Official: North Downtown Discussion

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 8:25 pm

Brad showed it to me at the CU game so I had to go out and actually purchased fish wrap. Nice article.

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 8:27 pm

gave me some goosebumps

i'm a nerd.

Linkin5 · Post by **Linkin5** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 9:24 pm

It gave me some goosebumps too niceguy

. I couldn't tell if that skyscraper was Wallstreet or not? It was definitely encouraging to hear from leaders that the addition of two more skyscrapers in the next ten years is definitely doable, makes you wonder if something is in the works that will eventually be announced (swanson.) The article also emphasized that the world herald site is only temporarily a park, which was also very encouraging. MECA's motto should be "Build small, expand later."

riceweb · Post by **riceweb** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 9:52 pm

Anyone have any info from the story?

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Tue Feb 12, 2008 4:22 am

yeah, it looked like wallstreet, although it looked taller and not as wide. That could just be error on the artist's behalf, not having blue prints to go off of. As far as having the story i couldn't find it on omaha.com yet

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 5:29 pm

i'd love it if they put in a field museum or museum of science & industry kind of place due west of the stadium. they would be able to sell a group pass that would let you get into the stadium on game nights/go to the top of FNB tower/joslyn/new museum/zoo for like $30. If people came to Omaha for whatever, they could do it all. When we went to chicago, we spent $50 for a pass that let us into the aquarium, 2 museums, hancock center, and observatory. They could market it like that and it'd probably sell. |expletive|, i'd buy it and i have a zoo pass. That's a way you could get people to spend money and pay for all of it. Plus, we could use some more culture round here

OmahaJaysCU · Post by **OmahaJaysCU** » Sun Feb 17, 2008 6:09 pm

Hey chef, this American Apparel thing has got me thinking, whats the word on the Newstreet development? With two major retailers, BBB, Blueline, and Secret Penguin, Slowdown is pretty much full. Hopefully we hear something soon.

nebport5 · Post by **nebport5** » Mon Feb 18, 2008 3:24 pm

I'd really like to see this area become an artsy cultural destination too. I also agree those dam'n helicopter hotels don't help. :barf: In retrospect, (in Lu of the Marriott), Fahey's "old market" inspired anchor hotel would've been a nice addition.

Swift · Post by **Swift** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 10:59 am

The hotels are fine, they just need to start building affordable (yet nice) apartments so the poor artists and cultured types can actually live in this part of the city.

the1wags · Post by **the1wags** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 5:44 pm

Agreed. The sooner the land west of Slowdown gets developed the better.

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 8:52 pm

The 4 blocks to the west would be great to be turned into apartments/retail, and some cultural something down there. I'm hoping the put in a museum near north downtown...but then again, i'm sure a lot of people do.

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 10:42 pm

Call the Chamber... North Downtown is the Epicenter of Cultural Somethings.

-Big E

the1wags · Post by **the1wags** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 10:43 pm

Actually I'd like to see any new museum built on the west side of downtown, close to the Joslyn. This would make a "museum district" and give Park East a shot in the arm. But thats another topic. :;):

nebport5 · Post by **nebport5** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 1:10 am

the1wags wrote:Actually I'd like to see any new museum built on the west side of downtown, close to the Joslyn. This would make a "museum district" and give Park East a shot in the arm. But that's another topic. :;):

hmmm...civic site?

On developing the area west of Slowdown: I can't wait either, I just hope the apts/condos etc. are structurally interesting and urban, Ala SoMa, instead of some cookie-cutter suburban abomination.

what kind of museum are we talking? Transportation museum, Lewis and Clark museum?

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 6:55 am

nebport5 wrote:
the1wags wrote:Actually I'd like to see any new museum built on the west side of downtown, close to the Joslyn. This would make a "museum district" and give Park East a shot in the arm. But that's another topic. :;):

hmmm...civic site?

On developing the area west of Slowdown: I can't wait either, I just hope the apts/condos etc. are structurally interesting and urban, Ala SoMa, instead of some cookie-cutter suburban abomination.

what kind of museum are we talking? Transportation museum, Lewis and Clark museum?

Not to stray too far off, but i was thinking something more science-related, akin to what's in Chicago. Either a field museum of sorts (which could incorporate replicas of the ashfalls up north, native american exhibits, lewis & clark, trains, etc), or a museum of science & industry type. Putting such a place on the civic site would not only be large enough, but a great location, too

Then again, like wags said, moving it to the west side of downtown would also be good, because it could help tie in MTC and downtown. And then they could build a high rise on the civic site.

OmahaJaysCU · Post by **OmahaJaysCU** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 12:56 am

OmahaChef wrote: 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.

Any update on this chef?

cdub · Post by **cdub** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 7:29 am

New Street is considering a mixed use project with hotel space, retail, condos and office. Complete with the necessary structured parking.

Swift · Post by **Swift** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 9:29 am

This neighborhood is going to totally suck if they only fill it in with Hotels and Condos.

We need some rent controlled apartments up in this hizzous.

OmahaChef · Post by **OmahaChef** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 10:38 pm

Not been on this forum for awhile, so here is my North Downtown update....

Everyone is buzzing about the person who drove down 13th Street and decided it continued north forever, and somehow did not see the brightly lighed planter between the Hampton and the Homewood, or the flag poles, or much else apparently, and demolished both the vehicle and said planter. Expect construction crews soon to fix the planter.

The Fairfield Hotel opens April 14th. I talked to the General Manager today, and they are definitely on track if not ahead of schedule at this point. I am sure hoping so, as I have a wedding the 19th that has rooms booked there!

Tackett Construction holds their project meetings at the Forte Banquet and Conference Center, so I get news from that. They are hoping for a September opening at this point. None of the retail on the first floor has been leased, and Venues has pulled out of the project so the restaurant space is back on the market for rent as well. Could it be due to the lack of parking for the hotel guests, let alone anyone visiting the retail or restaurant?

There was, and still has been no interest in the restaurant pad site at Homewood, so it became part of the parking lot.

NewStreet LLC is a fine group of gentlemen, and an absolute delight to work with. The buildings between 15th and 16th on Cuming to Webster are all still standing, so I don't know what is going on. See someone's post above.

No activity at the American Apparel site at Slowdown. No doubt in the design phase. Blue Line Coffee continues their painstaking creation, and there is now a counter and lighting. Some of the apartments still aren't rented there.

Tip-Top also has some issues with maintaining full occupancy of their apartments. Could be the lack of amenities in the immediate area, or the rather high rents, or maybe it is the huge increase in crime, especially auto breakins, and theft. Any hour of the day or night.

And then we have Inplay/Stadium Bar & Grill/Forte Banquet and Conference Center. Expect major changes to the first floor of the Tip-Top building. The game floor of inPlay will be drastically reduced, and the space sub-leased. Expect an architectural firm to announce a move there in the very near future of about 10,000 square feet. About 3,000 square feet will be available for retail. The Stadium Bar & grill will change name, and format, as it has new owners. The Forte Banquet and Conference Center will have a new owner as well, and the banquet space will have glass doors and walls to seperate it from the rest of the facility. Should all start in 30-45 days. If you went to the Bridal Show at the Qwest in January you know who the new owner is, if not, you will just have to wait.

That is all I know, been pretty quiet in good ol' North Downtown.

the1wags · Post by **the1wags** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 10:54 pm

Very interesting Chef. Thanks for the 411. Here's hoping that NewStreet gets going on their projects soon.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Sat Mar 29, 2008 11:16 pm

Thanks for that update Chef - welcome back.

Swift · Post by **Swift** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 1:15 pm

You weren't joking about the car break-ins. Must have something to do with the economy. My car got broken into a few weeks ago and my stereo was stolen. (I live in Midtown though).

I've also been hearing chatter from some of my friends who live in the area about similar sorts of crimes within the last two months.

Post by **Brad** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 2:40 pm

OmahaChef wrote:Not been on this forum for awhile, so here is my North Downtown update.....

Slacker!

OmahaChef wrote:Everyone is buzzing about the person who drove down 13th Street and decided it continued north forever, and somehow did not see the brightly lighed planter between the Hampton and the Homewood, or the flag poles, or much else apparently, and demolished both the vehicle and said planter. Expect construction crews soon to fix the planter.

Classic DUI in my book

OmahaChef wrote:Tackett Construction holds their project meetings at the Forte Banquet and Conference Center, so I get news from that. They are hoping for a September opening at this point. None of the retail on the first floor has been leased, and Venues has pulled out of the project so the restaurant space is back on the market for rent as well. Could it be due to the lack of parking for the hotel guests, let alone anyone visiting the retail or restaurant?

There was, and still has been no interest in the restaurant pad site at Homewood, so it became part of the parking lot.

NewStreet LLC is a fine group of gentlemen, and an absolute delight to work with. The buildings between 15th and 16th on Cuming to Webster are all still standing, so I don't know what is going on. See someone's post above.

I am guessing a lot of that will take care of itself this summer when ground is broken on the ballpark.

OmahaChef wrote:And then we have Inplay/Stadium Bar & Grill/Forte Banquet and Conference Center. Expect major changes to the first floor of the Tip-Top building. The game floor of inPlay will be drastically reduced, and the space sub-leased. Expect an architectural firm to announce a move there in the very near future of about 10,000 square feet. About 3,000 square feet will be available for retail. The Stadium Bar & grill will change name, and format, as it has new owners. The Forte Banquet and Conference Center will have a new owner as well, and the banquet space will have glass doors and walls to seperate it from the rest of the facility. Should all start in 30-45 days. If you went to the Bridal Show at the Qwest in January you know who the new owner is, if not, you will just have to wait.

That's too bad. I think that place was just a little ahead of its time. Can you imagine if you opened in a year or two from now. It would be a whole different world.

OmahaChef · Post by **OmahaChef** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 5:15 pm

It is not closing! The game floor will be reduced in size, it was way too big for the number of working games on the floor. The sportsbar will have a new name, but otherwise will look the same. It is open for business and will continue to be.

Post by **Brad** » Thu May 08, 2008 3:46 pm

Stadium Construction 'Floats All Boats' Downtown

http://www.ketv.com/news/16201746/detail.html

www.ketv.com wrote:OMAHA, Neb. -- The real estate market in Omaha's north downtown market is heating up, experts said, after the city and the NCAA announced this week a deal to build a new stadium.

The deal will keep the College World Series in Omaha for 25 years and put a new stadium north of downtown near the Qwest Center.

Developer Mike Moylan owns the Paxton Condominiums building downtown.

"To have the baseball stadium downtown is just going to create synergy," Moylan said.

The Paxton is just blocks away from the site. Moylan said that the new ballpark, existing attractions such as the Holland Center and Old Market, and the already-solid sales figures he's seen this year add up to a bright future for his building, and for all of downtown.

"We've sold five units since the beginning of the year. Last year, we only sold six units the entire year," Moylan said. "That's the only way to have a successful city: to have a strong downtown."

gisbuxfan · Post by **gisbuxfan** » Sun May 18, 2008 8:25 pm

What's the latest news on our Urban Outfitters? I haven't been there to see it yet. How's the business so far?

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Sun Jun 08, 2008 10:34 am

I've only ever been down by Urban Outfitters in the day time (like 11 or 12-ish) and there have been people there but not tons like you'd see at a mall or other location. I'm sure that's not indicative of their business, i can imagine it'd be much busier later in the day. Their clientele most like doesn't wake up in time to rush over and shop at 8 or 9 am

As far as the rest of north downtown goes, i hope they've got something figured up already there, too, and will announce something soon. It would be amazing to see wall street tower, the stadium, and all of north downtown being developed simultaneously!

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Sun Jun 08, 2008 3:01 pm

I don't know if I blind and can't find anything about Faheys major announcement about something in coming to North Downtown. Any thing new on that announcement????

Post by **Brad** » Sun Jun 08, 2008 6:10 pm

Bob wrote:I don't know if I blind and can't find anything about Faheys major announcement about something in coming to North Downtown. Any thing new on that announcement????

Not yet. The ink needs to be put on paper then watch.... it will be like a wick on a firework!

TitosBuritoBarn · Post by **TitosBuritoBarn** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 2:56 am

Hmm, got any dates for when that might happen?

Post by **Brad** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 7:31 am

TitosBuritoBarn wrote:Hmm, got any dates for when that might happen?

Well the contract gets signed today, the city council starts voting today, It won't be long!

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 9:30 am

after looking at the photos of bricktown and being in the P&L district in KC, i think there's a lot of great opportunity for north downtown. The only change it'd like to see made to those designs and those ideas is that it'd be nice to have a few midrise buildings (in the order of 10 or 15 stories and have the rest be 4-6 stories in height and make it look a little more like jobbers canyon used to be. They could even call it "The Jobber's Canyon District of Downtown Omaha." Lots of trees, though. Lots of diagonal parking, with few parking lots. It should be very pedestrian friendly, which i'm sure is the idea.

this could be good for a boutique hotel downtown...

surrounded by ones like these...
http://www.historicomaha.com/aerial45.jpg

accented by ones like these...
http://www.historicomaha.com/cp18.jpg

I think that the Hotel Fontenelle is such a nice looking building. It just kills me that Omaha tore out all that great old architecture.

almighty_tuna · Post by **almighty_tuna** » Tue Jun 10, 2008 9:59 am

I remember some rumors i never posted last year about big money project or two that was waiting for a streetcar. Hopefully with the streetcar movement in full swing we will see more big announcements as that becomes finalized.

Ben · Post by **Ben** » Thu Jun 12, 2008 9:50 pm

A couple of updates for everyone:

Holiday Inn: Air conditioners and windows are starting to go in. Looks like they're also prepping for the exterior surfacing of the walls (stucco?).

Blue Line: Continued baby steps towards opening. Chairs and tables are there, plus there's coffee making equipment being installed. Shouldn't be long now (hopefully). This place could really be the start of making it feel like a neighborhood, if they can attract a regular clientele....

American Apparel: Finally, work has begun! They've started some internal framing (metal studs) for what looks to be either a backroom or dressing area.

thenewguy · Post by **thenewguy** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 6:27 am

where's Omahachef been? I just realized he hasn't posted an update about north downtown in a while.

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Fri Jun 13, 2008 12:20 pm

Since we pretty much have a unique tabula rasa opportunity with North Downtown - and this thread seemed as on-topic as any other - I thought I'd share this nice read from CNN.com:

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/06 ... index.html

Joseph Rykwert is one of the world's leading architectural historians. He is currently Paul Philippe Cret Professor of Architecture Emeritus and Professor of Art History at the University of Pennsylvania. He has also authored several highly influential books including "The Idea of a Town" (1963) and "The Seduction of Place" (2000).

CNN spoke to Rykwert about how buildings and spaces act as a metaphor for society, our transition from citizens to customers and the challenges facing the built environment in the 21st century.

It gives a nice non-American viewpoint from a place that knows a thing or two about being a city. My favorite excerpt:

CNN: Are mixed-use areas are key to a city's success?

JR: Mixed use is what cities are all about. If you don't have mixed use you don't have cities.

-Big E

Post by **Brad** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 10:50 pm

Holiday Inn coming along:

Uffda · Post by **Uffda** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 10:56 pm

Too bad they couldn't get rid of the billboard.

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 11:19 pm

Hopefully it will be gone soon. It definitely is out of place.