The Crossroads (72 & Dodge)

[WiinterU]

It's going to be huge! Like nothing ever seen before! The most amazing, best big thing.

Honestly, at least there's something beyond dirt being shuffled around. I think our youngest will be out of high school (hasn't started yet) by the time this place is ready to visit. LOL

Possibly not even before retirement.

[Garrett]

I see we're back to our semi-annual kvetching about the speed of Crossroads development

[djc311]

I see we're back to our semi-annual kvetching about the speed of Crossroads development

It does surprise me how slow this entire process has taken.

A ton of the earth work had been completed awhile back, so you would think things were fairly ready to go.

You see these other developments go from farmland to vertical in a couple of months and it just makes me wonder. The new UNMC medical facility going up at Gretna Landing has 4 elevator towers up already (3-4 stories, each) and a fair amount of structural steel in place. And it's going to be a fairly large building. Sure, different budgets and developers, but IMO the technical design work that has to go into a bowling alley structure but I'm not an architectural engineer.

[Dusty]

I think everyone is forgetting they are building 2 floors of underground garage first. Once this is done, the vertical parts will go fast. Well....faster. lol

The town center is mostly one-story buildings. I can't imagine it will take long to get this center block developed.

[djc311]

I think everyone is forgetting they are building 2 floors of underground garage first. Once this is done, the vertical parts will go fast. Well....faster. lol

The town center is mostly one-story buildings. I can't imagine it will take long to get this center block developed.

I'm guessing no one can answer this, but why can't they build different portions simultaneously like they did with Village Pointe, Shadow Lake, etc? The development should be spread out enough to accommodate this concept. Although I haven't heard of any other signed tenants outside of the bowling alley / movie theater combo (and of course the parking garage).

[Garrett]

I think everyone is forgetting they are building 2 floors of underground garage first. Once this is done, the vertical parts will go fast. Well....faster. lol

The town center is mostly one-story buildings. I can't imagine it will take long to get this center block developed.

I'm guessing no one can answer this, but why can't they build different portions simultaneously like they did with Village Pointe, Shadow Lake, etc? The development should be spread out enough to accommodate this concept. Although I haven't heard of any other signed tenants outside of the bowling alley / movie theater combo (and of course the parking garage).

Resource constraints, most likely. How many construction crews can you hire at once? How much material can you get?

[Busguy2010]

I see we're back to our semi-annual kvetching about the speed of Crossroads development

It does surprise me how slow this entire process has taken.

A ton of the earth work had been completed awhile back, so you would think things were fairly ready to go.

You see these other developments go from farmland to vertical in a couple of months and it just makes me wonder. The new UNMC medical facility going up at Gretna Landing has 4 elevator towers up already (3-4 stories, each) and a fair amount of structural steel in place. And it's going to be a fairly large building. Sure, different budgets and developers, but IMO the technical design work that has to go into a bowling alley structure but I'm not an architectural engineer.

The project is indefensible at this point. After all the droning about every inadequacy in these plans over the years, kinda hard to justify excitement about it now. Nobody born before 2032 will have any memory about "how cool 'The Crossroads' was". It missed an entire generation. Kids have been born, grown up, and moved away without ever personally knowing anything about this site, other than that nothing happened. I really don't care to defend it for the fact a little bit of progress is finally starting to show, or how hard it is to build a parking garage below ground. All these things have happened elsewhere in no time. What happened to the other 15.5 years? The ship sailed. Maybe my kid's kids will have some cool stories about it.

[Dusty]

I think everyone is forgetting they are building 2 floors of underground garage first. Once this is done, the vertical parts will go fast. Well....faster. lol

The town center is mostly one-story buildings. I can't imagine it will take long to get this center block developed.

I'm guessing no one can answer this, but why can't they build different portions simultaneously like they did with Village Pointe, Shadow Lake, etc? The development should be spread out enough to accommodate this concept. Although I haven't heard of any other signed tenants outside of the bowling alley / movie theater combo (and of course the parking garage).

Last I heard phase 1 would be completed together. This would include 3 of the blocks: Entertainment Center, Town Square, and Apartment Complex along Cass St. I don't see why they would have to wait to open them together. Each one of these has their own parking garage. In theory, they could complete one of the block developments and open it to the public.

The town center will have multiple tenants. Makes you wonder if they are still sourcing tenants to fill all the spots.

[Omaha Cowboy]

Construction has begun..

From the Grow Omaha market update from yesterday-

“It's been a long time coming, but construction has gone vertical at the Crossroads development northwest of 72nd & Dodge Street. The first building going up is a 90,000 sq. ft. indoor entertainment attraction to be called Gamescape by Cinemark. Salt Lake City-based Woodbury Corporation is now leading development of the $850 million mixed-use development. Work has also started on an underground parking garage.”…

Ciao..LiO…Peace

[HskrFanMike]

In fairness, when all anyone sees are piles of dirt and the 40 year old marquee with half of the incandescent bulbs burned out, it does look like an abandoned property. (And why haven't they upgraded that sign at 72nd and Dodge to digital?)

[NEDodger]

In fairness, when all anyone sees are piles of dirt and the 40 year old marquee with half of the incandescent bulbs burned out, it does look like an abandoned property. (And why haven't they upgraded that sign at 72nd and Dodge to digital?)

Or just tear it out until the new development has open stores. It’s completely irrelevant at this point.

[nebport5]

In fairness, when all anyone sees are piles of dirt and the 40 year old marquee with half of the incandescent bulbs burned out, it does look like an abandoned property. (And why haven't they upgraded that sign at 72nd and Dodge to digital?)

Or just tear it out until the new development has open stores. It’s completely irrelevant at this point.

I believe Grow Omaha said something about having to navigate some legal hurdles that has complicated updating the signage.

[djc311]

In fairness, when all anyone sees are piles of dirt and the 40 year old marquee with half of the incandescent bulbs burned out, it does look like an abandoned property. (And why haven't they upgraded that sign at 72nd and Dodge to digital?)

Or just tear it out until the new development has open stores. It’s completely irrelevant at this point.

I believe Grow Omaha said something about having to navigate some legal hurdles that has complicated updating the signage.

Interesting because the only tenant there is Target and I don't think they even advertise on it. It looks awful.

It's a nice accessory to the mega-library across the street. Seriously, it's like they want that corner to be a dud.

[nebport5]

In fairness, when all anyone sees are piles of dirt and the 40 year old marquee with half of the incandescent bulbs burned out, it does look like an abandoned property. (And why haven't they upgraded that sign at 72nd and Dodge to digital?)

Or just tear it out until the new development has open stores. It’s completely irrelevant at this point.

I believe Grow Omaha said something about having to navigate some legal hurdles that has complicated updating the signage.

Interesting because the only tenant there is Target and I don't think they even advertise on it. It looks awful.

It's a nice accessory to the mega-library across the street. Seriously, it's like they want that corner to be a dud.

IIRC Target owns their space but not the sign.

[S.O.Boy]

In fairness, when all anyone sees are piles of dirt and the 40 year old marquee with half of the incandescent bulbs burned out, it does look like an abandoned property. (And why haven't they upgraded that sign at 72nd and Dodge to digital?)

Or just tear it out until the new development has open stores. It’s completely irrelevant at this point.

I believe Grow Omaha said something about having to navigate some legal hurdles that has complicated updating the signage.

Interesting because the only tenant there is Target and I don't think they even advertise on it. It looks awful.

It's a nice accessory to the mega-library across the street. Seriously, it's like they want that corner to be a dud.

IIRC Target owns their space but not the sign.

I think you are right because I find it difficult to believe Target would let it get so bad.

[GenX]

In fairness, when all anyone sees are piles of dirt and the 40 year old marquee with half of the incandescent bulbs burned out, it does look like an abandoned property. (And why haven't they upgraded that sign at 72nd and Dodge to digital?)

Or just tear it out until the new development has open stores. It’s completely irrelevant at this point.

I believe Grow Omaha said something about having to navigate some legal hurdles that has complicated updating the signage.

Interesting because the only tenant there is Target and I don't think they even advertise on it. It looks awful.

It's a nice accessory to the mega-library across the street. Seriously, it's like they want that corner to be a dud.

IIRC Target owns their space but not the sign.

According to the planning board website, Target owns everything but the far SE corner where the sign is.

[Busguy2010]

In fairness, when all anyone sees are piles of dirt and the 40 year old marquee with half of the incandescent bulbs burned out, it does look like an abandoned property. (And why haven't they upgraded that sign at 72nd and Dodge to digital?)

Or just tear it out until the new development has open stores. It’s completely irrelevant at this point.

I believe Grow Omaha said something about having to navigate some legal hurdles that has complicated updating the signage.

Interesting because the only tenant there is Target and I don't think they even advertise on it. It looks awful.

It's a nice accessory to the mega-library across the street. Seriously, it's like they want that corner to be a dud.

IIRC Target owns their space but not the sign.

According to the planning board website, Target owns everything but the far SE corner where the sign is.

It was a comically narrow sliver of property that connects "Crossroads" to the corner where the sign is. You'd see that Target really isn't "Crossroads", its all on its own. The sign has its own address.

[WiinterU]

Here's an aerial view of Crossroads Mall in 1988. It doesn't show the marquee, as it was cropped out.

[WiinterU]

Here's the original Crossroads Mall sign, seen here in 1985.

[Busguy2010]

Given hindsight, letting that land go to Target has to be on the short list of O-mistakes.

[almighty_tuna]

Given hindsight, letting that land go to Target has to be on the short list of O-mistakes.

What, and lament the opportunity for another corner gas station and car wash? I'll take the Target.

[Busguy2010]

Given hindsight, letting that land go to Target has to be on the short list of O-mistakes.

What, and lament the opportunity for another corner gas station and car wash? I'll take the Target.

Well sure, there would be that option too. There's also the option of another Swivel, Clove, 72nd & Farnam, etc, etc. I always forget Target is even there and drive by it every day. Because even by Target metrics, its not, or at least in the beginning, isnt even a full on Target. So, for as long as its been there, and Walmart down the street, I hardly ever gave it a thought.

Its always been a major thorn in the side of development plans, which you can easily attribute not having anything worthwhile here for going on 20 years to. On top of that, as long as Target cares to stay, itll only ever be a single use box store with a large surface parking lot, which has been argued by many as a major, giant undersell compared to the aspirations we did have for our most important intersection.

Its Target, not a Megasaver at least, but we are stuck with that. Its always kinda sucked considering had we just waited a couple years on it, Target might have built somewhere more appropriate like where the current Hobby Lobby is or somewhere not the front doorstep of the city. Thats a prime parcel of real estate for which we are with Target til death do us part. Id say its pretty clear who got the smokin deal on that one.

[nebport5]

Given hindsight, letting that land go to Target has to be on the short list of O-mistakes.

What, and lament the opportunity for another corner gas station and car wash? I'll take the Target.

Well sure, there would be that option too. There's also the option of another Swivel, Clove, 72nd & Farnam, etc, etc. I always forget Target is even there and drive by it every day. Because even by Target metrics, its not, or at least in the beginning, isnt even a full on Target. So, for as long as its been there, and Walmart down the street, I hardly ever gave it a thought.

Its always been a major thorn in the side of development plans, which you can easily attribute not having anything worthwhile here for going on 20 years to. On top of that, as long as Target cares to stay, itll only ever be a single use box store with a large surface parking lot, which has been argued by many as a major, giant undersell compared to the aspirations we did have for our most important intersection.

Its Target, not a Megasaver at least, but we are stuck with that. Its always kinda sucked considering had we just waited a couple years on it, Target might have built somewhere more appropriate like where the current Hobby Lobby is or somewhere not the front doorstep of the city. Thats a prime parcel of real estate for which we are with Target til death do us part. Id say its pretty clear who got the smokin deal on that one.

I thought Target was supposed re-model the front with an integrated Ulta store? Maybe they're waiting for some portion of Crossroads to be shop-able.

[WiinterU]

When they put up the new sign in 1985, they didn't get the rights to put up an entirely new sign. They claimed that it wasn't a new sign after NDOT filed a complaint. It was finally settled in 1998, thirteen years later, when the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled in favor of the developers. I don't even think that sign looked good by 1998.

[Dusty]

As for the sign, just tear it down. Even if it was modernized it would still look out of place.

We need to stop blaming Target for development mishaps. It did not affect Crossroads on development plans. It was a major improvement to bring them in as a main anchor.

My biggest beef with Crossroads is the lack of density. This was our chance to bring in an urban vibe to the neighborhood. That would have given the developer some influence to talk Target into rebuilding an urban Target on the current surface lot. The size of current parking is nearly identical to the store size. They could reopen the parking garage while they built the new store. Just picture a store like IKEA in Kansas City. 1 floor for receiving/warehouse, 1-2 floors of parking, and 1-2 floors of store. If you want to add a few floors for apartments, go for it. Of course, only Target would have the power to make that decision.

[djc311]

As for the sign, just tear it down. Even if it was modernized it would still look out of place.

We need to stop blaming Target for development mishaps. It did not affect Crossroads on development plans. It was a major improvement to bring them in as a main anchor.

My biggest beef with Crossroads is the lack of density. This was our chance to bring in an urban vibe to the neighborhood. That would have given the developer some influence to talk Target into rebuilding an urban Target on the current surface lot. The size of current parking is nearly identical to the store size. They could reopen the parking garage while they built the new store. Just picture a store like IKEA in Kansas City. 1 floor for receiving/warehouse, 1-2 floors of parking, and 1-2 floors of store. If you want to add a few floors for apartments, go for it. Of course, only Target would have the power to make that decision.

When this is all said and done (in 10-20 years) it will likely not be worth the wait. The only good thing that stuck around from the old Crossroads is Target.

The fact there was an argument over the sign almost 30 years ago goes to show this corner has been nothing more than a headache for the past 30-40 years. Seriously... a sign ended up in Nebraska Supreme Court? Dumb.

[BH58]

As far as tearing the sign down, unless the laws have changed and I'm not aware,that's not the best option. Sign permits are grandfathered. Tearing down the old sign could to lead to a lengthy permit process to get a new permit in place.

[Busguy2010]

No. I just dont shop at Target. In fact, I just drove by it last night to go to that Walmart like I always do. Having that Target there was never a boon for Crossroads. Might be a nice option to have in the area for some. The point is its just Target, it never helped the mall - like I'm sure was part of the reason for throwing in the towel and allowing it - and for the last almost 20 years has been a roadblock every step of the way. It would be better if it didn't happen back when it did, and id be willing to bet had the Target not been there, we'd have been done talking about the new development here years ago. Thats why I said its up there, at least in my eyes, as one pretty big "Gosh darn it (fingersnap)... ah, well". I'm sure if the city would have imagined the mall would be gone so soon after, and we'd be looking at a dirt pit for this long, the overall sentiment would be "pff, F Target".

[Dusty]

Noticed Woodbury updated some renderings on their website. The buildings that would face Dodge St appear taller, but that all could change as they reveal future phases.

https://live-woodburycorp3.pantheonsite ... rossroads/

[WiinterU]

As for the sign, just tear it down. Even if it was modernized it would still look out of place.

We need to stop blaming Target for development mishaps. It did not affect Crossroads on development plans. It was a major improvement to bring them in as a main anchor.

My biggest beef with Crossroads is the lack of density. This was our chance to bring in an urban vibe to the neighborhood. That would have given the developer some influence to talk Target into rebuilding an urban Target on the current surface lot. The size of current parking is nearly identical to the store size. They could reopen the parking garage while they built the new store. Just picture a store like IKEA in Kansas City. 1 floor for receiving/warehouse, 1-2 floors of parking, and 1-2 floors of store. If you want to add a few floors for apartments, go for it. Of course, only Target would have the power to make that decision.

When this is all said and done (in 10-20 years) it will likely not be worth the wait. The only good thing that stuck around from the old Crossroads is Target.

The fact there was an argument over the sign almost 30 years ago goes to show this corner has been nothing more than a headache for the past 30-40 years. Seriously... a sign ended up in Nebraska Supreme Court? Dumb.

The sign didn't get approval from the Nebraska Department of Roads, the predecessor of NDOT, so they sued the developers. NDOR claimed that the sign was in violation of the Federal Highway Beautification Act of 1965. It was allowed to stay under a grandfather clause. However, when the sign was rebuilt in 1985, NDOR claimed that the sign was entirely different. NDOR was worried that the new sign could jeopardize the state's highway funds, as the sign was located on Highway 6, also known as Dodge Street. It went all the way up to the Nebraska Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of the developers.

[Athomsfere]

Noticed Woodbury updated some renderings on their website. The buildings that would face Dodge St appear taller, but that all could change as they reveal future phases.

https://live-woodburycorp3.pantheonsite ... rossroads/

Still smells like disappointment to me.

[Brad]

MCL Update video:

[nativeomahan]

Given hindsight, letting that land go to Target has to be on the short list of O-mistakes.

What, and lament the opportunity for another corner gas station and car wash? I'll take the Target.

Well sure, there would be that option too. There's also the option of another Swivel, Clove, 72nd & Farnam, etc, etc. I always forget Target is even there and drive by it every day. Because even by Target metrics, its not, or at least in the beginning, isnt even a full on Target. So, for as long as its been there, and Walmart down the street, I hardly ever gave it a thought.

Its always been a major thorn in the side of development plans, which you can easily attribute not having anything worthwhile here for going on 20 years to. On top of that, as long as Target cares to stay, itll only ever be a single use box store with a large surface parking lot, which has been argued by many as a major, giant undersell compared to the aspirations we did have for our most important intersection.

Its Target, not a Megasaver at least, but we are stuck with that. Its always kinda sucked considering had we just waited a couple years on it, Target might have built somewhere more appropriate like where the current Hobby Lobby is or somewhere not the front doorstep of the city. Thats a prime parcel of real estate for which we are with Target til death do us part. Id say its pretty clear who got the smokin deal on that one.

Not sure what anyone has against Target (leaving arguments about the corporation’s politics aside) being located where it is. For many many years now it has been the ONLY business operating at the Crossroads. They took a chance when nobody else was willing to. They are essentially the only mid city Target located in Omaha, and as such they serve a huge geographic and socio-economic segment of the metro, it also happens to be the Target I shop at, and it is seemingly always busy.

[Linkin5]

I think the primary complaint about the Target here is that it potentially won’t fit in with the rest of the development.

[nebport5]

I think the primary complaint about the Target here is that it potentially won’t fit in with the rest of the development.

How so? We don't know yet what other retailers will be included. Or are you referring specifically to the building and the parking lot alignment?

[Busguy2010]

Not that its Target alone, but any big box with a big flat parkng lot never fit any of the plans put forth. Whatever plans have been put forth have always had to work around it. Technically, Target (or that big box store on the corner) isn’t part of The Crossroads.

If that building were never there, I feel we could have had a more ambitious and cohesive look for the corner. But as you have it, what you're looking at is what you get, for 20, 50, 100 years

[Garrett]

Once the rest of the redevelopment is done, I could see Woodbury offering to build Target a new store on their existing parking lot that could have more frontage on Dodge as part of a mixed use development, and then redeveloping their existing store.

[Busguy2010]

Once the rest of the redevelopment is done, I could see Woodbury offering to build Target a new store on their existing parking lot that could have more frontage on Dodge as part of a mixed use development, and then redeveloping their existing store.

In a perfect world.

[meliketrains]

I know it's always in vogue to complain about Crossroads, but I am personally attached to the area doing well as I live right across from it. It is essentially my front yard, and while this area in general needs an ungodly amount of work to get it pedestrian safe, I had remained cautiously optimistic that with the YIMBY direction many American cities seemed to be headed (including peer cities like St. Paul and KC!), that transit-focused, dense, multi-use developments would have been prioritized. Instead, what I see is a large entertainment complex like The Amazing Pizza Machine (???) and a bunch of single story glammed up strip mall development, with maybe some apartments to help ease the wound. All this on top of the 13 years we waited on seeing anything.

Maybe I will be pleasantly surprised and proven wrong, and I very much hope that is the case, but as it stands now, this is looking to be another Village Pointe. Multiple parking garages and a massive surface parking lot means this area is just another nu-mall that people drive to.

Keep in mind that the City still does not have a response to the rapidly growing problem that is the Dodge buildup between 72nd and 144th. The stretch from 84th to 90th and the stretch from the overpass to 144th are particularly bad with near standstill bumper to bumper traffic during rush hour. This is the consequence of the last three decades of car-centric development. Many will recall that the entire overpass was the "solution" to the exact same problem we have now, all in the exact same spot. All it did was delay the inevitable. You start adding destinations for hundreds if not thousands of vehicles without providing alternative means of transportation (cough, LIGHT RAIL, cough), you end up with another shitty overpass and a Dodge St that somehow becomes even more dangerous, segregating, and malignant than it already is.

[Greg S]

Having the Police and Fire Center land here tells me they've not been successful in getting private development (whether it be housing, retail or office) to fill this development. Can't believe we've waited over 15 years on this to take off and this is what is landing there.