An Iowa developer trying to lure businesses near Sarpy County's new Werner Park is pitching a baseball theme for his project.
Pennant Place is the name of the nearly 300-acre parcel along Nebraska Highway 370, developer Roger Langpaul said.
Langpaul envisions a walkable, family-oriented entertainment area to complement the new home of the Omaha Storm Chasers, formerly the Omaha Royals.
He called the joint development “an economic engine that continues to highlight the advantages of Sarpy County and the Omaha metro.”
The minor league ballpark west of Papillion will host its first home game April 15.
He hopes to lure retail shops, sit-down restaurants, executive offices and two hotels. Other planned features include a senior citizens living center, residential housing and green space.
In 2009 the Sarpy County Board selected the Schewe Farm parcel near Highway 370 and 126th Street as the future home for Omaha Royals baseball.
The land is owned by Langpaul's wife's family, who agreed to donate 30 acres to the county in exchange for building the ballpark at that site.
The county determined that Langpaul's site offered the best chance to spin off new commercial development for Sarpy County. Langpaul, an Omaha native, is a co-owner of a commercial real estate company in Des Moines.
It's probably unrealistic to expect significant construction this year on the Sarpy property, he said. He said he's in negotiations with an apartment developer in Kansas City and hopes to unveil other announcements in the coming weeks.
“My hope is to have some ground under contract in the next three to six months,” he said. “We have some really unique amenities that are driving the interest. The new ballpark looks just wonderful.”
A 4,500-seat indoor ice arena won't materialize, however, he acknowledged Monday. He had told the county in 2009 he had a letter of understanding from another developer who wanted to build the arena, but said this week the project proved to be too expensive.
“We are still shooting for an indoor ice concept,” he said. “But it would not be a 4,500-seat ice arena. It would be a lot smaller.”
Trenton Magid, principal at World Group Commercial Real Estate, said it will be interesting to see whether Langpaul attracts commercial development to the mostly farm corridor midway between Papillion and Gretna.
“A lot of people still believe it will be another five to seven years before any commercial and housing will get out there,” Magid said.
He said he's skeptical about whether national hotel chains would build near Werner Park until such growth occurs.
Langpaul said he wants to build a hotel with a rooftop sports bar overlooking right field at Werner Park. A second hotel would push the total room count to 300.
“When it comes to restaurants and retail,” Magid said, “commercial users ask ‘Where are the daytime customers and where are the night customers?' Right now, that location near Highway 370 and 126th (Street) needs both.”
Langpaul also said he has partnered with Rockhill Strategic, a marketing firm in Kansas City; Crimmins Commercial Advisors of Kansas City; and Slaggie Architects, with offices in Kansas City and Omaha.
Contact the writer:
402-444-1056, john.ferak@owh.com
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