City-County Building Expansion?

OmahaMan25 · Post by **OmahaMan25** » Sat Oct 16, 2004 7:05 pm

Annex considered for City-County Building

BY TOM SHAW

WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

Omaha has grown tremendously over the past 30 years, but City Hall hasn't - leading to cramped offices for departments and agencies.

To give Omaha and Douglas County workers more space, the downtown City-County Building might get an addition.

Officials are considering a two-story, 14,000-square-foot annex on the south side of the building at 1819 Farnam St.

It could cost $2 million, paid for by tax money from a building fund, said Paul Cohen, administrator of the Public Building Commission.

"It's not a matter of anticipating growth, it's a matter of accommodating what's here," Cohen said.

The commission spent $14,000 on a proposed design by Schemmer Associates. Under the plan, two stories would be built on an elevated plaza, which covers the County Clerk's and Register of Deeds' Offices.

The plaza was to be a gathering place for downtown workers, but it is little-used.

The building commission will discuss the addition at a meeting today. Any plan would need the approval of the City Council.

Clare Duda, who sits on the commission, said he doubts that anything would be built right away because money is needed for other projects. He said the immediate need is to renovate the sixth floor of the County Courthouse for attorneys' offices.

The 12-story City-County Building was built in 1974.

After running out of space years ago, Omaha and Douglas County have put some agencies in nearby office buildings. Cohen said officials want to reduce the number of off-site locations and the rent payments that come with them.

Personally, I say build a new one, but with the current budget facing the city, I guess this is alright.

OhioStreetKid · Post by **OhioStreetKid** » Sat Oct 16, 2004 9:14 pm

I agree that I would like a new complex, the current one is so bland in its design. I realize the budget crunch is heavy, but a new building is really needed. This little hut that they are going to place on the patio is strange looking, and just barely fits their current needs. As the city grows, we will need some more space so I hope they are planning ahead.

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Sat Oct 16, 2004 9:31 pm

Sadly too... I believe this is the same plaza in which LivelyOmaha worked to replace ugly barricades with planters.

http://www.livelyomaha.com/whatsnew/Pla ... nters.html

OmahaMan25 · Post by **OmahaMan25** » Mon Oct 18, 2004 12:02 am

Wasn't refacing the City-County Building brought up in some preliminary talk of Omaha By Design?

DTO Luv · Post by **DTO Luv** » Wed Oct 20, 2004 5:47 pm

I would to see a new building as well for city hall. It shocks me that they arent anticaipating growth like they should but just wasting money on quick fix. A new building would be good for city moralle and image. Look at KC's or Tokyo city halls.

Post by **Brad** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 3:37 pm

3+ year thread revival

Douglas County pressed for space at old building

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2 ... d=10201947

A plan to move the Assessor's Office out of downtown Omaha triggered talk Tuesday of also heading west with the heart of Douglas County government - those offices where couples take out marriage licenses, homeowners pay property taxes and car owners pick up their annual tags.

Assessor Roger Morrissey recently was told that he and his staff have to leave the downtown City-County Building to make room for space-crunched public defenders. Morrissey has found an office near 114th Street and West Dodge Road that he says would meet his and the public's needs.

Big E · Post by **Big E** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 5:11 pm

The only way moving out of downtown should even be remotely considered is if there's a city-county merger in the works and waiting for the ink to dry. Even then, I would still (obviously) question moving the seat of government out of the downtown of the major metropolitan area.

-Big E

j4nu · Post by **j4nu** » Wed Dec 05, 2007 6:48 pm

Since the budget is obviously tight for the city/county government I know this is a long shot. But I would really prefer to see a new courthouse built, move all court functions out of the present building and turn it over to city/county administration. It is far more important to have one of the most beautiful architectural jewels of the city be for the city leadership and administration than the courts.

That being said, I would like to see them find a site near the present police station and jails to build the courthouse. Kind of a center for law and justice.

Ingersoll1978 · Post by **Ingersoll1978** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 4:57 am

Big E wrote:The only way moving out of downtown should even be remotely considered is if there's a city-county merger in the works and waiting for the ink to dry. Even then, I would still (obviously) question moving the seat of government out of the downtown of the major metropolitan area.

-Big E

I agree. Isn't most of Douglas County's offices downtown now? Any opposition to a movement west of major offices should be vocalized now.

mchine73 · Post by **mchine73** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 3:16 pm

What do you think the chances are that the city/county put there money where there mouth is and bring some jobs to areas like 24th and Lake or 30th and Ames? To me this makes sense for a number of reasons: 1)investments in struggling areas to bring a little sense of community security 2)bring people from outside the North O community to work and get business done & 3)I would contend the interstate system is more accessible in either case.

Definitely won't happen but would definitely allow the city the opportunity to bring well paying jobs in to depressed areas of the city instead of 114th & Dodge.

Uffda · Post by **Uffda** » Thu Dec 06, 2007 3:18 pm

bring some jobs to areas like 24th and Lake or 30th and Ames?

The only problem with that is they are looking for existing buildings to house the offices... a quick fix.

Post by **Brad** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 7:48 pm

Move pondered for four Douglas County offices

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2 ... d=10222307

A trip to the City-County Building in downtown Omaha can mean a couple hours off work for people on the western fringes of Douglas County. The parking situation near the building regularly provokes complaints. And soon, residents will face crosstown treks between the assessor and other elected officials.

It's enough to make at least some county commissioners think the time has come to consider a new home — likely outside downtown — for the offices of the treasurer, register of deeds, clerk and assessor.

These "consumer" offices — where people look up land records, pay taxes, apply for marriage licenses — might better serve the public in a more geographically centered area, said Commissioners Kyle Hutchings and Clare Duda.

No formal talks on a possible alternative to the City-County Building have begun. The issue came up only in recent weeks, when the assessor was asked to vacate the building to make room for an expanding criminal justice system.

The Assessor's Office will move to 114th Street and West Dodge Road. The Public Defender's and County Attorney's Offices then will have room to expand within the City-County Building and adjoining courthouse.