Four structures — all a century old and spanning a total of about 90,000 square feet — are about to go on the market, opening up for development what once was St. James Orphanage at 60th Street and Military Avenue.
The Archdiocese of Omaha is selling the property known today as the Sheehan Center for a price still to be determined, Deacon Tim McNeil said.
In November, offices and services offered at the campus will move to 111th and Blondo Streets.
Festersen said he hopes that talks with the archdiocese and area residents will create a new vision for the campus. “It is large and represents a new opportunity,” he said.
Pretty good chunk of land and some attractive buildings. Could be an opportunity for some apartments or a more robust mixed use development if someone wanted to be more bold.
These buildings are in amazing condition. The archdiocese just hosted the Restoration Exchange Omaha Neighborhood Tour Registration in St. Joseph Hall the furthest North building. Great stories from previous workers from the orphanage that stopped by for the tour.
At the minimum, these buildings should be preserved. We do not have enough remaining historic buildings to knock anymore down. I think it would be nice to add rowhouses or additional housing fronting 60th, but unfortunately the current spatial organization of the site isn't super conducive to adding many additional buildings.
Taco wrote: Mon Oct 14, 2019 10:54 am
At the minimum, these buildings should be preserved. We do not have enough remaining historic buildings to knock anymore down. I think it would be nice to add rowhouses or additional housing fronting 60th, but unfortunately the current spatial organization of the site isn't super conducive to adding many additional buildings.
That is a really good idea about the row houses on 60th. There is plenty of space in the Northeast corner; they could do something like the Courtyard on Park Ave. project. Anyway, I am interested to see how this develops and it really could be a nice mix of for sale townhouses with rental units in the existing buildings.
Taco wrote: Mon Oct 14, 2019 10:54 am
At the minimum, these buildings should be preserved. We do not have enough remaining historic buildings to knock anymore down. I think it would be nice to add rowhouses or additional housing fronting 60th, but unfortunately the current spatial organization of the site isn't super conducive to adding many additional buildings.
That is a really good idea about the row houses on 60th. There is plenty of space in the Northeast corner; they could do something like the Courtyard on Park Ave. project. Anyway, I am interested to see how this develops and it really could be a nice mix of for sale townhouses with rental units in the existing buildings.
I won't hold my breath. They are great looking buildings, which I didn't even know were there. But if you look how big the property is, along with how the buildings are situated, its hard to see how they would work into a plan, given recent development history.
I think they would stand a better chance if they were oriented differently.
Please, don't let them ruin these buildings! I need to get out of this quarantine we all are suffering under and get to see these structures before they destroy them. I had some 1st cousins that were inmates there in 1900 and I want to see the dormitories and the school rooms if I can. From the outside, they are impressive buildings from 1891. Does anyone know if anything has been done to them yet?
I was in St. James Orphanage in 1968. They still had a drawing of mine when I visited a few years back, gave me the name of the nun who took care of me and took me around for a tour...I could picture the rows of beds we slept on!
Nanlou wrote: Fri Oct 29, 2021 1:20 pm
I was in St. James Orphanage in 1968. They still had a drawing of mine when I visited a few years back, gave me the name of the nun who took care of me and took me around for a tour...I could picture the rows of beds we slept on!
Spileggi wrote: Thu Nov 21, 2024 4:45 pm
My grandmother was born in 1930 and adopted with her twin from this orphanage. Would love to see pictures of it.
