Steelhouse Omaha (12th & Dodge St) - Construction Thread

Bomaha89 · Post by **Bomaha89** » Thu Sep 12, 2019 4:49 am

Just heard about a potential 5,000 seat music venue on the OPAS parking lot that HDR was supposed to build on. With a parking garage as well I guess.

Apparently the right sized venue in between the others. (Shrug)

Trust me. I am as skeptical as I imagine all of you will be. This is beyond out of the blue.

Take it what you will. Regardless, it's a nice thought. I'm still beyond confused at the size of that venue squeezing it into that block.

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Steelhouse Omaha now has 2 threads:

STEELHOUSE OMAHA CONSTRUCTION THREAD:
viewtopic.php?t=20309

STEELHOUSE OMAHA EVENT THREAD
viewtopic.php?t=23681

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Yasss · Post by **Yasss** » Thu Sep 12, 2019 5:41 pm

Omaha Performing Arts is building something there. Or so I hear.

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Thu Sep 12, 2019 6:18 pm

Well, I could see OPAS being involved in a music venue, that's for sure.

ita · Post by **ita** » Thu Sep 12, 2019 7:11 pm

Per the most recent OWH report on their objectives with the block, it could be anything. We won't know for sure until OPA secures funding. Another music venue seems like an odd move (as a metro, we seem to be experiencing a boom in entertainment/music venues), but maybe there is demand? The article mentioned expanded educational space and garage as a use for the block. I would really like them to see them incorporate different uses for this block; ie. residential or office, including whatever they need for their organization.

Omahacritic · Post by **Omahacritic** » Fri Sep 13, 2019 2:51 am

I was catching up on the old controversy about the three old buildings that were part of the original HDR plan. With that, OPAS was building concert space immediately east of current building. It’s a pretty big grassy area right now.

Is there a market for 5000 seat auditorium?

I’m thinking OPA are pigs. They want to make money off of parking 24/7. Need more study on it.

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Thu Sep 19, 2019 6:28 pm

Not sure about the need for it, but if there is a need for such an entertainment venue downtown would be the logical place to put it. Lots of places to eat and drink within walking distance.

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Thu Sep 19, 2019 11:52 pm

Omahacritic wrote: Fri Sep 13, 2019 2:51 am I was catching up on the old controversy about the three old buildings that were part of the original HDR plan. With that, OPAS was building concert space immediately east of current building. It’s a pretty big grassy area right now.

Is there a market for 5000 seat auditorium?

I’m thinking OPA are pigs. They want to make money off of parking 24/7. Need more study on it.

I don’t think OPA are pigs.

I know it.

daveoma · Post by **daveoma** » Sat Sep 21, 2019 7:46 am

Omahacritic wrote: Fri Sep 13, 2019 2:51 am I was catching up on the old controversy about the three old buildings that were part of the original HDR plan. With that, OPAS was building concert space immediately east of current building. It’s a pretty big grassy area right now.

Is there a market for 5000 seat auditorium?

I’m thinking OPA are pigs. They want to make money off of parking 24/7. Need more study on it.

I think you bring up a good point. The Ralston arena is just shy of 5,000 seats and the Baxter and Mid-America center are both around 7,000 seats. It seems to me that the market is saturated with arenas. I really hope they actually build a new theater that has a capacity of 5,000.

Greg S · Post by **Greg S** » Wed Nov 06, 2019 8:52 pm

Wow:

https://www.omaha.com/entertainment/mus ... 1e824.html

skinzfan23 · Post by **skinzfan23** » Wed Nov 06, 2019 8:56 pm

Here are the renderings from the World Herald: (it will be great to finally see that vacant lot filled)

Omaha Performing Arts announced plans to build a $109 million music venue with performance and education spaces in downtown Omaha.

The venue will be located between Dodge Street and Capitol Avenue and 11th and 12th Streets.

Fundraising is underway for the facility, which is planned to open in 2023.

The new downtown venue has a planned capacity for a standing audience of 1,500 to 3,000. It will be designed by Ennead Architects and Holland Basham Architects.

After fundraising is complete, construction is planned to commence in 2020.

Doctor Fate · Post by **Doctor Fate** » Wed Nov 06, 2019 9:03 pm

Wow, could be a nice addition to that area. This is the lot that HDR's downtown HQ was supposed to be on, right?

MadMartin8 · Post by **MadMartin8** » Wed Nov 06, 2019 9:13 pm

The concert competition amongst the area's venues is going to be even more interesting now.

skinzfan23 · Post by **skinzfan23** » Wed Nov 06, 2019 9:13 pm

Doctor Fate wrote: Wed Nov 06, 2019 9:03 pm Wow, could be a nice addition to that area. This is the lot that HDR's downtown HQ was supposed to be on, right?

Yes, same lot. Hard to tell if it will take the whole lot or not. I also wonder if the grassy area to the east of the Holland Center will stay there.

skinzfan23 · Post by **skinzfan23** » Wed Nov 06, 2019 9:14 pm

MadMartin8 wrote: Wed Nov 06, 2019 9:13 pm The concert competition amongst the area's venues is going to be even more interesting now.

Yeah, I believe that the venue on 84th St in LaVista is supposed to include an indoor venue seating around 2,500.

MadMartin8 · Post by **MadMartin8** » Wed Nov 06, 2019 9:18 pm

skinzfan23 wrote: Wed Nov 06, 2019 9:14 pm
MadMartin8 wrote: Wed Nov 06, 2019 9:13 pm The concert competition amongst the area's venues is going to be even more interesting now.
Yeah, I believe that the venue on 84th St in LaVista is supposed to include an indoor venue seating around 2,500.

Yikes, I had completely forgotten that one was coming as well.

Just seems like an interesting decision given the market. Glad it's all private funding.

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Wed Nov 06, 2019 9:19 pm

So much for all those complaints about parking with the HDR deal. /s

Looks like a great addition to downtown though. That venue size was definitely missing in the market and this shouldn't hurt the acts that Slowdown or Waiting Room land. It could stick a fork in Sokol and will be interesting to see how the venue in LaVista competes with OPA for acts.

Hope we get to see some more details soon, $109 million seems like a ton for a standing room venue only.

ita · Post by **ita** » Wed Nov 06, 2019 9:38 pm

I think this is the orientation of the exterior shot. https://goo.gl/maps/gYLX3X3v5bGivW6t7

It looks like it could take most if not all of that block. I know it probably a win for the music community and I am sure will be a boon to the capitol district, but I am hoping it does not take up the whole block.

ItsAllAboutMe · Post by **ItsAllAboutMe** » Wed Nov 06, 2019 9:56 pm

They surely will have a reasonably good size outdoor plaza to handle the crowds as they come and go so I would assume the project will take the entire block

ItsAllAboutMe · Post by **ItsAllAboutMe** » Wed Nov 06, 2019 9:57 pm

This is huge news for the restaurants located in the the Capital District

ita · Post by **ita** » Wed Nov 06, 2019 10:18 pm

ItsAllAboutMe wrote: Wed Nov 06, 2019 9:56 pm They surely will have a reasonably good size outdoor plaza to handle the crowds as they come and go so I would assume the project will take the entire block

Good point. I do like the exterior design and hope final design stays true to this initial concept. Based on my experience at the Holland, this should end up being a high end facility. I share the same worries some may have about our music venue options coming to a critical mass, but I am not in the industry, so I trust OPA knows what it's doing by building this project.

Cermak · Post by **Cermak** » Thu Nov 07, 2019 1:22 am

Looks good. Will help with density downtown, hope it gets built within a reasonable time frame. That’s the tough part.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Thu Nov 07, 2019 1:38 am

image.jpeg

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Thu Nov 07, 2019 1:39 am

image.jpeg

mistergutierrez · Post by **mistergutierrez** » Thu Nov 07, 2019 1:44 am

Another surface parking lot bites the dust!

Taco · Post by **Taco** » Thu Nov 07, 2019 2:02 am

Curious what the back/north side of the project will look like. Hopefully it is pedestrian friendly and not just a ton of driveways/loading docks. Bonus points if they were to have some street-level storefronts.

GenX · Post by **GenX** » Thu Nov 07, 2019 2:46 am

ita wrote: Wed Nov 06, 2019 9:38 pm I think this is the orientation of the exterior shot. https://goo.gl/maps/gYLX3X3v5bGivW6t7

It looks like it could take most if not all of that block. I know it probably a win for the music community and I am sure will be a boon to the capitol district, but I am hoping it does not take up the whole block.

After looking a little closer, the rendering shows the intersection of Dodge and 11th streets in the foreground (I previously thought it was parking). With that in mind, I’m pretty certain it will take up the entire block.

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Thu Nov 07, 2019 3:16 am

Doctor Fate wrote: Wed Nov 06, 2019 9:03 pm Wow, could be a nice addition to that area. This is the lot that HDR's downtown HQ was supposed to be on, right?

No, HDR was going to land on the block directly south of that.

GenX · Post by **GenX** » Thu Nov 07, 2019 4:11 am

Louie wrote: Thu Nov 07, 2019 3:16 am
Doctor Fate wrote: Wed Nov 06, 2019 9:03 pm Wow, could be a nice addition to that area. This is the lot that HDR's downtown HQ was supposed to be on, right?
No, HDR was going to land on the block directly south of that.

According to the article, it’s the same lot.

Omahacritic · Post by **Omahacritic** » Thu Nov 07, 2019 4:58 am

I’m curios about front entrance for the venue. Conceptual drawing places it along Dodge. But that is just for show.
Would city planners prefer something facing Capital? Then place stage doors along 12th st?

Or does Holland people want front of building to face the backsides of their other buildings?

GenX · Post by **GenX** » Thu Nov 07, 2019 5:10 am

Omahacritic wrote: Thu Nov 07, 2019 4:58 am I’m curios about front entrance for the venue. Conceptual drawing places it along Dodge. But that is just for show.
Would city planners prefer something facing Capital? Then place stage doors along 12th st?

Or does Holland people want front of building to face the backsides of their other buildings?

It looks like it was originally designed to sit next to Holland.

Bomaha · Post by **Bomaha** » Thu Nov 07, 2019 6:00 am

Might want to merge the two threads.

lisanstan · Post by **lisanstan** » Thu Nov 07, 2019 12:45 pm

EricHaley wrote: Thu Nov 07, 2019 5:10 am
Omahacritic wrote: Thu Nov 07, 2019 4:58 am I’m curios about front entrance for the venue. Conceptual drawing places it along Dodge. But that is just for show.
Would city planners prefer something facing Capital? Then place stage doors along 12th st?

Or does Holland people want front of building to face the backsides of their other buildings?
It looks like it was originally designed to sit next to Holland.

So, was this intended to go where the old buildings the city rejected the tear down for are located? I guess it "wasn't for the children" after all.

Linkin5 · Post by **Linkin5** » Thu Nov 07, 2019 1:07 pm

Can’t wait to see Zoey Loves Zeus there.

nativeomahan · Post by **nativeomahan** » Thu Nov 07, 2019 3:16 pm

Well, it’s a plus for downtown. But my interest in standing for an entire concert ended with the last Century.

tpaine · Post by **tpaine** » Thu Nov 07, 2019 3:53 pm

It needs a rooftop component. Think of the views of Omaha's skyline!

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Fri Nov 08, 2019 1:53 am

Excellent development for Downtown and as someone posted earlier, this will help create more foot traffic between the venue and Capitol District..

Another win for the downtown core

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Ciao..LiO...Peace

iamjacobm · Post by **iamjacobm** » Thu Apr 16, 2020 8:46 pm

Rezoning before the city council next week.

Louie · Post by **Louie** » Fri Apr 17, 2020 5:29 pm

iamjacobm wrote: Thu Apr 16, 2020 8:46 pm Rezoning before the city council next week.

Glad to see this momentum is still here.

Omahacritic · Post by **Omahacritic** » Thu Apr 30, 2020 4:27 am

Today OPPD took down lighting for the existing parking. The Parking Payment kiosks were also removed.

Perhaps bulldozers and fences to follow real soon.

skinzfan23 · Post by **skinzfan23** » Thu Apr 30, 2020 1:53 pm

Glad to see some progress.