The Crossroads (72 & Dodge)

[meliketrains]

I'm genuinely baffled at the decision to put a family entertainment center there. This is just a straight up dying industry. People are having fewer kids, and people in general are going out less and heading in earlier. What is the economic viability of this 5 years down the line? What happens to this area if this massive and warehouse shaped shell goes under?

I really don't like the rendering, the concept, the tenant, or the shameful amount of room they've dedicated to wasteful surface parking. Big yikes. I get the need to make something, but at a certain point, the City should have just piecemealed the lot into segments, nuked the setback and parking requirements, and sold them to medium and high density retailers and residential developers. Stick a UNO shuttle on it and collect some actual tax money for a decade instead of whatever embarrassing nonsense this is.

[Busguy2010]

The whole thing's been a debacle. I agree, it should have been done like Aksarben, naturally. They had to tear the mall down, nearly every citizen was calling for it. They got that done. But since that point, nothing has really happened. Just 10+ years of saying this'll work, oh wait no it won't, more money please, yadda, yadda, yadda. I really don't care about the site anymore. I don't know how to describe the dynamic of that immediate area, but it really hasn't been "nice" since the mall tanked some 25-30 years ago.

Leave it up to the individual developers that actually want to build, like we've seen at a few nearby lots.

[skinzfan23]

I beg to differ about the family entertainment industry dying. I agree that there are a lot of people in the past year or so that have cut back some on discretionary spending, but there are still plenty of people willing to spend money (I work in finance and a lot of them don't have money, but somehow people still find a way to frequent places like this)

[WBR_Tom]

I beg to differ about the family entertainment industry dying. I agree that there are a lot of people in the past year or so that have cut back some on discretionary spending, but there are still plenty of people willing to spend money (I work in finance and a lot of them don't have money, but somehow people still find a way to frequent places like this)

Yeah, that's been my experience too. We've been to a bunch of kids' birthday parties this past year at various places (Urban Air, Bounce U, Altitude, Sky Zone, We Rock the Spectrum) and every one was insanely busy. And I know when we were planning the party for our son, even two months out we had to make some compromises on dates/times because places were booked solid.

Others' experience and perspective might be different. Maybe we just catch them on busy days. But they don't seem to be struggling and certainly not dying.

[Brad]

Construction Equipment on site:

1.

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[Doctor Fate]

Woodbury’s Midwest director said that they received interest from a number of companies who want to come to Crossroads. He added that some of them don’t fit what they’re trying to build there. I think it’s a good sign that they’re getting interest but also a good sign that it sounds like they have a cohesive vision for what they’re doing there.

He also said they plan to build about 200 apartments on the development’s north side near Cass Street. The apartments will be connected to a parking garage and sit on top of 30,000 square feet of retail space. They’re also considering adding an office building near the corner of 72nd and Dodge.

[nebport5]

Woodbury’s Midwest director said that they received interest from a number of companies who want to come to Crossroads. He added that some of them don’t fit what they’re trying to build there. I think it’s a good sign that they’re getting interest but also a good sign that it sounds like they have a cohesive vision for what they’re doing there.

He also said they plan to build about 200 apartments on the development’s north side near Cass Street. The apartments will be connected to a parking garage and sit on top of 30,000 square feet of retail space. They’re also considering adding an office building near the corner of 72nd and Dodge.

As in on the Target parking lot? or right next to it I’d imagine.


Hopefully, they’re weeding out companies like Dollar General, 5 Below, Burlington(or other basically dollar(s) stores) and hopefully not three carwash theme parks. I’m betting on two incarnations of coffee shops.

[djc311]

Woodbury’s Midwest director said that they received interest from a number of companies who want to come to Crossroads. He added that some of them don’t fit what they’re trying to build there. I think it’s a good sign that they’re getting interest but also a good sign that it sounds like they have a cohesive vision for what they’re doing there.

He also said they plan to build about 200 apartments on the development’s north side near Cass Street. The apartments will be connected to a parking garage and sit on top of 30,000 square feet of retail space. They’re also considering adding an office building near the corner of 72nd and Dodge.

As in on the Target parking lot? or right next to it I’d imagine.


Hopefully, they’re weeding out companies like Dollar General, 5 Below, Burlington(or other basically dollar(s) stores) and hopefully not three carwash theme parks. I’m betting on two incarnations of coffee shops.

They're holding out for Mega Saver's largest location in the metro... even though there's one caddy corner already, they're trying to saturate the market like Starby's. LOL

[Brad]

There’s a crane on site today. It has one of those giant drills for the footings.

[skinzfan23]

There’s a crane on site today. It has one of those giant drills for the footings.

On the WOWT city cam you can see the amt of dirt that they have removed. I am assuming this is for the underground parking.

[BIGO88]

Gives you a pretty good look at what its gonna look like if they ever get started.

[iamjacobm]

They are started.

[Renovator2559]

They are started.

Why not make those single level style stores into mixed use taller buildings?

[Dundeemaha]

They are started.

Why not make those single level style stores into mixed use taller buildings?

Because most low density suburban shopping centers are single story. Multi-story mixed use buildings are more expensive and harder to finance.

[Busguy2010]

Well, I'd just have to say for as long as it's taken. Save it. There's just no way I can be excited about it. The best thing they accomplished was getting rid of the mall. I don't see a need to re-establish a shopping and entertainment hub in the area. They took so long to get going, and there's already plenty of everything in the area. Who cares? Thats why from day one, I said just turn it into a park for the time being, and if theres any developers that come by and want to build, let them do it. The whole thing has felt so forced the whole time, I just don’t care when they put out an update. I forgot about it every time. And that was 13? years ago. I'll believe it when I see it, and even when I do, it'll be "big deal".

[Garrett]

It's perplexing that some people continue to post as if there is zero active construction on site.

[Busguy2010]

We all know just as well, often what is sold isn't the end product. Even if there is finally construction on site, its taken so long to get going, and I can't conjure up any business that's already in the area that doesn't meet my needs. I'm meh about it. From the jump they were trying to sell it as an outdoor mall rebuild (which I'm glad didn’t happen). For a time before the recession, it was not far from being a copy-cat of Sorensen Plaza. They've just tried so many angles to make this work, its just exhausted. There's really not a retail or entertainment need to fill here. They've tried every which angle to a point its just get on with it, nothing to see here.

[Brad]

It's perplexing that some people continue to post as if there is zero active construction on site.

Also perplexing that some people continue to post as if its been the same developer all along, completely ignoring that a new developer took over the property.

[nebport5]

I’m glad it’s moving forward and hope it exceeds expectations…eventually. I don’t love that the flyover vid reminds me of the Capitol District with artificial turf. Or a marginally less uninviting concrete gathering space to sit in the cold and watch the Huskers underperform.

Hopefully something comes of the “unexpected interest” and maybe something nicer will get built that looks like it at least belongs in the same vicinity of the library.

[Busguy2010]

I know it's changed hands a number of times. But the bottom line is its been 13 years. I've existed in that area since my earliest memories, and to the very day, there's no goods and services I could think of that I don't already have access to. I wish them well, just can't see what they will bring to the table that isn’t already here, or in neighboring Aksarben and Westroads. Its obviously been a tough spot. I wish they would have let it happen naturally like Aksarben, and maybe it wouldn't just be starting. Who knows.

[buildomaha]

Cautiously optimistic that they will get more demand than they originally design for, as happened with aksarben.

[Greg S]

They are started.

Why not make those single level style stores into mixed use taller buildings?

Because most low density suburban shopping centers are single story. Multi-story mixed use buildings are more expensive and harder to finance.

Zona Rosa in KC they put apartments above the stores.

[skinzfan23]

Zona Rosa in KC they put apartments above the stores.

They also did the same at Bayshore in Milwaukee.

[riceweb]

We could probably enforce that all future retail developments include at least a matching amount of residential square footage. I've long thought Village Pointe would be great with 2,000 apartments along with easy BRT access from the freeway. Could be a really nice neighborhood.

[Garrett]

The most recent update from the developer includes almost 1,300 apartments on site, but there have been rumors coming from people like Grow Omaha that have said that Woodbury has been surprised at interest in the development and may increase their investment. And there’s still the mystery developer across 72nd on the northeast corner

[Gobears27]

Would a 72nd street orbit line help encourage developers to be a little more ambitious?

[Garrett]

Would a 72nd street orbit line help encourage developers to be a little more ambitious?

With appropriate changes in zoning and land use, yes. But I'm also not sure 72nd would be the spot I'd go for a second full fledged rapid transit line, particularly if the streetcar doesn't expand. North of Dodge through Ames street is ok, but south of Dodge drops off pretty quick, especially south of Center in a way that's just not conducive to transit use. 24th Street between North and South O and then an Aksarben/Benson route via Center, Saddle Creek, and NW Radial, and Maple would be higher priorities in opinion.

[Busguy2010]

Would a 72nd street orbit line help encourage developers to be a little more ambitious?

Im surprised they haven't been more active in pursuing BRT for 72nd. The 18 as it is, just a regular bus route, has more ridership than ORBT.

But to answer the question, I don't think it would. For as long as theres been a bus system and development west of 72nd, there's never not been a bus on 72nd. So don't see how there'd be a gap in confidence that would be bridged by making it BRT.

[BuildTaller]

I've long thought Village Pointe would be great with 2,000 apartments along with easy BRT access from the freeway. Could be a really nice neighborhood.

The medical plaza? Not sure how many beds Madonna has.

But seriously, I think Westroads, Oakview and Village Pointe could all benefit from many several hundred new apartments being built. Oakview is a huge no brainer, 2000 apartments would revolutionize the mall.

[nativeomahan]

Maybe I was hallucinating, but I swear I saw a fairly large crane up on the Crossroads property this afternoon.

[djc311]

Maybe I was hallucinating, but I swear I saw a fairly large crane up on the Crossroads property this afternoon.

Did you stop by one of those dispensaries on your way?

[OmahaFan]

Any update? Hardly see any construction happening.

[djc311]

Any update? Hardly see any construction happening.

Right - I drove by there on Saturday and other than some dirt being moved around in piles, I didn't notice anything of much substance. I still have a lot more confidence in the current developer than those that had signed on previously... but it does seem to be creeping along, at best.

Not that it would be an argument, but I'd have to say weather cannot be a contributing factor to any delays onsite.

[GenX]

Any update? Hardly see any construction happening.

They are working on the parking garage that will serve as a podium to the building. MCL Construction has a number of videos on FB about the progress.

[Brad]

Construction has gone vertical.

1.

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2.

20260407881A5308.jpg

.

[WiinterU]

After a brief 16 years of waiting, we've finally come to the point where it will only take ten years more.

[thenewguy]

looks like a mini-mutual of Omaha

[djc311]

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

[Brad]

Couldn't really get a photo of it, but there were walls poured for part of the basement too.

[Busguy2010]

I think our youngest will be out of high school (hasn't started yet) by the time this place is ready to visit. LOL

I was gonna say, I've held a few newborns that are either now driving and/or considering what to do with their adult lives since the mall was known to be headed for deletion. I grew up AT Crossroads, still drive by it every day, but I haven't cared for how long ??? That ship sailed such a long time ago. Who even cares?