Tour to offer a new look at condo options
May 11th, 2007 - Category: Condo, Real EstateLike the final minutes of a TV makeover show, construction crews and designers are scrambling to put the finishing touches on some downtown condominium models for the big reveal this weekend.
More than 2,000 people are expected to tour 13 downtown condos Saturday on the Downtown Living Tour.
Developers and the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce first teamed up in August to offer the tour, which also highlights downtown Omaha attractions. An estimated 2,500 people attended, touring 10 condo projects.
Two projects that were on the fall tour - the Brandeis Building and Beebe Runyan - are not on this tour, but five others have been added. New to the schedule are WallStreet Tower Omaha, Towns at Little Italy, Giovanna Rows, Burlington Station and Farnam 1600.
Much has happened in these condominiums’ development since the fall tour, said Karla Ewert, vice president of communications at the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce.
“There’s so many more things for people to see this time,” Ewert said.
While some projects are not yet built, they have stops along the tour with information and renderings or videos.
Following is an update on each of the projects, as well as another four. See Sunday’s Business section to learn more about Omaha’s condo market from developers, real estate agents and the authors of two new studies.
• Kimball Lofts, 15th and Jones Streets
Nine of 31 units sold. Condos on the second floor will be the first available, starting later this month. A floor will be completed every four to six weeks after that, moving up the five-story building. Condos range from $287,000 to $650,000 for 1,089 to 2,505 square feet.
• Giovanna Rows, Sixth and Pierce Streets
Sales began in April on the two buildings’ 16 units, which include two live-work spaces, with marketing starting this week. Condos range from $219,000 to $285,000 for 1,558 to 1,643 square feet. Construction began this month, with the first units to be available by September. A model will not be completed until late July, but sales information will be at one of the nearby Towns at Little Italy condominiums.
• jLofts, 14th and Jackson Streets
Of 55 units, 23 are sold. Condos range from $220,000 to $2.4 million and from 1,000 square feet to a custom penthouse of up to 8,000 square feet.
• Burlington Station, 10th and Pacific Streets
Five of 15 are sold. Units range from $380,000 to $1.4 million for 1,350 to 4,500 square feet. Available starting summer 2008. For Saturday’s tour, a temporary showroom will be directly inside the west entrance of the building, displaying flooring, cabinetry and appliance options as well as a video.
• 1101 Jackson, 11th and Jackson Streets
Half of the 31 units are sold. They range from $250,000 to $700,000 and from 750 square feet to 2,300 square feet. The first residents move in beginning in June.
• Riverfront Place, Riverfront Drive
Of the 38 tower condos, 34 are sold and one is reserved. Of 18 town houses, 15 are sold. Condos range from $250,000 to $2 million for 950 to 6,100 square feet. Construction and sales of units in the second tower, which will have 53 condos, have not begun. A construction start date depends on sales. A virtual tour will play in the tower’s sales office, Riverfront Room and a fifth-floor model during Saturday’s tour.
• Farnam 1600, 16th and Farnam Streets
Of 88 units, 66 are sold. Price range is $83,000 to $450,000 for 600 to 1,700 square feet .
• Ford Lofts, 10th and Dodge Streets
Of 64 units, 61 are sold. Condos range from $130,000 to $550,000 for 750 to 2,700 square feet.
• 902 Dodge, Ninth and Dodge Streets
Of 18 units, one is sold and two have contracts pending. They range from $236,000 to $800,000 for 1,140 to 2,700 square feet.
• The Paxton, 14th and Farnam Streets
Of 57 units, 35 are sold. The remaining condos range from $300,000 to $650,000 for 1,000 to 1,900 square feet, with combined units possible.
• Rows at SoMa, 11th and Leavenworth Streets
Row houses range from $240,000 to $475,000 for 1,300 to 2,300 square feet. Of 102 units, 74 are sold. Construction of the final 20 row houses will start this July, with occupancy projected for July 2008. Of 15 lofts, two are sold. Lofts range from $195,000 to $375,000 for 900 to 1,700 square feet. Construction has not started, but eventually 30 lofts will be available in fall 2008.
• Towns at Little Italy, Seventh and Pacific Streets
Eleven of 39 town houses are sold. They range from $199,000 to $300,000 for 1,200 to 1,700 square feet. Eighteen are still under construction. A model opened a month ago. The developer just acquired more land - at Eighth and Pacific Streets - for 12 to 25 additional town houses, possibly in a different architectural style. Available in 2009, the town houses range from $250,000 to $300,000 for 1,500 to 2,000 square feet.
• WallStreet Tower Omaha, 14th Street and Capitol Avenue
Of the 32-floor building’s 280 units, 90 are reserved. Construction will begin after the old Union Pacific building is demolished. Condos range from $195,900 to $620,900 for 855 to 1,635 square feet and depending on the floor. The top three floors are penthouses, with prices depending on custom features and whether units are combined. The lead developer will be at the Holland Performing Arts Center at 12th and Douglas Streets on Saturday with a streaming video with a panoramic view taken by helicopter to show the tower’s views. Five models will be assembled in an 8,000-square-foot building at 12th and Cass Streets by July.
Other downtown condos include:
• Beebe Runyan, Ninth and Douglas Streets
Of 79 units, 62 have sold. Condos range from $225,000 to more than $1 million for 1,015 to 3,200 square feet.
• Brandeis Building, 16th and Douglas Streets
Construction and sales at the 10-story building are on hold. A contractor on the partially completed luxury condominium project sued the project’s developer and banker, and the developer has filed for bankruptcy protection. Some condo buyers already had moved in.
• The 19th Street Lofts, 626 S. 19th St.
Three of nine units are sold. Condos range from $117,000 to $147,000 for 700 to 900 square feet.
• Erin Place, 1209 Harney St.
Of 12 units, two are sold. The condos, which are sold unfinished and located above Vincenzo’s restaurant in the Old Market, range from $150,000 to $250,000 for 1,000 to 2,400 square feet.
Information from: www.omaha.com
