Official: North Downtown Discussion

OmahaChef · Post by **OmahaChef** » Wed May 09, 2007 12:47 am

Between the two hotels will be a landscaped pedestrian walkway which will connect Cuming to the arts district. The intent is to draw pedestrians from Cuming through to Izard and the Hot Shops, etc. by way of a plaza which will visually extend 13th without the actual traffic, which Monday to Friday is a massive number of large trucks all headed down to 11th Street I think. The restaurant pad is where the construction trailers are, at the corner of 14th and Cuming.

Stargazer · Post by **Stargazer** » Wed May 09, 2007 1:24 am

Between the two hotels will be a landscaped pedestrian walkway which will connect Cuming to the arts district.

Well that's a little better. Of course I'd like to see angled parking along Cuming as well (of course with the south side parking being replaced with multi-level garages with ground floor leasable space)

ItsAllAboutMe · Post by **ItsAllAboutMe** » Wed May 09, 2007 11:11 am

I've been trying to revisit the renderings of these new hotels, the ones that are farthest along and can't find them.
Help

Harpoon · Post by **Harpoon** » Thu May 10, 2007 2:49 am

ItsAllAboutMe wrote:I've been trying to revisit the renderings of these new hotels, the ones that are farthest along and can't find them.
Help

That is what I really miss about the "old" eomaha.com. All of that kind of information and images were neatly stored there for our access.

Stargazer · Post by **Stargazer** » Thu May 10, 2007 2:59 am

You mean you can't find what you're looking for on any one of the THREE (eomahaforums.com, omahaevolution.com, growomaha.com) websites which have been created to replace it??

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Thu May 10, 2007 3:43 am

Grow Omaha: Not intended to replace eOmaha. In the works when it still was eomaha.com

Omaha Evolution: Not inteneded to replace eOmaha. Created before the end of eomaha.com Can you pre-emptively replace something?

eomohaforums: Well that's obvious since we weren't planning on eOmaha being discontinued. Also I seem to remember you having all of that info up on another site but when people caught wind of it you took it down.

the1wags · Post by **the1wags** » Thu May 10, 2007 4:02 am

Yeah Jeff we just are treading in your wake.

Back to the North Downtown developments.

Stargazer · Post by **Stargazer** » Thu May 10, 2007 4:07 am

Not inteneded to replace eOmaha. Created before the end of eomaha.com Can you pre-emptively replace something?

Given that most of the development rendering jpgs were taken directly from eomaha.com... maybe you can at least attempt to. Someone apparently forgot to convey however, that it takes time/effort to actually keep this information up to date.

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Thu May 10, 2007 4:12 am

Anyways...

I wonder what else is in store for North DT. We've already been given hints that Urban Outfitters will not be the only major retailer to open up. The Royals Stadium with plans to accomodate the CWS came out of nowhere. The streetcar seems more certain than ever.

I'm wondering what residential developments we'll start to see. People will certainly want to live next to all of the excitement. I think we'll hear about a new residential project in North DT by the end of the year.

Post by **Brad** » Thu May 10, 2007 4:15 am

I bet if the ballpark happens, Zesto's will get a bay in the slowdown.

Finn · Post by **Finn** » Thu May 10, 2007 4:35 am

That is what I really miss about the "old" eomaha.com. All of that kind of information and images were neatly stored there for our access.

I agree, Harpoon. I miss the old site and especially the development photo archive and the "what's new" update. Some sound a little bitter at not being as comprehensive as the old site, but maybe they can appreciate all that went into it!

OmahaChef · Post by **OmahaChef** » Thu May 10, 2007 3:30 pm

There is definitely work going on in the O'Keefe Elevator Building in North Downtown. This building was purchased by Creighton and is now known as building 246. The windows are being removed, so it looks like the renovation work has begun.

ItsAllAboutMe · Post by **ItsAllAboutMe** » Mon May 14, 2007 2:01 pm

I found this rendering from the North Central Group website

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Mon May 14, 2007 2:12 pm

You might want to repost that image link ItsAllAboutMe..It's not coming up..

..Ciao..LiO....Peace

almighty_tuna · Post by **almighty_tuna** » Mon May 14, 2007 2:15 pm

ItsAllAboutMe wrote:I found this rendering from the North Central Group website

Need to get your spaces out of the links and replace them with %20

OmahaChef · Post by **OmahaChef** » Mon May 28, 2007 11:33 pm

A week or two ago there was some discussion about the space between the Hampton and Homewood and 13th Street., etc. If you go to

http://www.ncghotels.com/cms/content/view/7/52/

and go down to the North Downtown Omaha project section, click on the link to view the restaurant pad space, and the schematic presented also shows the placement of the two hotels and the design for the pedestrian walkway.

Adam · Post by **Adam** » Wed May 30, 2007 8:41 pm

There is supposed to be a report on the North Downtown projects on KETV at 6:00 tonight, so check it out if you have time!

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Thu May 31, 2007 3:12 am

North Downtown Taking Shape
New Theater Open Soon Near Qwest Center

KETV wrote:Walls are going up inside the new Urban Outfitters store on 14th and Cuming streets. The store is scheduled to open sometime this fall. Filmstreams' Ruth Sokolof Theater opens in July. The box office is already in and next month, crews will install the seats, screens and projectors.

"All of a sudden, people could see this could be a very wonderful addition to the downtown area," she said. "It's helping attract the younger people who don't want to spend time in cars and don't want to live in suburbia. They want to be where things are happening and they want it to be a little edgy."

Filmstreams will announce the theatre's first feature film next month. Through the month of July, it will also feature 10 of Omaha-native director Alexander Payne's favorite films.

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Thu May 31, 2007 4:32 am

Did anyone catch the 4-5 second section with the Filmstream lady during a recent FNB commercial? I wish I could remember what program it was during, but they were featuring all kinds of local people and businesses that were financed by FNB.

-Big E

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Thu May 31, 2007 4:49 am

I just had a great idea of what North DT should be like. 6th Street in Austin. Bars, restaurants, college/youth oriented entertainment and retail. I've been there and I think it would be a good model for North DT.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Thu May 31, 2007 4:55 am

I wish! Austin is associated with music.
Could you ever imagine: Omaha City Limits.
I lived in Austin for a few years.
I miss the night life DT music scene.

nebport5 · Post by **nebport5** » Thu May 31, 2007 5:58 am

Well its got a long way to go to be like Austin, but there's a good setup. North DT is blanketed by Creighton's expanding campus and Slowdown/Film Streams on the other side. Now the gaps need to be filled in. This area in between would be great for a Border's -taking advantage of students as well as convention/concert goers.

Art galleries would fit in well here also. I'd love to see a Jazz club.

Most of all I hope this area is developed with character whether it be with antiquated architecture or brick streets, gas lamps etc. a new avant garde market.

I'd love it if the city designated a specific area of NDT as a "district" with a code for development.

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Thu May 31, 2007 6:07 am

Coyote wrote:I wish! Austin is associated with music.

So is Omaha.

Coyote wrote:Could you ever imagine: Omaha City Limits.

Well...yes. In fact, these days, it would almost be more appropriate.

The Saddle Creek development, just as Midtown Crossing to Midtown, will be the LIFEBLOOD for urban development in the Slowdown district. I can't even express how delighted I am with what they are doing.

ItsAllAboutMe · Post by **ItsAllAboutMe** » Thu May 31, 2007 10:58 am

The signage is up for "Slowdown" and also for Sullivan's Steak house. Both look similar and are very cool.

OmahaChef · Post by **OmahaChef** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 1:36 am

Haven't seen the Sullivan's signage, ut the Slowdown sign....excessively cool!! Can you tell I love it? I have to agree with Streets too. I was a bit unsure about this when it was announced. The artists renderings of the complex made it look way too modern, but the final product, inside and out is way beyond my expectations. If other development in North Downtown is held to the same standards...wow!

OmahaChef · Post by **OmahaChef** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 2:26 am

A bit of an update on North Downtown progress.

The Hampton Inn structure is completed. The side facing Cuming is being bricked and stuccoed, and the side on "13th" is getting it's windows. The front corner of the building is almost a story and a half taller than the rest of the building with an interesting top piece added this week which resembles a heliport pad. (it is not intended to be that however)

The Homewood is pouring the columns for the 8th and final floor. The front corner of this building will also be over a story taller as well.

The Fairfield has sewer, water and storm runoff lines being dug now, and half the foundation has been laid. The rest could be done by the end of next week. Portable scaffolding arrived today to start construction above ground soon.

After finishing the sewer, water and storm runoff at the Holiday Inn, there hasn't been any new work done.

Slowdown opens in about a week!!!!!!

The apartment/retail at Slowdown is really taking shape. The apartments are going to be very trendy, and the two 2 story ones amazing! 20+ foot living spaces and balconies that run half the width of the building. If I had investor backing, I'd rent out the first floor restaurant space. The "courtyard" area between the two buildings is perfect for summertime outdoor dining and the large floor to ceiling glass everywhere is definitely nice!

Lund-Ross won the contract of the former O'Keefe Elevator building conversion to a Creighton structure. The side street is blocked off, all the windows are now removed, trailers are on site, and work is going on inside.

Now we just need an announcement of a streetcar line, a ballpark, a corporate campus and some new projects!

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 3:06 am

Thanks for the update, OmahaChef! This part of Omaha is quickly being converted from a junky backwater to Omaha's Front Door. I hope the Holiday Inn gets built along with the other 3 hotels. A new stadium should clinch that if it is announced in the coming months.

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 7:40 am

Thanks for all that info, Chef.

I drove past Slowdown tonight and didn't notice the new signage, but I caught a glimpse at the inside, and they had all the tables and chairs set up and ready to go, and it looks like there is a TON of them. This place is going to have quite a large capacity.

I didn't realize that the one hotel was going to be 8 stories! This is going to make quite a corridor along Cuming St. and really add to the density in the area.

And I really could take or leave the downtown ballpark as proposed, but GIVE ME THAT STREETCAR LINE, BABY!!!

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 12:34 pm

nativeomahan wrote: I hope the Holiday Inn gets built along with the other 3 hotels.

All 4 of these hotels will get done. Your wish has already been granted. These 4 lodging developments will add 450 total hotel rooms to the general downtown Omaha area..

..Ciao..LiO....Peace

the1wags · Post by **the1wags** » Sat Jun 02, 2007 1:51 pm

Yeah things are off to a great start in the NDT area. Slowdown is about done and is looking great. The Cuming St. hotels are moving right along. The Streetcar and Ballpark will make the area absolutely go nuts! Let's keep the momentum going Omaha.

OmahaChef · Post by **OmahaChef** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 12:22 am

OC is right. The Holiday Inn will be built. According to the project manager for this one, they did the water, sewer, and runoff piping, and are waiting for some final plans from the re-design, and then they can get started. Within a month we should see a flurry of activity.

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 1:59 am

OmahaChef wrote:OC is right. The Holiday Inn will be built. According to the project manager for this one, they did the water, sewer, and runoff piping, and are waiting for some final plans from the re-design, and then they can get started. Within a month we should see a flurry of activity.

Is OC Omaha Chef or Omaha Cowboy? You're not referring to yourself in the first person like MIchael Vick, are you?

-Big E

OmahaChef · Post by **OmahaChef** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 11:47 pm

No, Big E, I would NEVER do that!

This would be a reference to O. C. or Omaha Cowboy.

Post by **Brad** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 11:54 pm

I you haven't listened this week, there was a Lot of North Downtown talk on Grow Omaha:

[wmp]http://www.growomaha.com/archivedshows/show177.mp3[/wmp]
http://www.growomaha.com/archive.htm

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 9:21 pm

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2 ... id=2397439

OWH wrote:The Environmental Protection Agency is now saying it will allow ground-floor residential development on Union Pacific Railroad property that is being cleaned up north of downtown.

That's contrary to an article in Monday and Tuesday's World-Herald.

-Big E

Post by **Brad** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 3:41 am

Photo Update:

Post by **Brad** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 9:49 pm

Photo Update:

Ben · Post by **Ben** » Sat Jun 16, 2007 8:30 pm

besides all of the work going on fronting Cuming St, it looks like the cinder block staircase for the Fairfield Inn around the corner has started to rise. We should start to see some significant progress on this hotel in the next couple of months.

Post by **Brad** » Sun Jun 24, 2007 9:37 pm

Fairfield Inn

Hampton Inn

Homewood Suites

ShawJ · Post by **ShawJ** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 11:23 pm

here my question about the whole project. please feel free to point me out if this is an idiotic question, because it probably is.

looking at the renderings, does this project hurt the downtown area in that there wont be able to be any high rise ish bulidings in that area? or is there plenty of room in other parts of downtown to have the higher buildings go? i haven't really looked at the renderings too much so i don't really have a good grasp on this whole project. it was just a thought i had...