The Builders District (15th and Mike Fahey)

[obvious2677]

Again, I don't think Creighton has had any problems with growing on their own. What exactly does that city plan to do - except dangle the threat of eminent domain over the heads of local property owners? This doesn't seem like a very positive or community-building way to do business and could hurt the reputation of the university - thus impacting its ability to attract students, faculty, donors, etc. and therefore its future opportunities for growth. Simply saying we want to encourage and foster growth without weighing the consequences of decisions seems like "middle school" thinking at best.

At the current point, only one person seems to be upset - you. The university has nothing to do with Happy Bar being vacated (the other person who is opposed to this moving forward). The owner of Mystery Manor isn't on this forum complaining to high heaven about tentative plans. Also, Creighton using eminent domain to acquire a property is literally not going to hurt their "reputation."

Students? - 75 percent are from out of Nebraska. They don't care about your issue. They would look at the burgeoning north downtown and say, "yeah - I want to go there!"
Faculty or potential faculty? You apparently lack awareness of how hard it is to get a tenure-track job in higher education. They aren't going to care.
Donors? Hilarious! Bruce Grewcock - who, if you're unaware, is Chairman and CEO of Kiewit - remember the company that is at the forefront of this entire development? Yeah, he's an officer on Creighton's board of directors. The big donors are not going to quit giving over a spat with a local building owner.

Is pissing off local people the right thing to do? No, but as I said earlier, until there are development plans put forth from the university, then there is no need to get mad or worked up about anything. Creighton's new strategic plan is due in February.

Looking at the facts - you put $1 million into your building. Paying you a fair wage for your building (remember - that's required in eminent domain) and then investing more than $300 million into the area seems like a good idea to anyone who knows how deals work.

That being said, if we look at your company - the OWH states, "Faced with declining sales..., are trying to secure a future by parceling out the company property and transforming parts into the kind of loft-style residential space that’s increasingly popular in urban cores."
So, there are three residential spaces. The north downtown development (outside of Creighton) could add 100 times that. Creighton expansion could easily add more than 150 suite-style dorms (each of which houses 4 students), as I've previously showed.

[sburgess]

I would appreciate it if you could refrain from guessing at my frame of mind. I am neither "mad" or "upset." The term I have used consistently to describe my attitude is "concerned." And, as I have said before, I actually am in favor of working to redevelop the area. What I am concerned about is how it is going to happen. I get concerned when the city's proposal includes vacating Burt St. Where is the Traffic Study? I get concerned when there is talk of eminent domain. I get concerned with vague talk of bringing in mixed-use buildings. Has the city actually done an economic impact study? Has the city looked at Case Studies from similar scenarios - to see what lessons are to be learned (good and bad)? Has the larger community been engaged to build consensus and foster "buy-in." I concerned about the legacy of the area.

I am concerned that you profess to know what Bruce Grewcock, the board members, and donors are thinking. I am also concerned that you seem to know that faculty members aren't going to care and what will be in the minds of future students.

[daveoma]

Grewcock hehe

[obvious2677]

Something has to actually be planned for an EIS - not a developers rough idea, as I've said about 200 times. I'm "concerned" about your reading comprehension skills.

Creighton's last master plan included a traffic study, a parking study, additional residential facilities, additional intramural fields, future classroom and structure sites, and overall campus improvements. There was also a traffic study/plan for Kiewit's new HQ (I can't find it posted online).

[obvious2677]

Grewcock hehe

[omaha79]

I'm hearing the building(s) across from the new Kiewit development are coming down this week. Damn. I loved seeing those last vestiges of the old Near North neighborhood when I'd be in that part of town. I hoped against hope that they could be saved, but the writing is on the wall. I think the building with The Happy Bar is safe for now, but it looks like they are tearing down the other 2-3 buildings.

[skinzfan23]

Hopefully they save the 4 story warehouse that has Sols name on it. That could easily be repurposed.

[SaveOmaha]

Bulldozer on site (609 and 611 N 16th).

[omaha79]

Bulldozer on site (609 and 611 N 16th).

Let's hope there are no Omaha special "accidents" that take out any of the adjoining buildings. Still remember that one.

[iamjacobm]

Demo started.

[skinzfan23]

Some property owners are holdouts as Kiewit pieces land together for its north downtown HQ

Brothers John and Bob Pascarella, who run the Happy Bar on the corner of 16th and California Streets, are among those balking at relocating. Their family founded the business in 1953.

The cash-only tavern they call an old-school neighborhood watering hole was their grandfather’s baby before he handed it over to their dad, who, in turn, groomed his boys. The Pascarellas also own an attached, old hotel they rent out to apartment-dwellers, a few of whom have lived there for years and call the Happy Bar crew their family.

Still think this city is so dumb for its use of eminent domain. If any developer comes calling, the city uses public funds to take over. Every city I travel to, I like to take notice of areas where new buildings were built around existing buildings creating unique areas. Omaha's philosophy is just to tear down buildings for parking lots in the hopes that something will be built there in the future. Perfect examples of this are the old UP HQ's and the Civic site. Both of them have been vacant for years and most likely will continue to be that way. Yet, they continue to want to take over current buildings like Sol's and the Happy Bar even with no concrete plans. At what point does this stop?

[Louie]

Agreed, so many places to develop, why keep trashing existing buildings.

[sburgess]

One of the reasons for tearing down old buildings (that are structurally sound) is that it is easier to build something new. This is essentially a lazy approach to redevelopment. Of course not everyone appreciates old buildings or understands them. The loss to the texture and fabric of the "urbanscape" by replacing old with new reflects a certain aesthetic bankruptcy.

[GrandpaaSmucker]

Some property owners are holdouts as Kiewit pieces land together for its north downtown HQ

Brothers John and Bob Pascarella, who run the Happy Bar on the corner of 16th and California Streets, are among those balking at relocating. Their family founded the business in 1953.

The cash-only tavern they call an old-school neighborhood watering hole was their grandfather’s baby before he handed it over to their dad, who, in turn, groomed his boys. The Pascarellas also own an attached, old hotel they rent out to apartment-dwellers, a few of whom have lived there for years and call the Happy Bar crew their family.

Still think this city is so dumb for its use of eminent domain. If any developer comes calling, the city uses public funds to take over. Every city I travel to, I like to take notice of areas where new buildings were built around existing buildings creating unique areas. Omaha's philosophy is just to tear down buildings for parking lots in the hopes that something will be built there in the future. Perfect examples of this are the old UP HQ's and the Civic site. Both of them have been vacant for years and most likely will continue to be that way. Yet, they continue to want to take over current buildings like Sol's and the Happy Bar even with no concrete plans. At what point does this stop?

I have partied a time or two with the 2 brothers who own the Happy Bar. Pretty cool dudes. I'm rooting for them! Never been to the Happy Bar though......little to gnarly down there for me.

[nativeomahan]

One of the reasons for tearing down old buildings (that are structurally sound) is that it is easier to build something new. This is essentially a lazy approach to redevelopment. Of course not everyone appreciates old buildings or understands them. The loss to the texture and fabric of the "urbanscape" by replacing old with new reflects a certain aesthetic bankruptcy.

I very much agree. Omaha and it’s citizens lose when the city allows developers to destroy so much of its historic past. Many of the older buildings have fits and finishes and design touches that their replacements could only dream of having.

[iamjacobm]

The Millwork part of North Downtown will be a lot more lively day to day than this area will. Maybe some of the movers and shakers will figure out why in another decade.

[GetUrban]

I agree the Millwork district will be more lively. I don't think the "movers & shakers" will ever understand why or even care, as they continue to wipe the older parts of Omaha clean and redevelop them to maximize their own profits and tax breaks, while patting themselves on the back along the way.

[obvious2677]

Announced yesterday, Creighton will vacate the Murphy and Jelinek Buildings, which will be razed for additional parking and green space. The groups in those buildings - facilities management, central receiving and mailservices - will relocate north of Cuming on 20th.

Red squares - demolish.
Blue: New women's facility opened this week.
Green at the top: Older building that all the displaced people will move to.


They will also be renovating the Kiewit Fitness Center - removing the pool and expanding curriculum space for exercise science - and the Harper Center - updating "enrollment services" and improving access to the Hixson-Lied auditorium, which has become one of the most-used gathering areas on campus.

[omaha79]

The noose tightens around Mystery Manor, IMO...

[obvious2677]

The noose tightens around Mystery Manor, IMO...

Not that it means much, but that building was built in 1890 - and may be eligible for NHRP listing under Criterion C. I do not know how much Mystery Manor has done to the front of the building though - if behind all the terrible lumber build, have they left the integrity of the original structure...?

[iamjacobm]

https://www.omaha.com/money/plus/projec ... 2dfa3.html

Omaha-based Noddle Cos., for instance, believes that demand is growing to the point that it plans to erect a new 100,000-square-foot office facility. Jay Noddle predicts that his company will start building the structure as early as this year, next to the Kiewit Corp.’s global campus now under construction near 15th and Cuming Streets. The future Kiewit offices are expected to bring some 650 employees to the area.

[Louie]

https://www.omaha.com/money/plus/projec ... 2dfa3.html

Omaha-based Noddle Cos., for instance, believes that demand is growing to the point that it plans to erect a new 100,000-square-foot office facility. Jay Noddle predicts that his company will start building the structure as early as this year, next to the Kiewit Corp.’s global campus now under construction near 15th and Cuming Streets. The future Kiewit offices are expected to bring some 650 employees to the area.

Hopefully this will include retail so there aren't two blocks of nothing after 5pm.

[ita]

https://www.omaha.com/money/plus/projec ... 2dfa3.html

Omaha-based Noddle Cos., for instance, believes that demand is growing to the point that it plans to erect a new 100,000-square-foot office facility. Jay Noddle predicts that his company will start building the structure as early as this year, next to the Kiewit Corp.’s global campus now under construction near 15th and Cuming Streets. The future Kiewit offices are expected to bring some 650 employees to the area.

Hopefully this will include retail so there aren't two blocks of nothing after 5pm.

This release from NP Dodge has a little snippet that says the office building south of the Kiewit HQ will be five-stories. The related demolition was touched on in another thread and included a long occupied bar space.

http://www.thenewsfunnel.com/sites/defa ... _final.pdf

[ita]

Does anyone know anything about permits pulled by North Downtown Condos, LLC at 1550 Mike Fahey, per https://www.omaha.com/news/record/the-r ... b5ef2.html? Isn't that right next door to the Kiewit HQ?

[Coyote]

Isn't that for Kiewits new HQ?

[ita]

Isn't that for Kiewits new HQ?

You are right. I checked out DoGIS. I did not know North Downtown condos was affiliated with Kiewit.

[iamjacobm]

Another section of Burt to be vacated for an apartment building. Between 16th and 17th street. Full master plan images for the district at the bottom.

https://planning.cityofomaha.org/images ... ber/06.pdf

[daveoma]

I can't read what it says about the street. It looks like the street will be retained

[ita]

I can't read what it says about the street. It looks like the street will be retained

Based on the Site Plan (last page), that section of Burt is definitely gone.

[ita]

If this Site Plan is accurate, both Petit's and Sol's will either be closing or relocating. Some older buildings are remaining. Lots of activation of parking space, but there is a huge garage planned next to the soccer stadium and Keiwit's own huge garage. I assume that the one by the stadium will be used by Creighton as well as the Builder's District office and residential users. I hope that the office buildings are speculative. They are fairly conservative in height and foot print. It's nothing groundbreaking, but it will be activating a lot of vacant lots and surface parking once it's built out. I do like that the Wareham and 1415 @ The Yard will have companion buildings. The Wareham, the proposed mixed use building and the Kiewit HQ will make for a nice row of mid rise buildings.

[nativeomahan]

Only 3 stories and 35 units. Not much reason to vacate a street for that, IMO.

[ita]

Only 3 stories and 35 units. Not much reason to vacate a street for that, IMO.

It looks like they could have kept Burt between the apartment building and whatever Creighton is building on the north side.

[Louie]

That’s so lazy and selfish.

[Omahacritic]

I thought Sols was still a block or two South. But losing that big red building? Meh

Closing the section of Burt.... well, if they make it Pedestrian and Bike lanes i5 should turn out well.

In other news, Kiewit is up to fourth floor steel. Moving slowly.

[PWL73316]

Based on the site plan Burt will end permanently at 17th Street. Today it ends at 14th Street.

Honestly I think it's a fine trade. The hotel/Slowdown/stadium already took all the utility of Burt away.

Sols and Pettit's aren't impacted by the immediate plan at hand on the first page posted above but on the expanded site plan at the bottom they are replaced by offices and parking.

Also on the site plan - current Happy Bar building is retained. That will be very valuable real estate if everything goes according to plan.

[Omahacritic]

Will be a few years. The Hotel with Happy Bar currently stays but time will tell. But it’s an interesting old building. Facade has character and sitting on the corner would provide a good contrast for new structures that go up. Also noticed the 2 story buildings on Cass are planned to remain. One of them was for sale a few months back.

I would wish to own the hotel building.

[Uffda]

I can't read what it says about the street. It looks like the street will be retained

According to the plan, They must provide dedicated bike and pedestrian connectivity through this area.

[daveoma]

I can't read what it says about the street. It looks like the street will be retained

According to the plan, They must provide dedicated bike and pedestrian connectivity through this area.

Thank you Uffda.

I'm not necessarily opposed to closing Burt Street, but I'm not entirely sure why it's necessary for this project. Also, does the city benefit by closing sections of street, because the street maintenance no longer exists?

[ita]

Jay Noddle was on Grow Omaha and discussed this project with Jeff. His Group aims to have a couple new buildings under construction starting late Q3 2021. He gave some details. One building is a mixed used building with a little retail, office, residential, and a food hall built-in. The second structure would be primarily residential with a parking garage for the development, which will be in partnership with the City. Considering residential property in the units, I think he said that they plan to have 3 price points, but he may have been referring to something else.

[buildomaha]

I thought it was interesting that Jay mentioned a potential amenity/service that people in the "immediate area" would greatly approve of.

Potential grocery store???