Official: North Downtown Discussion

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 11:36 am

Thanks for all that, Chef!

I "know" one of the managers at Urban, so I'll try to get some sort of insider perspective on how business is going. But other than that, every friend I've talked to who has gone has bought several things and said it was busy while they were there, regardless of what day/time they went.

OmahaChef · Post by **OmahaChef** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 8:18 pm

Another update and some news!!

The opening date for the Hampton is now November 8th.

And now for the good stuff. Newstreet LLC owns the four block area bounded by 16th, Webster, 14th, and Cuming. For those more visually oriented, this area is bounded by the UP Child Care Center, Slowdown and Urban Outfitters, the future Holiday Inn and inPlay, and 16th Street,

We have a gravel lot on the northeast corner of 15th and Cuming which we use for overflow parking, and it is part of the 4 block Newstreet LLC project. We got a call from Newstreet, telling us not to worry, as the fisrt phase of their development will not affect our gravel lot and we can continue to use it. Phase I will be the block bounded by 16th, Burt, 15th and Cuming. It will be a four story building with retail on the first floor and upscale apartments on floors 2-4. The plan is to have demolition permits, ect., in place by December and actual construction to start in the Spring. The other three blocks will be done in later phases.

OmahaJaysCU · Post by **OmahaJaysCU** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 10:07 pm

OmahaChef wrote:Another update and some news!!

The opening date for the Hampton is now November 8th.

And now for the good stuff. Newstreet LLC owns the four block area bounded by 16th, Webster, 14th, and Cuming. For those more visually oriented, this area is bounded by the UP Child Care Center, Slowdown and Urban Outfitters, the future Holiday Inn and inPlay, and 16th Street,

We have a gravel lot on the northeast corner of 15th and Cuming which we use for overflow parking, and it is part of the 4 block Newstreet LLC project. We got a call from Newstreet, telling us not to worry, as the fisrt phase of their development will not affect our gravel lot and we can continue to use it. Phase I will be the block bounded by 16th, Burt, 15th and Cuming. It will be a four story building with retail on the first floor and upscale apartments on floors 2-4. The plan is to have demolition permits, ect., in place by December and actual construction to start in the Spring. The other three blocks will be done in later phases.

Will the ballpark committee effect these plans?

midtown charlie · Post by **midtown charlie** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 10:18 pm

I will be sad to see the buildings torn down along Cuming though. Assuming that is what they will do. Those buildings have some great potential. I think North Downtown will lose it's identity if they tear too many old buildings down. (No. DT contains some of the oldest in Omaha if I am not moistened) On the flip side a 4 story building w/ ground floor retail is a great thing!!!

Sorry I had to submit Moistened in there. I wasn't exactly sure which version of mistaken I should use so I went with the more entertaining option....of moistened.

OmahaChef · Post by **OmahaChef** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 10:33 pm

Newstreet LLC has stated in the OWH that they intend to go ahead with their plans for the site regardless of what the city decides to do. This either sends a message that this site isn't a prime candidate anymore, or it is a political ploy of some sort. Not that city government and developers would ever lower themselves to such childish levels of play.

NuStyle Development stores maintenance equipment in the building on the site and has been told all belongings need to be cleared out by December 1st, so it is obvious Newstreet is intent on moving forward to develop the land. They have a plan for all four sqaure blocks of land, and currently plan to move forward. If the city changes it's mind, I would imagine it could stall their plans. The entire concept could be a huge ploy to force the city to make a decision on where the ballpark goes, but I doubt anyone would spend the money for architectural designs and demolition funding unless they planned to proceed, or felt they could recoup the costs and still make a grand profit if the city decides on that site for the ballpark.

The whole thing could be a political gamble, but for now, Newstreet has a vision for the four block area, and that it is a core for the neighborhood, and is a dense developement of retail, office, entertainment, apartments and condos and plans to make it a reality.

OmahaJaysCU · Post by **OmahaJaysCU** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 1:50 am

I have two hopes for this four block area. One they sign some good tenants to compliment the Urban Outfitters, and two, to develop their buildings at 4 or more stories, because North Downtown needs more density.

OmahaChef · Post by **OmahaChef** » Sat Oct 27, 2007 8:54 pm

I forgot to mention that Phase I of this project does include a parking garage!

Tango · Post by **Tango** » Sun Oct 28, 2007 5:01 pm

Question... does Newstreet LLC have a website of some sort? I have been unable to find one. I'd like to get more information/possible renderings of their plans if they are available. Or, does anyone know if they plan to release plans to the public any time soon? I think it would really help remedy the ballpark snafu if we saw what was possible for that four blocks, without the interference of the proposed stadium. This would help people understand that perhaps what is best for North downtown is to look at the locations nearer the Qwest Center.

OmahaChef · Post by **OmahaChef** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 6:35 pm

No, they do not have a website, and seem pretty closed lipped to the general public. I know someone who contacted them, and they only thing they would admit to was tearing down the current structure.

They have leased space in the block bordered by 16th, Burt, 15th and Webster for a daytime homeless shelter. This should compliment the adjacent tenents of North Downtown very nicely.

In other news......

The Hampton Inn and Suites opens this Thursday, November 9th!!!

CapitalGuy · Post by **CapitalGuy** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 8:50 pm

They have leased space in the block bordered by 16th, Burt, 15th and Webster for a daytime homeless shelter. This should compliment the adjacent tenents of North Downtown very nicely.

Huh?

Stargazer · Post by **Stargazer** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 9:28 pm

Nothing but straight shooters down there in the star city... huh.

CapitalGuy · Post by **CapitalGuy** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 10:05 pm

Nothing but straight shooters down there in the star city... huh.

huh?

Linkin5 · Post by **Linkin5** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 9:57 am

Is anybody planning on taking pics of this entire area anytime soon? I really wanna see how it is progressing.

Post by **Brad** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 10:02 am

It seemed like I was taking pics of the area every week, but then have not for a month or two. I was thinking about it this weekend now that the plaza is almost done between the two hotels.

Linkin5 · Post by **Linkin5** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 10:08 am

Thanks, that would be awesome Brad!

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 12:21 am

I drove past today before work. Hampton looks great! I'm very impressed. I love that the hotels are oriented towards the street and have the plaza between them. The designs have really grown on me, too.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Thu Nov 08, 2007 11:36 am

Hampton Inn opens today on Cuming

Omaha World Herald wrote:The Hampton Inn & Suites at 1212 Cuming St. opens today, marking the first north downtown hotel to open since Hilton Omaha's debut in April 2004. The Hampton Inn & Suites Omaha Downtown will hold a 4 p.m. ribbon cutting today. A shop off the hotel lobby has travel items, beverages and microwaveable meals, Barmore said.

The eight-story Homewood Suites by Hilton, at 1314 Cuming St., is scheduled to open in January, Barmore said. The two hotels share the site between 12th and 14th Streets along Cuming Street and have a walkway between them.

OmahaChef · Post by **OmahaChef** » Sat Nov 10, 2007 9:16 pm

Yet another North Downtown update.

The rooms at The Hampton Inn and Suites are quite nice. All of the storage such as dressers, etc., are actually cabinetry built into the wall where the window is. They are quite impressive rooms for a mid-rate hotel! The suites are a bit more spartan I thought, the regular rooms far more impressive. No draperies, all roman shades at the windows. The lights are on in every room at night to give it a feel that it is open and busy. When we were there Friday, there were actually guests checking in, so there is business there. We have a banquet this coming Saturday for a Creighton fraternity/sorority alumni event, and the out of town guests are staying at The Hampton, so the tie in between the Forte Banquet & Conference Center and the hotels begin.

Despite what Taggett management may have said, scaffolding and cinder block have sat on the Holiday Inn site for almost four weeks, but finally the middle of this week, they actually started building the elevator tower, which means they now have their building permit. They were hoping for an April opening, but the delays make that unlikely. They are desperately hoping to be open before the College World Series though.

The Homewood is really shaping up, unless you look at the back of it. All work on the exterior has been focused on the frontage on Cuming and the plaza between the two hotels...understandably.
Now that the Hampton is open, work is progressing on the parking for the Homewood, and the interior is going along nicely.

Work on 14th Street from Cuming to Izard is moving along. Should be ready by the opening of the Homewood.

Lots of activity in the Blue Line Coffee Shop. Ductwork, ventwork, walls and an application for a Class I liquor license.

Work on the Fairfield exterior progresses well. The parking lot is almost all poured, and the plumbing, etc. on the interior is almost finsihed. Drywalling and painting is up next.

The Newstreet property acroos from inPlay is emptied and ready for demolition.

Work progresses at a frantic pace on the day shelter for the homeless at 15th and Webster. City Council had a rough time with this one, and there were over 100 people opposed to the project, but...it goes ahead, with a ton of stipulations, including the fact it has to close on March 31st.

You can read more about the newest tenants of Slowdown, secretpenquin.com, what-cheer.com, and BBB Skateboard in the business discussion thread. Welcome to the neighborhood guys!!

More in another week or two.

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Sun Nov 11, 2007 4:54 am

Thanks for the update Chef!..

..Ciao..LiO....Peace

Post by **Brad** » Mon Nov 12, 2007 1:52 pm

Linkin5 wrote:Is anybody planning on taking pics of this entire area anytime soon? I really wanna see how it is progressing.

I had a great weekend, however I never got to the pictures because of it.... Soon.

Post by **Brad** » Sat Nov 24, 2007 3:26 am

Update:

New look for Hot Shops:

Ben · Post by **Ben** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 7:44 am

An update on the Homewood property - the wedge at the top of the building, or "helicopter pad" as we've taken to calling them, now appears to have its lighting working. As of now, it looks a little odd, with that lit, but not the rest of the building, but its got a nice effect of drawing your eyes up, showing off the height of the building...

Also, on the Newstreet property, they look to have roped off the land across from Filmstreams/Slowdown, as if they're preparing to get started doing something.

Linkin5 · Post by **Linkin5** » Tue Dec 04, 2007 9:14 am

Nice! Thanks for the update Brad.

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 11:02 pm

Ben wrote:Also, on the Newstreet property, they look to have roped off the land across from Filmstreams/Slowdown, as if they're preparing to get started doing something.

I really doubt it. It would be very unlikely that any kind of work would start before a detailed announcement.

CapitalGuy · Post by **CapitalGuy** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 3:16 pm

What are you basing this on Streets? I am not familiar with any such rule.

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 4:23 pm

Ha. It's not a rule. I'm basing it on the way pretty much ALL developments work. I.E. they must be approved by the city, and this includes publicly disclosed, detailed plans. By the time site prep is underway, there's usually detailed plans, because if there weren't, how would one know how to prepare the site?

Certainly there are basic preparations that can be made without an actual plan, but aside from existing buildings (and I hope they STAY existing buildings), the site won't need much preparation. It's pretty much a big open lot.

OmahaChef · Post by **OmahaChef** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 10:54 pm

Streets is right. There is no activity planned for the roped off land until phase 2 or 3 of Newstreets multi-phased development plan. Here is how I understand it. Newstreet owned the land, and NuStyle had the development rights. The Royals signed an option on the land, and paid the princely sum of one dollar a month for the right of first refusal to develop the land into a ballpark. We all know where that ended up, and this Fall, they gave up on that plan. nuStyle is done with developing properties (too bad I say), and sold the development rights back to Newstreet. Newstreet was not amused that people were parking in their property for free, and roped off the entire area bounded by Cuming, 15th, 14th and Webster. The UP people who parked there for free are not amused I am sure. Neither was inPlay, who spent $4K on a gravel lot on the property and now has to pay to continue to use the space. Ironically, so does the Tip-Top, which is owned by NuStyle, and we have entered into a joint agreement to pay Newstreet to continue to use the space until their Phase I is built, which includes a parking garage.

In other news, the opening of the Hampton has had an impact, and dinner trade at inPlay is up. We are actually going to introduce a dinner menu this week. Simple, sportbar oriented steak and fish, ect., but you have to appeal to the masses. There have been a few banquet events where blocks of rooms at Hampton were utilized, and we just booked a three day convention next July that will sell out the upcoming Fairfield, so the North Downtown hotels will definitely have an impact. We have also been doing catering for small meetings at the Hampton. Good news all around.

Work at Blueline Coffe is slow, but it does progress. Spring maybe??

The rooms at the Homewood Suites are looking really good. Both The Hampton and the Homewood have been designed extremely well, and it should be noted, by a local architectural firm! Way to go RDG! The Homewood opens in late January.

The Fairfield progresses well. The parking has been poured, the interior is moving along, and the signage is being placed on the exterior. Still looking for a late March/mid April opening.

The Holiday Inn...beats me. The elevator shaft is up, the fireproof stairwell is under construction, but no steel and no signs of a real structure. Can't get a word out of the project manager.

O'Keefe Elevator...employees have moved in, but finishing work continues. Apparently, big parking lots are part of the North Downtown plan now, at least if you are Creighton. I do not recall a design proposal that called for a parking lot fronting 16th Street but that is what we got.

Urban Outfitters seems busy, the daytime homeless shelter is doing fine at 15th and Webster, and we haven't seen too many more people using our restrooms in the morning as a bathroom, nor have we seen an increase in homeless people harassing our cutomers. So, North Downtown continues to grow and develop!

the1wags · Post by **the1wags** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 11:03 pm

Thanks for the update info Chef. I was surprised to see the Fairfield signage up already, looking good.

NDizona · Post by **NDizona** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 1:39 am

If this has already been posted - sorry

Found this research from the Chamber

http://www.rpapc.com/Download/North_Dow ... cument.pdf

its 30 MB but a good read.

electric blue · Post by **electric blue** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 2:02 pm

I like the color and facade of the Hot Shops building but that sign/logo is retina-burning and vomit-inducing. It looks like an image from an infomercial.

Ben · Post by **Ben** » Wed Dec 26, 2007 11:37 am

Finally, some progress on the Holiday Inn. Besides the aforementioned stairwell towers having been completed, structural steel appears to be going up today for the first floor (where I imagine the lobby will be). They're also enclosing scaffolding on a different portion of the building, where I'd assume they're going to start laying some of the cinder block that they've got sitting there.

It appears that they're finally getting their act together and making some progress. It'll be interesting to see how quickly they can forge ahead, as they're definitely the slow poke of the North Downtown hotel construction race. I'm sure they'd like to be open by CWS time, but I'd say that'd be pushing it...

Ben · Post by **Ben** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 3:47 pm

Homewood Suites' signage went up on the building today. They appear to have completed all exterior work as well (at least from the Cuming Street side). At the Holiday Inn, they appear to have the 1st floor steel in, but are still working on the cinder block walls towards the back of the building.

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 3:33 pm

i'm hoping that some of this starts to escalate and get to where they talked on page one. Think they'll build a museum there, too, if they put the stadium down there?

Post by **Brad** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 10:16 am

Hilton's Homewood opens on Cuming St.

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=1 ... d=10228921

The eight-story Homewood Suites by Hilton opens today at 1314 Cuming St. in Omaha's north downtown district.

The hotel shares the site, between 12th and 14th Streets north of Cuming Street, with the Hampton Inn & Suites, which opened in early November. That marked the first north downtown hotel opening since Hilton Omaha's debut in April 2004.

Construction on the 123-room Homewood Suites and the 139-room Hampton Inn & Suites started in September 2006.

Harpoon · Post by **Harpoon** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 10:49 pm

Does anybody know how many rooms that the Holiday Inn and Fairfield Inn are supposed to have?

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 2:32 am

they need to still build a museum in that area. Is the city still planning on pursuing anything like HDR proposed a few years ago? You know, the one that outlined 3 potential anchors? If they did, there would be the Joslyn, Qwest Center, New Stadium (i'm assuming it is going there), New museum for whatever, the Civic (if they keep it), the bridge, the Old Market, Slowdown...talk about downtown being a h e l l of a tourist draw and entertainment district! I think apartments and some restaurants and a little more retail would bode very well for downtown in that area, too, just like everyone else. Then they could build an amusement park out west where they have more room, instead of saying the stadium should go all the way out by Elkhorn

Post by **Brad** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 2:39 am

Photo Update:

Historic Omaha · Post by **Historic Omaha** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 8:39 am

I doubt that the area will become an "arts" district if the glorified motels with bland aesthetics keep sprouting up.

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 9:03 am

yeah, i was kind of hoping they'd get rid of the yellow

they could have went with an all brick facade, maybe a glass atrium? Maybe art deco style with some gargoyles at the top? The hotels do look rather run-of-the-mill. Who knows, maybe they'll get 1 or 2 put up down there that look a little different. And they should still add a science or some sort of museum down there

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 8:20 pm

did anyone else see sunday's article, "High Hopes" in the perspectives section of the OWH?