Now that Devon Tower is topped out OKC is sure to be getting a lot of recognition around the country because of this gleaming new tower. By my lurking here it is obvious that Devon is simply the most visible of loads on great developments.

Omaha doesn't have anything Devonesque(that makes sense right?), but we are still churning out some really exciting projects right now.

SUBURBS

Werner Park

http://omahadriver.com/wp-content/uploads/Werner-Park-2.jpg

This is the first year at this new $36 million minor league specify ballpark. Attendance has been fantastic averaging just under 6,000 a game. Plus the Storm Chasers are poised for a post season berth for the first time since '99.

The biggest bummer about the ballpark is that it is smack in the middle of corn fields. There is a plan to change that though.

Pennant Place

http://www.360brokers.com/pennantplace/homemap_lg.jpg

This is a very long term project though. Probably 2020 until it starts to resemble the plan laid out.

Outlets at Southport

http://www.omaha.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=OW&Date=20110209&Category=NEWS2003&ArtNo=702099995&Ref=AR&Profile=1009465&maxw=490&maxh=275

A new $100+ million Cordish development. It includes a new outlet mall and 60,000sq ft entertainment destination.

Crossroads Mall redevelopment--"University Village"

It will convert a completely dead indoor mall into a mixed use area geared towards the college crowd.

http://necoyote.com/images/random/UVaC2.jpg

The plan includes 500 apartments on top of the old Dillard's building(I am really interested to see how that happens.) A new city library and transit center are included as well.

Some big time names have been floated. H&M, Apple, Trader Joe's, and REI.

LaVista's Golden Mile

LaVista(a Omaha suburb) is working on turning their main strip from big box stores into this amazing mixed use project. The future for suburbs in my opinion.

http://www.cityoflavista.org/images/pages/N704//SMALLER%20Final_Boards%20reduced%20size%5B1%5D_Pag e_1.jpg

TD Ameritrade Headquarters

And finally our current tallest U/C in Omaha.

http://i37.tinypic.com/1zcjwac.png

The 230 foot 12 floor building in west Omaha has topped out and will become the tallest building west of 52nd Street in Omaha.

URBAN

Northern Natural Gas Building

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/885/img7351la8.jpg

This 260 foot office building has sat empty for the past decade after First National Bank moved into their new tower. It will undergo a $30 million renovation to convert it into 180-200 high end apartments.

The Art Deco's

These rundown apartment buildings in midtown are undergoing a $10 million renovation. This long neglected area is about to take off for the city the 8 building complex should go from this...

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/269182_213881268650109_121767701194800_552916_3982 556_n.jpg

Back to their heyday 80 years ago.

http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/285152_231489546889281_121767701194800_608742_4634 447_n.jpg

Old Market Hyatt

http://necoyote.com/images/random/HP1.jpg

This 11 story hotel includes integrated parking and street level retail. It will be right in the middle of the "Old Market." The tallest buildings in the Old Market are about 6 floors so this building should have an amazing presence in the area.

Old Market Apartment Buildings

http://bradwilliamsphotography.com/non_web_upload/14TH_Leavenworth.jpg

Two apartment buildings will be built in the Old Market. One on a vacant lot and one will be where a car wash currently stands(yes Omaha had a car wash a block away from its major entertainment district :doh:).

Aksarben Village

A huge mixed use development that is about half way done and is being completed in phases.

BCBS opened a new 10 story building. HDR architecture moved into a new building there as well. The development includes a movie theater, restaurants, retail, offices, grocery store, apartments and coming soon condos.

The new park along with the project has hosted multiple music festivals this summer because of the flooding by the river.

UNO also finished 400 new dorm rooms right next to the development, providing a lot of foot traffic for the area.

North Downtown Zesto's

http://bradwilliamsphotography.com/non_web_upload/zestos.jpg

Zesto's, a CWS tradition, is building a new location directly across the street from TD Ameritrade Park. It is supposed to be ready for next years CWS. It looks like the fanciest ice cream shop that I have ever seen.

Riverfront Place

This photo is a little old, but I could find a good one of both of the towers completed.

http://steveadamsomaha.org/2010_Highlights/Pedestrian_Bridge/images/PA161020.JPG

The 2nd condo tower on the river is complete and residents are moving in.

TD Ameritrade Park

The place has been open for a while now, but it is our $131 million crown jewel right now.

http://omahadriver.com/wp-content/uploads/TD-Ameritrade-Park-11.jpg

http://architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/03_TD-Ameritrade-Park_ArchitectureLab.jpg

http://architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/06_TD-Ameritrade-Park_ArchitectureLab.jpg

http://architecturelab.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/09_TD-Ameritrade-Park_ArchitectureLab.jpg

Events

Omaha has a few big time events in the coming year as well.

2012 US Olympic Swim Trials at the CenturyLink Center.
CWS obviously.
2013 US Senior Open is being held at Omaha Country Club.
2013 US Figure Skating Championships.
Rumored Lady Gaga wedding at the CenturyLink Center, knock it if you want but I can only imagine the economic impact that could have for Omaha. Omaha would be the center of the entertainment world for the day.
Red Sky Music Festival. It is held at TD Ameritrade, this year was its first year and the headliners for the 5 day event were: 311, Journey, Kid Rock, Zac Brown Band, and Jason Alden. Not my style of music, but could prove to be a big event for Omaha in the coming years.

Transportation

We launched out new Bike Share program this summer.

A study is currently underway to investigate transportation options downtown and midtown(I predict that it will suggest streetcars and then the closed minded people will complain that "my tax money shouldn't be spent on something I'll never use!" yet they continue to want their 4 lane roads out to 204th street that I never use.

We also recently got Megabus service! If you schedule ahead early enough you can get a ticket for a buck. My round trip cost to Chicago and back in October is only $4 and the bus has free wifi. Awesome.

I was just in Omaha and was very impressed with what they have for a city of their size. It's a nice place.

Intersting stuff UrbanNebraska. Thanks for posting. I really like the suburban makeover into a town center, that is actually town center and not another shopping center that everyone has to drive to. Unfortunately, a lot of the other proposed stuff has way too much surface parking for my taste.

River / waterfront cities almost always have a leg-up when it comes to the urban core, as the water provides a natural focus and and tons of historical development. In addition, it provides natural recreation areas and nice frontage for modern development / redevelopment.

OKC has had to create it's own focus, and we are kind of all over the map, with tons of districts and initiatives. At least Bricktown and our CBD has seen a decent amount of concentrated effort but it would have been far easier to just start with a historic waterfront and build outward from there.

Credit to Omaha for what looks to be lots of quality development.

I agree Just the Facts. I wish I had more urban centric things to share, but the new construction downtown has slowed quite a bit, after a decade of a new arena, convention center, baseball stadium,600+ and 300+ footer and ~500 DT condos we were probably due for a lull. The suburbs are seeing their renewal in a way so I threw them in b/c technically they are the biggest projects in Omaha right now. There are a few exciting rumors about downtown Omaha, but it is looking like 2013 before the take root.

Pete you are spot on. The river is huge for Omaha it gave us a focus and a big starting point. Now there are condo towers, rowhouses, a large employer, a $22 million dollar pedestrian bridge and tons of trails on our river. It is one of the places to be now.

http://co.douglas.ne.us/omaha/mayor/images/wordpress/uploads/2010/04/ped-bridge-photo1.jpg

I really like Bricktown in OKC it is one of my favorite "districts" that I have ever been too. I hope our North Downtown can take a few tips from OKC when developing our next project area. Right now the only thing close to the new stadium is a handful of decent street fronting hotels and one developed block. The rest is surface parking, ugh.

LOVE that bridge! And the waterfront in general looks very nice.

Hello from Omaha!

We got some big big news the other day. Introducing our new $178 million mixed use development downtown across the street from our arena and convention center! It will go where a current surface lot is. I am really excited.

http://www.leoadaly-omaha.com/images/stories/PostImage/2011-10-28_MECA/view6_1018_sm.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/TQHpg.jpg

http://www.leoadaly-omaha.com/images/stories/PostImage/2011-10-28_MECA/view5_1018_sm.jpg

http://www.leoadaly-omaha.com/images/stories/PostImage/2011-10-28_MECA/view7_1018_sm.jpg

http://bradwilliamsphotography.com/non_web_upload/SHAMROCK.jpg

Some of the #s.

350 room 14 floor Marriott Hotel. This will give us 950 hotel rooms directly across the street from the convention center. That will be huge for attracting conventions.

280 apartments.

140,000 sq feet of office space.

61,300 sq feet of retail space.

To be completed by December 2014.

When o when will Oklahoma City ever get something like that? :-(

That's beautiful! I'm happy for Omaha to be getting such a wonderful development. I wish someone here would try and pull off something like that.

When o when will Oklahoma City ever get something like that? :-(

Hopefully soon!


That's beautiful! I'm happy for Omaha to be getting such a wonderful development. I wish someone here would try and pull off something like that.


The development company doing this has their offices less than a block from this project. It just goes to show a developer investing in their own city and area of downtown. I am confident OKC would support something like this, there just has to be someone willing to take the leap.

A nice update of our first true suburban skyscraper.

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/299123_10100213311229551_17000870_46220482_1164902 327_n.jpg

The 230 foot tower has a great presence in an area littered with 4-6 floor offices.

Merry Christmas!

Here is a project that totally slipped my mind just south of downtown in the "Little Italy" neighborhood.

CO2 on 10th. LEED certified 9 unit apartment building.

http://co2omaha.com/images/stories/marqueeRender.jpg

http://co2omaha.com/images/stories/perspective_street_north-9-292.jpg

http://necoyote.com/images/random1/DIC1.jpg

Very nice!! its been 20 years since i have been there and it was sooo boring, Looks like things have changed

Yet ANOTHER streetcar study for Omaha. This one promises to be the end all be all for the city and includes a VAST portion of the city.

http://www.omaha.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=OW&Date=20120127&Category=NEWS01&ArtNo=701279876&Ref=AR&maxw=490&maxh=275

http://www.omaha.com/article/20120127/NEWS01/701279876


After more than a decade of dreaming about streetcars, Omaha is beginning what promises to be the definitive study on the idea.
If the streetcar concept is meant to move toward reality, it will have to prove worthwhile in an 18-month analysis of mass transit options for the developing area from downtown to the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
The study also will add a new twist to the idea, looking at the possibility of extending a route to the main and south campuses of the University of Nebraska at Omaha, Aksarben Village and a redeveloped Crossroads Mall.

I hope this map works for you guys. I just push pined every location mentioned by name in the article to show you how extensive the study area is. This would be no starter line if it included all of these locations: Baseball Stadium, Convention Center and Arena, Old Market, CBD, 5 Fortune 500 companies, Nebraska Medical Center, 4 separate large scale mixed use sites, 2 DI Universities with 22,500 between the two and the tens of thousands living in the area already.
http://binged.it/xeJIlk

We are pushing 20 years talking about streetcars in Omaha. This study is taking 18 months, but at least we are still actively pursuing the issue.

Zoom out once on that map to see all locations if it works.

Looking good! Thanks for the updates.

Going over a few of the comments it seems that the people of Omaha don't want a streetcar. I'm not trying to bash them but could someone explain to me why they don't as I am clueless about the situation.

Going over a few of the comments it seems that the people of Omaha don't want a streetcar. I'm not trying to bash them but could someone explain to me why they don't as I am clueless about the situation.

Haha yeah we have a rather combustible political climate in Omaha. Those comments about streetcars don't hold a candle to what people said about the new baseball stadium and especially our convention center and arena when they were being proposed.

Every mayor since the 80s has faced a recall attempt. It is seriously moronic.

My reasoning behind it is that Omaha is getting more and more liberal by the day. We have had democratic mayors for over a decade now, which is new. Also since Nebraska is one of two states that gives their electoral votes by district results instead of the whole state in the '08 election Obama got 1 additional electoral college vote from our district while the states other 4 votes went to McCain. A pretty historic outcome in my opinion.


Obama campaign manager David Plouffe later acknowledging that single electoral vote from Nebraska had been "my personal favorite target,"

The older more conservative generation that lives mostly in the suburbs can feel the tide shift in the city and is fighting tooth and nail to keep a hold on a long time conservative city.

Glad to see that we have a new Omaha thread on here, definitely some great development going on up there.

Especially intrigued by that large NoDo project, in the Qwest Center parking lot. Reminds me of the old "Bricktown Village" plan in the Coca Cola Events Center parking lot. Or what Fred Hall wanted to do with the convention center site...

Glad to see that we have a new Omaha thread on here, definitely some great development going on up there.

Especially intrigued by that large NoDo project, in the Qwest Center parking lot. Reminds me of the old "Bricktown Village" plan in the Coca Cola Events Center parking lot. Or what Fred Hall wanted to do with the convention center site...

It will technically be located in the newly dubbed "Capitol District." The decided I-480 was too much of a barrier to include it in the North Downtown neighborhood. It will be located on this parking lot.
http://capitoldistrictomaha.com/blog/wp-content/gallery/capitol-district/dsc03813.jpg

Pretty much can't get a better improvement.

I think I have a private love affair with the city of Omaha and Oklahoma City. Very nice developments to attract the city even more.

I've watched Omaha grow up over the past 25 years or so. Old Market was developed and really hopping before Oklahoma City had Bricktown. As much as I like Bricktown, I actually like the Old Market better because, to me, it simply has more charm. How is Old Market doing these days?

Those twin condo towers are nice. What's the price range?

The new development looks great! We're envious of that as we gave away a prime spot for something like it to a.....convention center. Oh boy.

Thanks for all the updates and pictures.

Omaha and Des Moines are two places I really enjoy visiting. Again, it's Pete's "river" thing; much older, historic and Des Moines just has that urban vibe. Two great cities.

The Old Market is as popular as ever!

http://pics4.city-data.com/cpicc/cfiles856.jpg
http://www.trinisoldmarket.com/passageway1.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9f/Omaha,_NE_Old_Market_2010.jpg

The two riverfront condo towers range from 250K to 1.4 million. First one is filled and the 2nd is over half sold I know. Honestly I isn't a tough sell considering the view...

http://farm8.static.flickr.com/7144/6695858377_4a984f87af.jpg
http://farm8.static.flickr.com/7143/6695860507_afbce56831.jpg
http://farm8.static.flickr.com/7017/6695858679_94c471b928.jpg

Old Market has far more retail than Bricktown. That's the biggest difference, to me. If a city the size of Omaha can support downtown retail then we surely should. But you have to have enough starting at once to make it a destination. That's why the odd retail store in Bricktown doesn't survive.
Most people don't go there to shop.

OKC can do whatever we put itself to, like getting an NBA franchise, or a new skyline, etc. In the 90s and early 2000s, Bricktown was our modus operandii and now it's simply fallen off and isn't even a top priority anymore. I also firmly believe that the low standard for new developments on the BUDC not only confirms the low priority status but also holds the district back tremendously. I highly doubt that you'd have "developers" like Chris Johnson in the Old Market.

Then again, I don't know that the Old Market is still Omaha's priority with downtown. Something makes me think that NoDo or as Urban Nebraska says it's now called, "Capitol District," is the priority now. I remember after the Qwest Center opened and then soon followed retail along the likes of Urban Outfitters, and I haven't even mentioned Mutual of Omaha's Midtown Village development, which is just a mixed-use masterpiece for lack of a better phrase.

OKC has the Dallas syndrome where downtown is great for elite things. Our downtown is chock-full of elite things, and there's almost even an aversion to letting normal things (like retail) cultivate downtown. That's almost how it comes off (maliciously preventing real mixed-use development) when you do things like gobble up the absolute best real estate, that certain major players already announced plans to develop, for a freaking convention center. So we are literally saying that we would prefer to have a convention center rather than destination retail and other mixed-use, and I just have to think that our Yankee brothers up north are way too smart to fall into that self-destructive trap.

It will technically be located in the newly dubbed "Capitol District." The decided I-480 was too much of a barrier to include it in the North Downtown neighborhood. It will be located on this parking lot.
http://capitoldistrictomaha.com/blog/wp-content/gallery/capitol-district/dsc03813.jpg

Pretty much can't get a better improvement.

That's funny. I remember arguing with people on eOmaha like years ago that the 480 bridge was an impediment, which I saw as similar to the Crosstown viaduct here in OKC that we're now removing because locals started to buy a new version of history with the highway "cutting off" downtown, etc. Sounds like the narrative has now taken root in Omaha, so I wonder if your state's department of transportation will also get you on the hook for a $800 million interstate relocation project...

"Don't do it!!" bwahaha..

If we spend $800 million on another transportation project it had better be spent on mass transit! Considering there are $1.5 Billion in Interstate "upgrades" u/c in the Omaha/Lincoln area right now I would dread seeing another large chunk sent to the interstate system.

On your other point I really think Omaha has done a great job of not concentrating too much on one area and letting others suffer. The Old Market is stronger than ever. 2 apartment buildings are u/c in the OM right now with a 11 floor hotel and 2 more apartment buildings announced. The Old Market is the most truly urban environment in the city, I think our leaders realize the values of that.

If anything Omaha is letting our newer districts like NoDo suffer. The city council went limp wrist 2 years ago and approved a freaking privately owned parking log go directly across the street from the Urban Outfitters development. :icon_evil. It sucks the life out of the current urban developments.

Some North Downtown updates.

For anyone familiar with the CWS and the Zesto's tradition they will be glad to know Zesto's is currently building a new location by the baseball stadium. It will have Zesto's and a year round "Lids" location on the bottom and an open air party deck on the 2nd floor. No apartment is a bummer, but it is on a pretty small piece of land.

http://bradwilliamsphotography.com/non_web_upload/zestos.jpg
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f57/nebport5/78a0f238.jpg

318 North End was also announced recently. It will be a brewery, retail, office space and apartments. A pretty large building will be rehabbed.

Here is the current state of the building.
http://www.cbre.us/o/Omaha/AssetLibrary/RealPhotos_Rotating.gif

Here are the renderings.
http://www.cbre.us/o/Omaha/AssetLibrary/RenderingsSlideShow_760_2.gif

Art Deco renovations. Some of our oldest are being put to new uses.

This one is Hotel Deco which opened last summer.
http://i2.bookcdn.com/data/Photos/LargePhoto2/106/10649/10649048/Redick-Plaza-Hotel-Omaha-photos-Hotel-Hotel-Deco.JPEG

The Barker Building here will be 48 apartments and first floor retail.
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y195/pkiphd/Downtown/DowntownDec/DT12-40.jpg

This is the Old Federal Building that will see a $23 million renovation to become a Residence Inn.
http://douglasne.mapping-online.com/assessdoc/Photos/23/R03104400000001896.JPG

That's funny. I remember arguing with people on eOmaha like years ago that the 480 bridge was an impediment, which I saw as similar to the Crosstown viaduct here in OKC that we're now removing because locals started to buy a new version of history with the highway "cutting off" downtown, etc. Sounds like the narrative has now taken root in Omaha, so I wonder if your state's department of transportation will also get you on the hook for a $800 million interstate relocation project...

"Don't do it!!" bwahaha..

From the recent construction of the roads it looks like they would be more in favor of a $800 million renovation & widening of the current dispersal loop

I love this thread! Keep them coming UrbanNebraska! Seeing what other cities are doing helps put our developments in perspective. I think we should have a thread for all other city developments. It will helps us learn what is new, what's working, what has failed, why it failed, and how our developments can be improved.

Nice updates, UrbanNebraska, I second lasomeday. I would be particularly interested in hearing about development controversies in Omaha. What about the streetcar system that Omaha is planning?

This is a long post, you've been warned.

Streetcars have a long history in Omaha. We actually had a very inclusive network of streetcar lines up until March 1955. It covered a 10 mile stretch north and south and a 10 mile stretch east and west. The were all privately owned and made a profit. Then the Chrysler Company bought out all the lines and closed them to create demand for their personal vehicles and busses. A big bummer to think how different Omaha could have looked if our city leaders back then could of seen the benefit of streetcars.

Anyways the past is past. Today there is a lot of support from city leaders and the corporations for streetcars in Omaha, but the city is very divided on the issue. The city is set up in a very East vs. West rivalry of sorts. 72nd street is the "border" between the east/west, dense/suburban, and liberal/conservative parts of the city. It really is crazy I have never seen anything like it in other cities so distinctly. That creates a very strong anti streetcar group among those living in West O. The say they will be paying for something that they wont see the benefit from, pretty short sighted IMO.

Even with the rift the city leaders understand the need. We are in the middle of our 6th study over the past 10 years and it is the most inclusive one yet. At first the city wanted to create a line that ran from the airport to the zoo. It would of passed by the baseball stadium, convention center/arena and Old Market. The study suggested implementing the line, but that is a rather low density corridor tons of destinations, but not enough permanent residents along the line so the city decided to pursue other options.

Then came the midtown/downtown route which in my opinion would be the very best route possible. It would pass by all 5 of our Fortune 500s, Midtown Crossing, The Nebraska Medical Center, the CBD, the Old Market and 10s of thousands of midtown/downtown residents. Win win for everyone.

And finally now they are studying the largest area yet. This one is huge and would be a game changer. The study has been funded half by the city and half by Mutual of Omaha, Conagra, OPPD and Metro Transit a lot of major players in the city. This is studying adding connections to a $250 million dollar mixed use set to begin construction this fall, University of Nebraska-Omaha, and Aksarben Village(a work in progress mixed use project). This study will finish next summer.

Basically we are still a ways away and it simply wont happen without federal funding. The ambition and the people donating large sums of money for the studies are the most interesting parts. There is enough corporate and resident support for it to be a success. It all comes down to us being able to convince the Fed to invest in a Metro under a million people.

And there is public support. This piece of public art commemorating the history of the streetcar in Omaha shows that. This was built entirely by private donations at what used to be the terminus of the old streetcar lines.
1136

That's unfortunate if it won't happen without federal funding, but that is something that you guys are obviously in better position than we are to receive.

Do you guys have a City Hall that likes to bury unfriendly projects in a million studies? Our City Hall is famous for that, and we call it "daze and confuse," which a project being on its 6th study would certainly qualify. One example would be this railroad quiet zone for downtown that the city just isn't keen on, despite pressure from developers, so it's now on its 3rd or 4th study in just a decade.

If I were you guys, I would take a study (no matter how much is being spent on it) as a bad sign, rather than as a sign of progress, but perhaps you guys work differently and actually conduct studies in good faith.

I am tired of studies. I really want them to make a decision and stop dragging us along, but this study by all accounts is different.

I have been told you cannot even apply for federal funds without this study so it has to be done if the city ever wants streetcars, even if it doesn't happen right away.

And the even bigger thing for me is that this is the first study the city isn't paying for on it's own. The city is actually paying less than half after the donations from Mutual of Omaha, Nebraska Medical Center and private donations covering the difference.

Some of the biggest players in the city obviously want it, that is what makes this study stand out to me at least.

Ah, so this is the alternatives analysis process.

Ah, so this is the alternatives analysis process.

Yeah, 18 months long and it is easily 3 times the size of the older studies.

Here is more or less the study area. http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=201367159098822499158.0004bc6ab81ecebb50dc 8&msa=0&ll=41.254968,-95.957336&spn=0.032457,0.077333

I'm really digging this thread. My husband is stationed up at Offut so I've been spending 5-10 days a month up there. Omaha is a really nice city, clean, and the people are friendly. The Old Market area is what Bricktown should be. We are really looking forward to the CWS, one of the reasons he put Offut on his list!

Yeah, 18 months long and it is easily 3 times the size of the older studies.

Here is more or less the study area. http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=201367159098822499158.0004bc6ab81ecebb50dc 8&msa=0&ll=41.254968,-95.957336&spn=0.032457,0.077333

Omaha is so linear, with such a well-defined singular corridor heading west, that it makes a streetcar route almost a no-brainer..just put it down Dodge. Which actually probably has tons of TOD potential especially east of UNO/Dundee.

Omaha is so linear, with such a well-defined singular corridor heading west, that it makes a streetcar route almost a no-brainer..just put it down Dodge. Which actually probably has tons of TOD potential especially east of UNO/Dundee.

The middle lane of Dodge also changes right of way depending on time of day. Carries eastbound traffic in the morning toward downtown and westbound in the afternoon.

That makes a really easy solution. Take one lane away have two of traffic each way with a dedicated lane for transit, whether it be streetcar or rapid bus transit. Makes too much sense for me.

The middle lane of Dodge also changes right of way depending on time of day. Carries eastbound traffic in the morning toward downtown and westbound in the afternoon.

That makes a really easy solution. Take one lane away have two of traffic each way with a dedicated lane for transit, whether it be streetcar or rapid bus transit. Makes too much sense for me.

That's why it more than likely won't happen.

Old Market development.

The Old Market has been almost exclusively renovating older buildings up until the past few years and now especially. Now that all buildings have been redone the demand is there for new spaces, exciting stuff happening because of it.

Completed condo project. jLofts located adjacent, but not "technically" in the Old Market.
http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6135/5926704150_490c47e65d_z.jpg

Currently u/c Apartment building. A small 1 floor building holding a Maggie Moo's and Little King(a local sandwich chain) was torn down to build this 3 floor with those two tenants returning and another unnamed restaurant taking the ground floor. 12 apartments above.

Before
http://necoyote.com/images/random1/HOW2.jpg

After
http://i.imgur.com/d3zvZl.jpg

And the biggest most exciting Old Market project. 159 room Hyatt Place Omaha. It will be the cities first Hyatt Place and will do wonders for the viability of the Old Market.

The ugly current lot.
http://necoyote.com/images/random1/JAX1.jpg

The future finished product. It will have an amazing presence in the area.
http://globalfinance.zenfs.com/images/US_AFTP_BUSINESSWIRE_LIVE/ViewMedia_312274_original.jpg

How long has serious redevelopment been going on in The Old Market? Because if it is less than 20 years and practically all the existing buildings have been renovated, as you say, then that is so much more impressive than the fact that Bricktown HASN'T had all of its buildings renovated in the same time period.

How long has serious redevelopment been going on in The Old Market? Because if it is less than 20 years and practically all the existing buildings have been renovated, as you say, then that is so much more impressive than the fact that Bricktown HASN'T had all of its buildings renovated in the same time period.

It is generally accepted that ~1990 was the "rebirth" of the Old Market. That is right when 1200 Landmark Center as well as ConAgra relocated to Omaha from St. Louis and opened up their riverfront campus across the street from the OM. The retail and dinning pretty much has been there from day one, longer in some cases. The residential aspect didn't really start happening until the late '90s.

So a little more than 20 years to reach "critical mass" inside the OM. Finally seeing it pushing it's boundaries.

The Old Market also fostered the "Rows at Soma" 100 unit condo project that started in '05 and just finished it's last unit this winter.
http://www.mckinnisroofing.com/wp-content/uploads/image/metalroofs.jpg
100 of those metal "mohawks" are directly adjacent to the south of the Old Market.

The middle lane of Dodge also changes right of way depending on time of day. Carries eastbound traffic in the morning toward downtown and westbound in the afternoon.

That makes a really easy solution. Take one lane away have two of traffic each way with a dedicated lane for transit, whether it be streetcar or rapid bus transit. Makes too much sense for me.

You'll only need a dedicated ROW if you go with LRT. It you do streetcar, it CAN share a lane. The only problem then is if it's a single track that has to carry two-way traffic, but that's unlikely to begin with. It will be very difficult to run a significant system on a single track. Also, the exterior lanes are by far the safest, usually--unless you have a large transit plaza in the center median a la St. Charles Streetcar, NOLA.

(We've been down in the nitty gritty details in our civic streetcar forums, but this is specifically the kind of issues that the AA process is for)

Also...

http://www.mckinnisroofing.com/wp-content/uploads/image/metalroofs.jpg


I do declare this your city's best view. I'm not even sure OKC or Dallas have a vantage point that is as great as this. I just wish the camera pane could have been moseyed over just a tad to the right...

Here's the OKC equivalent of this view (I normally equate Old Market to Bricktown), too bad Will is in the way... grr
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KyACqzXuIO4/TxtzayNqM6I/AAAAAAAABHU/ejv7HjkiXY4/s1600/wilh.jpg

I will just link this one. It's the best shot of Omaha I have probably ever seen. A guy from the Omaha forum took it so I wont sprawl it out here.

http://dshawnphotography.com/images/Panorama_1copy.jpg

This is really making me envious of the power of organic growth. Omaha seems to be developing very organically, not just throwing down billions on this street corner, billion here, few more billion on this block...paying attention to detail, not just throwing wads of cash and hoping urban problems go away.

This is really making me envious of the power of organic growth. Omaha seems to be developing very organically, not just throwing down billions on this street corner, billion here, few more billion on this block...paying attention to detail, not just throwing wads of cash and hoping urban problems go away.

It isn't quite fair for me to only show the very best we have to offer. North downtown is beginning to worry me on how it will turn out. Behind our "best" urban development in the area there is a rather large parking area, with an entire paved lot across the street as well. "The Yard" yes they named their for profit parking lot :icon_evil.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2091/5708509536_d8a390ef98.jpg

This one shows just how much work there is to do in this part of town.
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/268034_10150237909804851_82568339850_7301110_28182 8_n.jpg

Although the entire area north of I-480 was a scrap yard in 2001 all of that is no more than 10 years old.
http://www.ironworkers21.org/UserFiles/Image/FirstNational.jpg

Well regardless, you guys don't have an oil boom that is financing an unplannab-ly (new word) huge explosion of downtown development. Those types of people are impossible to deal with, especially compared to the very reasonable leaders of Omaha (ie., Buffett).

Less than a month out from a really important business week for Omaha. Two unrelated annual events are scheduled for early May.

The first is the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholder's Meeting. Thousands of very wealthy people pack the arena for the event. It also brings in a ton of economic activity for the city in a single weekend. The fun thing people always like to say is for that weekend it is cheeper to fly from NYC to Paris than from NYC to Omaha.

Here is the meeting last year. Not your average meeting space.
http://s3.amazonaws.com/spnproduction/photos/000/000/419/419_0cfc4cf79d_full.jpg?1272568390

The next much smaller yet IMO nearly equally important event is the following weekend. "Big Omaha" hosted by Silicon Prairie News is the much respected tech and entrepreneur conference held in the Old Market. One of my favorite events in Omaha every year. http://www.bigomaha.com/

Some pub after last year's conference. http://thenextweb.com/media/2011/05/14/big-omaha-the-most-important-conference-youve-never-attended/


I’m well aware that the claim of “most important conference” is a big one. If I didn’t feel that was true, though, I’d have never said it. Big Omaha is, in a few words, what would happen if TED were in the business of technology conferences. Big thoughts, huge calls to action and absolutely zero crap. In a world of bubble rumors, huge egos and even bigger failures, Omaha, Nebraska holds the conference that is the antithesis to all of these things.

And what one of last year's speaker's had to say.
http://cdn.thenextweb.com/files/2011/05/Screen-shot-2011-05-13-at-5.01.59-PM-520x326.png

And the promo video.
http://vimeo.com/37327105

Who needs the NBA when you can have the Lingerie Football League :wink:

http://www.wowt.com/sports/headlines/Lingerie_Football_League_Coming_to_Omaha_148179845 .html


Omaha marks the first venture of the Las Vegas-based LFL into the 'Heartland of America' with previous expansion markets being awarded in major media markets primarily located on both coasts.

"Omaha is perhaps the most under-rated sports market in the country. The fanaticism around the support of local teams coupled with an incredible state-of-the-art facility, made for a compelling story to bring LFL Football to Football Town USA", said Mitchell S. Mortaza, Founder & Chairman, Lingerie Football League, LLC.

The league is expected to name at least one more 2013 expansion market in advance of the league's shift in its regular season schedule from a fall/winter format to a spring/summer schedule.

Omaha will host an LFL Football Combine in early May to allow prospective athletes the opportunity to 'lace 'em up' and compete for the coveted Lingerie Bowl Title. A date for the open tryout is expected to be announced in the coming days. The league is currently in the process of interviewing coaching candidates and has not indicated a timetable for a hiring decision.

This is just one of the funniest news I have heard in a while.

Less than a month out from a really important business week for Omaha. Two unrelated annual events are scheduled for early May.

The first is the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholder's Meeting. Thousands of very wealthy people pack the arena for the event. It also brings in a ton of economic activity for the city in a single weekend. The fun thing people always like to say is for that weekend it is cheeper to fly from NYC to Paris than from NYC to Omaha.
]

lots of normal people go to the BH shareholders meeting ... because lots of normal people own stock

Berkshire Hathaway stock?

I didn't mean to insinuate all 20K people in the arena and the 40K total in the city were all immensely wealthy. Although your average investor isn't making this trip every year.

Just a huge weekend for the city. Every hotel room booked out to the suburbs, the business world has their eyes on Omaha for a few days, lots of people feel driven to spend that weekend.

Berkshire Hathaway stock?

yes .. 80.40 a share .. BRK-b .. stock

yes .. 80.40 a share .. BRK-b .. stock

Right, but then those are hardly your shareholder's convention attendees. Look, I think it's stupid for the 1/99 argument to rear its head here, but it is what it is.

By the way, I just saw this, which is VERY cool. UN, what is this website?
http://www.omahabydesign.org/

By the way, I just saw this, which is VERY cool. UN, what is this website?
http://www.omahabydesign.org/

Omaha by Design is a group set up a decade ago to promote smart growth for the city. Their first 5 years of existence was a series of studies, consultations, meetings and neighborhood association input. They drafted a set of design standards over that time and reported to the city which accepted their report and made the standards law throughout the entire city in 2007. They claimed Omaha to be the biggest city with these sweeping design standards in the country. I honestly don't know if it's true or not.

For instance sidewalks are mandatory in the city. Something I take for granted in Omaha, a lot of cities seem to struggle with this concept.
X amount of parking stalls demand a certain amount of landscaping. I don't know exact figures off the top of my head.
There are building material standards that must be met. Everything from a fast food restaurant, big box store, suburb development or urban development are bound by these equal standards.

Beyond the technical work they also work with neighborhood associations to revitalize neighborhoods. From as little as establishing community gardens to fundraising and lobbying the city for improved streetscapes in key districts across the city to master planning less established areas.

It really is enhancing the quality of life in Omaha. While I would love more skyscrapers and such I experience my city in the communities, not the clouds.

I spend a lot more time at my neighborhood's little vibrant corners than I do in the skyscraper or condo projects downtown. Although, I do love those projects and will continue to brag about them :cool:.

Omaha by Design is a group set up a decade ago to promote smart growth for the city.

...

X amount of parking stalls demand a certain amount of landscaping.

Surface parking lots should be discouraged everywhere and landscaping often restricts the free flow of pedestrian traffic because the developer usually rings their property in retention ponds, hedge rows, and flower beds that force pedestrians and bicyclist to use the same traffic patterns as automobiles. Just for fun, find a row of fast-food establishments and try to walk from one to the other. For even more action-packed fun let a 10 year old try it unassisted.

Surface parking lots should be discouraged everywhere and landscaping often restricts the free flow of pedestrian traffic because the developer usually rings their property in retention ponds, hedge rows, and flower beds that force pedestrians and bicyclist to use the same traffic patterns as automobiles. Just for fun, find a row of fast-food establishments and try to walk from one to the other. For even more action-packed fun let a 10 year old try it unassisted.

Surface lots simply aren't going to go away in the suburbs. I don't like it, but it is a fact I accept thats why I don't live in the suburbs :D. I am glad they just aren't allowed to throw out a big asphalt square with out a 2nd thought and the companies bottom barrel designs like they used to allow.

There are even large surface lots in uber liberal bike friendly Fort Collins. I was blown away at their efforts to minimize the ugly affect parking lots and signage often have on cities. Glad to see Omaha on that train of thought.

Also for example as I mentioned sidewalks are mandatory everywhere in the city so I could just take that over to the next fast food joint.