Greg S wrote: Wed Jul 22, 2026 9:28 am
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.
Totally agree - even if the spend ends up being good for the developer, it's not likely great when it comes to attracting other projects. If I were a restaurant, retailer, etc. my goal wouldn't be to locate near this new HQ. Nothing against having a HQ, just seems like it's not the best fit.
The fact they still haven't announced a single additional business besides the Cinemark entertainment venue leads me to believe this is not going as hoped.
At this point, I wish someone could have come in and revamped the mall and tried to land new tenants. By the time it's all said and done, consumers will have a desire to shop indoor retail centers again (instead of these "outdoor lifestyle" things) LOL
Greg S wrote: Wed Jul 22, 2026 9:28 am
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.
and add to that this prime spot will not be on the tax rolls.
For the record NEBUGEATER does not equal BUGEATER !!!!!!!
Greg S wrote: Wed Jul 22, 2026 9:28 am
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.
and add to that this prime spot will not be on the tax rolls.
Especially after a laundry list of incentives were given to this project
Greg S wrote: Wed Jul 22, 2026 9:28 am
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.
and add to that this prime spot will not be on the tax rolls.
Especially after a laundry list of incentives were given to this project
BINGO
For the record NEBUGEATER does not equal BUGEATER !!!!!!!
Greg S wrote: Wed Jul 22, 2026 9:28 am
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.
and add to that this prime spot will not be on the tax rolls.
Especially after a laundry list of incentives were given to this project
Those were my exact thoughts too. Having this land here tells quite the story. Bout time the city said puh-lease, if you arent gonna build anything here, we will. Massive failure. Who really dropped the ball here? Suttle was the mayor at the time. Makes it sting a little more knowing he was a one-off.
I remember wayyyy back, I suggested making it a park until all four wheels on the ground rolling. Doesn't seem like such a crazy idea now. To think whatever trees planted there would be mature by now. heck, a prairie preserve probably would have become such a part of the landscape, i bet there'd be push to keep it that way.
Busguy2010 wrote: Wed Jul 22, 2026 1:45 pm
Those were my exact thoughts too. Having this land here tells quite the story. Bout time the city said puh-lease, if you arent gonna build anything here, we will. Massive failure. Who really dropped the ball here? Suttle was the mayor at the time. Makes it sting a little more knowing he was a one-off.
I don't understand how you think Suttle had a major impact on hos this thing seems to be turning out?
Busguy2010 wrote: Wed Jul 22, 2026 1:45 pm
Those were my exact thoughts too. Having this land here tells quite the story. Bout time the city said puh-lease, if you arent gonna build anything here, we will. Massive failure. Who really dropped the ball here? Suttle was the mayor at the time. Makes it sting a little more knowing he was a one-off.
I don't understand how you think Suttle had a major impact on hos this thing seems to be turning out?
Not in a direct way. I prefaced that with a question. All he did was sign off on tearing the mall down, which was a populous decision. And sign off on the first plan. Theres obviously a dynamic here that nobody can figure out.
Busguy2010 wrote: Wed Jul 22, 2026 1:45 pm
Those were my exact thoughts too. Having this land here tells quite the story. Bout time the city said puh-lease, if you arent gonna build anything here, we will. Massive failure. Who really dropped the ball here? Suttle was the mayor at the time. Makes it sting a little more knowing he was a one-off.
I don't understand how you think Suttle had a major impact on hos this thing seems to be turning out?
Not in a direct way. I prefaced that with a question. All he did was sign off on tearing the mall down, which was a populous decision. And sign off on the first plan. Theres obviously a dynamic here that nobody can figure out.
Yeah I don't think we got here any differently if we have a different mayor than Suttle at the beginning. I think they all would have done essentially the same thing at the beginning.
Busguy2010 wrote: Wed Jul 22, 2026 1:45 pm
Those were my exact thoughts too. Having this land here tells quite the story. Bout time the city said puh-lease, if you arent gonna build anything here, we will. Massive failure. Who really dropped the ball here? Suttle was the mayor at the time. Makes it sting a little more knowing he was a one-off.
I don't understand how you think Suttle had a major impact on hos this thing seems to be turning out?
Not in a direct way. I prefaced that with a question. All he did was sign off on tearing the mall down, which was a populous decision. And sign off on the first plan. Theres obviously a dynamic here that nobody can figure out.
Crossroads wasn't actually demolished until 2020 though, well after Suttle was mayor.
Anyway. I wasnt necessarily sating it was his fault. I asked "who really dropped the ball here" and started at the beginning. Think i mixed up demolition with sitting idle with little to no retail significance for years. Think the first iteration of a plan was early 2010s at which point was the Suttle period. Was he any part of it? Maybe not. Hard to think any plan like that wouldnt involve the city and mayor of the time in some capacity.
Keeping that surface parking in front of Target is disappointing but not surprising. I’m sure they want to keep their frontage.
Because Target owns their land and that includes 2/3s of that parking. It would be nice to see more than a corner of the other 1/3 developed at some point.
They do have it marked at “Lot J” in their plan, so I don’t imagine it being too far out there that once they’re done with the rest of the development that they may try to do something with it.
I realize that Grow Omaha is essentially a cheerleader for development, so they won't criticize any new developments. That being said I was interested in how they would spin this landing at Crossroads. I think it was pretty telling how they did. The two big points were, there always was going to be a civic component. Yes, early on there was talk of a library going on. Initially it wasn't necessarily the main library, it was possibly just going to replace W. Clarke Swanson branch. That obviously eventually evolved into the main library relocating south of Dodge. Obviously, there's a big difference to the public between a library and the Police and Fire HQ. A library is used by the public and works better in high traffic areas (and especially with the bus service there). A Police and Fire HQ won't be used by the vast majority of citizens and really can be located anywhere. Works better financially for the city on a less valuable piece of land. Once this thing goes up it won't be on the tax rolls any longer.
The other point they tried to make was it really won't take away much. Talked about it being on the far NW corner, still plenty of room for all the retail. So even if it doesn't take away from retail, it still could have possibly been used by an private office building or more obviously, additional housing. Put it somewhere that is struggling and could use those workers to help an area. Instead of the HQ, more than anything, use this corner for additional affordable apartments for example. With the amenities there and having the ORBT bus line right there, it's perfect. If they can't do that, make them market rate apartments on that land, condo's, row houing....all better for this than the HQ.
Last edited by OmahaRedWing on Thu Jul 30, 2026 2:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
OmahaRedWing wrote: Thu Jul 30, 2026 10:52 am
I realize that Grow Omaha is essentially a cheerleader for development, so they won't criticize any new developments. That being said I was interested in how they would spin this landing at Ak Sar Ben. I think it was pretty telling how they did. The two big points were, there always was going to be a civic component. Yes, early on there was talk of a library going on. Initially it wasn't necessarily the main library, it was possibly just going to replace W. Clarke Swanson branch. That obviously eventually evolved into the main library relocating south of Dodge. Obviously, there's a big difference to the public between a library and the Police and Fire HQ. A library is used by the public and works better in high traffic areas (and especially with the bus service there). A Police and Fire HQ won't be used by the vast majority of citizens and really can be located anywhere. Works better financially for the city on a less valuable piece of land. Once this thing goes up it won't be on the tax rolls any longer.
The other point they tried to make was it really won't take away much. Talked about it being on the far NW corner, still plenty of room for all the retail. So even if it doesn't take away from retail, it still could have possibly been used by an private office building or more obviously, additional housing. Put it somewhere that is struggling and could use those workers to help an area. Instead of the HQ, more than anything, use this corner for additional affordable apartments for example. With the amenities there and having the ORBT bus line right there, it's perfect. If they can't do that, make them market rate apartments on that land, condo's, row houing....all better for this than the HQ.
OmahaRedWing wrote: Thu Jul 30, 2026 10:52 am
I realize that Grow Omaha is essentially a cheerleader for development, so they won't criticize any new developments. That being said I was interested in how they would spin this landing at Ak Sar Ben. I think it was pretty telling how they did. The two big points were, there always was going to be a civic component. Yes, early on there was talk of a library going on. Initially it wasn't necessarily the main library, it was possibly just going to replace W. Clarke Swanson branch. That obviously eventually evolved into the main library relocating south of Dodge. Obviously, there's a big difference to the public between a library and the Police and Fire HQ. A library is used by the public and works better in high traffic areas (and especially with the bus service there). A Police and Fire HQ won't be used by the vast majority of citizens and really can be located anywhere. Works better financially for the city on a less valuable piece of land. Once this thing goes up it won't be on the tax rolls any longer.
The other point they tried to make was it really won't take away much. Talked about it being on the far NW corner, still plenty of room for all the retail. So even if it doesn't take away from retail, it still could have possibly been used by an private office building or more obviously, additional housing. Put it somewhere that is struggling and could use those workers to help an area. Instead of the HQ, more than anything, use this corner for additional affordable apartments for example. With the amenities there and having the ORBT bus line right there, it's perfect. If they can't do that, make them market rate apartments on that land, condo's, row houing....all better for this than the HQ.
KETV wrote:Marco Floreani, senior deputy director of economic development for the City of Omaha, acknowledged public concerns about the pace of progress.
Floreani said the city holds weekly meetings with Woodbury, the lead developer for the Crossroads project.
"We've been redesigning some of the blocks, just some small tweaks," he said.
He said Woodbury has received several letters of intent from retailers.
"If you get one retailer, many others will follow," Floreani said.
Floreani said it's enough that there's an "opportunity" to build more vertically in the "Central Green" at the heart of the development.
KETV wrote:The city and Woodbury plan to share more details about the development at a town hall meeting scheduled for the last week of August.
Erik wrote: Sun Aug 16, 2026 3:22 pm
Several large scale apartments near this site on 72nd tells me something is fundamentally broken with this development
Yup.
It was arrested development to begin with.
Honestly, a Dekalb Farmers Market is what it should turn into.
Erik wrote: Sun Aug 16, 2026 3:22 pm
Several large scale apartments near this site on 72nd tells me something is fundamentally broken with this development
Yup.
It was arrested development to begin with.
Honestly, a Dekalb Farmers Market is what it should turn into.
If I'm a retail developer or retailer I'd welcome more adjacent potential customers.
