Heartwood Preserve (144th Dodge/Pacific)

[Garrett]

Per Grow Omaha, the Marriott Autograph hotel here will be named "The Elowen" which is just about the most Lord of the Rings name for a hotel I've ever heard.

[GenX]

Per Grow Omaha, the Marriott Autograph hotel here will be named "The Elowen" which is just about the most Lord of the Rings name for a hotel I've ever heard.

You shall not pass

[BRoss]

I walked through the area later last night and it looked liked Heartwood Row is fully open now. And with that 147th St is open all the way through and the parking garage is as well, which still had a few cars in it around 10 pm.

The Olsson building looks like it is done now, except the top floor which will likely get built out later.

[BRoss]

Per Grow Omaha, the Marriott Autograph hotel here will be named "The Elowen" which is just about the most Lord of the Rings name for a hotel I've ever heard.

They posted more about it today: https://growomaha.com/construction-on-t ... -preserve/

This will be a 6 story building just west of Olsson. There is also another 5 story apartment building just across the street to the south. Both are supposed to start construction this fall.

The Elowen will be part of the Marriott Autograph Collection and is slated to open in 2028. The 6-story building will have 160 hotel rooms as well as a ground-floor restaurant and rooftop bar. Lanoha is working with Colorado-based Greenwood Hospitality to design the bar and restaurant. Both spaces are being designed as gathering places for hotel guests and the local community, offering elevated food and beverage experiences in the heart of The Row.

The name “Elowen” was chosen, because it reflects Lanoha’s deep roots in Omaha and the company’s longstanding connection to growth, nature and place.

“The name is inspired by the American Elm, a tree native to Nebraska,” said Jenny Galley, marketing manager at Lanoha. “We were drawn to the name, because it is elegant, memorable and meaningful, a subtle nod to both the natural beauty surrounding the project and our Nebraska heritage.”

The hotel will be constructed immediately west of Olsson’s building. Just to the south of the hotel, construction is slated to begin this fall on a 5-story structure that will have 168 luxury rental apartments. That building is being designed for “successful professionals and discerning downsizers.”

[Stan]

Snapped a few pics from yesterday during a bike ride. I like parts of the development but once it’s all filled in, it will be a bit too much for me.

[BRoss]

Snapped a few pics from yesterday during a bike ride.

lol I was out along those same places last night. Although it was closer to sunset.

[Garrett]

How are the model rowhouses looking?

[BRoss]

How are the model rowhouses looking?

I think they look good but I was thinking the one on the north might need a touchup on some edges.

There's been probably around 6 or 7 more that have been built/are far along and two more that just started foundation work. I noticed probably another 4 or so sold signs on other lots around the area.

For the ones they've built recently, they aren't right next to each other like the models and I expect more to be built between them at some point.

It appears this neighborhood is going to fill in fairly quickly. I actually like the idea of this area and was thinking it could be a good fit in the future. Although it would be nice to have a small yard. Also I don't like how much of an island it is from the other neighborhoods. It's too bad there isn't any connection to Piedmont.

[Garrett]

How are the model rowhouses looking?

I think they look good but I was thinking the one on the north might need a touchup on some edges.

There's been probably around 6 or 7 more that have been built/are far along and two more that just started foundation work. I noticed probably another 4 or so sold signs on other lots around the area.

For the ones they've built recently, they aren't right next to each other like the models and I expect more to be built between them at some point.

It appears this neighborhood is going to fill in fairly quickly. I actually like the idea of this area and was thinking it could be a good fit in the future. Although it would be nice to have a small yard. Also I don't like how much of an island it is from the other neighborhoods. It's too bad there isn't any connection to Piedmont.

Good to hear that they’re selling, but also crazy that a $1.4 million row house is selling in Millard these days

[Garrett]

Permits filed for a six story, 168 unit apartment building at 14665 Heartwood Row (Southeast corner of 147 St/Heartwood, just southwest of the new Olson building). Two story podium with four stories of wood frame construction. Unit sizes ranging from studios to 2-bedrooms.

[BRoss]

Permits filed for a six story, 168 unit apartment building at 14665 Heartwood Row (Southeast corner of 147 St/Heartwood, just southwest of the new Olson building). Two story podium with four stories of wood frame construction. Unit sizes ranging from studios to 2-bedrooms.

Just saw that on Grow Omaha's site. I was wondering when we'd start getting movement on these projects. I think all that has been said up until now was fall. And looks like this one gained a floor from what was originally announced.

I also just noticed that Google Maps has a listing for The Elowen across the street and clicking it revealed a page on Lanoha's website with a photo gallery: https://lanoha.com/portfolio/hospitalit ... otogallery

[BRoss]

Found some other interesting things:

Lahoha's Photo Gallery for The Row: https://www.lanoha.com/portfolio/the-ro ... otogallery

Website for The Row: https://therowomaha.com/

The four story office building going up at Applied Parkway & Heartwood Row, One Heartwood Place: https://www.cbre.com/properties/propert ... a-ne-68154

Another proposed building directly across the street from Olsson, 14501 Heartwood Row: https://www.cbre.com/properties/propert ... a-ne-68154

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[TitosBuritoBarn]

Looks solid. I still don't think it'll be as active as the renderings show. This continues to exist on an island and is drive-to urbanism.

Also, the renderings make it look like the pool at the Row will only be about 3 inches deep:

[BRoss]

I still don't think it'll be as active as the renderings show.

They have been doing a pretty good job holding events frequently at the park area east of Olsson. There's been I think pickleball and other activities setup at points with a good number of people there, an ice skating rink during the winter that does get good use too, and a lot of other things.

Who knows how it will ultimately turn out in the end, but it's been fairly active so far with not too much around yet.

[OmahaJaysCU]

Not sure if this has been posted here but Koley Jessen is moving their office to a new building here. They take most of that building in One Pacific Place so I would assume it would be significant in size.

[Louie]

This continues to exist on an island and is drive-to urbanism.

I'm stealing this, what a great way to surmise developments like these.

[locoluke]

This continues to exist on an island and is drive-to urbanism.

It reminds me a lot of the land use along US-75 in Dallas minus the light rail and other transit connections. It’s better than the existing sprawl to walk or bike around, even in it’s mostly undeveloped state, but there are definitely things here and there that remind you it was still designed to be accessed by car.

[Garrett]

This continues to exist on an island and is drive-to urbanism.

I'm stealing this, what a great way to surmise developments like these.

It's a good way to think about these things for sure! Strong Towns had an article about it 10 years ago, not sure if the term is older than that.

https://archive.strongtowns.org/journal ... o-urbanism

[meliketrains]

Looks like I'm blind and didn't see this thread before making another one.

Though I have no idea why they listed the address/location incorrectly on their filing. Might be a clerical error in the database.

[Ben]

This continues to exist on an island and is drive-to urbanism.

I'm stealing this, what a great way to surmise developments like these.

Honestly, I'm fine with Drive to Urbanism. Better than more suburban sprawl. Pockets of density are better than nothing.

And while its drive-to for those of us not living in the area, its certainly dense enough to be a primary location for many. Think Aksarben. There are many that live in the area that exist in that "bubble" / neighborhood for 75% of their needs. Eat, play, work, live, all within a walkable distance. Only major exception is groceries, but honestly with all of the delivery options these days, that's becoming less and less important.

[meliketrains]

This continues to exist on an island and is drive-to urbanism.

I'm stealing this, what a great way to surmise developments like these.

Honestly, I'm fine with Drive to Urbanism. Better than more suburban sprawl. Pockets of density are better than nothing.

And while its drive-to for those of us not living in the area, its certainly dense enough to be a primary location for many. Think Aksarben. There are many that live in the area that exist in that "bubble" / neighborhood for 75% of their needs. Eat, play, work, live, all within a walkable distance. Only major exception is groceries, but honestly with all of the delivery options these days, that's becoming less and less important.

The problem is that it doesn't meaningfully reduce car traffic or actually create urbanism outside of the handful of whatever trips people take within that community. Think about job mobility, for example. Most people in the US achieve wage growth through promotions or finding a new job. The likelihood of it happening within a relatively quarantined community like this is pretty low, which means people then have to live in their urban island but drive to commute like everyone else. Then there's things like doctors, parks, shopping, access to other areas of town. If these urban islands were connected via rapid mass transit, it would be one thing, but their connection via stroads and highways necessitates having a car, even if a large portion of your day-to-day happens to be achievable inside the community.

[BRoss]

If these urban islands were connected via rapid mass transit, it would be one thing

Things most of us would like to see such as light rail are unlikely to ever happen without destinations worth building out to.

I completely agree with Ben. As someone who lives just across Dodge, this is an area I love walking to, especially as it continues to build up more. We need more developments like this, yet for some reason this development gets far more criticism/hate than places such as Antler View at 180th and Maple, which is just a standard suburban development. I feel like too many let perfect get in the way of progress.

[Garrett]

The currently built parts of Heartwood are meh, but it's got a lot of promising planned components that are starting to be built. The renderings for the Row have a lot of 8-10 story buildings that should really pack in some decent density if they're built. This may even be denser than Aksarben if built as shown. West Dodge has far worse exits than this would end up - drive to urbanism is still a step above drive to suburbanism in my book. And as BRoss said, it would strengthen the case for more mass transit down Dodge, and then the parking lots on the edge would be more ripe for further development.

[Cermak]

I was recently in Lenexa Kansas they have a development off I-435 which reminds me of this. Kiewit has a large building there.

[Ben]

I was recently in Lenexa Kansas they have a development off I-435 which reminds me of this. Kiewit has a large building there.

Love the Lenexa City Center development. Been fun to stay in that area and watch it develop over the years as we've been down visiting family in the area. Yes, I'd agree, similar vibe to what I expect this to end up like, but its maybe a little more apartments, less high end than what Heartwood is going for.

[meliketrains]

If these urban islands were connected via rapid mass transit, it would be one thing

Things most of us would like to see such as light rail are unlikely to ever happen without destinations worth building out to.

I completely agree with Ben. As someone who lives just across Dodge, this is an area I love walking to, especially as it continues to build up more. We need more developments like this, yet for some reason this development gets far more criticism/hate than places such as Antler View at 180th and Maple, which is just a standard suburban development. I feel like too many let perfect get in the way of progress.

Things close to good get criticized more often because what more needs to be said about endless suburban sprawl? I'm not in search of perfect and wouldn't advocate for cancelling this plan, I'm just not as starstruck. Aksarben is a similar type of development and yet it's just as car-centric as ever, even a decade later. The streets are littered with parked cars, the garages fill up quickly during events, people still fly down these streets, etc. Even for a development in one of the more walkable areas of Omaha, it's still surrounded on all 4 sides by dangerous, anti-pedestrian infrastructure.

So while yes, these types of developments are much better than not, there is still a major disconnect in actual urbanism occurring, because the City is not accompanying these developments with road diets, urban wall development, transit, etc.

[Stan]

If these urban islands were connected via rapid mass transit, it would be one thing

Things most of us would like to see such as light rail are unlikely to ever happen without destinations worth building out to.

I completely agree with Ben. As someone who lives just across Dodge, this is an area I love walking to, especially as it continues to build up more. We need more developments like this, yet for some reason this development gets far more criticism/hate than places such as Antler View at 180th and Maple, which is just a standard suburban development. I feel like too many let perfect get in the way of progress.

I'm in Piedmont and like to use the trail from 150th down to Pacific as a nice circuit for biking/jogging. We've also been to many of the events they have and it's been good to have so much activity nearby. I still think they need to secure a large anchor store there even though the space is becoming less conducive to that as they're filling in. A theater would be nice too, but it would probably kill B&B over by Oakview and between Westroads and Village Pointe theaters, I'm not sure if it would do well or not in today's society. Overall I think the large store/theater would bring more people there in the evenings when all the large business people have gone home.

I also still hate the name Heartwood and immediately think Heartworm and sorry if I'm being redundant that I've said all this here before.

[Brad]

Honestly, I'm fine with Drive to Urbanism. Better than more suburban sprawl. Pockets of density are better than nothing.

And while its drive-to for those of us not living in the area, its certainly dense enough to be a primary location for many. Think Aksarben. There are many that live in the area that exist in that "bubble" / neighborhood for 75% of their needs. Eat, play, work, live, all within a walkable distance. Only major exception is groceries, but honestly with all of the delivery options these days, that's becoming less and less important.

I agree, these places are great projects and a real asset to our city. They are a really nice balance between walkable urban neighborhood and also destination. We live just far enough away where we are not walking to Aksarben but close enough we can zip down center and straight in to a garage and enjoy the development, only parking once. I see Heartwood preserve being the same when its a little further along.

Things most of us would like to see such as light rail are unlikely to ever happen without destinations worth building out to.

I completely agree with Ben. As someone who lives just across Dodge, this is an area I love walking to, especially as it continues to build up more. We need more developments like this, yet for some reason this development gets far more criticism/hate than places such as Antler View at 180th and Maple, which is just a standard suburban development. I feel like too many let perfect get in the way of progress.

It gets more hate because people don't keep an open mind. People were all high on this project and then a car dealership, strip mall, and free standing Starbucks showed up and everyone started screaming. Now the actual urban center is starting to develop in the middle, people still can't see past the free standing Starbucks. Overall this development will most likely not have the same density as Aksarben, but should still have some of that in the middle. And who knows, may be some day that density will start to push outwards and the free standing buildings will be redeveloped.

Exactly. Progress is better than waiting for perfection.

[meliketrains]

I don't see any actual arguments being made about the issues. The Strongtowns article brings up some very valid points about the pitfalls of drive-to-urbanism, but we're ignoring that and pretending like this type of development is obviously a step in the right direction.

Perfection should not get in the way of progress, but what if it's not progress?

I would make the argument that this is largely urbanist-aesthetic wrapping paper over the same rotten city design that has left our communities so separated. Heartwood is located in between 144th, Dodge, Pacific, and a boulevard called Applied Parkway. All 4 of these are massive, high-speed, uncrossable stroads (or literally a highway) with no real chance at dieting or mass transit development in the near future.



I would make the argument that these types of developments actually decrease the likelihood of true urbanism because it satisfies a "good enough" threshold of local walkability and teaches people that this type of development is sustainable, when in actuality it isn't. The City is still going to lose money on road infrastructure necessitated by the fact that the only way to actually get to any of these places is by car, and the massive parking garages that go up to support this traffic only encourages further use of cars and stroads.

Brad, you used the example of Aksarben as a a place that Heartwood could be, but admitted that you still need to drive there. Aksarben has not been as successful as it should have been, which is an argument I made in my earlier post. Located off the main artery of the City, basically on the UNO campus, right next to some of the more dense single-family neighborhoods, and yet we still do not have transit options to this place. It is packed full of cars, and the fact that the parking garages get used to the extent that they are is kind of an indicator that urbanist policy has failed there.

Heartwood is supposed to fare better? In 20 years it will be just as car-centric as it is now. Now, I acknowledge that the alternative of typical suburban sprawl (or doing nothing) is not at all preferable, but this project should have been accompanied by serious road changes to Pacific and 144th, the outright removal of the sidewalk-less boulevard that looks more like a levy than a road, and a massive reduction of proposed parking replaced with small retail/office space to actually support the people there.

It's not that I have a closed mind, it's just that I find of it annoying to call this urbanism, when at best it's a lateral move to slightly denser suburbia with a fresh coat of paint.

[TitosBuritoBarn]

It gets more hate because people don't keep an open mind. People were all high on this project and then a car dealership, strip mall, and free standing Starbucks showed up and everyone started screaming. Now the actual urban center is starting to develop in the middle, people still can't see past the free standing Starbucks. Overall this development will most likely not have the same density as Aksarben, but should still have some of that in the middle. And who knows, may be some day that density will start to push outwards and the free standing buildings will be redeveloped.

Exactly. Progress is better than waiting for perfection.

Progress is better than perfection. But I feel with some modifications, the strip mall component can be more compatible with the urban center component. Nothing extreme. Most of the streets are laid out to accommodate an urban-style development, with narrow widths, on-street parking, few curb cuts, and even bump outs and daylighting. But, in the strip mall zone, the adjacent land is filled in with standard suburban strip malls and fast food spots which kind of negates the street design with land use patterns and vibes that that street design isn't supported by. Have more of it look like the part with 30Hop but with a parking deck! Or this example in Lincoln, complete with drive-thru chain coffee shop, is more compatible with what seems like the intended vibe of this development. https://maps.app.goo.gl/cQbdDfyzYekaAfoj7 Nothing crazy, still loads of off-street parking. But that parking is better masked and the shops are more oriented to the streets than the parking lots, making better use of a similar street design.

The strip center part in Heartwood gives the impression that there was thought for something like the Lincoln example, but then someone got cold feet and thought no one would lease space there unless it looked like standard suburbia. It's safer. And while I'd be perfectly content waiting for the development to take off and for the strip area to redevelop and match the urban area, that sort of thing rarely occurs.

[remline]

Things close to good get criticized more often because what more needs to be said about endless suburban sprawl?

I think this is a good point. As Hilaire Belloc noted, "It is only people just on the edge of perfection who complain."

[F0R_L1F3]

Campaigning off of connections through the existing neighborhoods surrounding these developments such as trails can help. Take maybe some students from Millard North wanting to go to the center of The Row, it might suck to walk down S 144th street because it is a large road but trails inside of the neighborhood and vice versa with older neighborhoods surrounding it can help. In Lincoln, Glyn Oaks Plaza by Hampton Enterprises does this pretty okay. Trails connect to the small mixed use and it has a few office spaces, restaurant and other commercial spaces as well, ponds where people go fishing and it's started to take off pretty well so they're pushing for more apartments and commercial development now. This is a perfect way to change the way the problems with these developments and how unique they feel, it's a great way to do pockets of development like Heartwood can campaign off of and create connectivity within the current neighborhoods at least. Slowly but surely, if each neighborhood can improve it's individual situation from it's old crappy suburban plaza, it can help creating a larger network that everyone talks about.

[Garrett]

Heartwood is supposed to fare better? In 20 years it will be just as car-centric as it is now. Now, I acknowledge that the alternative of typical suburban sprawl (or doing nothing) is not at all preferable, but this project should have been accompanied by serious road changes to Pacific and 144th, the outright removal of the sidewalk-less boulevard that looks more like a levy than a road, and a massive reduction of proposed parking replaced with small retail/office space to actually support the people there.

The site plans for this from a 2023 planning board application do show that sidewalks will be installed adjacent to Applied Pkwy. It may be more a matter that they don't want to build them before they start construction on the respective pieces of the development.

https://planning.omaha.gov/wp-content/u ... May/21.pdf

[Stan]

Heartwood is supposed to fare better? In 20 years it will be just as car-centric as it is now. Now, I acknowledge that the alternative of typical suburban sprawl (or doing nothing) is not at all preferable, but this project should have been accompanied by serious road changes to Pacific and 144th, the outright removal of the sidewalk-less boulevard that looks more like a levy than a road, and a massive reduction of proposed parking replaced with small retail/office space to actually support the people there.

The site plans for this from a 2023 planning board application do show that sidewalks will be installed adjacent to Applied Pkwy. It may be more a matter that they don't want to build them before they start construction on the respective pieces of the development.

https://planning.omaha.gov/wp-content/u ... May/21.pdf

I think it should be a crime that they can put in a fully functioning road and no sidewalks. I drop my kid off at Millard North and tons of kids now use that road to get to school and have to walk in the overgrown grass. Just another example of how unfriendly Omaha is to pedestrians.

[Brad]

I think it should be a crime that they can put in a fully functioning road and no sidewalks. I drop my kid off at Millard North and tons of kids now use that road to get to school and have to walk in the overgrown grass. Just another example of how unfriendly Omaha is to pedestrians.

Sidewalks are required, but they are not installed until the lot is developed. They would get destroyed if you put them in before the lot is developed.

[Stan]

I think it should be a crime that they can put in a fully functioning road and no sidewalks. I drop my kid off at Millard North and tons of kids now use that road to get to school and have to walk in the overgrown grass. Just another example of how unfriendly Omaha is to pedestrians.

Sidewalks are required, but they are not installed until the lot is developed. They would get destroyed if you put them in before the lot is developed.

See, I think that should be the other way around. Applied Underwriters put in the road with JE Dunn and they didn't have full knowledge of how this thing would shake out. You put in a road and you have to put in a sidewalk even if it's temporary and that it can be removed and redone later based on further development.

[OmahaOmaha]

People of Omaha will always rely on their cars. Why?Most people don’t want to ride on a bus and have to deal with people who smell like an ashtray or body odor, mentally ill people who talk to themselves, people who listen to their music or something on their phone with the volume on high, screaming kids, crying babies, people who wet themselves, someone kicking the back of your seat, etc.

Nebraska weather isn’t exactly ideal for ditching the car either. Who wants to walk a good distance to a bus stop in the rain, freezing rain, snow, or in hot muggy weather? Then who wants to sit at the bus stop waiting for a bus in the heat and cold with a bunch of homeless people that leave their trash all over. Nothing is worse than showing up at the office or store all sweaty or wet because you got caught in the rain, or a vehicle hits some slushy snow or a water puddle and splashes you while you’re walking down the sidewalk.

[TitosBuritoBarn]

People of Omaha will always rely on their cars. Why?Most people don’t want to ride on a bus and have to deal with people who smell like an ashtray or body odor, mentally ill people who talk to themselves, people who listen to their music or something on their phone with the volume on high, screaming kids, crying babies, people who wet themselves, someone kicking the back of your seat, etc.

Nebraska weather isn’t exactly ideal for ditching the car either. Who wants to walk a good distance to a bus stop in the rain, freezing rain, snow, or in hot muggy weather? Then who wants to sit at the bus stop waiting for a bus in the heat and cold with a bunch of homeless people that leave their trash all over. Nothing is worse than showing up at the office or store all sweaty or wet because you got caught in the rain, or a vehicle hits some slushy snow or a water puddle and splashes you while you’re walking down the sidewalk.

What does that have to do with walkability?

[locoluke]

People of Omaha will always rely on their cars. Why?Most people don’t want to ride on a bus and have to deal with people who smell like an ashtray or body odor, mentally ill people who talk to themselves, people who listen to their music or something on their phone with the volume on high, screaming kids, crying babies, people who wet themselves, someone kicking the back of your seat, etc.

Nebraska weather isn’t exactly ideal for ditching the car either. Who wants to walk a good distance to a bus stop in the rain, freezing rain, snow, or in hot muggy weather? Then who wants to sit at the bus stop waiting for a bus in the heat and cold with a bunch of homeless people that leave their trash all over. Nothing is worse than showing up at the office or store all sweaty or wet because you got caught in the rain, or a vehicle hits some slushy snow or a water puddle and splashes you while you’re walking down the sidewalk.

Maybe I'm just lucky and the route segments I ride are low ridership or something, but this largely isn't my experience on public transit in Omaha. That's not to say that these things aren't issues and problems, but I seldom get on the bus expecting to be mugged by a homeless man taking a drag and blasting Jelly Roll from a bluetooth speaker.

Sometimes I even meet cool people that I wouldn't have met if I'd have taken my car.

It's also nice as an option to reduce the wear and tear on my car. Saves me money on gas and parts and saves me swears targeted at bolts I can't reach.

[BuildTaller]

Most people don’t want to ride on a bus and have to deal with people who smell like an ashtray or body odor, mentally ill people who talk to themselves, people who listen to their music or something on their phone with the volume on high, screaming kids, crying babies, people who wet themselves, someone kicking the back of your seat, etc.

What? Which bus route? What day of the week and time did you experience this? I don't take the bus often, but rarely do I see anything like this. Maybe it's just the route I use.