Hide Transcript Show Transcript

WEBVTT THEY ARE CALLING IT THE BUILDERS DISTRICT, A 12 BLOCK AREA BETWEEN TD AMERITRADE BALLPARK AND CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY. DEVELOPER JAY NODDLE SEES THE POTENTIAL. >> THE NEIGHBORHOOD CAN BE FANTASTIC. ITS PROXIMITY TO MECA, DOWNTOWN, AND THE AIRPORT. DAVID: THE AIRPORT ALREADY BRINGS MORE THAN 3,000 EMPLOYEES A YEAR TO THE NEW KIEWIT TRAINING FACILITY. NOW, ADD THAT FORTUNE 500 COMPANY’S GLOBAL HEADQUARTERS ALONG MIKE FAHEY STREET. BUT IT IS WHAT WILL RISE ON THE OTHER LOTS THAT HAS CITY LEADERS EVEN MORE EXCITED ABOUT THE PROSPECTS OF NORTH DOWNTOWN. >> THE PARTICULAR AREA HAS NOT ENJOYED THAT SAME AMOUNT OF REDEVELOPMENT. WE HOPE THIS WILL SPUR THAT ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT. DAVID: UNION PACIFIC, FIRST NATIONAL BANK AND CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY NOW HAVE DREAMS FOR THE AREA TOO. >> ANYTHING THAT GROUP OF CIVIC MINDED ORGANIZATIONS AND LEADERS CAN DO TO FURTHER THE URBAN CORE AND SPAWN MORE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. DAVID: THE CITY WILL STEP UP, PUTTING UP TO 20 MILLION DOLLARS FROM BONDS ON THE LINE TO IMPROVE INFRASTRUCTURE. THE MAYOR’S OFFICE SAYS IT WOULD RATHER PUT THAT MONEY TO USE RIGHT AWAY ON A SHOVEL-READY DEAL THAN KEEP IT COMMITTED TO A CROSSROADS DEVELOPMENT THAT HAS GONE NOWHERE. NODDLE ARGUES, HAVING A COMPANY LIKE KIEWIT ON BOARD MAKES THE VISION COME TO LIFE. >> THOSE PROJECTS GET GOING QUICKER AND MOST OFTEN EXPERIENCED MORE SUCCESS THAN THOSE THAT ARE SPONSORLESS OR ANCHORLESS TO BEGIN WI

Advertisement Big plans for north downtown development anchored by new Kiewit HQ Share Shares Copy Link Copy

The branding speaks for itself.In planning board documents, developers detail the new name for the area that will welcome a new Kiewit global headquarters: The Builder's District.It's a fitting name for the north downtown development that will see the Fortune 500 construction company's headquarters connected to its new training facility on Mike Fahey Street.The Builder's District is loosely bound by Cuming Street to the north, Mike Fahey Street to the south, Kiewit's training facility to the east and Creighton University to the west."This project presents an opportunity to expand the office and commercial components in north downtown," the documents read.Developer Jay Noddle spoke Wednesday with KETV NewsWatch 7 about how the plans for the area grew from Kiewit's original announcement."This is really special," he said. " vision and commitment to this area is going to be what makes this go."The project will welcome future development by other large community organizations like First National Bank of Omaha, Union Pacific and Creighton University. Their plans for The Builder's District are not yet announced.The first action on the site will be the Kiewit headquarters building at 14th and Mike Fahey. Noddle says his firm will begin construction on it as soon as the city council signs off and the weather allows.Kiewit spokesperson Tom Janssen said they hope to have the building done by early 2021.There's room for Kiewit to build a second building on the site. Ultimately, Kiewit could occupy 300,000 square feet of office space in the development.The city will redirect up to $20 million in money from development bonds to improve infrastructure for the project. The mayor's office will redirect that money from commitments made at Crossroads Mall since that project has gone nowhere."We commend Mayor Stothert and her team on their commitment to redeveloping this area," Janssen said in a statement about the north downtown project. Noddle explains having a company like Kiewit as the cornerstone of the development makes the vision easier to realize, comparing it with Aksarben Village, the First National Business Park and One Pacific Place."Those projects got going quicker and experienced more success than those that are sponsorless or anchorless to begin with," he explained.Noddle told planning board members The Builder's District could be fully built out in a decade and he sites its location as one of the main draws."This neighborhood can be fantastic," he said, citing its proximity to the downtown arena and convention center, TD Ameritrade Park and the airport.He also argues the riverfront revitalization efforts are critical -- not just for The Builder's District, but also for other projects in Omaha's urban core."All the kinds of amenities that come along with that make sites and areas like this much more viable, much quicker."