Gretna Goodlife District

Doctor Fate · Post by **Doctor Fate** » Tue Oct 01, 2024 9:52 am

With LOVB building their new training facility at Greta Landing, seems like a major miss for Nebraska/Big10 Crossing.

SpecificPacific · Post by **SpecificPacific** » Tue Oct 01, 2024 9:56 am

Doctor Fate wrote: Tue Oct 01, 2024 9:52 am With LOVB building their new training facility at Greta Landing, seems like a major miss for Nebraska/Big10 Crossing.

Its amazing what can happen when the developer isn't out shouting about deals that are conceptual at best. Exciting development for Gretna and continues the areas standing as a great place for youth sports with the Volleyball Academy in La Vista, the fields at La Vista Sports Complex, Papillion Landing's fields, and Gretna's new park and YMCA.

Almost like a focus on youth sports might be a little too late to really take off.

omaha79 · Post by **omaha79** » Tue Oct 01, 2024 10:09 am

F0R_L1F3 wrote: Sun Sep 22, 2024 6:17 pm What the heck is going on? This is absurd.

This all feels like what happens when a type A person with money and a little power goes on a cocaine bender and comes up with "good ideas" and no one has the guts to tell them no. Basically, a dollar store Donald Trump.

NEDodger · Post by **NEDodger** » Tue Oct 01, 2024 12:00 pm

Doctor Fate wrote: Tue Oct 01, 2024 9:52 am With LOVB building their new training facility at Greta Landing, seems like a major miss for Nebraska/Big10 Crossing.

Right? I have a hard time believing that USA Volleyball would build a complex less than 10 minutes from this one. Big Ten World Crossing starts with a fumble.

djc311 · Post by **djc311** » Tue Oct 01, 2024 3:59 pm

NEDodger wrote: Tue Oct 01, 2024 12:00 pm
Doctor Fate wrote: Tue Oct 01, 2024 9:52 am With LOVB building their new training facility at Greta Landing, seems like a major miss for Nebraska/Big10 Crossing.
Right? I have a hard time believing that USA Volleyball would build a complex less than 10 minutes from this one. Big Ten World Crossing starts with a fumble.

I don't see it happening - dude needs to get off the goofy juice and get back on earth, focusing on bringing in more retail. It seems( or seemed?) as if he has some nice momentum going as far as getting great grabs for our market. Then he goes and pulls this sh... t.

I think he's better off trying to get an IKEA or even a large theme park to locate here and get this idea of a true professional sports team in Omaha out of his head.

Garrett · Post by **Garrett** » Thu Oct 10, 2024 7:47 pm

So another 10 days or so until Big 10 Crossing right??? Right??????

NEDodger · Post by **NEDodger** » Thu Oct 10, 2024 10:05 pm

Garrett wrote: Thu Oct 10, 2024 7:47 pm So another 10 days or so until Big 10 Crossing right??? Right??????

I’m gonna start camping out now!!!!

Erik · Post by **Erik** » Tue Oct 29, 2024 3:03 am

nativeomahan wrote: Sat Sep 28, 2024 9:59 am This all sounds like the product of a crack induced pipe dream. Which, if it was, would at least better explain its genesis.

It's not a pipe dream. It's real. USA volleyball is in the works to build right next to the new Vatican City

Erik · Post by **Erik** » Tue Oct 29, 2024 3:04 am

djc311 wrote: Sun Sep 29, 2024 7:03 pm Seriously I don’t get this dude - he’s like the Elon Musk of Omaha commercial real estate projects.

This was who I was think of, exactly. Minard, Musk and Yates

djc311 · Post by **djc311** » Tue Oct 29, 2024 8:18 am

He's lucky he was able to get the LEGO store to stay committed and open their doors. With this kind of nonsense getting out there, no one will trust in his developments.

BTW, anyone know if Yates still owes the $500k or whatever it was to Lanoha and Mulhall's? I might have that mixed up a bit, but I recall something about hundreds of thousands in owed bills to two different companies for landscaping.

ita · Post by **ita** » Fri Nov 01, 2024 8:45 am

Rod Yates’ $5B Good Life District plan hits not-so-good patch

Cindy Gonzalez
Businessman Rod Yates’ plan to create a multibillion-dollar sports-centric tourist magnet between Omaha and Lincoln appears to have hit some headwinds, despite an apparent endorsement by Gov. Jim Pillen.

Advisers to the City of Gretna, where the sprawling Good Life District project is proposed to surround Yates’ existing Nebraska Crossing outlets, have recommended against moving forward under terms laid out by Yates’ team.

Concerns cited by the advisers include a lack of detail, a call for the city to reduce its own sales tax rate in the Good Life District and a call for Gretna to use city resources for land acquisition or possibly exercise its power of eminent domain.

City administrator Paula Dennison, in a report to the Gretna City Council, said the staff was excited to continue to work on ways “to bring transformational development to Gretna” via the Good Life District legislation — but she said the current demands by Yates are not in the best interests of Gretna taxpayers

Good article on the current state of negotiations between the city and developer.

Garrett · Post by **Garrett** » Fri Nov 01, 2024 9:04 am

These terms are absolutely insane

Cindy Gonzalez, Nebraska Examiner wrote:
Under terms laid out by the Yates team, the Gretna City Council would agree to actions such as:

Annex and designate as extremely blighted and substandard the 3,000-acre district, assuming law supports such action.
Approve a 20-year tax-increment financing district and occupation taxes as requested.
Be responsible for all land acquisition costs more than the appraised value plus 10%.
Reduce the city sales tax rate, only in the district, from 2.0% to 0.5%.
Increase existing occupation taxes, as determined by the master developer.

skinzfan23 · Post by **skinzfan23** » Fri Nov 01, 2024 9:23 am

Love this part:

Fueling the headwinds is a disclosure in Dennison’s report that the Yates development team told city representatives within the past two weeks that its “term sheet is final” and that it “was not interested in negotiating the terms.”

Then it looks like the deal is off, wise decision by the city based on the demands and info they have recvd from Yates.

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Fri Nov 01, 2024 9:33 am

Good lord, Yates was trying to hamstring Gretna entirely. What a chode.

Garrett · Post by **Garrett** » Fri Nov 01, 2024 9:37 am

“Not interested in negotiating terms” is such a wild thing to say when you are holding none of the cards

almighty_tuna · Post by **almighty_tuna** » Fri Nov 01, 2024 10:00 am

Examiner wrote: “Such development cannot put the city at legal risk nor can it expose the city’s taxpayers to unnecessary financial risk,” Dennison wrote. “Given the financial, legal, and market risks to the city associated with the current version of the ‘term sheet’ … staff does not recommend approval.”

.......

The “term sheet” included in the packet to be presented to the City Council for consideration of approval came from Pillen; Pillen’s chief of staff, David Lopez; K.C. Belitz, director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development; and Yates, the applicant and master developer of the Good Life District that the DED approved in February.

Why Pillen’s staff was involved was not clear.

This is my favorite part. This self-important douchecanoe of a Governor thinks he can swing his dick anywhere and people give a |expletive|.

TitosBuritoBarn · Post by **TitosBuritoBarn** » Fri Nov 01, 2024 10:06 am

Rod Yates walking out there door after the deal fell through: "Fine! I'll take my unnecessarily large youthsportsworld, Big 10 College Sports themed Office Park, and two empty arenas to someone who WILL subject themselves to not collecting taxes to maintain the accompanying infrastructure!! And don't think anyone else is going to come in looking to build anything in the architectural style of a Joanna Gaines industrial park!"

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Fri Nov 01, 2024 10:15 am

Couple of idiots trying to line their own pockets with state money. Brilliant.

ChadJK · Post by **ChadJK** » Fri Nov 01, 2024 11:01 am

Just a weird eye twitch thing for me, but could someone please rename this thread to "Nebraska Crossing (Gretna)" without the "Re:"? Then replies to it won't begin with "Re: Re:"

Linkin5 · Post by **Linkin5** » Fri Nov 01, 2024 11:05 am

So Rod wanted to lower city sales tax from 2% to .5% when he’s already getting the states sales tax lowered to 2.75% from 5.5%, Gretna to use eminent domain if a private land owner doesn’t sell to a private developer (???), 20 year TIF on top of that, and this was all drafted and co-signed by Pillen and his league of incompetent gentlemen?

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Fri Nov 01, 2024 11:14 am

Linkin5 wrote: Fri Nov 01, 2024 11:05 am So Rod wanted to lower city sales tax from 2% to .5% when he’s already getting the states sales tax lowered to 2.75% from 5.5%, Gretna to use eminent domain if a private land owner doesn’t sell to a private developer (???), 20 year TIF on top of that, and this was all drafted and co-signed by Pillen and his league of incompetent gentlemen?

I believe the term here is 'grifter'

Toto · Post by **Toto** » Fri Nov 01, 2024 1:08 pm

I'm completely shocked this has turned in to a gigantic debacle! Said no one ever.

stormchaser · Post by **stormchaser** » Fri Nov 01, 2024 3:06 pm

Is anyone surprised Pillen is in on this??

As long as it makes himself and/or his buddies richer, that's all that really matters.

Just add this to his recent nonsense like "banning of lab grown meat". Because doing so DEFINITELY didn't have anything to do with his own personal financial interests being a hog farmer. I mean screw capitalism - right??

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Fri Nov 01, 2024 3:25 pm

stormchaser wrote: Fri Nov 01, 2024 3:06 pm Is anyone surprised Pillen is in on this??

As long as it makes himself and/or his buddies richer, that's all that really matters.

Just add this to his recent nonsense like "banning of lab grown meat". Because doing so DEFINITELY didn't have anything to do with his own personal financial interests being a hog farmer. I mean screw capitalism - right??

Socialism for the rich, capitalism for the poor.

djc311 · Post by **djc311** » Sat Nov 02, 2024 8:19 am

“Chode” and “douchecanoe”… lol - those are great!

Seriously I’m surprised this tool has been able to get anything off the ground given his arrogance. How does he get any tenants to sign a lease? I can’t see him taking it in the shorts on that side of things. Imo I’d say he’s all about himself (well, and Pillen… or any other rich political figure he’s tied to).

Each day that goes by I feel he’s more and more like Musk. Surprised he hasn’t proposed an underground tunnel to try and connect the shopping center and some other part of town. I mean really, that’s untapped potential - perhaps he should consider an underground sports complex! Call it the “Boring Sports Complex”

nebport5 · Post by **nebport5** » Sat Nov 02, 2024 10:20 am

Yates thinks his $5B Good Life District vision may be ‘too massive’ for City of Gretna to handle

It sounds like USA Volleyball is out. It's now to be called Collegiate Crossing. Nothing about the BIG10. And now Yates is talking about "working" with the state directly as a Gretna work around.

Nebraska Examiner wrote:Among his next steps, Yates said, is to request a change in state law that would allow his team to work with a county or state government, instead of Gretna, to access economic development incentives available to Good Life Districts.

Nebraska Examiner wrote: Yates said a governmental entity is needed as a “pass-through” to recapture that eliminated state revenue and direct it toward district development efforts, likely in the form of a local occupation tax or sales tax.

Is this guy great at relationships or what? Hmm...why so many lawsuits?

Garrett · Post by **Garrett** » Sat Nov 02, 2024 11:02 am

What the heck is this rendering even trying to say? An Italian and Swedish flag? Are they building a new airport? What the heck is a furniture district?

Anyway, wow this continues to get crazier. Can't believe he's asking the state to modify a law he had hand crafted for himself for a 2nd time.

Linkin5 · Post by **Linkin5** » Sat Nov 02, 2024 11:38 am

Rod using Sim City for his renderings now.

nebport5 · Post by **nebport5** » Sat Nov 02, 2024 12:09 pm

Might as well add in a Minard Theme Park.

Post by **BRoss** » Sat Nov 02, 2024 1:11 pm

Linkin5 wrote: Sat Nov 02, 2024 11:38 am Rod using Sim City for his renderings now.

I think he may just be playing SimCity at this point.

Padre · Post by **Padre** » Sat Nov 02, 2024 1:55 pm

Garrett wrote: Sat Nov 02, 2024 11:02 am

What the heck is this rendering even trying to say? An Italian and Swedish flag? Are they building a new airport? What the heck is a furniture district?

Anyway, wow this continues to get crazier. Can't believe he's asking the state to modify a law he had hand crafted for himself for a 2nd time.

What is a “Destination Convenience Store”? I don’t know if it would be Buc-ees, as they call themselves “travel centers”.

nebport5 · Post by **nebport5** » Sat Nov 02, 2024 3:17 pm

Padre wrote: Sat Nov 02, 2024 1:55 pm
Garrett wrote: Sat Nov 02, 2024 11:02 am

What the heck is this rendering even trying to say? An Italian and Swedish flag? Are they building a new airport? What the heck is a furniture district?

Anyway, wow this continues to get crazier. Can't believe he's asking the state to modify a law he had hand crafted for himself for a 2nd time.
What is a “Destination Convenience Store”? I don’t know if it would be Buc-ees, as they call themselves “travel centers”.

The "European Market" at Mega Saver.

Linkin5 · Post by **Linkin5** » Sat Nov 02, 2024 4:18 pm

Padre wrote: Sat Nov 02, 2024 1:55 pm
Garrett wrote: Sat Nov 02, 2024 11:02 am

What the heck is this rendering even trying to say? An Italian and Swedish flag? Are they building a new airport? What the heck is a furniture district?

Anyway, wow this continues to get crazier. Can't believe he's asking the state to modify a law he had hand crafted for himself for a 2nd time.
What is a “Destination Convenience Store”? I don’t know if it would be Buc-ees, as they call themselves “travel centers”.

I wouldn’t read anything into this picture, it features an airport three plane lengths long.

Was there any word on why Rod dropped the “Big Ten” naming? I’m guessing it had to do with a cease and desist letter but it would be nice to confirm.

NEDodger · Post by **NEDodger** » Sat Nov 02, 2024 5:55 pm

This is the weakest plan I’ve seen. This has gotten to the point where I’m telling the wife we aren’t going to Nebraska Crossing anymore. I refuse to help this clown financially.

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Sat Nov 02, 2024 7:03 pm

This man is having a late life bipolar syndrome episode.

Linkin5 · Post by **Linkin5** » Sat Nov 02, 2024 7:16 pm

Wonder if Rod has any more renderings up his sleeve.

Doctor Fate · Post by **Doctor Fate** » Sat Nov 02, 2024 8:00 pm

Reminds me of the rendering his team created for the “Prairie Green Arena” site where they just photoshopped an arena onto a Snohetta rendering of the Theodore Roosevelt Library. That site doesn’t exist anymore….

Garrett · Post by **Garrett** » Sat Nov 02, 2024 8:10 pm

Linkin5 wrote: Sat Nov 02, 2024 7:16 pm Wonder if Rod has any more renderings up his sleeve.

The US Volleyball Arena sure is looking wild. Boost the budget to $10 billion.

djc311 · Post by **djc311** » Mon Nov 04, 2024 8:38 am

In all seriousness, WOW is the airport's purpose? And like I asked, how does he get anyone to sign a lease? Is anyone helping him run NEX (ie, Pillen, etc)? If I were a potential tenant and I heard about this, I would be out.

You guys probably think it's ridiculous, but I was serious when I said I was surprised he was able to get LEGO to stay on... if they knew he had all of these crazy-|expletive| ideas coming out, they probably would have bailed.

If our governor continues to try and push this along in any way/shape/form, it's going to look VERY bad for him. He shouldn't be touching it at all, and this guy certainly doesn't deserve any handouts.

To be fair, I was impressed at how he was able to turn NEX around from what it was. But between his bomb at Crossroads and now this idea, it shocks me that he gets anywhere with developments.

I don't understand the purpose behind all of this. He has NEX... they've had to expand that in order to accommodate more tenants and he's landed quite a few big names, including new to market brands. That's not easy (unless he's not charging them rent). But then he doesn't pay bills, he fights with tenants and has what's basically insane concepts for things that will never happen.

If he's not careful, he's going to screw up what NEX has become.

ricko · Post by **ricko** » Mon Nov 04, 2024 11:43 am

djc311 wrote: Mon Nov 04, 2024 8:38 am In all seriousness, WOW is the airport's purpose? And like I asked, how does he get anyone to sign a lease? Is anyone helping him run NEX (ie, Pillen, etc)? If I were a potential tenant and I heard about this, I would be out.

You guys probably think it's ridiculous, but I was serious when I said I was surprised he was able to get LEGO to stay on... if they knew he had all of these crazy-|expletive| ideas coming out, they probably would have bailed.

If our governor continues to try and push this along in any way/shape/form, it's going to look VERY bad for him. He shouldn't be touching it at all, and this guy certainly doesn't deserve any handouts.

To be fair, I was impressed at how he was able to turn NEX around from what it was. But between his bomb at Crossroads and now this idea, it shocks me that he gets anywhere with developments.

I don't understand the purpose behind all of this. He has NEX... they've had to expand that in order to accommodate more tenants and he's landed quite a few big names, including new to market brands. That's not easy (unless he's not charging them rent). But then he doesn't pay bills, he fights with tenants and has what's basically insane concepts for things that will never happen.

If he's not careful, he's going to screw up what NEX has become.

I’m not trying to be snarky, but with an ego like that ( and his apparent political connections), I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if he decided to run for office.