Another what if

[Bob from Omaha]

I may be leaving a few out but think about the following companies, still here but not downtown, sold off or left, no longer around, and their possible contribution to downtown:

CSG-Chose a location way out west in a still pretty empty location
FDR-Moved around more than my sister
HDR-coulda woulda
Conagra=Snot nose wanted to live in Chicago
Applied underwriters-Its own soap opera
Enron-Had the merger not happened and another snot nose loaded up on stock & had a fit. they'd have built out their campus and Physicians Mutual would have been somewhere else.

I know I'm leaving off a bunch but had at least a couple of the above chosen to move downtown it would be a different place.

[zippy]

Not sure that I agree with the assessment of FDR. They've ALWAYS been at 7301 Pacific, built 7305, bought 7302...

On the other hand, various supporting departments did indeed vary in location, Old Mill, North Park, John Galt Blvd, Mockingbird, Irvington, Airport-ish location on Crown Point, even 93rd and Bedford when they owned WATS.

[Brad]

Not sure that I agree with the assessment of FDR. They've ALWAYS been at 7301 Pacific, built 7305, bought 7302...

Guessing 7305 is part of 7301? How many additions does 7301 have anyways?

Crazy to thing they have 30 acres between 7301 and 7302 and then another 18 acres just east at Aksarben.

[zippy]

Guessing 7305 is part of 7301? How many additions does 7301 have anyways?

7301 is the original 2-story rectangular building that is oriented N-S. It originally was the home of the Gin Mill lounge and European Health Spa (and probably a dentist and a barber shop?). 7305 is all of the other connected buildings.

[GenX]

HDR-coulda woulda
Conagra=Snot nose wanted to live in Chicago

HDR had a fit they couldn’t have the eventual Steelhouse property, so they went to Aksarben and built shorter. If I remember correctly, the downtown tower was supposed to be 16 stories tall.
Conagra, IMHO, will eventually move back to Omaha, where they’ll probably get some hefty state/local incentives in exchange for building a new skyscraper in the downtown core.

[Louie]

Conagra, IMHO, will eventually move back to Omaha, where they’ll probably get some hefty state/local incentives in exchange for building a new skyscraper in the downtown core.

Anything here besides a hunch?

[Busguy2010]

HDR-coulda woulda
Conagra=Snot nose wanted to live in Chicago

HDR had a fit they couldn’t have the eventual Steelhouse property, so they went to Aksarben and built shorter. If I remember correctly, the downtown tower was supposed to be 16 stories tall.
Conagra, IMHO, will eventually move back to Omaha, where they’ll probably get some hefty state/local incentives in exchange for building a new skyscraper in the downtown core.

I had a fit about that too. I don't exactly remember the whole story behind why they couldn't get that block at 12th & Dodge. I think it was more of OPA throwing a fit that they couldn't tear down the buildings to their east for the eventual Steelhouse, and somehow they muscled HDR out of that block. Now, looking back, I'm not sure what the winning situation is...

We could have had HDR downtown in a fairly considerable building, and OPA could have had Steelhouse on the same block as their original theater. But that would have meant losing those historic buildings to the east. Instead what we got was basically a two story building. But its okay, cause its "for the arts". I remember when Gavilon was built a couple blocks to the west, everybody was up in arms because it squandered any opportunity to have a skyline impactful building there, but I didn't hear the same outcry here.

Another one I really wish would have went Downtown was TD Ameritrade (now Charles Schwab) in Old Mill. I know the design was divisive when it came out. A lot of people thought it was utterly repulsive, but I was in the minority on that (surprise ). I really like that building, the seafoam color is really pretty cool, and its a pretty big building. I think it would have looked spectacular copy and pasted somewhere Downtown. Especially given they have the naming rights to the ballfield, it would have only seemed to make sense to have it somewhere in view from the stadium. I think that's a miss.

[iamjacobm]

My main what if is Kiewit since they actually built new space DT. I think it is pretty obvious they were going to always have a West O office but if all of their local employees were consolidated that could be a heck of a building.

Even considering what they built in North Downtown if the two buildings and sprawling parking garage were all consolidated into one structure could have something like The Stack at Deep Ellum in Dallas. Which would have really stood out at ~200 feet over by the stadium.

[Bob from Omaha]

As for Kiewit, check out their Colorado & KC offices.

KC: Kiewit KC

Colorado: Kiewit Colorado

Both campuses are huge & growing. Especially KC. 2,500 employees & growing. Tons of amenities. Colorado is on a light rail line.

[GenX]

Conagra, IMHO, will eventually move back to Omaha, where they’ll probably get some hefty state/local incentives in exchange for building a new skyscraper in the downtown core.

Anything here besides a hunch?

No. This is merely wishful thinking.

[damonhynes]

Another one I really wish would have went Downtown was TD Ameritrade (now Charles Schwab) in Old Mill. I know the design was divisive when it came out. A lot of people thought it was utterly repulsive, but I was in the minority on that (surprise ). I really like that building, the seafoam color is really pretty cool, and its a pretty big building. I think it would have looked spectacular copy and pasted somewhere Downtown. Especially given they have the naming rights to the ballfield, it would have only seemed to make sense to have it somewhere in view from the stadium. I think that's a miss.

It's a pretty building, but it's unusable for anyone other than TDA. How many companies wanted a corporate HQ, a client-facing call center, a tech department, and a back office, all in one location? The HOTC building was middling at all three.

I know that Southroads was done cheap, quick, and dirty, but I know a lot of people quit/retired when that building closed in favor of OM. Living in Springfield, it was a wash for me.

[djc311]

Conagra, IMHO, will eventually move back to Omaha, where they’ll probably get some hefty state/local incentives in exchange for building a new skyscraper in the downtown core.

Anything here besides a hunch?

No. This is merely wishful thinking.

Ha - IF that could ever happen and IF Omaha tried to offer incentives, I'd make damn sure there was some type of concrete commitment in place stating they'd not move AGAIN, or they'd be significantly penalized. I understand it's impossible to force someone to stay... at the same time, professional sports teams do something similar to this all the time and have to commit. I'd ask for some crazy amount of time, too... 50-100 years. Might sound idiotic, but what Conagra did to Omaha was idiotic.

It would be nice to have the jobs in Omaha - but part of me also hopes Conagra burned the bridge they had and screwed themselves out of the possibility of returning (at least in regards to Omaha trying to entice them back).

[Busguy2010]

It's a pretty building, but it's unusable for anyone other than TDA. How many companies wanted a corporate HQ, a client-facing call center, a tech department, and a back office, all in one location?

Well, maybe not copy/pasted, but similar and condensed. Just sayin a building that looks like it, and even more like 20-ish (or more) stories tall would have looked great. The jobs are still here, so it would have been cool for it to be Downtown. IIRC, TDA and Gavilon were built around the same time, so I'd have rather had a big building like that at 13th & Dodge. Just imagining. Far as I can tell, being Downtown was never a want for them, I just day dream about what couldda wouldda shouldda.

It also speaks to the landscape of transportation in the city. I see why they wanted to be centrally located, cause from what I heard, none of the employees wanted to be downtown either. So I wonder what could have been if we'd had ORBT in place back then, or even the streetcar or a light rail line in consideration.

[CBJason]

but part of me also hopes Conagra burned the bridge they had and screwed themselves out of the possibility of returning (at least in regards to Omaha trying to entice them back).

[djc311]

but part of me also hopes Conagra burned the bridge they had and screwed themselves out of the possibility of returning (at least in regards to Omaha trying to entice them back).

You feel Conagra deserves the red carpet rollout with an invitation back to Omaha on a silver platter? Thankfully we can agree to disagree. They had the chance... actually, they were ALREADY here. The main reason they left was to personally benefit the CEO at the time.

[CBJason]

In all seriousness, NO, I don’t care, it’s water under the bridge. I’m all for them returning one way or another, whether they decide to do it on their own or the city rolls out the red carpet or anything in-between. That’s what cities do, retain and attract companies and employees. Imagine a politician(s) saying, ‘nah bro we’re good here, we don’t need any more employees or companies or tax base for our city!’

[Busguy2010]

I actually like what we got out of them abandoning us. However, if they were to want to come back, they better not be asking for assistance, and it better not be another suburban campus. I'd welcome them back if they were to build a fairly impressive tower and didn't ask for money. I know they have it.

[djc311]

In all seriousness, NO, I don’t care, it’s water under the bridge. I’m all for them returning one way or another, whether they decide to do it on their own or the city rolls out the red carpet or anything in-between. That’s what cities do, retain and attract companies and employees. Imagine a politician(s) saying, ‘nah bro we’re good here, we don’t need any more employees or companies or tax base for our city!’

Makes sense...

[nebport5]

What if we not dwell in past missteps and look to possible future what if?


1416 Dodge- what if the city attracts a large employer that would build an actual high-rise?

UPC- possibly adds floors for new employees like they said could be done when it was built?

Mercantile- what if a large company agrees to occupy the T3 building?

State Office Building- what if Lanoha or another developer builts a mixed-use high-rise with a large residential component to help accommodate the influx of new employees to downtown?

[nebport5]

HDR-coulda woulda
Conagra=Snot nose wanted to live in Chicago

HDR had a fit they couldn’t have the eventual Steelhouse property, so they went to Aksarben and built shorter. If I remember correctly, the downtown tower was supposed to be 16 stories tall.
Conagra, IMHO, will eventually move back to Omaha, where they’ll probably get some hefty state/local incentives in exchange for building a new skyscraper in the downtown core.

I had a fit about that too. I don't exactly remember the whole story behind why they couldn't get that block at 12th & Dodge. I think it was more of OPA throwing a fit that they couldn't tear down the buildings to their east for the eventual Steelhouse, and somehow they muscled HDR out of that block. Now, looking back, I'm not sure what the winning situation is...

We could have had HDR downtown in a fairly considerable building, and OPA could have had Steelhouse on the same block as their original theater. But that would have meant losing those historic buildings to the east. Instead what we got was basically a two story building. But its okay, cause its "for the arts". I remember when Gavilon was built a couple blocks to the west, everybody was up in arms because it squandered any opportunity to have a skyline impactful building there, but I didn't hear the same outcry here.

Another one I really wish would have went Downtown was TD Ameritrade (now Charles Schwab) in Old Mill. I know the design was divisive when it came out. A lot of people thought it was utterly repulsive, but I was in the minority on that (surprise ). I really like that building, the seafoam color is really pretty cool, and its a pretty big building. I think it would have looked spectacular copy and pasted somewhere Downtown. Especially given they have the naming rights to the ballfield, it would have only seemed to make sense to have it somewhere in view from the stadium. I think that's a miss.

16 at best if this rendering was accurate. In hindsight I prefer Steelhouse here. Much saltier about Gavilon.

[HskrFanMike]

I think the biggest "what if" was the city choosing Wall Street Tower instead of the Pacific Life headquarters 20 story building, nearly 20 years ago.

[skinzfan23]

I think the biggest "what if" was the city choosing Wall Street Tower instead of the Pacific Life headquarters 20 story building, nearly 20 years ago.

Where and how big was the Pacific Life going to be?

[Brad]

I think the biggest "what if" was the city choosing Wall Street Tower instead of the Pacific Life headquarters 20 story building, nearly 20 years ago.

Where and how big was the Pacific Life going to be?

Here is the Rumor Thread from 20 years ago:
viewtopic.php?t=5242&hilit=Pacific+Life

[nebport5]

Presumedly Pac Life was going to be part of the America First proposal that lost to Townsend right?

20 stories?? The America First building was to be 14 stories(on a good day), about half a tower and well short of UPC.

Hindsight is 2020 as far as the potential for additional jobs downtown, however, the 2008 economy may not have played out well for America First either had they been awarded the RFP.