State Office Building (1313 Farnam)

[HighWinds]

With all this talk happening, I'm wondering how soon we could see an announcement.

If a large developer is chosen in the coming months, and demolition follows, could we be looking at before the end of the year?

[Garrett]

With all this talk happening, I'm wondering how soon we could see an announcement.

If a large developer is chosen in the coming months, and demolition follows, could we be looking at before the end of the year?

Even under ideal circumstances I’d consider that a pretty ambitious timeline

[Toto]

Can we start knocking it down this weekend? Needs to be 20+ stories or its a bust.

[mcarch]

This is where I kept proposing for the Library/Museum/Cafe/Architecture Piece Site.

[WiinterU]

In my opinion, if this development is based on the streetcar project, it may take until 2028, when it becomes operational, to really get started. If Omaha Streetcar ends in failure, this project may not be possible. What I see is a central ring being formed around the Gene Leahy Mall that is full of high-rises and skyscrapers. However, this could take years to finish.

[Louie]

In my opinion, if this development is based on the streetcar project, it may take until 2028, when it becomes operational, to really get started. If Omaha Streetcar ends in failure, this project may not be possible. What I see is a central ring being formed around the Gene Leahy Mall that is full of high-rises and skyscrapers. However, this could take years to finish.

I dunno, outside of the state office building, there isn't much in the way of surface lots to get developed.

[skinzfan23]

Well there is the lot to the east of Mutual's new building, but of course Mutual has the rights to that.

[arch_RP_planner]

I would love infill along all of the empty lots facing the park, but most of the remaining land that has parkfront are specific business parking lots, ie Flora Cafe's parking, Pinnacle Bank's Parking just E of the Holland Campus, and then Courtyard by Marriott's parking...

For this site specifically, I personally think B2Lab's 215 OMA Center prototype would be a good fit for this lot, especially at the same orientation as shown, just moved down the block... https://www.b2lab.com/215omacenter.

This would add more workplace density into the core, would provide more residential units along the streetcar corridor, and would enliven the area with more ground and accessible retail, entertainment and food options. Plus the scale would be nice to have to balance out the skyline from various angles... Side note, it would also help bridge the gap between the Old Market and the CBD.

And based on my estimate (a rough one), I believe this tower would be around 440', which roughly sits at the same elevation at MoO's new tower, and so, it would actually appear around 90' shorter than woodmen.

[skinzfan23]

I have always wanted to see those parking lots next to Pinnacle Bank and south of the Courtyard developed. That intersection could look a lot different if they were.

[arch_RP_planner]

Can we have someone rebuild the old Woodmen of the World Building that was torn down for this state office building on one of those other lots? I'd love to see a return/redesign of some of the city's old staples that unfortunately were torn down in the name of "Urban Renewal"... Definitely want to see a return of the Hotel Fontanelle.

[halgy]

I want to see more skyscrapers, too, but largely for aesthetics. It may be awhile before the Omaha market is hot enough to absorb more than a couple properly big buildings. One tower at the state office building and one at the old UP lot would fill in the skyline nicely.

What I really want to see at the this lot is a proper luxury condo/apartment building. All of the "luxury" development lately are perfectly nice, but they lack square footage (there's almost never enough room for both a dining table and a full living room setup). Put in some 1000+ sqft 1 bedrooms and some 1500+ 2 bedrooms (and bigger) so those UNMC doctors and MoO bankers have an alternative to buying a house in the suburbs.

[ita]

I am playing around with Google Earth's "Explore building and solar designs" tool. It's pretty neat and my middle school aged son showed it to me. He actually played around with it on Oakview. Anyway, I wanted to see some high rises at this site, as I am profoundly in the multiple buildings on a city block camp. Here is what (one of, at least; it gives you several options) it spat out after I chose the appropriate options (BTW, this is on a 10.0 FAR option; make sure you change that under programming, otherwise it defaults always to 2.00 FAR, boo!). Definitely a Toronto style residential development with high density residential buildings. The tool scores the designs based on the parameters you set. Keep in mind, you can play around with building types, what you want to go in each building, parking ratios, etc.

It's cool, it gives you a decent amount of details, like height, number of units, breakdown of square footage uses.

This design is a three tower concept totaling 650-ish residential units, with an even split between 990 sq ft two bedrooms and 620 square foot one bedroom units. [Edit: You can determine unit mix and sizes under Use Types] Tallest towers are 400 feet with the smaller tower at 290 feet.

[WiinterU]

I'd think more of a single building at a height of around 500 feet tall and centered by a podium or similar shape.

[thenewguy]

I am playing around with Google Earth's "Explore building and solar designs" tool. It's pretty neat and my middle school aged son showed it to me. He actually played around with it on Oakview. Anyway, I wanted to see some high rises at this site, as I am profoundly in the multiple buildings on a city block camp. Here is what (one of, at least; it gives you several options) it spat out after I chose the appropriate options (BTW, this is on a 10.0 FAR option; make sure you change that under programming, otherwise it defaults always to 2.00 FAR, boo!). Definitely a Toronto style residential development with high density residential buildings. The tool scores the designs based on the parameters you set. Keep in mind, you can play around with building types, what you want to go in each building, parking ratios, etc.

It's cool, it gives you a decent amount of details, like height, number of units, breakdown of square footage uses.

This design is a three tower concept totaling 650-ish residential units, with an even split between 990 sq ft two bedrooms and 620 square foot one bedroom units. [Edit: You can determine unit mix and sizes under Use Types] Tallest towers are 400 feet with the smaller tower at 290 feet.

that'd be great. I don't see it ever happening, but that'd be great. I'd poop my pants if something like that happened.

[nebport5]

There are some visual suggestions in the brochure this crowd should find interesting(particularly p.6-9)

https://www.loopnet.com/viewer/pdf?file ... 070825.pdf

[WiinterU]

I was excited to see that they were trying to get redevelopment for the site. Then, I realized that it's from last year. Why are they still appearing to try to sell the actual building for office space? They advertise that it was built in 1980 as if it's a selling point.

[Cermak]

I was excited to see that they were trying to get redevelopment for the site. Then, I realized that it's from last year. Why are they still appearing to try to sell the actual building for office space? They advertise that it was built in 1980 as if it's a selling point.

It’s a 183,000 square ft, I didn’t realize it was that big. At least it’s still being used which is good and not sitting vacant.

[WiinterU]

That's actually bad news. The only way we're going to get rid of it is if it rots. It's three stories tall and is extremely out of place. Neither Nebraska nor Kiewit occupies the building at this point. 1200 Landmark Center's data center is even worse.

[mcarch]

That's actually bad news. The only way we're going to get rid of it is if it rots. It's three stories tall and is extremely out of place. Neither Nebraska nor Kiewit occupies the building at this point. 1200 Landmark Center's data center is even worse.

Agreed! It needs to go as does the Landmark Center's Data Center! I wanted the Library there on the State Building site, so it would overlook the park, have an indoor/outdoor cafe & coffee shot that stayed open late. Think of date night type spot that would overlook everything especially with fireworks & Christmas lights. Oh well.

[MTO]

If it stands another year Coyote will protest its demolition, not good.

[Greg S]

My son starts an internship in that building this summer for the Nebraska Department of Revenue.

[halgy]

My son starts an internship in that building this summer for the Nebraska Department of Revenue.

Ask him to remove and take a brick or two home every day. Eventually, the building will be gone and we can get something more suitable at that location.

[almighty_tuna]

My son starts an internship in that building this summer for the Nebraska Department of Revenue.

Ask him to remove and take a brick or two home every day. Eventually, the building will be gone and we can get something more suitable at that location.

Strong Radar vibes!