Published in the Omaha World Herald, February 28, 2006
front page of the business section, with illustrations
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Plans are building steam to renovate rail station
BY DEBORAH SHANAHAN
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER
A plan to renovate downtown Omaha's long-vacant Burlington train station
is moving forward with 60 percent of the commercial space spoken for and
buyers for three of its 15 condominiums, the developer said Monday.
The City Planning Board could consider tax-increment financing for the
project at 1001 S. 10th St. as soon as March.
Myriel "My" Boes said construction of a new restaurant over the tracks is
to begin this spring and be completed in 10 months. She said the
renovation would be completed by summer 2007.
She said 80 people attended a Sunday open house and brunch prepared by
the former New York City chef who will open the 80-seat restaurant.
"He's a European chef who studied at Le Cordon Bleu and had a restaurant
in the Village of New York until Sept. 11," Boes said, referring to the
2001 terrorist attacks. "He moved here - his wife is from here - and he's
been waiting for the right location for a restaurant, and this is the
one."
Also planning to take advantage of the project's lease-to-own commercial
spaces are a spa, a technology company and a small ethnic gourmet market,
Boes said. She said she is still seeking a bar to set a lively tone for
the three-story lobby and other food-related markets or retailers for the
track level.
The chef and the other commercial tenants can't be named yet, Boes said,
"because they have other lives to lead in the meantime."
Visitors on Sunday saw a virtual tour and booklets showing renderings and
floor plans for the project. The condos range from 1,329 square feet to
4,515 square feet and are priced from $379,000 to $1,375,000. Each unit
will have two underground parking spaces, and six garages will be for
sale.
About 9,100 square feet of commercial space remains. Boes said the tour
and other images soon will be featured at www.ontrackdevelopment.com.
Boes said features that set the $13 million Burlington project apart
include 100 outdoor parking spaces for customers and guests; private
gardens with an outdoor kitchen, eating spaces and places for residents
to tend plants; and a climate-controlled wine cellar and tasting room
with individual lockers for residents.
Boes said she plans to restore an original winding staircase and make use
of the 1898 building's original mosaic and subway tile. She is aiming for
a five-star, European-hotel feel - "very upscale, very restful" -
throughout.
A city committee that analyzes requests for tax-increment financing - a
form of funding that allows new property taxes generated by a redeveloped
area to be applied to the project - has recommended that the project go
forward, said Ken Johnson, city economic development manager.
The project is subject to Planning Board consideration and City Council
approval. Johnson said he is working toward getting the project on the
Planning Board's March agenda.
The attorney for the project, Ken Bunger, said about $1.7 million in
tax-increment financing has been requested.
Johnson called the project "extremely worthy of consideration and
approval" because of its "critical impact" on the effort to rebuild the
10th Street corridor.
Cost has been an issue for previous developers who considered
redeveloping the train station, Johnson said, "but with the approach this
developer has taken and the commitments the developer has in hand, it is
a doable deal."
Boes and son Jamison Hiner are working with David and Brad Underwood to
develop the project. Alley Poyner Architecture is preparing the drawings,
and Weitz Co. is the general contractor.
Brad Underwood said Weitz has done an extensive cleanup and installed
temporary lighting. Construction will probably begin about May 1, he
said.
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World-Herald®. All rights reserved. This material may not be
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without permission from the Omaha World-Herald.
Copyright 2006 Omaha World-Herald. All rights reserved.
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