The JCC

[Coyote]

I can't believe we don't have thread on the Jewish Community Center south of 132nd and Dodge. I grew up just north of here (as did Big E) and went there often mainly to play racquetball. Anyway, they have a $7m addition going in here.

[BRoss]

Any idea what they are adding? I belong to the gym there but have not been there in forever.

[Coyote]

Any idea what they are adding? I belong to the gym there but have not been there in forever.

It does not say...yet

[MTO]

I know a couple of those houses to the north have been acquired by the center. Although there’s a guy still living in one of them who turns 100 this year... Have no idea why or what they want with the lots though. My guess would be for private bris ceremonies.

[Coyote]

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[Coyote]

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[Coyote]

Kelly: Jewish Community Center in middle of $32 million renovation

The fitness center has all-new equipment, lighting and color design ($1.5 million). Replacing old tennis courts and a leaky outdoor pool is the Goldstein Family Aquatics Center ($5 million), which opened over Memorial Day weekend. Much more is to come, including a top-to-bottom renovation of the 330-seat theater.

So I'm guessing this project is for the theater renovations.

[Bob from Omaha]

In terms of full disclosure I am Jewish and was a part of the planning for the current JCC when I was in high school. It was really a huge jump from the old JCC downtown both in distance and size.

As for the houses just north of the current JCC, and bearing in mind that I've been gone for 10 years & haven't kept in touch with a lot of folks, I do remember that at one time there was hope that a house or more than one could be converted into group homes for the special needs population. I have no idea if that's still the idea.

I remember when it opened and the older adult lounge, now the library, faced the cemetery that fronts 132nd Street but isn't part of the JCC. An older gentleman mentioned that he felt that the JCC was trying to hint at something....

[bigredmed1]

In terms of full disclosure I am Jewish and was a part of the planning for the current JCC when I was in high school. It was really a huge jump from the old JCC downtown both in distance and size.

As for the houses just north of the current JCC, and bearing in mind that I've been gone for 10 years & haven't kept in touch with a lot of folks, I do remember that at one time there was hope that a house or more than one could be converted into group homes for the special needs population. I have no idea if that's still the idea.

I remember when it opened and the older adult lounge, now the library, faced the cemetery that fronts 132nd Street but isn't part of the JCC. An older gentleman mentioned that he felt that the JCC was trying to hint at something....

There was a move at buying the cemetery. That didn’t happen. Not sure that the families of the deceased,many of whom are still in town. There was some pushback at the early stages and it stopped.

[Ben]

Kelly: Jewish Community Center in middle of $32 million renovation

The fitness center has all-new equipment, lighting and color design ($1.5 million). Replacing old tennis courts and a leaky outdoor pool is the Goldstein Family Aquatics Center ($5 million), which opened over Memorial Day weekend. Much more is to come, including a top-to-bottom renovation of the 330-seat theater.

So I'm guessing this project is for the theater renovations.

I didn't read the article, but the discussion has always been that the outdoor pool was last year, and that the indoor pool/locker rooms were the next phase of the plan (over a summer, so the members always have a pool to use). The current indoor pool is a small kiddie pool and full size olympic, and they wanted to add on (where the old outdoor pool was) to allow for a full "fun" section with slides, splash pad, etc, similar to the design of the outdoor features added last year.

They were originally intending on starting the indoor phase shortly after opening the new outdoor pool last year, but I think high construction quotes (and maybe fundraising) pushed it to this year.

[Coyote]

History and Heritage:
Inside the new center on Omaha's Jewish community



Barry Zoob is a regular at the Jewish Community Center. But this day, he made a point to visit the new Milton Mendel and Marsha Kleinberg Jewish Omaha Heritage Center. "I didn't know how I would feel when I saw it when it opened," Zoob said. But it's spectacular." The exhibit is a tour of Jewish history including the contributions of Jewish people in fields like science, medicine, arts and more.

[OverlookedFarm]

i dont know about all the empty lots on 132nd, but one, i believe the northernmost, was a cat-pee hoarder house they condemned and leveled. when i was a teen i worked at the hyvee on dodge and the cat-pee owner came in on the regular. signature hair up in a harvest gold bath towel, bath robe and peppered with Eu-de-Garfield. the story was im the news at the time.

[Big E]

Coyote and I both grew up in neighborhood north of JCC though we didn’t know it til 15+ years ago on this forum.

AMA.

Pro tip: cat pee hoarder allegedly also prominent Omaha prostitute. (Or daughter of… been awhile. Forget things.)

[Louie]

Yall were raised in Heavenly?

[Big E]

Yall were raised in Heavenly?

The acres.