'The creation of a new neighborhood': Developers plan next steps for Builder's District

2022-08-02 04:59:37 By : Mr. bob lee

Kiewit Headquarters anchors the area in North Downtown

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Kiewit Headquarters anchors the area in North Downtown

The Kiewit Headquarters at 15th and Mike Fahey Streets kick-started a vision for the Builder's District in North Downtown.

"The idea was to create a neighborhood that their new corporate headquarters and teaching facility, Kiewit University, would anchor," said Jay Noddle, developer and President of Noddle Companies.

From the northwest side of the neighborhood at 17th and Cuming streets, you can see much of the area is still a blank slate.

Now Noddle is moving forward with the next phase and a plan to bring in apartments, office and retail space and an urban park.

"We're organized to the point where it's almost nine full city blocks. So that's a pretty good sized area, and it'll have its own momentum," Noddle said.

Omaha's Planning Board will vote on a proposal this month to construct an eco-friendly building made mostly from mass timber. Noddle said the design of the 1501 Mike Fahey building is more sustainable, and mass timber has a smaller carbon footprint than other materials like steel.

"So we think this is a little bit more responsible," Noddle said.

Located across from the Kiewit Headquarters, the 1501 Mike Fahey building will have space for offices, retail, and food concepts. Noddle said work should begin in late summer or early fall.

They're also planning to get started soon on the urban park, which will go in near 17th and Cuming.

Half of the park will be temporary — possibly a drive-in theater — with the space available for development later on. The other half of the park will be permanent, though.

"That's going to house the hard amenities," Noddle said of the permanent park, "Dog park, bike path for the city's bike program runs through that portion of the park. There'll be outdoor fitness areas, pickleball, and then there'll be a restaurant/bar in a kind of a greenhouse type setting that will be open 12 months a year."

Next year, Noddle anticipates work will begin on several residential projects.

"Another apartment building on the north side of Kiewit's garage, just on the south side of Cuming Street," Noddle said, "and then shortly thereafter, there are plans to renovate the Wareham building and build a new ground-up condominium building."

The whole plan would transform the area North of I-480. Noddle said they want to create something attractive for people planning to live in the urban core.

"This is the creation of a neighborhood within the core, a neighborhood that hasn't existed," Noddle said.

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