I bought half acre of land on corner of 15 and central right next to the bridge. what do you think?

I think if the urbanize the river with redi-rock you will be sitting on prime land.

I bought half acre of land on corner of 15 and central right next to the bridge. what do you think?

That's just right up the street from this old motorcycle clubhouse, Rogues MC I think. I don't know if they have any members anymore. There are so many dentists riding around in leathers these days it makes it hard to notice a real 1%.

http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&t=h&layer=c&cbll=35.445977,-97.506829&panoid=EIEq6H8AKkPAEfz5CEFnmw&cbp=12,82.35,,0,9.03&ll=35.445823,-97.506825&spn=0.000584,0.001024&z=21

Which way are the new boathouses going to be built. west of Chesapeake boathouse or east of the boathouse...

East

Which way are the new boathouses going to be built. west of Chesapeake boathouse or east of the boathouse...

If you look at google maps or drive by you can see where they go as they already have the retain walls/bow and cuts for the docks completed for the next two.

...took a few photos today:

http://www.flickriver.com/photos/cameron_405/sets/72157625990872827/

Awesome Cameron!

Nice to see the finish line tower coming along.

I like how The finish line tower and new Boathouse tie into eachother in this pic! http://l.yimg.com/www.flickr.com/images/spaceball.gifThanks' for posting Cameron!http://l.yimg.com/www.flickr.com/images/spaceball.gif (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cameron_405/5481454226/)http://www.flickr.com/photos/cameron_405/5481454226/

Heh, I saw these photos awhile back but didn't think to post a link. You're among the best photographers of areas around the city Cameron, seriously.

...thanks, guys! :tiphat:

Fortunately we have many citizens that take pride in the city that want to preserve history and share the experience with others!

Thanks everyone for all the pictures, I'm from OKC but now live at Tenkiller, it's fun to watch and follow the growth.

Thanks everyone for all the pictures, I'm from OKC but now live at Tenkiller, it's fun to watch and follow the growth.

You moved to Tenkiller? So, where you gonna go to get away from it all now that you're where you used to go to get away?
FWIW, I miss Tenkiller. Never lived there, but feel in love with the lake and its surrounding area when I was living in Tahlequah with weekly trips back to our weekend gig down in podo america.

You moved to Tenkiller? So, where you gonna go to get away from it all now that you're where you used to go to get away?
FWIW, I miss Tenkiller. Never lived there, but feel in love with the lake and its surrounding area when I was living in Tahlequah with weekly trips back to our weekend gig down in podo america.

Bricktown!! or Embassy Suites in UNP, Norman. Bricktown for the enterftainment and food, UNP for the promised upscale shopping.

...thanks, guys! :tiphat:

Fortunately we have many citizens that take pride in the city that want to preserve history and share the experience with others!
I just saw your photos, Cameron. Gorgeous and outstanding, and thanks. I wish you had more visibility, though, so that more would see them.

Bricktown!! or Embassy Suites in UNP, Norman. Bricktown for the enterftainment and food, UNP for the promised upscale shopping.

Haha. And Lower Bricktown for the classy environment we were promised, right?

They have started installing the exterior of the Finish Line Tower. It looks good from what I could see..

Did u take any pics?

No, sorry... I'll try to tomorrow if I get a chance. I was just driving by on I-40 and saw them installing the glass. If anyone else snaps a few shots before I do, It would be greatly appreciated!

I'm not sure if this is new but there are now dipictions of the UCO and OU boathouses available:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QJCmVrtNDjI/Sm08XJtouVI/AAAAAAAAAZA/TidRMozToW4/s1600-h/UCO+Boathouse.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QJCmVrtNDjI/Sm06w_a9KXI/AAAAAAAAAYg/mqm90L_yhhg/s1600-h/OU+Boathouse.jpg

The OU boathouse has a red tinge which is a big surprise. LOL

I'm not sure if this is new but there are now dipictions of the UCO and OU boathouses available:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QJCmVrtNDjI/Sm08XJtouVI/AAAAAAAAAZA/TidRMozToW4/s1600-h/UCO+Boathouse.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_QJCmVrtNDjI/Sm06w_a9KXI/AAAAAAAAAYg/mqm90L_yhhg/s1600-h/OU+Boathouse.jpg

The OU boathouse has a red tinge which is a big surprise. LOL

Those have been around for a while and are preliminary. The Central boathouse and Devon boathouse had pretty much identical renderings until they finished the design for the Devon one. The finishline tower changed even more from it's first draft than any of the others.

OU boathouse fully funded, also states expect UCO's to complete fundraising this summer.

Page 2 of Director of Development Report (http://www.okc.gov/AgendaPub/cache/2/bpo1doe3jo4iaqzrl3dtsk2f/117635603232011105649489.PDF) for Riverfront Authority

OU boathouse fully funded, also states expect UCO's to complete fundraising this summer.

Page 2 of Director of Development Report (http://www.okc.gov/AgendaPub/cache/2/bpo1doe3jo4iaqzrl3dtsk2f/11763560323201110114224.PDF) for Riverfront Authority

Great news, perhaps OU can start construction by the end of the year.

The link doesn't work for me however...

hopefully this one works

http://www.okc.gov/AgendaPub/cache/2/bpo1doe3jo4iaqzrl3dtsk2f/117635603232011105649489.PDF

hopefully this one works

http://www.okc.gov/AgendaPub/cache/2/bpo1doe3jo4iaqzrl3dtsk2f/117635603232011105649489.PDF

Yep! Thank you

Why did construction slow down on Finish Line tower? Just a few months ago it was reported that it would be completed in April 2011 and now it's moved back to summer 2011... Wonder what the hold up was?

Good news about the fundraising for those two boathouses...

That report also says that they are looking into adding boat landings for the river cruisers for the American Indian Cultural Center and Stockyards City.

And hoping to add a disc golf course along the river.


I wonder if any work has been done for selecting the white water facility location that is part of MAPS 3?

I wonder if any work has been done for selecting the white water facility location that is part of MAPS 3?

Good Question. That is one project that is getting no mention, I almost forgot about it completely.

I wonder if any work has been done for selecting the white water facility location that is part of MAPS 3?

That's going to be awesome when complete!

I wonder if any work has been done for selecting the white water facility location that is part of MAPS 3?


That facility will certanly be awsome when complete, but it is curious why it has not been mentioned. My guess is they have had to focus on the river wind screens and lighting due to timing. I think the desire is for those projects to be completed before some upcoming regattas and olympic training related events.

I have actually been to the one in Charolette, which was studied in preperation for OKC's, and it was very cool. Some time ago, the intent was the facility would be located east of the boathouses, close to I-35. I believe they've even looked at some preliminary site plans and also had some of the Charolette folks come in to study that location and go through lessons learned.

That facility will enhance the river's overall uniqueness and cool factor for OKC. It will also be a destination type facility drawing attendence from a broad radius who will come to experience it, not to mention fill up our bricktown hotels and restaurants.

There's a timeline for the kayak course, but I cannot remember exactly how it falls. I know it's a later project than the sidewalks and trails.

The following photos are from William's awesome video.

In an interview with newsok.com today, Mike Knopp said the finish line tower will be complete in July.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/misc/finishtower.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/misc/chkboathouse.jpg

The finish line tower is looking great!

Looks great, but would be nice with some mature trees along the banks and between buildings
, it looks too manmade.

They aren't done yet. I'm sure some trees are in the plans.

Saplings to my knowledge, not mature tree transplants. Does anyone know more?

You would think Aubrey could bring some larger, more mature ones off his tree farm.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5136/5568120394_7ba2f9a41e_o.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5224/5568120900_4bdf14d4de_o.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5069/5568120578_6417f32e2f_o.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5062/5568121158_8324c637cd_o.jpg

Looks great, but would be nice with some mature trees along the banks and between buildings
, it looks too manmade.

This is a place for training and holding events, look at the boathouses, natural is not what they are going for. They may not have put trees in the master plan for simplicity but at most it will just be landscaping elements, which is not natural looking either but given it is an engineered drainage channel with buildings all around it with very tall bridges crossing the river every mile or less all next to downtown and a major interstate juncture, how would you make that look natural if you wanted to. It will look even less natural when they put in the concrete steps/seats on the north bank, course lighting, a 40 foot windscreen and a stadium on the south bank. They planted several hundred with the army corp of engineers a few years ago is why many of the current trees are their now, much of the south side trees were for additional wind protection (possibly as much to screen the rail yard from sight). Many of the north side trees from the old neighbored that is being removed are likely to be taken out for parking.

If you want a natural river in OKC go to the Route 66 boathouse for a kayak or canoe by lake Overholser where the river wanders through the wildlife refuge.

It'll just be nice to not see that area so dirt-ridden. Once the finish line tower is complete I'm hoping that whole area will have grass planted on it. There's not going to be any more construction between the Chesapeake Boathouse/Finish Tower/Devon after July that would prevent sodding, is there? Next is going to be the two other boathouses, which would free up the main plaza area off Lincoln, right?

Byers, not Lincoln

It'll just be nice to not see that area so dirt-ridden. Once the finish line tower is complete I'm hoping that whole area will have grass planted on it. There's not going to be any more construction between the Chesapeake Boathouse/Finish Tower/Devon after July that would prevent sodding, is there? Next is going to be the two other boathouses, which would free up the main plaza area off Lincoln, right?

The only other major thing in that area is the concrete bleachers/steps going along the the entire north bank along the boathouses. Not sure if that will be done now since they are doing dirt work anyway, if that will be done with the stadium on the south side or some random time later (in either of the later two cases they will likely put sod down now until they get around to it like they did on the east side of the devon boathouse). Their will also be a fire pit and video screen by it but none of the renderings really show these two but these two seem like they will not affect timeline hardly.

Where will a fire pit be located?

Where will a fire pit be located?

They were kind of vague, Mike Knopp (the executive director of the boathouse foundation) has also mentioned their being one a few times but never going into any real details as far as I know.


Community activities planned at the finish line tower will include gatherings on the tower plaza, complete with fire pit and an outdoor video screen.

Some of the renderings do have screens that are fairly large to project video from parts of the course you would not have good visibility from or to conduct interviews, like a small drive-in theater. Mounting cameras to the light poles has been disused.

Thanks Snowman

From http://boathousedistrictdevelopment.blogspot.com/

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fGeeJzSgC_g/TfL7gfRFegI/AAAAAAAADAY/Pe1RMLvKqH0/s1600/photo.JPG

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I3v2RqK-T4M/TfL7gLH-DKI/AAAAAAAADAQ/LJ1sG8DqFww/s1600/tower.JPG

That first shot is awesome, just wish it wasn't so blurry.

Nice pics! Any word on when the other 2 boathouses might get going? It seems like they were close to being fully funded a while ago...

Nice pics! Any word on when the other 2 boathouses might get going? It seems like they were close to being fully funded a while ago...

The have not stated any dates in the river development meetings, OU's was fully funded a few months ago and what was expected to be the final blueprints had been submitted to OU in the last month or two, the UCO one is now being mentioned as over 3/4 funded and they still say they expect it to be be fully funded by the end of the summer.

Nice article by Steve today in the Oklahoman; finish line tower will be dedicated in August:

http://photos.newsok.com/2/showimage/1440898/gallery_large?recordView=0

http://newsok.com/chesapeake-finish-line-tower-expected-to-transform-oklahoma-river-into-a-top-attraction/article/3576497?custom_click=lead_story_title

Very cool..and I can't wait to see all 3 boathouses down there! And if everything else keeps the momentum, this place is going to be so freaking cool!

anybody think that a housing development for the rowers who are here specifically for Olympic training could be built on the river front?

I think that would be an amazing addition with maybe a midrise apt complex and I'm sure the would be some kind of federal grant since it would be for Olympic athletes housing.

Any thoughts?

Yes. That would be awesome! Might spur more residential and other development too...

The MAPS 3 River Subcommittee just approved a contract with Rand Elliott to design the windscreen that will go on the south side of the river.

Also, they are moving along with the overhead lighting between the Byers and I-35 bridges and it should be installed by next summer.

How does a MAPS 3 subcommittee "approve" a contract ... can a subcommittee do more than recommend?

The MAPS 3 River Subcommittee just approved a contract with Rand Elliott to design the windscreen that will go on the south side of the river.

Also, they are moving along with the overhead lighting between the Byers and I-35 bridges and it should be installed by next summer.

my understanding is that the lights will be installed before sept of this year

How does a MAPS 3 subcommittee "approve" a contract ... can a subcommittee do more than recommend?

Should have said they recommended approving the contract.

However, I'm sure with their recommendation the final approval is a formality.

Is there a rendering of the lights available?

There are just pole lights like you'd see at any stadium.

About 10 on both sides of the river.

Oh ok. Wasn't sure exactly what type of lighting (festive, etc.) we were talking about.

They posted some documents showing some newer info on construction of the grounds around the boathouses and what looks to be an early concept for the whitewater facility on the Thursday Jun 16, 2011 1:30 PM Board of Adjustment meeting item D 10 http://www.okc.gov/AgendaPub/mtgviewer.aspx?meetid=1431&doctype=AGENDA

I would link to the actual document but the link would be giving a 404 error within an hour.