Gretna Goodlife District

[Garrett]

https://www.gretnane.org/DocumentCenter ... oAuXoqaxGg

Here's the full report. Page 9 has a very unclear site plan, while Page 10 has a different version of the above rendering that has Big 10 Branding rather than the generic "Collegiate Crossing"

[Garrett]

Also it turns out Gretna has approved an airport feasibility study with HDR, so the Sim City airport apparently meant something

[Brad]

Also it turns out Gretna has approved an airport feasibility study with HDR, so the Sim City airport apparently meant something

Small municipal airport or are they going for passenger flights?

[Doctor Fate]

Also it turns out Gretna has approved an airport feasibility study with HDR, so the Sim City airport apparently meant something

Small municipal airport or are they going for passenger flights?

The document said private fbo and private jet service.

[OmahaOmaha]

Does anybody else see an erect man tool in the new site plan on page 9?

[SpecificPacific]

Also it turns out Gretna has approved an airport feasibility study with HDR, so the Sim City airport apparently meant something

Small municipal airport or are they going for passenger flights?

The document said private fbo and private jet service.

There has been some talk about a new airport in Gretna bouncing around for awhile. When the Giant Lake chatter was going it made sense to fly in all the rich people who would by the luxury homes. There is also some thought that moving all the Millard Airport traffic out to a new Gretna Airport would open up that whole area for redevelopment and get rid of some of the development restrictions within the flight paths. Also as Omaha & Lincoln continue to grow towards each other have an airport in the middle makes sense.

Also fun fact, one of the long time landowners out there has a registered airstrip on his property. Its just a dirt runway but he mentioned to me he keeps it registered because it limits any development right around this property. Not sure if he is still alive but the area is decently well positioned for an airport

[Brad]

Also fun fact, one of the long time landowners out there has a registered airstrip on his property. Its just a dirt runway but he mentioned to me he keeps it registered because it limits any development right around this property. Not sure if he is still alive but the area is decently well positioned for an airport

Assuming its this "KOKE"?

Screenshot 2024-11-11 211428.png

[SpecificPacific]

Also fun fact, one of the long time landowners out there has a registered airstrip on his property. Its just a dirt runway but he mentioned to me he keeps it registered because it limits any development right around this property. Not sure if he is still alive but the area is decently well positioned for an airport

Assuming its this "KOKE"?
Screenshot 2024-11-11 211428.png

Yes it is Koke. That family owns quite a bit of land out in the area and it is nice and flat

[djc311]

I understand the subscription model OWH has in place, but I could have sworn I was able to read 2-3 articles before they'd block someone from being able to read the stories...

In any case, I imagine this article basically calls out the same recent info that was shared about Yates not getting his way:

https://omaha.com/news/local/business/g ... -top-story


It looked to be posted today (updated 2 hours ago according to what I could tell), so I thought maybe it had updated information.

After the recent election, I guess I shouldn't be surprised that ppl with money can basically say and do whatever the F they want to do... and someone will eventually listen and I guess even believe them. I don't know how this guy got as far as he has. Nothing he does makes any sense.

[WBR_Tom]

Bullet point summary of that OWH article:

• Special election Jan. 14 allowing Gretna voters to weigh in on city leaders creating an economic development program for the district

• Unless Yates and the city can agree on terms in the next two months, voters will head to the polls without knowing exactly what assistance the city intends to provide him via the economic development program

• Yates: the district, approved by the state for 2,000 acres but now envisioned by him as 4,500 acres, "may just be too big of a project for a city of 9,000 people to have responsibility for"

• Yates: "State lawmakers may have to get involved to figure out how to move it forward. Is it just too massive to ask a small town in Nebraska to be responsible for?” he said. “Is it fair to ask a city to do a $5 billion project? I mean, those don’t happen.”

• Term sheet signed by Gov. Jim Pillen and the director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development K.C. Belitz

• Now he's saying it will have an athletic academy for high school athletes to live and train. And a PGA-level championship golf course. This in addition to the Olympic volleyball center which he claims is still possible, the arena which he says is still planned, the NHL hockey team which he is still pursuing, and all the other stuff he promised previously.

• Yates: "It will be the Disney of youth sports." He says families will be able to fly there with the private airport, stay there in hotels, participate in tournaments and training, and in their downtime enjoy food and entertainment all without leaving the district.

The Disney of youth sports, you guys! He's great at coming up with memorable quotes, I'll give him that much.

[ita]

I understand the subscription model OWH has in place, but I could have sworn I was able to read 2-3 articles before they'd block someone from being able to read the stories...

In any case, I imagine this article basically calls out the same recent info that was shared about Yates not getting his way:

https://omaha.com/news/local/business/g ... -top-story


It looked to be posted today (updated 2 hours ago according to what I could tell), so I thought maybe it had updated information.

After the recent election, I guess I shouldn't be surprised that ppl with money can basically say and do whatever the F they want to do... and someone will eventually listen and I guess even believe them. I don't know how this guy got as far as he has. Nothing he does makes any sense.

Joe Dejka
Nebraska Crossing owner Rod Yates and officials with the City of Gretna are at odds about how to make development in his huge Good Life District along Interstate 80 a reality.

City Council members last week rejected an agreement Yates proposed that would have spelled out the responsibilities of the city in assisting his project.

Some of the terms Yates requested in the so-called “term sheet” were rejected as unconstitutional, hard to evaluate without more information, or said to have negative consequences for the city.

City officials said they’re not against his project but must protect city residents against financial risk.

Despite the lack of agreement, the council voted to hold a special election Jan. 14 allowing Gretna voters to weigh in on whether to authorize city leaders to create an economic development program for the district, a step required under a law passed last session.

[NEDodger]

It’s going to be so wholesome. No liquor allowed anywhere. Just a nice glass of warm milk!

[djc311]

I don't even know how to respond to that word salad.

[ChadJK]

I understand the subscription model OWH has in place, but I could have sworn I was able to read 2-3 articles before they'd block someone from being able to read the stories...

Off topic, but I believe there are apps/plugins you can download that make your browser appear to be a search engine crawler/robot. Most of the news sites display the entire article without paywall for those so that they get indexed.

[Mr.Nuke]

There is also some thought that moving all the Millard Airport traffic out to a new Gretna Airport would open up that whole area for redevelopment and get rid of some of the development restrictions within the flight paths.

Ultimately the Omaha Airport Authority is responsible to the city, but I can't see the Omaha Airport Authority willingly ceding the busiest solely general aviation airport (and still one of the busiest overall general aviation airports) in the state.

[skinzfan23]

And definitely not after pouring in $1 Billion in their renovation

[Bob from Omaha]

I'm confused. A cursory look at the area south of I-80 shows a lot of the proposed land to be already under development, and not what Mr. Yates has in mind. A massive warehouse. What seems like more development. Does he propose to buy them and demolish them for his dream development?

[windsor]

I'm confused. A cursory look at the area south of I-80 shows a lot of the proposed land to be already under development, and not what Mr. Yates has in mind. A massive warehouse. What seems like more development. Does he propose to buy them and demolish them for his dream development?

The owner of that massive warehouse has way more money than Yates. Its brand new and not going anywhere.

[TitosBuritoBarn]

I'm confused. A cursory look at the area south of I-80 shows a lot of the proposed land to be already under development, and not what Mr. Yates has in mind. A massive warehouse. What seems like more development. Does he propose to buy them and demolish them for his dream development?

It's part of a new addition to his plan: Warehouseland. It's going to be like Disneyland for warehouses.

[nebport5]

Nebraska Crossing outlet customers frustrated with faulty rewards system

Bob Fielder watched his purchases build reward value that he’s been trying to cash in.

“FastCash is not very fast,” Bob said. “Like two years I haven’t been able to use it. It’s ridiculous.”

Bob has $800 in rewards to redeem, and a friend with about $625.

The BBB says those complaints have gone unanswered by Nebraska Crossing, so the outlet mall has an ‘F’ rating.

[Doctor Fate]

Nebraska Crossing outlet customers frustrated with faulty rewards system

Bob Fielder watched his purchases build reward value that he’s been trying to cash in.

“FastCash is not very fast,” Bob said. “Like two years I haven’t been able to use it. It’s ridiculous.”

Bob has $800 in rewards to redeem, and a friend with about $625.

The BBB says those complaints have gone unanswered by Nebraska Crossing, so the outlet mall has an ‘F’ rating.

This was reported on earlier in the year too. Crazy that they still haven’t fixed this. But they’re still claiming “patent pending” lol

[Garrett]

What a fun “fintech ecosystem” to build a multi-billion dollar development around

[Toto]

What a fun “fintech ecosystem” to build a multi-billion dollar development around

Sounds like a fintech ponzi scheme. Wonder when the investigations start?

[ita]

Who exactly pays for the fast cash? Does anyone know? I assume the stores are not fronting the 15% back or whatever it is, and that Yates and Co. 'pays' for that reward system. Is he trying to raise investment to pay all the owing "fast cash" or is the app actually broken?

[nebport5]

Who exactly pays for the fast cash? Does anyone know? I assume the stores are not fronting the 15% back or whatever it is, and that Yates and Co. 'pays' for that reward system. Is he trying to raise investment to pay all the owing "fast cash" or is the app actually broken?

I'm not sure this will answer that question but...

here's another few quotes from the article:

“I have called the office and asked them when the FastCash will be able to be redeemed and they tell me the same story, that it’s a software thing they haven’t got another company to control and monitor that.”

He(customer Bob) sent a text to developer Rod Yates, who replied: “We are in the app store for approval of our upgrades to the app, getting close to relaunch.

[Louie]

He talks about it like all of the FastCash is stuck in the app and doesn't exist outside of it. That is sketchy at best.

[djc311]

He talks about it like all of the FastCash is stuck in the app and doesn't exist outside of it. That is sketchy at best.

That's 100% BS and could be resolved rather easily if he wanted to address it... especially after the amount of time that's passed since the initial complaints started rolling in about it.

Maybe he's trying to pay off his landscape and common area maintenance debts he owes to Lanoha and Mulhall's?

Doesn't anyone else find it to be weird that a community (ie, Gretna in this case), and/or the state would back this guy's ideas when they have to be aware of these other somewhat significant issues? I mean if there's one guy that's owed $800, there's probably thousands of non-existent dollars floating around in the app that are magically unavailable to cash in, right? And doesn't he owe the landscapers over $300k/each?

Seriously, it's like watching Trump operate businesses... and I guess it works, sooooooo why not keep going?

[skinzfan23]

Glad I didn't buy extra things when shopping there with the promise of the extra rewards. I thought about it but then wondered how easily they would be to redeem. Turns out, not even an issue b/c people don't even get them in the first place.

[nebport5]

Nebraska lawmaker who championed good life districts law criticizes rollout

Linehan is now unhappy with the legislation she helped create.

“It’s a mess,’ said Linehan, the term-limited chair of the Legislature’s Revenue Committee who is officially out of office by mid-week. “I don’t know where it got off the tracks, but somebody needs to step in front of the train.”

Yates has said success of his vision — and related financing — is predicated on him owning and controlling the entire district.

Yates told the Examiner he is so frustrated with Gretna leaders that he is considering ‘terminating” his district application with the state and seeking someone to introduce new legislation to help fulfill his “mega transformational sports and real estate ecosystem.

[ita]

Nebraska lawmaker who championed good life districts law criticizes rollout

Linehan is now unhappy with the legislation she helped create.

“It’s a mess,’ said Linehan, the term-limited chair of the Legislature’s Revenue Committee who is officially out of office by mid-week. “I don’t know where it got off the tracks, but somebody needs to step in front of the train.”

Yates has said success of his vision — and related financing — is predicated on him owning and controlling the entire district.

Yates told the Examiner he is so frustrated with Gretna leaders that he is considering ‘terminating” his district application with the state and seeking someone to introduce new legislation to help fulfill his “mega transformational sports and real estate ecosystem.

This is a good read from Cindy regarding the current status. Yates and Linehan are not happy with how it's going, but other developers want in on the party and have their own plans. Really interesting dynamic at play there between the City, Yates and other property owners and developers.

[nebport5]

I smell more lawsuits.

[Garrett]

You have to wonder whether she read her own damn bill

[iamjacobm]

Gretna is holding a special election for their good life district next week. I think it’s mail in only.

[djc311]

You have to wonder whether she read her own damn bill

I don't think she's very well-liked by many... However, I would think she and Rod Yates would get along just fine!

With all of his controversies, it shocks me that he can still sign new tenants at NEX. I read yesterday on FB that the Paradise Bakery at VP is closing, so basically they're moving to NEX. I thought their plan was to keep both. I personally don't believe that NEX is a great place to house a destination restaurant. Whether that's due to the type of traffic they get or due to the type of landlord Yates is. Just look at the history and turnover out there.

I can't imagine people going out of their way to purposely eat at Paradise in the middle of NEX.

I wonder where he gets his ideas from, anyway. He doesn't seem to have too many fans in the metro area when it comes to other developers. Sure, it seems like our crazy governor's office wants to support him, but that's not saying much. I haven't heard much on his outstanding debts to the landscape companies... not sure if that's ever been resolved or not.

He's a lot like Trump, IMO. He could seriously say he wants to develop an area to attract alien space ships in the hopes he could get them to land here and certain people would say, "Oh yeah, that sounds great! How can we NOT get behind that idea?". Next thing he'll say he wants to do is create an ocean in the middle of Nebraska. Someone would support it.

[ita]

You have to wonder whether she read her own damn bill

Well, she was all about voters making decisions about things like TIF and the streetcar...

[NEDodger]

Nebraska Examiner wrote:
“It’s a mess,’ said Linehan, the term-limited chair of the Legislature’s Revenue Committee who is officially out of office by mid-week. “I don’t know where it got off the tracks, but somebody needs to step in front of the train.”

Maybe, just maybe….the person to step in front of that train is the state legislator who pushed this.

[Garrett]

Nebraska Examiner wrote:
“It’s a mess,’ said Linehan, the term-limited chair of the Legislature’s Revenue Committee who is officially out of office by mid-week. “I don’t know where it got off the tracks, but somebody needs to step in front of the train.”

Maybe, just maybe….the person to step in front of that train is the state legislator who pushed this.

Term-limited, so its someone else's problem now!

[ChadJK]

The Paradise Bakery & Cafe in Nebraska Crossing is set to open on January 23rd.

[ita]

At odds with Gretna, Rod Yates to seek legislative help for his mega Good Life project

Joe Dejka
The rift between Nebraska Crossing owner Rod Yates and the City of Gretna over how to advance his proposed sports-themed mega development has Yates turning to lawmakers for help.

Yates and former State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan said this week city officials are not using the state’s Good Life District law as originally intended.

Yates said he wants to pursue a legislative remedy that will allow him to make his ambitious project a reality. The legislative remedy would “fit the state’s vision,” he said.

Gretna Mayor Mike Evans said Friday his city’s leaders share the state’s vision for the district as a vehicle for transformative projects.

[djc311]

At odds with Gretna, Rod Yates to seek legislative help for his mega Good Life project

Joe Dejka
The rift between Nebraska Crossing owner Rod Yates and the City of Gretna over how to advance his proposed sports-themed mega development has Yates turning to lawmakers for help.

Yates and former State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan said this week city officials are not using the state’s Good Life District law as originally intended.

Yates said he wants to pursue a legislative remedy that will allow him to make his ambitious project a reality. The legislative remedy would “fit the state’s vision,” he said.

Gretna Mayor Mike Evans said Friday his city’s leaders share the state’s vision for the district as a vehicle for transformative projects.

I think I've asked this before, but if indeed he does owe multiple contractors (say in the case of landscapers) thousands and thousands of dollars, does anyone ask him about this? To me, it's like someone not paying contractors to do their work, and no one ever holds them accountable for it.

I don't understand where he and Linehan became buddies - At this point, I feel he's in WAY over his head and is simply asking for more and more (ie, Crossroads all over again).