Indeed, I have at times been compelled to Gumshoe Gal Friday about town with an affected stealth, mind you, tiptoeing out, weaving in among the foggy folds and lurking in the shrubbery. The only time that I feel a compulsion, ever so faintly, to let another know what I am Up To is when the dinner bell is close to ringing. It wouldn’t be prudent to miss one of Mr. Cassette’s fabulous home cooked meals, which he has taken to calling the Chef Special of late. Needless to say, I never stray far from home, which could not conceivably ever become much of an issue, considering my private eye proclivity for the old parts of Omaha–luckily all within a hop, skip and a jump of my own backyard.
Magnificent Obsession is a series meant to highlight incredible projects in Omaha and my recent obsessions, apart from my lengthy historical pieces.
Photo taken July 31, 2016. 1100 Pierce Street building handled overflow from the downtown post office. This building reportedly was built in 1909.
10th and Pierce. The old postal annex building. Good news for Omaha Farmer’s Market fans and potentially of interest to expats. It was announced a few years ago that Vic Gutman and Associates had purchased one of the various old postal annex buildings downtown (1100 Pierce Street) with the intention of turning it into a year round public market on the 10th Street Corridor. This was slated to get off the ground this year but I’ve been afraid it maybe fell through.
That is, until I spied this fresh sign the other day. The 10th Street Market is now to open in 2018. Check out this Omaha World Herald article from 2015 for more details: http://www.omaha.com/money/by-a-year-round-indoor-market-in-downtown-omaha/article_01169b55-a4b8-587e-bdd1-df105a208acb.html
Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture sketch of the proposed market. Image is owned by Alley Poyner Macchietto.
Now Miss Cassette is no expert in these branding matters and in fact, I loathe these marketing terms, but in a difference of palate, I submit this idea. This public market concept could be a Whole Lot Cooler if we left the Omaha Postal Annex sign and inherent concept intact. Again this is just me and my tastemaking, but I often think Omaha business owners take a wrong turn when they tear down old signs. Why did the Pageturners Bar tear down the Pageturners Used Books’ awning, only to discover they needed an awning a year later? Built in cool, an easy style, destroyed. In other cities, businesses will often keep the old sign up and spin their new operation’s marketing by incorporating the old company name or location. Nonchalance. Subtle Confidence. Low Key. European. Example: an expensive men’s clothing shop in an old bar. They leave the original shingle and it becomes Bespoke at Sammy’s Cozy Corner. For instance the Omaha Postal Annex Market or Public Market at the Postal Annex. Leave the aging sign up, make some fabulous updates inside, lay new concrete for a sidewalk patio, open those garage doors and voila. Thank me later, Omaha.
From 2016 on a foggy, ominous day. Not a weird filter, I promise.
The building next door, at 10th and Pacific, is one of my Magnificent Obsession Obsessions. Those of you expats will remember it fondly as the site of one of the many Firmature Brother’s enterprises, Angie’s Restaurant and Cocktail Lounge and Lucky’s TenOOne. It is now home to the Blue Barn Theater and adjoining Box 10 condos with Via Farina at street level. Have you wandered here lately?
Via Farina is rumored to be a fantastic little pizza and pasta joint at 1106 South 10th. I have not made it there yet but other Foodie Detectives in town have raved about Chef Paul Kulik’s latest venture. Check them out at http://www.goviafarina.com/
Directly to the south are the impeccable Dunsany Flats. These apartments, now condos, were built in 1901.
Flawless. I toast this wing of Little Italy for its beauty.
The Older, Mysterious sister, the Albion Apartments, are purportedly from 1890. I am quite taken with this gal. Her windows! Her trees!
Across the street, on the west side corner or 10th and Pacific, sits the creation of architect, Jeff Day of Min Day. Every time I pass this area at 1106 South 10th Street, I want to jump with joy. Rusting sheet metal, the millwork, exposed rebar, prefect lighting, handmade clay bricks, the sheer size of it all and Those Doors. I know, it is everything I shouldn’t like and yet…it is quite brilliant.
The condos are solid boned, striking, leggy Dwell Magazine models…amazing contemporary living and accomplished with integrity. Rich, functional window placement and real decks, not a silly, pretend-Julliette balcony slapped on a box in a box. There is an inherent generosity, no stinginess to be observed. These condos make me want to throw away our Midtown 1940s life. That is a joke. But Jeff Day’s accomplishment is not.
North elevation detail.
Front steps.
Loads of fabulous quirks, like this blue back patio area.
A true work of art, incorporating a number of artisans’ collaborations, I have often wondered what draws me to the new Blue Barn Theater? What is so different about this corner and say, the Holland Performing Arts Center compared to other New Omaha designs? These two structures were built to last, display architectural integrity, exhibit a thoughtful, functional design, strong vision, quality materials, expense not for expense sake but to get it right the first time and honor the people who will inhabit this space. Thank you for caring about the future, architects, and for making Omaha beautiful.
Fondly, Miss Cassette
I welcome your feedback and comments on this 10th Street Corridor and corner. To comment, please scroll to the end of this page. If you would like to correspond with me privately, please do so at myomahaobsession@yahoo.com or in “Contact.” But be assured, everyone would love to read what you have to say and it makes the conversation more fun. You can keep up with my latest investigations by “following” myomahaobsession. You will get sent email updates every time I have written a new article. Also join My Omaha Obsession on Facebook. Thank you Omaha friends.
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