Synergy project actually includes three towers

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BY MATT OLBERDING / Lincoln Journal Star

A downtown redevelopment plan will have a bigger footprint than previously thought.

The Lincoln Synergy Group plan for the block bounded by P, Q, 13th and 14th streets includes two towers on top of a parking garage that would extend the entire north side of the block.

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A conceptual rendering of the Catalyst Building from the East. A skywalk connects the 22-story tower across Q Street with the 18-story building (right). This is not the final design of the buildings. (Courtesy)

A conceptual rendering of the Catalyst Building from the East. A skywalk connects the 22-story tower across Q Street with the 18-story building (right). This is not the final design of the buildings. (Courtesy)

A 22-story hotel and apartment tower would be on the east end, at 14th and Q, while a 15-story office tower would be on the west end of the block, at 13th and Q.

Monte Froehlich of Lincoln Synergy Group said his group’s $180 million plan has always included three towers, the two on the redevelopment block plus an 18-story tower with another parking garage and retirement units across the street to the north.

But a press release last week announcing that Lincoln Synergy Group’s project had been chosen by the mayor mentioned only the 22- and 18-story towers.

And Froehlich, in an interview with the Journal Star last week, didn’t mention the third tower.

Dallas McGee, the city’s assistant director of Urban Development and a member of an advisory committee that recommended the project, said it may be just a matter of perception.

“We didn’t really look at it as two towers,” he said.

Whether considered to be one or two towers, the project is still larger than what the city originally envisioned on that block, and will require acquisition and demolition of another building to make it work.

Froehlich said he and his partners will talk to the owners of a building along 13th Street between P and Q that houses Chipotle Mexican Grill, Cold Stone Creamery, Quizno’s and Valentino’s.

“We wanted to wait until we knew we had a project before approaching them,” Froehlich said.

He would make space available in the development for the restaurants if they want to stay at the location, he said.

Michael Alesio, co-owner of a real estate holding company that owns the building, confirmed that he and Lincoln Synergy Group have had some preliminary discussions, but he declined to comment further.

He was, however, complimentary of the project.

“It’s impressive,” he said.

McGee said the city, which bought the StarShip 9 theater, Wasabi restaurant and, along with Froehlich, Taste of China restaurant, to help facilitate the project, doesn’t plan to help acquire the 13th Street building.

“We’re not getting involved with that at this point,” he said.

Lincoln Synergy Group and the city will have their first meeting on the project this week, though Froehlich and McGee said the day and time have not been set yet.

Reach Matt Olberding at 473-2647 or molberding@journalstar.com .