Re: H.O.C. (Height Obsessed Club)

[Stvbec74]

Nerding out again! Found this interactive 3-D rendering website.

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model/ ... adquarters

[GenX]

Nerding out again! Found this interactive 3-D rendering website.

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model/ ... adquarters

Very cool, but that’s the old design and does not accurately represent what’s being built.

[Huskerbum]

So four more floors to go and I believe these last four are going to be slightly taller than the other floors. Just trying to imagine what 670 feet will ultimately look like. I am guessing that might be about where the crane arm is now. Would that be about correct?

When it’s all said and done it’ll only appear about 20 feet taller than FNB because FNB sits on higher ground so probably close to where the crane is but I’d guess not quite that high.

[Busguy2010]

So four more floors to go and I believe these last four are going to be slightly taller than the other floors. Just trying to imagine what 670 feet will ultimately look like. I am guessing that might be about where the crane arm is now. Would that be about correct?

When it’s all said and done it’ll only appear about 20 feet taller than FNB because FNB sits on higher ground so probably close to where the crane is but I’d guess not quite that high.

Anybody else wish - since they apparently are building this tower below their needs, and will eventually build on the lot to the east - that they would have went ahead and made this building bigger? Don't get me wrong, I appreciate what we're getting with this, but for the final product to basically match the height of FNB, with enough need to eventually build another shorter building next to it, it just feels like there was more on the table. Maybe we could have had something extraordinarily impressive like a 900+ footer

[NEDodger]

So four more floors to go and I believe these last four are going to be slightly taller than the other floors. Just trying to imagine what 670 feet will ultimately look like. I am guessing that might be about where the crane arm is now. Would that be about correct?

When it’s all said and done it’ll only appear about 20 feet taller than FNB because FNB sits on higher ground so probably close to where the crane is but I’d guess not quite that high.

Anybody else wish - since they apparently are building this tower below their needs, and will eventually build on the lot to the east - that they would have went ahead and made this building bigger? Don't get me wrong, I appreciate what we're getting with this, but for the final product to basically match the height of FNB, with enough need to eventually build another shorter building next to it, it just feels like there was more on the table. Maybe we could have had something extraordinarily impressive like a 900+ footer

I understand the sentiment, but I think I’d prefer a second tower here to give us a higher number of high-rises.

Figuring that this wouldn’t be the same size as the main tower, it’d be great to have maybe two buildings here - something like a 350-footer and a 250-footer.

[Busguy2010]

I understand the sentiment, but I think I’d prefer a second tower here to give us a higher number of high-rises.

Figuring that this wouldn’t be the same size as the main tower, it’d be great to have maybe two buildings here - something like a 350-footer and a 250-footer.

I'd agree with that if it wasn't for the same company.

Say Mutual built to their needs and they had a 900 footer (or whatever it would be), and that leaves the lot to the east open for another venture that could potentially exceed what Mutual might do for a secondary building. I get it, they want control over the height of the building to the east so they can be the presentation piece. But, in a way it feels limiting. I dunno, it seems like it would have made more sense to either build taller, or build this tower on the block to the east.

Again, definitely not ragging on what we're getting, it just feels like there were a few crumbs left on the plate.

[CBJason]

Anybody else wish - since they apparently are building this tower below their needs, and will eventually build on the lot to the east - that they would have went ahead and made this building bigger? Don't get me wrong, I appreciate what we're getting with this, but for the final product to basically match the height of FNB, with enough need to eventually build another shorter building next to it, it just feels like there was more on the table. Maybe we could have had something extraordinarily impressive like a 900+ footer

Yes, at the very least they should have broke the 700’ mark since they were already going this high.

[Louie]

I think a 900 footer would look pretty out of place in the skyline. Not OKC bad, but still weird.

[Busguy2010]

I think a 900 footer would look pretty out of place in the skyline. Not OKC bad, but still weird.

Well, my viewpoint is we all used to be height obsessed. And I think we still are deep down. It's just been such a long time between FNBO and Mutual that we are happy with a repeat. I'm happy with what we're getting. I'm just saying, if in reality the Mutual tower were to be something like 900 feet, I don't think anybody'd be pointing out that it doesn't fit in the skyline. What skyline?

And yes, I'm proud of our skyline. We have one, but you have to look at it through our proud Omahan eyes to appreciate it. So IMO, a little taller building only would have raised the bar for whatever future skyline we could have.

[Louie]

Nah, I'm not. I'm happy when something cool is announced, but overall density is far important to the vitality of a city's core. One tall |expletive| building doesn't matter as much to me as neighborhoods of mid-size buildings.

[Cermak]

Nah, I'm not. I'm happy when something cool is announced, but overall density is far important to the vitality of a city's core. One tall |expletive| building doesn't matter as much to me as neighborhoods of mid-size buildings.

Agree, I’m totally ok with its height. To have two 600 footers in a metro of this size is fantastic.

[edsas2]

I'm happy with the height of MoO, no complaints whatsoever. But had they decided to make it 900', I would've been cool with that, too. I don't get the criticism of OKC and Devon Tower. I've seen the same criticism levied in other places like Skyscraperpage. I point to the construction of IDS in Minneapolis. When that tower went up in the 1970s, it was just as "out of place" as Devon is. But, in less than 20 years, it had a pair of equals joining it, creating the best skyline in the Midwest outside Chicago. Who's to say OKC won't get a pair of towers in the next 20 years to balance out its current dominator? But had Devon not built that tower, OKC's skyline would be completely unremarkable. As is, it's totally remarkable. Look at all the remarks it's received all around the internet. Nobody would discuss OKC's skyline otherwise.

[Busguy2010]

I'm happy with the height of MoO, no complaints whatsoever. But had they decided to make it 900', I would've been cool with that, too. I don't get the criticism of OKC and Devon Tower. I've seen the same criticism levied in other places like Skyscraperpage. I point to the construction of IDS in Minneapolis. When that tower went up in the 1970s, it was just as "out of place" as Devon is. But, in less than 20 years, it had a pair of equals joining it, creating the best skyline in the Midwest outside Chicago. Who's to say OKC won't get a pair of towers in the next 20 years to balance out its current dominator? But had Devon not built that tower, OKC's skyline would be completely unremarkable. As is, it's totally remarkable. Look at all the remarks it's received all around the internet. Nobody would discuss OKC's skyline otherwise.

I was going there with my thought process.

I'm happy with the height of Mutual, I'm not complaining whatsoever. It's just that it sounds like it could have been taller. I had also thought of Minneapolis and OKC. Minneapolis looks great now. They had that one extra tall tower, but the following ones punched up to it. And I don't know a world where it wasn't a good idea for Devon Tower to exist in OKC. "You're tellin me you wouldnt want that in Omaha?" Come on.

This tower is cool, awesome, a great thing for Omaha. But knowing they underbuilt it, it definitely makes my mind wonder "what if?"

[nebport5]

I’m surprised we don’t already have a dedicated thread for this but at the risk of diverting further from Mutual specifically, here we go...

I'm happy with the height of MoO, no complaints whatsoever. But had they decided to make it 900', I would've been cool with that, too. I don't get the criticism of OKC and Devon Tower. I've seen the same criticism levied in other places like Skyscraperpage. I point to the construction of IDS in Minneapolis. When that tower went up in the 1970s, it was just as "out of place" as Devon is. But, in less than 20 years, it had a pair of equals joining it, creating the best skyline in the Midwest outside Chicago. Who's to say OKC won't get a pair of towers in the next 20 years to balance out its current dominator? But had Devon not built that tower, OKC's skyline would be completely unremarkable. As is, it's totally remarkable. Look at all the remarks it's received all around the internet. Nobody would discuss OKC's skyline otherwise.

I was going there with my thought process.

I'm happy with the height of Mutual, I'm not complaining whatsoever. It's just that it sounds like it could have been taller. I had also thought of Minneapolis and OKC. Minneapolis looks great now. They had that one extra tall tower, but the following ones punched up to it. And I don't know a world where it wasn't a good idea for Devon Tower to exist in OKC. "You're tellin me you wouldnt want that in Omaha?" Come on.

This tower is cool, awesome, a great thing for Omaha. But knowing they underbuilt it, it definitely makes my mind wonder "what if?"

I think every corporate tower/headquarters built downtown in the last 25 years we’ve heard something in regard to could have/should have built taller/bigger. Yes, that’s frustrating but it’s also the understated Omaha way. Another 23 feet would’ve been nice at the new Mutual tower but even that likely would've seen as wasteful, unnecessary spending. Tom Becka mentioned something on one of his podcasts about Mutual was considering adding apartments to the top floors. I’d sure like to know where and how that rumor came about. As some here have pointed out Mutual getting back into the real estate game seems unlikely given the Midtown Crossing experience. I do wonder about perhaps a potential mixed use partnership perhaps again with Lanoha if Mutual is serious about providing some sort of elevated housing(pun intended) near the forthcoming headquarters. I know many are excited about possibilities for the lot to the east but I can’t see wanting to build something even around 320ft that blocks a sizeable portion of the “iconic” skyline shot from Leahy. However, why not the same concept perhaps even a little taller at the s.o.b. site?

As for the OKC/Minneapolis example I can appreciate that point too but I don’t think most of us are optomistic for that sort of infill coming to Omaha in our lifetime given it’s taken over 25 years to collectively add OFNC, UPC, and Mutual. Also consider Minneapolis has a ridiculous number of Fortune 500 companies per capita which has certainly contributed (indirectly or directly)to their spectacular skyline development since the 70’s. Thus, if we had a relative super-tall, that sort of infill in Omaha isn’t likely. As for OKC, I’m sorry but it has to be one of the ugliest major city skylines in the US. There’s nothing wrong with Devon itself but it looks so out of place. If the proposed super-tall were to get built there that doesn’t help much as that would repeat the same problem.

I’ll take our soon to be much more balanced skyline and hope for the best with The Beam and The Drury coming to fruition and potentially adding further density and a little height. Other than that a mixed-use project on the former UPC seems like our best bet for anything HOC satisfying within the next 10 years…or maybe the rumored redeveloped Mutual property?

Anybody else wish - since they apparently are building this tower below their needs, and will eventually build on the lot to the east - that they would have went ahead and made this building bigger? Don't get me wrong, I appreciate what we're getting with this, but for the final product to basically match the height of FNB, with enough need to eventually build another shorter building next to it, it just feels like there was more on the table. Maybe we could have had something extraordinarily impressive like a 900+ footer

I understand the sentiment, but I think I’d prefer a second tower here to give us a higher number of high-rises.

Figuring that this wouldn’t be the same size as the main tower, it’d be great to have maybe two buildings here - something like a 350-footer and a 250-footer.

Agreed, but I’ll raise you about 50ft on each. The impact on the skyline at those heights would be minimal and limited to specific point of views given UPC is just shy of 320ft.

[Brad]

I’m surprised we don’t already have a dedicated thread for this but at the risk of diverting further from Mutual specifically, here we go...

Thanks! I moved some of those posts in to this thread.

[mikey cee]

Well I just got off of Google Earth. Standing in the middle of the intersection of 14th & Douglas I look west towards 16th & Douglas. Even using the bottom windows of the Duo I'll be amazed if I can detect even a rise of a couple of feet at best, Looks to me like the Mutual Tower will still be 40'-43' taller than FNB. I don't know where this 20' baloney came from in site elevation difference. Look for yourselves.

[CompSci99]

Well I just got off of Google Earth. Standing in the middle of the intersection of 14th & Douglas I look west towards 16th & Douglas. Even using the bottom windows of the Duo I'll be amazed if I can detect even a rise of a couple of feet at best, Looks to me like the Mutual Tower will still be 40'-43' taller than FNB. I don't know where this 20' baloney came from in site elevation difference. Look for yourselves.

Based off of the douglas county gis elevation map, much of fnbo tower is 1050 ft above sea level, while the mural tower is sitting roughly 1030ft. Pair that with fnbo's 634ft height and mutuals 677, the mutual tower should in theory be about 20 ft taller, but visually the difference would be impossible to tell, I totally agree. Seems fbno won the land lottery with the lot they picked for their tower, same with woodmen.

[HighWinds]

Here is a photo from Friday when they were doing a pour, so its a floor taller now.

1.
20250718881A0887.jpg

A tower on the State Office Building site will nicely balance this view.

350-450 mixed-use at that spot would be

[omahahawk]

Well I just got off of Google Earth. Standing in the middle of the intersection of 14th & Douglas I look west towards 16th & Douglas. Even using the bottom windows of the Duo I'll be amazed if I can detect even a rise of a couple of feet at best, Looks to me like the Mutual Tower will still be 40'-43' taller than FNB. I don't know where this 20' baloney came from in site elevation difference. Look for yourselves.

I'm kind of thinking Mikey Cee might be a little closer to what will be the end result. Theoretically it makes sense that it will only appear 20 or so feet taller based on actual elevation but just comparing the full on latest pic taken from the Farnam hotel to all the previous renderings it still looks like there is quite a bit of height to go even if not so many floors. I guess only time will tell for sure how things will actually appear visually.

[Huskerbum]

Well I just got off of Google Earth. Standing in the middle of the intersection of 14th & Douglas I look west towards 16th & Douglas. Even using the bottom windows of the Duo I'll be amazed if I can detect even a rise of a couple of feet at best, Looks to me like the Mutual Tower will still be 40'-43' taller than FNB. I don't know where this 20' baloney came from in site elevation difference. Look for yourselves.

I'm kind of thinking Mikey Cee might be a little closer to what will be the end result. Theoretically it makes sense that it will only appear 20 or so feet taller based on actual elevation but just comparing the full on latest pic taken from the Farnam hotel to all the previous renderings it still looks like there is quite a bit of height to go even if not so many floors. I guess only time will tell for sure how things will actually appear visually.

There is a significant change in topography from the southwest corner of FNBO tower to the northeast corner. My understanding has always been that they measure a building’s height from the lowest point surrounding the building so it would represent the height in relation to the northwest corner of the building. In that regard the difference might not be as drastic and MOO tower might stand out a little more. We’ll just have to wait and see I guess.

[nebport5]

Well I just got off of Google Earth. Standing in the middle of the intersection of 14th & Douglas I look west towards 16th & Douglas. Even using the bottom windows of the Duo I'll be amazed if I can detect even a rise of a couple of feet at best, Looks to me like the Mutual Tower will still be 40'-43' taller than FNB. I don't know where this 20' baloney came from in site elevation difference. Look for yourselves.

I'm kind of thinking Mikey Cee might be a little closer to what will be the end result. Theoretically it makes sense that it will only appear 20 or so feet taller based on actual elevation but just comparing the full on latest pic taken from the Farnam hotel to all the previous renderings it still looks like there is quite a bit of height to go even if not so many floors. I guess only time will tell for sure how things will actually appear visually.

There is a significant change in topography from the southwest corner of FNBO tower to the northeast corner. My understanding has always been that they measure a building’s height from the lowest point surrounding the building so it would represent the height in relation to the northwest corner of the building. In that regard the difference might not be as drastic and MOO tower might stand out a little more. We’ll just have to wait and see I guess.

As was discussed earlier in this thread, the point of view/angle will impact the impression of height difference. I was in Little Italy last night and Mutual already looks significantly taller than OFNC.

[Huskerbum]

Well I just got off of Google Earth. Standing in the middle of the intersection of 14th & Douglas I look west towards 16th & Douglas. Even using the bottom windows of the Duo I'll be amazed if I can detect even a rise of a couple of feet at best, Looks to me like the Mutual Tower will still be 40'-43' taller than FNB. I don't know where this 20' baloney came from in site elevation difference. Look for yourselves.

I'm kind of thinking Mikey Cee might be a little closer to what will be the end result. Theoretically it makes sense that it will only appear 20 or so feet taller based on actual elevation but just comparing the full on latest pic taken from the Farnam hotel to all the previous renderings it still looks like there is quite a bit of height to go even if not so many floors. I guess only time will tell for sure how things will actually appear visually.

There is a significant change in topography from the southwest corner of FNBO tower to the northeast corner. My understanding has always been that they measure a building’s height from the lowest point surrounding the building so it would represent the height in relation to the northwest corner of the building. In that regard the difference might not be as drastic and MOO tower might stand out a little more. We’ll just have to wait and see I guess.

As was discussed earlier in this thread, the point of view/angle will impact the impression of height difference. I was in Little Italy last night and Mutual already looks significantly taller than OFNC.

Of course that’s true… the only way to accurately gauge the height of buildings in relation to each other is from a distance. The view from I29 heading south would be a great place to see how they really stack up after MOO is finished.

[Busguy2010]

The fact we're picking apart whether it'll "look" taller from various angles tells me we're digging deep to find a way to say this tower is distinguished from what we're already used to. Relatively speaking, Its a pretty negligible physical height difference, combined with a pretty negligible elevation difference.

Again, I'm not disappointed in any way with what Mutual did with this tower. Its still great! I just feel they left a little something on the table to truly distinguish this building as clearly the tallest building.

[CBJason]

Exactly!

[nebport5]

Ok sure, in an idealized H.O.C. world, but this was never a Mutual goal. Getting a new tallest was more of a Jean goal.

[Busguy2010]

The most fair angle to view it is if you draw a straight line between the two towers, and then draw a perpendicular line between them, and you end up with the ballpark, and the 24th street bridge over the railroad tracks. Still an awful lot of picking apart to deduce that Mutual is a little bit taller.

I know it may not have been a goal of Mutual's for the tower to be a "height flex", but then what's the point of building a 600+ tower if you know you need more space?

In all honesty, if you look at their history, its full of underbuilding and add-ons at their midtown campus. That considered, I'm not complaining, I just sort of wish they would have built to their needs so we could have a taller, bigger statement building, and have another open lot for some other use.

[Greg S]

I'm happy with the height of MoO, no complaints whatsoever. But had they decided to make it 900', I would've been cool with that, too. I don't get the criticism of OKC and Devon Tower. I've seen the same criticism levied in other places like Skyscraperpage. I point to the construction of IDS in Minneapolis. When that tower went up in the 1970s, it was just as "out of place" as Devon is. But, in less than 20 years, it had a pair of equals joining it, creating the best skyline in the Midwest outside Chicago. Who's to say OKC won't get a pair of towers in the next 20 years to balance out its current dominator? But had Devon not built that tower, OKC's skyline would be completely unremarkable. As is, it's totally remarkable. Look at all the remarks it's received all around the internet. Nobody would discuss OKC's skyline otherwise.

I was going there with my thought process.

I'm happy with the height of Mutual, I'm not complaining whatsoever. It's just that it sounds like it could have been taller. I had also thought of Minneapolis and OKC. Minneapolis looks great now. They had that one extra tall tower, but the following ones punched up to it. And I don't know a world where it wasn't a good idea for Devon Tower to exist in OKC. "You're tellin me you wouldnt want that in Omaha?" Come on.

This tower is cool, awesome, a great thing for Omaha. But knowing they underbuilt it, it definitely makes my mind wonder "what if?"

When you say it "sounds like it could have been taller" are you just speculating because it could have separated itself more from the 1st National in terms of height? Or are you saying you heard that at one point they were discussing making it taller?

The reason I ask if that it's obviously close in term of height to 1st National which leads me to believe they made it the heigh it is to make it the tallest. Which tells me they might have stretched it to that but not fully need the height it got to. Something to the effect of, we're close, might as well go to the top spot for Omaha.

Greg

[Busguy2010]

When you say it "sounds like it could have been taller" are you just speculating because it could have separated itself more from the 1st National in terms of height? Or are you saying you heard that at one point they were discussing making it taller?

The reason I ask if that it's obviously close in term of height to 1st National which leads me to believe they made it the heigh it is to make it the tallest. Which tells me they might have stretched it to that but not fully need the height it got to. Something to the effect of, we're close, might as well go to the top spot for Omaha.

Greg

Im speculating because apparently they need enough square footage to build another 200-400 foot building next door.

So not only did they build this with the knowledge that it doesn't quite suit their needs, they will also control another block to the east, likely limiting the height and use of whatever potential building to the east. So im saying maybe we *could have* had maybe a 900 footer, PLUS a blank canvas for another building that could be anything. Maybe a 600 foot residential, or potentially an outside company wanting to come to town and even outdo Mutual.

In my perfect scenario, if mutual wants to be the gateway of Omaha, I wish they would have built their HQ on the lot to the east and taller, leaving the library lot to a completely unrelated use.

I think everybody gets what im saying. Im in no way disappointed, as the building looks good, and its our first new tallest building in 25 years. Heck, its our only tall building in 25 years. But if on average, we wait another 25-30 years for our next new tallest, I would rather they really knocked it out of the park. This is a home run that bounced off the top of the wall. Still a home run.

And I do not believe height was a motivation of Mutual itself. But why not?

Its like... Warren Buffet gives me a million dollars today. I would be elated (hint hint)... Yet, after a while I'm thinking, well, I can stretch it for a long time, it helps, but it's a bit short of enough to take care of all my modest wants and needs. So, knowing a million dollars is a drop in the bucket for him, I ask him for, perhaps 2 million?... And then he takes back the million for being ungrateful lol.

So, this building, I'll take it. I'm happy with it. Im not blown away, but that also isn't Mutual's responsibility.

[Busguy2010]

I'm basing my opinion, also, off the tip I heard here (I probably couldnt even find it), that there's potentially a second, shorter building in the works, or even that it was packaged in, and basing it on Mutual's history of "adding on", if you will. It all obviously hinges on whether that's true or not. So if they really do need more square footage, it seems to fall a little short because the building could have been taller, and their operations could have been confined to one block, leaving the other block open for a different opportunity.

If they really do plan on building a fairly substantial building to the east, it'll even further the dense appearance of our skyline, which is good. But so could something else. And I recognize theres a risk of having a lot sit empty for 20 years, but we're used to it And the streetcar is being built for that exact purpose.

And I don't think Mutual cared about the height, at all, cause if it turns out there ends up being a combined 1,000 feet between the two, Mutual probably would have been inclined to have two 500 footers.

But having the new tallest was a motivation of the city. A good one, at that. So I think they did just enough with this building, and even maybe stretched it just enough to satisfy that motivation.

What they got in return is a streetcar thats gonna help develop all of their property along Farnam.

I love the building! I love what we're getting out of the whole deal. I just liken it to, say you're bowling one on one with somebody, and you get to the last frame, and they mathematically can't win. But you can still hit your personal best, and... You don't go for the Turkey.

"It might only be by 40 feet, but dammit, Its the tallest!"

[Doctor Fate]

Mutual can build a second tower up to 320 ft on the block to the east of their new HQ. If they don’t, the city can buy it back and build a 140 ft building that would have a green roof and need to be approved by Mutual.

[Busguy2010]

Mutual can build a second tower up to 320 ft on the block to the east of their new HQ. If they don’t, the city can buy it back and build a 140 ft building that would have a green roof and need to be approved by Mutual.

If that is the case, I don't like the limitation factor.

But not necessarily complaining either. Any chance they would have skipped town if they didn't get that stipulation?

I don't know the background details, I'm just saying in my ideal world, I'd have it a block east and taller enough to house all their operations.

Another bowling analogy- if you have a 7-10 split, you aren't not trying to hit it, right?

[Busguy2010]

I had a horrible nightmare last night about the Mutual tower, and it really started my day off on the wrong foot, so I thought I'd share just to get it out of my system.

There I was, the Mutual tower is just finished, and I was standing at the bottom looking straight up. It was a beautiful day, blue skies, with only a few Simpsons-esque clouds in the sky, reflecting off the glass. I was invited in for a tour by a concierge man. Suddenly, I'm at the top, looking in every direction in awe of the view, when I started to notice a sort of swinging feeling, that gradually got ever more pronounced.

From another perspective, I was on the street, watching the tower slowly bending back and forth more and more. I'm back in the building experiencing this wild sensation of tipping back and forth, until, the building snaps and topples over, all 600 feet. I come to in the rubble. As this happens, I am viewing it in my own shoes from the street. I run to the rubble looking for survivors, and the first person I find is me, still alive. We both had this long look of disbelief at each other. One surely should have died, and the other ran to save me.

Thats when I woke up. WILD dream. Wild. I haven't had a memorable dream in a long time, and it was a SCARY one. Has had me wondering what the heck all day.

[nebport5]

I am glad MOO
is not taller than it is. The rest of the skyline filling in is a bigger priority for me than each new building "looking" taller than the last.

And honestly the way MOO was designed it not only adds height, but also density and ties the whole skyline in together looking more cohesive vs. just two tall building sticking out amongst the rest.

I get what you guys are saying. But I'm coming from the viewpoint thereof that its not like we have a cr@p ton of developable lots left in that immediate Downtown core. The Mutual tower being a few blocks away poking up like that on an island, basically said "there, now fill it in". So I'd much rather optimize what few opportunities there are. I really don't care that 1416 Dodge has been a grass lot for 20 years, its a prime spot that should have a fittingly tall building on it, and Id rather wait for the right one to come in, rather than just some relatively insignificant 400 foot building. I feel the same about the State office. And I really don’t like how theres a height limit on the lot to the east. Thats basically loosely stating that the Mutual tower may be the end all-be all. I dont know why we wouldnt want to strive to have a skyline like Minneapolis just because one building would be taller than another for a while.

Going to veer further off-topic so replying here…



I don’t think anyone is against having a Minneapolis-like skyline with a couple skyscrapers well over 700ft and one pushing 800ft. However, given our rate of two skyscrapers in the last quarter century I’m not too worried about running out of developable lots(at least in our lifetime).
There’s also no reason a new tallest couldn’t exist on another site. The issue with the East Mutual lot is building a new headquarters that's sure to be the new iconic focal point of the most photographed view of the city due to the alignment with the park(see Brad’s shot with the rendering) only to cover it up with something taller or almost as tall? Similarly, if I’m MoO I also wouldn’t want a taller building blocking out the view from the ballpark. If you’re going to build a skyscraper take the advertising that comes with it.

Other lot possibilities beside UP and State Office Building:

1331 Capitol(Viterra)- could be sold and redeveloped

13th & Capitol(Park Omaha)- Yeah something would have to be worked out for OPA parking but that’s not impossible.

15th & Dodge(FNB Parking)- See above.

12 & Capitol- half parking/half antiquated World Herald production facility.

Civic Site- can’t rule out at this point especially if this becomes phased development.

Partial lots:

17th & Dodge Parking garage- surrounds a church and currently for sale.

19th & Dodge parking- adjacent to Mary Magdalene Church. Building around a church would be very NYC .

14th & Harney- Barry Law Building/parking garage.

505 S. 15th St- current Police Headquarters, future status is in question.

16th & Farnam- more of the Sim City fantasy in my mind where this becomes Omaha’s version of a super-tall residential tower.


All of these could be developed without destroying historic structures.

[Busguy2010]

The issue with the East Mutual lot is building a new headquarters that's sure to be the new iconic focal point of the most photographed view of the city due to the alignment with the park(see Brad’s shot with the rendering) only to cover it up with something taller or almost as tall?

Thats why I almost see it as a negligence, or at least a misstep, or oversight, that this tower wasn't built on the block east. I don't care if they wanted their tower to be the welcome mat to Omaha, then they should have built it on the block east. Instead now they have downtown by the ballz. Who knows if they ever build anything to the lot east? If they do, it'll be limited in height (and thus density), or if they sell it off for somebody else to develop, itll be even more limited in height and density. I feel like the good stewardship thing to do would have been to build this tower on the block east, and leave the current former library block up to whatever may happen.

Don't get me wrong, I really like what we're getting out of it, but I'm not totally 100% in love with it. I would have just done it a little different.

[GenX]

I am glad MOO
is not taller than it is. The rest of the skyline filling in is a bigger priority for me than each new building "looking" taller than the last.

And honestly the way MOO was designed it not only adds height, but also density and ties the whole skyline in together looking more cohesive vs. just two tall building sticking out amongst the rest.

I get what you guys are saying. But I'm coming from the viewpoint thereof that its not like we have a cr@p ton of developable lots left in that immediate Downtown core. The Mutual tower being a few blocks away poking up like that on an island, basically said "there, now fill it in". So I'd much rather optimize what few opportunities there are. I really don't care that 1416 Dodge has been a grass lot for 20 years, its a prime spot that should have a fittingly tall building on it, and Id rather wait for the right one to come in, rather than just some relatively insignificant 400 foot building. I feel the same about the State office. And I really don’t like how theres a height limit on the lot to the east. Thats basically loosely stating that the Mutual tower may be the end all-be all. I dont know why we wouldnt want to strive to have a skyline like Minneapolis just because one building would be taller than another for a while.

Going to veer further off-topic so replying here…



I don’t think anyone is against having a Minneapolis-like skyline with a couple skyscrapers well over 700ft and one pushing 800ft. However, given our rate of two skyscrapers in the last quarter century I’m not too worried about running out of developable lots(at least in our lifetime).
There’s also no reason a new tallest couldn’t exist on another site. The issue with the East Mutual lot is building a new headquarters that's sure to be the new iconic focal point of the most photographed view of the city due to the alignment with the park(see Brad’s shot with the rendering) only to cover it up with something taller or almost as tall? Similarly, if I’m MoO I also wouldn’t want a taller building blocking out the view from the ballpark. If you’re going to build a skyscraper take the advertising that comes with it.

Other lot possibilities beside UP and State Office Building:

1331 Capitol(Viterra)- could be sold and redeveloped

13th & Capitol(Park Omaha)- Yeah something would have to be worked out for OPA parking but that’s not impossible.

15th & Dodge(FNB Parking)- See above.

12 & Capitol- half parking/half antiquated World Herald production facility.

Civic Site- can’t rule out at this point especially if this becomes phased development.

Partial lots:

17th & Dodge Parking garage- surrounds a church and currently for sale.

19th & Dodge parking- adjacent to Mary Magdalene Church. Building around a church would be very NYC .

14th & Harney- Barry Law Building/parking garage.

505 S. 15th St- current Police Headquarters, future status is in question.

16th & Farnam- more of the Sim City fantasy in my mind where this becomes Omaha’s version of a super-tall residential tower.


All of these could be developed without destroying historic structures.

To add to this list:

- 24th & Dodge to I-480, current Physicians Mutual HQ, was supposed to be a campus with several buildings.

- 30th & Dodge to 20th & Harney, this area will explode in growth once the streetcar is operational.

[Louie]

- 30th & Dodge to 20th & Harney, this area will explode in growth once the streetcar is operational.

This is the most intriguing area. Fairly neglected and a little run-down tbh. But has great structures nearby like the Rose theatre, Masonic Center, and the Highline.

[nebport5]

- 30th & Dodge to 20th & Harney, this area will explode in growth once the streetcar is operational.

This is the most intriguing area. Fairly neglected and a little run-down tbh. But has great structures nearby like the Rose theatre, Masonic Center, and the Highline.

Yes, there is definitely great potential in this corridor. It seems probable to expect some NuStyle residential across from The Rose before too long. Hopefully with at least some mid-rise TOD.

The Salvation Army property is also a good sized chunk of land for some profit development.

If Physicians Mutual were to sell and leave I’d hope for some of that campus to stay intact. The South-East side across from Joslyn is a particularly nice green space countering that mostly ugly run-down stretch of concrete. I like the idea of an expanded museum campus here. Similarly, the perpetually troubled Freedom Park could be relieved of its relics which might look better along the North or Western side adjacent to the unattractive intersection of 480 & 75.

30th & Dodge feels ripe for an anchor project whether there’s a lid or not.