Riverfront Place (721 Riverfront Drive)

almighty_tuna · Post by **almighty_tuna** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 9:37 pm

I'm looking forward to watching it get built. The Phase 1 building will go next to Riverfront Drive. If sales are strong they will build the Phase 2 building next to the river, northeast of Phase 1.

Will · Post by **Will** » Thu Oct 28, 2004 1:32 am

So if they presell most of these then they will build both at the same time?

Adam · Post by **Adam** » Thu Oct 28, 2004 2:33 pm

On the news last night, they did a section on the Riverfront Place condos. You can check out the newsclip on http://www.wowt.com if you missed it. It gives some artist renderings of the interior and also the balcony view. Check it out, it's pretty cool!

almighty_tuna · Post by **almighty_tuna** » Thu Oct 28, 2004 3:46 pm

Apparently last night was quite the occasion. They had a model set up of the towers and was reportedly stunning.

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Thu Oct 28, 2004 7:00 pm

I was at the reception, and it was VERY well done. Fabulous catering, great renderings, and plenty of people to answer your questions.

I took a few photos, so if I ever get around to uploading them, I might post them.

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Thu Oct 28, 2004 7:02 pm

Furthermore.....

I know I'm not in a position to complain....but I really do wish each of the "towers" were just a few stories taller. I love the architecture of the buildings, but somehow they just aren't proportionally tall enough for me.

Adam · Post by **Adam** » Thu Oct 28, 2004 7:14 pm

Hey Streets...

Was there a lot of people at the reception? Did there seem to be a lot of interest in purchasing these units?

Adam · Post by **Adam** » Thu Oct 28, 2004 7:24 pm

I recently took a business trip to Toronto, and was very impressed at how their condo market was booming. The had numbers of 40+ condos along Lake Ontario downtown. Every direction I turned, I saw a number of cranes building more and more condos.

While Omaha is significantly smaller than Toronto, I think that this is style of living that can really catch on. It seems to be very trendy, and if Riverfront Place is successful, I think we can expect a number of new residential buildings to continue to come up, likely taller than Riverfront Place. I definitely think that the interest is there, and it is something that will catch on!

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Thu Oct 28, 2004 9:30 pm

To bad I missed you at the reception Streets. My brother were in a play last night so I had to go to that. I am impressed with the rendering that was in the paper. I knew Riverfront Plc. looked great in the hand drawings, but to see that digtial rendering is another story.

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Thu Oct 28, 2004 9:43 pm

There was a good turn out....and let's just say there was a lot of "money" there. People seemed to be very impressed with the project, and the way the sales were being handled, with such a lavish reception and all.

I've got some pictures of the models and things that were there. I'll try to upload them sometime today or this weekend when I get a chance.

Will · Post by **Will** » Fri Oct 29, 2004 12:08 am

According to wowt, we should know what fate will befall the old butternut. If it does come down I hope they replace it with something we can all be proud of(at least 15 stories

)

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Fri Oct 29, 2004 4:02 am

When did you see that, Will?

Will · Post by **Will** » Fri Oct 29, 2004 5:00 am

I hope this is right
http://www.wowt.com/home/headlines/1138101.html

Will · Post by **Will** » Fri Oct 29, 2004 5:01 am

Should be the last line in the story

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Fri Oct 29, 2004 8:22 am

KETV wrote: On The Waterfront
Riverfront Update
Redevelopment continues to evolve

A $36-million plan for a riverfront neighborhood is forging ahead. Two 12-story condominium towers are the centerpiece of Riverfront Place between the Gallup campus and the National Park Service Building.

Once completed, there will be more than 100 luxury condos and town homes featuring private patios and nearly floor-length windows.

Completing the scene, Riverfront Place will include a restaurant and a public plaza.

Developer Ross Robb says, "Part of the agreement with the City of Omaha is to provide public space for the citizens of Omaha. So this is not just private for people who live here but there will be ways to integrate with the riverwalk system, have everyone in Omaha enjoy Riverfront Place."

Pre-construction pricing starts at nearly $250,000 for Tower Homes and about $350,000 for the town homes. The sales office opens to the public on November 6th.

Another upscale housing complex, in the old Butternut building at 10th and Jones, was nearly complete downtown when fire gutted the building.

Now, members of the Old Market Business Association say there will be some sort of housing development taking shape on the site. What's still up in the air is whether the charred brick walls will be used for the building of a new complex or whether they'll be torn down to start from scratch.

Either way business owners in the Old Market say the new apartment complex can't come soon enough.

The Butternut burned in January just as the 138-unit upscale apartment complex was on the verge of completion.

Today, nine months later, the charred Butternut shell still waits for a decision on its fate.

The Old Market Business Association's Jeff Jorgensen says, "I think we're patient. We realize it's a very complicated decision, engineering, economics. We even heard the other day that the smell of fire in the brick might be an issue."

Jorgensen is the owner of the Tannenbaum Christmas Shop and an officer with the business association. He says the developer of the former Butternut property spoke at the association meeting a couple of weeks ago and assured members that there are still plans to build some type of housing complex on the site.

Jorgensen says, "It certainly sounded like there would be some sort of housing development taking place on that site, whether it's renovation of what's left or new construction."

Some businesses couldn't wait for progress. Since the fire, four stores near 10th and Jones Street have closed.

Elan Urban Furnishings closed six weeks ago. The owners of Jane's Health Market and Deli are moving their store to west Omaha.

Both businesses say they were counting on traffic from the Butternut building apartments.

Jorgensen says, "The loss of the Butternut building was definitely a setback to that."

But he's optimistic there will eventually be housing on the site and other businesses will benefit.

Christian Christensen, the developer of the $25-million Loft Complex did not return our phone calls but he told the Old Market Business Association members that he would decide on the Butternut building's future by November 6th.

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Sat Oct 30, 2004 4:50 am

Here are some photos.

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Sat Oct 30, 2004 4:59 am

Wow! I wish I could have been there to see it all in person. Thanks for sharing these Aaron.

Post by **Brad** » Sat Oct 30, 2004 6:27 am

Those look GREAT!

Minneapolis Boy · Post by **Minneapolis Boy** » Sat Oct 30, 2004 2:24 pm

Awesome!

projectman · Post by **projectman** » Sun Oct 31, 2004 12:19 am

Thanks Aaron

Zephyr · Post by **Zephyr** » Sun Oct 31, 2004 5:19 am

Thanks for sharing your photos, Aaron! Great to see the models.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Sun Oct 31, 2004 6:53 pm

Very Cool

Thanks!

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Mon Nov 01, 2004 11:30 pm

If you actually count the floors, the buildings are both 13 stories.

I wonder if they say 12 stories because of the 13th floor superstition.

They could either be refering to the first floor as the "ground level" and the penthouse as being the "12th floor". Or, they could be calling the ground level the "first floor" and calling the 13th floor the "Penthouse". Who knows?

projectman · Post by **projectman** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 1:53 am

Is there going to be retail at street level? I forgot what the plan called for. The residents of these condos will still have to drive for groceries and entertainment. They will be sandwiched between the National Parks hdqrts and Gallup with the closest entertainment establishment Rick's Cafe Boatyard. I guess they can still walk downtown/Old Market, but in rain or snow it may be a bit uncomfortable. I would like to see, by 2010, 10 -12,000 people will live downtown and the streets crowded with people on the week nights as well as weekends.

May be a bit optimistic.

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 2:26 am

It's absolutely optimistic...but I definitely agree with you! Who's to say that optimism can't be realism

.

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 3:08 am

The building in the foreground of this photo, on the left, looks a lot like what Omaha will see from Riverfront Place. This is Vancouver, by the way.

redfield · Post by **redfield** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 5:56 pm

While Omaha is significantly smaller than Toronto, I think that this is style of living that can really catch on.

It's catching on in a lot more place than just Toronto. I visited Chicago, Washington DC, and Kansas City in the last year and there is a condo boom in full swing in both Chicago and DC, and Kansas City is on the verge of one.

Urban Sprawl + the increasing laziness of the general population + the benefits of home ownership = Demand for condos.

They're coming, and they won't just be downtown.

RyaninOrangeCounty · Post by **RyaninOrangeCounty** » Tue Nov 02, 2004 6:06 pm

You can add both Orange County and San Diego to the long list of places with booming high rise condo markets. Yes even Orange County, traditionally perceived as sprawl city, has plans for 9 high rise condo towers to be completed in the next five years.. with light rail on the way.

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Sun Nov 07, 2004 4:17 pm

More Riverfront Place model photos (taken from their recently opened showroom at the base of the Marriott Courtyard at 10th and Dodge).

Click here

Zephyr · Post by **Zephyr** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 2:59 am

Good stuff, Jeff! Thanks for the pics.

projectman · Post by **projectman** » Mon Nov 08, 2004 5:20 am

Very nice. Can't wait to see construction start.

OmahaDevelopmentMan · Wed Nov 10, 2004 12:30 am

This project is so cool! I hope something can get figured out for the other side of the river. I just wish the condos would have been a little taller, but I'll take this. How tall are they going to be in ft?

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 5:46 am

I'd say probably 200-250 Ft.....just a guess....and maybe that's too generous.

almighty_tuna · Post by **almighty_tuna** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 9:17 am

The Gallup building is 5 stories. So picture a building 2.5 times the height of Gallup.

TitosBuritoBarn · Post by **TitosBuritoBarn** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 8:42 pm

Have they released any renderings of the interiors?

Ingersoll1978 · Post by **Ingersoll1978** » Wed Nov 10, 2004 10:37 pm

Remember this is a residential building. The ceiling heights are taller in commercial buildings.

OmahaDevelopmentMan · Wed Nov 10, 2004 11:13 pm

So maybe it will be 150-200 ft?

projectman · Post by **projectman** » Thu Nov 11, 2004 2:47 am

I'd say closer to 150 ft.

OmahaDevelopmentMan · Post by **OmahaDevelopmentMan** » Thu Nov 11, 2004 4:23 am

Okay I figured my own little way to get an estimate of what the height is:
Take the amount of floors 12 and multiply it by 10(a guess at the height of the floors). Then add 13(the amount of total feet in space between floors). Then I added 12 for the penthouse bc it looked taller. Then I added another 15 for a guess at the curve design thing at the top. What do you get 160 ft.

So here is a formula if you didn't understand that:

12x10+13+12+15=160

Thats just my guess take it or leave it.