor's comments today, I interpret that as a different developer or user has plans for the site. Would that entity buy it from White Lotus? Might it involve the Kiewit Foundation's plans for something big in the urban core?

Anyone have any guesses?

On that note...

While the intentions of the White Lotus plan are generally admirable the project as is, wouldn't be transformative to the urban core. Affordable housing, office, retail and of course grocery are many of the right components but the magnitude is not sufficient. And one significant component missing here is entertainment. The White Lotus Civic plan is too little development stretched over too big of a square. To be a truly transformative development it must draw people well beyond downtown. Of course the difficulty of pulling off such a development goes without saying.(Crossroads and whatever the heck Yates is trying to turn NeX into come to mind).

Now a $480 million partner injected into such a project? Transformative? Perhaps.


While we're talking ideally, Civic Square should be one of the Good Life Districts. Nevermind 192nd and Dodge. Between a healthy Village Pointe, Heartwood Preserve finally taking off and the Disneyworld of Youth Sports down the road I can't help but think retail cannibalism is again on the horizon for the western metro.

or perhaps an equation like...

Kiewit + White Lotus(or another developer) + Good Life = a transformative urban civic development

[NEDodger]

Maybe. I think the same concern about cannibalization can be made for adding an entertainment component here, too.

What type of venue could be added in this space that isn’t already available nearby? The one big thing that downtown/the surrounding area seemed to be missing was a movie theater, but that’s failed at MTC.

[Garrett]

Regarding the Mayor's comments today, I interpret that as a different developer or user has plans for the site. Would that entity buy it from White Lotus? Might it involve the Kiewit Foundation's plans for something big in the urban core?

Anyone have any guesses?

On that note...

While the intentions of the White Lotus plan are generally admirable the project as is, wouldn't be transformative to the urban core. Affordable housing, office, retail and of course grocery are many of the right components but the magnitude is not sufficient. And one significant component missing here is entertainment. The White Lotus Civic plan is too little development stretched over too big of a square. To be a truly transformative development it must draw people well beyond downtown. Of course the difficulty of pulling off such a development goes without saying.(Crossroads and whatever the heck Yates is trying to turn NeX into come to mind).

Now a $480 million partner injected into such a project? Transformative? Perhaps.


While we're talking ideally, Civic Square should be one of the Good Life Districts. Nevermind 192nd and Dodge. Between a healthy Village Pointe, Heartwood Preserve finally taking off and the Disneyworld of Youth Sports down the road I can't help but think retail cannibalism is again on the horizon for the western metro.

or perhaps an equation like...

Kiewit + White Lotus(or another developer) + Good Life = a transformative urban civic development

The civic site is tough. It’s 4 square blocks between the main part of downtown to the southeast, I-480 and the the of Creighton’s campus to the north, and the 20th/Capitol exit + Central High School to the west. In my optimistic opinion, a successful project would also need to be forward thinking enough for the day that I-480 turns into a boulevard as called for in the Urban Core Plan as well. Unless a developer is indeed stepping in with the $480 million you identify here (compared to the current Civic Square budget of $200 million), I think the city is better off sectioning off the site to a couple different developers, particularly focusing on the southern two square blocks.

I don’t see the value of a Good Life district here, particularly as I don't think it’s the best incentive program to begin with unless there’s a unique vision for the site that isn’t just generic retail/entertainment.

[iamjacobm]

By how the Good Life program is written there can only be one in a county with more than 500k people (guess the only county in the state) and only 5 in the state as a whole so Avenue One is going to be the only one in Omaha unless they change the rules at the state level.

[skip]

spoke to CRE representative for this site. they are having a tough time finding a tenant for a grocer. trader joe's was a maybe and they ended up backing out.

Did TJ’s back out of this site or all of downtown?

just this site to my knowledge

[nebport5]

Regarding the Mayor's comments today, I interpret that as a different developer or user has plans for the site. Would that entity buy it from White Lotus? Might it involve the Kiewit Foundation's plans for something big in the urban core?

Anyone have any guesses?

On that note...

While the intentions of the White Lotus plan are generally admirable the project as is, wouldn't be transformative to the urban core. Affordable housing, office, retail and of course grocery are many of the right components but the magnitude is not sufficient. And one significant component missing here is entertainment. The White Lotus Civic plan is too little development stretched over too big of a square. To be a truly transformative development it must draw people well beyond downtown. Of course the difficulty of pulling off such a development goes without saying.(Crossroads and whatever the heck Yates is trying to turn NeX into come to mind).

Now a $480 million partner injected into such a project? Transformative? Perhaps.


While we're talking ideally, Civic Square should be one of the Good Life Districts. Nevermind 192nd and Dodge. Between a healthy Village Pointe, Heartwood Preserve finally taking off and the Disneyworld of Youth Sports down the road I can't help but think retail cannibalism is again on the horizon for the western metro.

or perhaps an equation like...

Kiewit + White Lotus(or another developer) + Good Life = a transformative urban civic development

The civic site is tough. It’s 4 square blocks between the main part of downtown to the southeast, I-480 and the the of Creighton’s campus to the north, and the 20th/Capitol exit + Central High School to the west. In my optimistic opinion, a successful project would also need to be forward thinking enough for the day that I-480 turns into a boulevard as called for in the Urban Core Plan as well. Unless a developer is indeed stepping in with the $480 million you identify here (compared to the current Civic Square budget of $200 million), I think the city is better off sectioning off the site to a couple different developers, particularly focusing on the southern two square blocks.

I agree with all of this. I will add the W.L. plan for townhouses adjacent to 480 would make a heck of a lot more sense without 480 and instead a boulevard.

I don’t see the value of a Good Life district here, particularly as I don't think it’s the best incentive program to begin with unless there’s a unique vision for the site that isn’t just generic retail/entertainment.

Right, I'm not suggesting going generic here. Go big and yes, that may take multiple developers.

I also still think having some city/state buildings here and redeveloping their existing sites isn't a bad idea.

[nebport5]

By how the Good Life program is written there can only be one in a county with more than 500k people (guess the only county in the state) and only 5 in the state as a whole so Avenue One is going to be the only one in Omaha unless they change the rules at the state level.

Yes, but as my distant relative used to say, "where there's a will, there's a way". And at this point it's not like we have any of these districts fully realized.

Avenue One already sounds like it should be close to the Missouri rather than 192nd and sprawl.

[Renovator2559]

Jeff Beals from Grow Omaha is at the press conference. He said during the Mayor's press Conference today, she mentioned that there could be a new developer with a new plan taking over the civic site!

The press conference is on Facebook via KETV. The Mayor said "other interest", "for other projects", and "another idea for development" there.

I'm going to speculate again that White lotus lost the grocer competition in regard to their last site plan.
[/quote]

This sounds like good news, to be honest I thought the white lotus development for the Civic Square, looked too low budget, with a blocky mid-century design and low rise buildings, with car parking and streets taking plenty of space; knowing that this is a valuable lot and we need better density. If White Lotus wasn't able to sell their development well, then I am not surprised they lost the bid. Also, there were too many delays for this project, so that didn't help either in creating assurance, in the viability of the project.



Something tells me, that the new developer will raise the bar for this site, who could it be? Noddle Companies?

[thenewguy]

Jeff Beals from Grow Omaha is at the press conference. He said during the Mayor's press Conference today, she mentioned that there could be a new developer with a new plan taking over the civic site!

The press conference is on Facebook via KETV. The Mayor said "other interest", "for other projects", and "another idea for development" there.

I'm going to speculate again that White lotus lost the grocer competition in regard to their last site plan.

This sounds like good news, to be honest I thought the white lotus development for the Civic Square, looked too low budget, with a blocky mid-century design and low rise buildings, with car parking and streets taking plenty of space; knowing that this is a valuable lot and we need better density. If White Lotus wasn't able to sell their development well, then I am not surprised they lost the bid. Also, there were too many delays for this project, so that didn't help either in creating assurance, in the viability of the project.



Something tells me, that the new developer will raise the bar for this site, who could it be? Noddle Companies?

I never was a fan of the original proposal either

[Doctor Fate]

Does anyone recall what the required timeline was for White Lotus to begin work here?