dicon/barker building story (dated 10-3-2005)

ItsAllAboutMe · Post by **ItsAllAboutMe** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 1:55 pm

http://www.omahadailyrecord.com/index.c ... d=41&pid=6

Swift · Post by **Swift** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 4:59 pm

Construction should begin within the next three months, and should take about 10 months to a year for completion, Arney said. Plans include creating 42 upscale condominum loft units that will feature open floor plans, which will range from 600 to 1,200 square feet. The ground floor will have about 7,000 square feet of commercial space for lease. The building’s lower level will feature individual storage space that will be available for rent. Indoor parking for unit owners will be provided via a skywalk in the adjacent hotel. Richard Sontgerath of Heritage Affordable Housing explained that he developed an interest in the Barker Building because of its "good location" and the opportunity for a quick turn around.

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 8:22 pm

Now wait a minute... I thought they decided to make these apartments rather than condos. Did they decide against it? I assume this suggests that the condo market is still booming.

http://www.eomaha.com/forum/viewtopic.p ... ght=barker

OmahaJaysCU · Post by **OmahaJaysCU** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 9:42 pm

Didn't they say they weren't going to add on the 3 stories on the Learner building too!?!?

eomaha · Post by **eomaha** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 9:51 pm

Unfortunately the World Herald story link in the other forum topic I posted above is no longer online. I believe that same article mentioned that the Lerner building project would -no longer- include additional floors.

Post by **Omaha Cowboy** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 12:39 am

From the Daily Record piece:

'The concept for the Omaha project is to redevelop the 8,000-square-foot Lerner Building into upscale retail space with plans for an additional three stories of new construction that would be added to provide space for 15 upscale condominiums. The existing lower level would be converted into parking spaces for condo owners. "It’s all concrete; it’s a nice building," said Maynard. "We just have to strip the skin off and it has good structure underneath."

But as Jeff Arney, sales director for Dicon, explained, these types of projects can take years to come to fruition. "Right now the Lerner Building is still a thought," he said. "We’d still like to do it, but if it takes off in the next year, I would be surprised'..

..Ciao..LiO....Peace

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 11:03 am

Yes, this makes me wonder, too.

This article is dated more recently, and it does mention that Barker will still be condos and that Lerner still has 3 additional floors planned.

I hope they did their research and it's true.

Can anyone confirm or deny?

OmahaChef · Post by **OmahaChef** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 7:03 pm

This concerns me somewhat. In the last two years, a number of apartment buildings in the downtown area have gone condo, actually reducing the number of available apartments. Not everyone can afford $250K and up condos. I'd love to see more apartments downtown.

StreetsOfOmaha · Post by **StreetsOfOmaha** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 7:58 pm

I agree. There needs to be more apartment conversions and new construction.

redfield · Post by **redfield** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 12:40 pm

The Barker building is not going condo. They are still planning on making it apartments.

the Lerner building is also not going condo. It is looking like they will not be adding any floors to the building and will instead just make retail space out of it.

This article(10/3/05) is based on old information, which is no longer accurate.