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White Lotus Group to Develop Former Civic Auditorium Site as “Civic Square,” a Transformational Addition to the Urban Core

OMAHA, Nebraska, May 11, 2023 — White Lotus Group, a vertically integrated real estate development firm based in Omaha, announced today it is developing the former site of the Omaha Civic Auditorium into a groundbreaking, multi-use urban block that will be called Civic Square, with site preparation expected to begin early next year.

The development plan includes prioritizing the installation of a national grocer, a long-desired component currently missing from the downtown Omaha area. It will also feature a health and wellness anchor, office space, retail storefronts and both affordable and market-rate housing. The diverse property mix will not only increase the economic contributions of that city block, but also have a growth-inducing impact across the urban core.

“Civic Square will offer urban residents and workers the lifestyle they want downtown ‒ a destination they can walk to or park at easily, a place to buy groceries, work out, shop, dine and convene with friends,” said Arun Agarwal, CEO of White Lotus Group. “This project will bring new life into Omaha’s urban core, and give Omahans the opportunity to easily visit or stay and enjoy living downtown with convenience.”

Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert and the city have been supportive of the plans for Civic Square.

“Civic Square brings life back to one of downtown Omaha’s most prominent blocks and is part of the great momentum in our urban core,” said Mayor Jean Stothert. “White Lotus Group brings experience, innovation and design excellence to create a new neighborhood that will attract residents and businesses. A healthy, successful urban core benefits the entire city.”

Omaha’s urban core plans have had a considerable impact on the planning for Civic Square.

“Our latest version aims to help with several of the missing components of Omaha's downtown revitalization plan and will actively contribute to building a strong urban core,” said Agarwal.

“The design plans for Civic Square will not only fundamentally change the downtown living environment, but the whole Omaha city skyline. Distinct signage and impressive architecture will make southward images of downtown iconic, and embody the growth and innovation our urban core is experiencing.”

The new Civic Square is bordered by 17th and 19th Streets to the east and west, with easy access to and from I-480, and Chicago Street and Capitol Avenue to the north and south. The nine-acre site will be bisected by the reintroduction of 18th Street between Chicago and Capitol, and the partial reintroduction of Davenport Street between 17th and 18th Streets, increasing parking opportunities and accessibility into the interior of the development.

This convenience of access is by design. With dedicated off- and on-ramps connected to Interstate 480, the site was originally constructed to quickly and easily move thousands of Civic Auditorium attendees in and out of downtown. With the planned new road construction, 180 on-street angled parking stalls will be created on both sides of the interior streets and around the development, which is in addition to the existing 500-stall parking garage at the site. There are also parking garages immediately to the east and west of Civic Square, at 19th and Capitol and 17th and Davenport, which together host 1,700 city-shared stalls.

Civic Square is centrally located by several large hubs of business: Three Fortune 500 companies, Union Pacific, Kiewit and Mutual of Omaha, have or will soon have headquarters within blocks of the site, in addition to a multitude of other office buildings. Other important features include its proximity to Creighton University, which hosts more than 4,400 undergraduate and 4,300 graduate and professional students. Additionally, it will be two blocks away from the planned streetcar route and, pending the northbound track of the streetcar, could influence the development towards becoming a Transit-Oriented Development.

“With interstate and inner-city convenience, Civic Square is the most accessible block downtown, which is especially important for the grocery store component and solving for the food desert designation,” said Agarwal. “This project aims to enhance mobility around the urban core and contribute toward creating a sustainable living environment for all those who reside in it.”

Other community leaders are passionate about the impact Civic Square will have on the surrounding area and Omaha as a whole.

“As we set the vision for the urban core along with the City of Omaha, this development reflects the multi-use and benefits for the whole community and specifically for the individuals, families and visitors to this exceptional area,” said Tim Burke, interim president of the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce. “The urban core vision is becoming a reality.”

“Creighton University is excited about the White Lotus Group redevelopment of the Civic Auditorium site,” said the Rev. Daniel Hendrickson, president of Creighton University. “This will be a great addition to our neighborhood, and the grocery store will be valuable to our students and faculty.”

White Lotus Group has a long resume of other complex and mixed-use developments.

Other recently announced developments include an affordable housing and mixed-use project on the previous Pershing Center site in Lincoln, the relocation of the downtown Omaha W. Dale Clark Library and a 138-acre industrial development along I-80 in Papillion.

“We are excited to keep moving forward with this historic development for Omaha,” said Agarwal. “Civic Square has already received significant interest, and there is an opportunity to customize development plans. We look forward to sharing more details once they are confirmed.”

White Lotus Group is seeking the public’s input on the Civic Square development. Thoughts and ideas can be submitted online at CivicSquareOmaha.com.

AFFoRDABLE HOUSING PROJECT ON PERSHING SITE CAN MOVE FORWARD

An affordable housing project where the old, deteriorating Pershing Center sits got the go-ahead from the Lincoln City Council on Monday.

Huge industrial development planned along I-80 in northeast Lincoln

An Omaha company is planning a “first of its kind” industrial project in northeast Lincoln that could be among the largest ever built in the city.

Omaha to relocate W. Dale Clark Library, OPL administration

Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert announced Tuesday that the city will relocate the W. Dale Clark Library to downtown.

Omaha Commercial Real Estate Summit: One of the Midwest’s steadiest markets sees more of the same

Omaha has long boasted one of the steadiest commercial real estate markets in the Midwest. And that didn’t change during the pandemic.

Omaha World herald Feature 9/26/21: Nebraska Realty will move Lincoln workforce into new $10 million building

Omaha-based Nebraska Realty is expanding its footprint in Lincoln and will move into a new $10 million office building there in fall 2022.

Podcast Feature: Lives S2E8 – Arun Agarwal

Arun Agarwal is a former Wall Street investment banker at Prudential Securities who has primarily focused on healthcare and real estate initiatives.

Omaha world herald Feature 5/5/21: Former Civic Auditorium site to be redeveloped as apartments, shops, public space

New life — including hundreds of apartments — is expected to come to the grassy downtown site of Omaha’s former Civic Auditorium.

Omaha world herald Feature 1/31/21: Downtown Omaha's Hotel Deco getting makeover to reopen in historic Redick Tower

Downtown Omaha's upscale Hotel Deco is undergoing a major rehab and is poised to reopen in the historic Redick Tower at the end of March, about a year after the pandemic forced its closure.

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Fremont Tribune Feature 12/4/20: RTG Medical breaks ground on new $18 million facility east of Fremont

RTG Medical announced it has started to break ground on its new $18 million headquarters east of Fremont.

Grand Island Independent Feature 7/15/20: Former veterans home campus officially signed over

Ownership of the former Grand Island Veterans Home property has been officially transferred from the Nebraska Department of Administrative Services to the Grand Island Community Redevelopment Authority.

Omaha world herald Feature 7/13/20: Nebraska DMV will open new west Omaha office Wednesday

The Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles will open a new service center in west Omaha on Wednesday.

Lincoln Journal Star Feature 6/23/20: Lincoln mayor selects Omaha developer's proposal for Pershing block

City officials have selected a proposal from an Omaha developer to redevelop the block including the vacant Pershing Center.

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Omaha World herald Feature 6/14/20 - high-end warehouses are part of real estate sector that ‘shines’ despite coronavirus

Omaha-based White Lotus Group is launching its I-80 Logistics Hub with a new 300,000-square-foot structure, said Denny Sciscoe of Cushman & Wakefield/Lund Co., which is working with the developer on the project.

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GC Magazine Feature 4/9/20 - The Best affordable housing contractors in the us

White Lotus Group’s multidisciplinary approach to design, construction and development, allows the company to provide a full-service team for any project, regardless of size or complexity. The firm has an in-house team of professionals to handle master planning, land development, historic rehabilitation, specialty financing and owner’s representation, among others.

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Midlands Business journal feature 4/3/20 - Revitalization efforts bring life to historic areas, out edges of storied neighborhoods

Vice President of Business Development Jay Kline emphasized White Lotus Group’s HUB 1401 and NoDo projects at 11th and Nicholas streets; the former is described as a “mission-driven nonprofit center designed around collaboration and innovation” while the latter builds upon the “legacy of past neighborhood residents, skilled craftsmen, while being a gateway to Omaha.”

Omaha world herald feature 11/23/19: Effort to bring new life to old north Omaha mall, bowling alley is rolling right along

A north Omaha shopping hub that in its heyday brimmed with high-profile retailers, such as Hested’s department store and the city’s biggest bowling alley, is being resuscitated.

Retail evolves with centers emphasizing one-stop-shop designs

Agarwal said his team is seeing many big box formats consolidate to online made-to-order.

“Obvious retailer bankruptcies are causing a lot smaller rental pool for new and existing retail spaces, and although it’s a lot of change and anxiety, it just means traditional retail needs to evolve and become all about the consumer experience versus the products they are selling”

LEADERSHIP CLASS 42 CLASS SELECTED

We are so excited to announce that Jay Kline is part of Leadership Omaha's 42nd class!

A program of the Greater Omaha Chamber, Leadership Omaha is designed to develop effective leaders who strengthen and transform the community. Class members are chosen based on their demonstrated community involvement and vision for the future of Omaha.

PARADE MAGAZINE FEATURE: Murals Across America - The Very Best Street Art in Every State 

We are so excited to announce that our on-staff artist, Justin Queal, is featured in PARADE Magazine! His 'Home Run' mural is listed as the best mural in Nebraska.

FORBES feature: how one chef entrepreneur brings the world to nebraska

We are honored to work with Ethan Bondelid on projects like Monarch Prime & Bar, Wicked Rabbit and the Alice. We are constantly in awe of his creativity and drive.

Check out this awesome feature video of him on Forbes.

Omaha world herald 7/21/19 feature: Landscape shifts for several in Omaha metro's active real estate industry

White Lotus Group, a real estate development company, also relocated its headquarters to the Regency area building at 10404 Essex Court.

MIDLANDS BUSINESS JOURNAL 7/26/19 feature: FOR BIG RETURN ON INVESTMENT, CHOOSE BUILDING UPDATES AND Amenities WISELY

To attract new tenants, it’s not a question of if a building owner should regularly update their buildings, it’s how to get the biggest return on investment.

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Midlands Business journal 7/12/19 feature: local companies work to sustain urban life

Supporting urban living is a high priority for various local businesses.

Arun Agarwal, CEO at White Lotus Group, said the company strives to support urban living through creating spaces where diverse people with all different types of character and tastes feel welcome.

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WHITE LOTUS GROUP SELECTED TO DEVELOP WEST OMAHA DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES OFFICE

White Lotus Group has been selected by The State of Nebraska as the developer for the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles’ newest location in Omaha at 171st and West Dodge Road in the West Dodge Pointe development. The building is anticipated to be completed in the spring of 2020 and will be the newest driver licensing office for the Nebraska DMV.

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Midlands Business journal 3/22/19 feature: Omaha’s districts expand with commercial, office and retail space

Omaha’s districts continue to show signs of revitalization and growth, according to local firms.

Arun Agarwal, CEO of White Lotus Group, said the West Maple corridor, specifically 168th Street to 192nd Street has seen and will continue to see rapid development due to the completed widening of 168th Street from West Dodge Road to West Maple Road.

WHite Lotus group artist, justin queal, spearheads award-winning art show

‘Cream on Top’ at The Butter Factory (1401 Jones Street) was crowned as the ‘Best Art Presentation in a Non-Traditional Format’ at the 13th annual Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards.

The show featured a number of amazing local artists lead and curated by Justin and his family.

Click below to watch the entire live stream of the award show, or skip to 34:00 to see ‘Cream on Top’ take the stage.

Is retail ready to bloom in north downtown? People are 'reinvigorated on the area'

Arun Agarwal of White Lotus Group, which rents the Bloom space to the Prairie in Bloom owners, said new Creighton facilities along with developing art- and tech-focused districts south of Cuming Street (the New North Makerhood and Millwork Commons) have fueled momentum in north downtown. Already in the area are attractions such as TD Ameritrade Park and the CHI Health Center.

White Lotus Group Announces New Key Hire - Jay Kline joins the team as the Vice President of Business Development

Kline brings over a decade of experience to White Lotus Group through his previous roles at LEO A DALY as a member of their business development team focused on reinforcing the success of the company’s Federal Program. Prior to this role, Kline oversaw the company’s business interests in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and after a successful three years overseas, Jay came home and became LEO A DALY’S Small Business Program Manager.

West Omaha is getting a craft cocktail bar from owner of Berry & Rye and Wicked Rabbit

Ethan Bondelid plans to open a to-be-named basement-level cocktail spot off 170th Street and West Center Road; the bar will be located below the third location of Jams American Grill, planned to open late spring in the former Upstream location.

Omaha magazine feature: chef patrick micheels

It’s not easy to stay humble when everyone keeps talking about how great you are. But Patrick Micheels manages to steer nearly every compliment right back to other people. “I have a team in the kitchen that crushes it every day,” Micheels says when asked about the success of Monarch Prime & Bar. “I am so lucky.”

Midlands Business journal 12/7/18 feature: New commercial, industrial and retail real estate stretches through sarpy county

White Lotus Group is another firm that has been busy working on various projects throughout Sarpy County.

White Lotus Group CEO/owner Arun Agarwal said the team has been diligently working on the I-80 Logistics Hub site this year.

The firm owns roughly 140 acres at 132nd Street and Cornhusker road.

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Midlands Business journal 7/27/18 feature: companies assess existing spaces; community efforts help attract, retain talent

White Lotus Group CEO Arun Agarwal said the ability for companies looking to relo­cate, grow or consolidate locations has been found to be easiest in West Omaha, while multi-national and tech firms are looking more downtown for walkable amenities or "even just because they want to participate in furthering the community," he said.

Leadership class 41 class selected

We are so excited to announce that Arun Agarwal is part of Leadership Omaha's 41st class!

A program of the Greater Omaha Chamber, Leadership Omaha is designed to develop effective leaders who strengthen and transform the community. Class members are chosen based on their demonstrated community involvement and vision for the future of Omaha.

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MIDLANDS BUSINESS JOURNAL FEATURE: Array of redevelopment projects provide varied housing options

Since leasing its Turner Park Apartments in January 2018, White Lotus Group CEO Arun Agarwal said in June all interested residents who toured the building in the last month moved in to the transformed, 58-unit Class C historical apartments. 

MIDLANDS BUSINESS JOURNAL FEATURE: KUHN DRIVES WHITE LOTUS GROUP BY LEVERAGING POTENTIAL IN PROJECTS

Ashley Kuhn's leadership ethos has brought White Lotus Group strong growth across virtually all market sectors, leadership she boils down to some very simple components. 

Omaha World Herald Feature: 30 Metro mixed-use building opens — complete with a sculpture reminiscent of site's storied past

The 30 Metro residential and retail complex officially opened Friday, bringing a five-story, $20 million investment to North 30th and Fort Streets.

Q&A with White Lotus Group's Ashley Kuhn: How CREW Omaha is providing mentorship, industry knowledge

We sat down with Kuhn to pick her brain about how each of her roles blend together, and how her experiences navigating the waters of CRE have shaped the advice and goals she has for both men and women in the industry today.

Read the full article below. 

30 metro ribbon cutting ceremony

White Lotus Group is proud to open the doors to 110 affordable apartment units at their 30 Metro building in North Omaha with the goal of serving the the Metropolitan Community College Fort Omaha campus and surrounding area. 

Learn more below.

KMTV News Feature: Developing downtown Omaha, challenges and opportunities

"We look at each site as a question, what should it be, what could it be, what's financially possible, what's physically possible," said Agarwal. 

Watch the full segment below. 

Midland's Business Journal Feature: rise of 'new' developments in metro harken back to community spirit bygone

Sometimes, one has to look back to move forward. And the establishment and evolution of "districts" within Omaha, at least partly, reflects a return to the neighborhoods of yesteryear - where everything was within walkable "reach"

Read the full article below. 

Join our team!

We are looking to add to our phenomenal team! If you are a detail-oriented, process driven individual in the construction project management field, you're in luck.

Learn more and apply below.

Ames Innovation Center seeks to bring tech jobs to North Omaha

KETV visited with White Lotus Group CEO and founder, Arun Agarwal, to discuss our redevelopment project at 56th and Ames

Watch the full segment below.

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White Lotus Group Selected to Develop Baxter Auto Group’s New Omaha Headquarters

Baxter Auto Group will be partnering with White Lotus Group for the development of Baxter’s new future headquarters located at 173rd and West Dodge Road. The headquarters project will be an extension of the three dealerships near 168th and Dodge Road currently under construction.

Historic Tax Credits Omaha

change to tax credits causes worry

KMTV 3 News Now visited with White Lotus Group CEO and founder, Arun Agarwal, to discuss the local importance of the historic preservation tax credits. 

Watch the full segment below.

WHITE LOTUS GROUP TACKLES THE NOT-SO-PRETTY BUT PROFITABLE STORAGE INDUSTRY

“It’s not sexy,” Arun Agarwal says. “But its risk-reward ratio, as a real estate asset, is among the better ones.”

The topic? Self-storage.

Agarwal, the CEO of White Lotus Group, claims that self-storage facilities could be the "not-so-pretty" but practical solution to the abundance of vacant big box retail properties in Omaha.

Read the full article below. 

review: monarch's big-city service and locally raised, aged meat could redefine our vision of steak

"You could say, without much hesitation, that Monarch is forwarding the Omaha steakhouse tradition. It might be unfamiliar, but at first, the new always is. The restaurant sets diners up for an experience, and any time a restaurant does that, I leave full. And pleased."

Read the full article below. 

hotel deco named best hotel in nebraska by 2018 u.s. News & world report

Hotel Deco received a Silver Badge as the #1 Best Hotel in Omaha and was also named the #1 Best Nebraska Hotel. The Omaha specific announcement states, "Out of 71 hotels, one property — Hotel Deco — stands out for exceptional quality."

Read the full article below. 

KMTV FEATURE: APARTMENTS, STOREFRONTS IN PROGRESS AT FORMER MISTER C'S PROPERTY

The site of a former Omaha landmark is ready to make its mark once again. 30 Metro is set to open within the next couple of months at 30th and Fort streets. For 55 years, Mister C’s restaurant entertained guests until 2007 at that location. The property went neglected after that, and there was a fire in 2013.

Watch the segment below. 

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MIDLANDS BUSINESS JOURNAL 1/12/18: With Diverse capabilities, White lotus Group lands major projects

"Since taking root in 2003, White Lotus Group has blossomed, completing more than $200 million in projects with another $200 million in its active pipeline - and nearly $100 million in production, according to CEO Arun Agarwal."

Read the full article below. 

White Lotus Group resident artist infuses art into public spaces

"As the in-house artist and public art project manager for White Lotus Group, Omaha native Justin Queal has created a niche for himself, adding the creative element of artwork to "fine tune" the development projects his firm builds."

Read the full article below. 

30 Metro Ground Breaking Omaha Nebraska

"White lotus group celebrates ground breaking at 30 metro - a mixed use $20mm building located on 30th & fort, to include apartments and retail"  

Pictured left to right: Alexa Mosqueda, Lynn Gorman, Erin Schager, Andrea Rockwell, Arun Agarwal, and Bill Wardell of White Lotus Group gather on October 21st, 2016 to honor the ground breaking of a new project - across from Metro Community College - Fort Campus. 

Read the full press release below.

DUNDEE FLATS: REVITALIZING OMAHA

White Lotus Group celebrates the development of this exciting residential project - by Sage Capitol - located on 49th and Dodge St - "Dundee Flats."  A modern apartment complex about to begin construction during 2016, with a projected finish within 2017.  

See the KETV newscast on this issue below.

HOTEL DECO xv - On list of best hotels in each state

Though the words “modern luxury” and “Nebraska” aren’t exactly synonymous, this 89-room, ultra-mod hotel is next to the Old Market section of town and pretty much accounts for all of Omaha’s art-deco architecture. Maybe? It’s one of only two AAA four diamond properties in the entire state, and in addition to having Omaha’s best bourbon bar in the lobby, hotel staff will also drive you to the Huskers game in one of their Mercedes sedans, if that's how you roll.

Omaha Public Library downtown branch

Grand Opening: New downtown Omaha public library opens doors to the public

The library is located at 14th and Jones streets in a building constructed in 1912 but completely renovated and modernized to fit today's needs.

Sunday's grand opening of the new downtown Omaha public library welcomed hundreds of people including city and state leaders.

The 111-year-old building is transformed into a reader's paradise. Exposed brick that's classic to the old market, original tiling, and wooden beams are reminders of Omaha's foundation.