Looks like the facility would go at the east end of boathouse row (the far right side of the second image):

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/whitewater1.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/boathouserow611.jpg

Judging by those two pics, somebody's boathouse is gonna have to go bye bye (on the far east end, the tba triangle, that being okcu) cause that's not all going to be able to occupy the same space along the edge of the river.

With all the cool boathouses being built and proposed for Boathouse Row, I really hope they demolish the cotton gin and the rock climbing venue. It makes it look dirty and detracts from the architecture of the soon to be finish line and the boathouse's themselves. It needs to be new and modern!!

Judging by those two pics, somebody's boathouse is gonna have to go bye bye (on the far east end, the tba triangle, that being okcu) cause that's not all going to be able to occupy the same space along the edge of the river.

The lower drawing looks to be more recent as items constructed in the last few months are labeled as existing on it and overlays precisely with a current map, the whitewater drawings has some of the odot construction drawn in the wrong places by at least a few hundred feet.

I am not sure which college's boathouse your saying would be gone, okcu's is the blue triangle one west of all the other college ones.

Can't wait for the White Water facility to open!

After thinking about for a little while, given the audience they are going for with the hotel it being on the TBA site makes some sense if it has a dock and storage bays as it would allow the schools or individuals coming for races or training camps a protected area to store their boats at their hotel and then keep the trailers off site to allow for more parking at events.

With all the cool boathouses being built and proposed for Boathouse Row, I really hope they demolish the cotton gin and the rock climbing venue. It makes it look dirty and detracts from the architecture of the soon to be finish line and the boathouse's themselves. It needs to be new and modern!!

No! Tear down the producers co-op but not OKC rocks! It doesnt look bad with the mural on it and adds one more outdoor themed venue to what's becoming an outdoor themed area. The closest good rock climbing is in Lawton. OKC rocks is a cool venue.

Judging by those two pics, somebody's boathouse is gonna have to go bye bye (on the far east end, the tba triangle, that being okcu) cause that's not all going to be able to occupy the same space along the edge of the river.

The Devon Boathouse is OCU's boathouse. Thus all 3 schools (OCU, UCO, OU) are already taken care of on that map.

Maybe a stupid question here,but will Boathouse Row be visible from the new I-40,or will that stretch of highway still be sunken?

Maybe a stupid question here,but will Boathouse Row be visible from the new I-40,or will that stretch of highway still be sunken?

You can see it from the new I-40, That section of the highway is already done.

The Devon Boathouse is OCU's boathouse. Thus all 3 schools (OCU, UCO, OU) are already taken care of on that map.

What OKCisOK is saying is that there is no room for the OU boathouse if you compare the two photos. Use the curved section of the new Lincoln/Byers as a reference point.

The white water diagram is purely conceptual, I'm sure. I don't think they're going to accidentally build ontop of the completed OU Boathouse. ;]

Regarding the OU boathouse, I just saw in the regent's recent Capital Improvements Project List that it has been fully funded for $6.5 million.

Rand Elliott is finishing the design and I bet we'll see a ground breaking soon.


Last I read, UCO was about 2/3rds of the way to raising the money it needs.

I think he is talking about the triangle that isn't colored in. The one that says TBA on it. I dunno if he is talking about both of them or just the one that is kinda far from the river.

Awesome. Is the OU boathouse going to be next to the Devon Boathouse or further east (with UCO by Devon)? It's great that something is always under contruction there...

You can see the OU site below in red; if UCO doesn't get going soon, there will be a big gap between it and the Devon boathouse:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/boathouserow611.jpg

With all the cool boathouses being built and proposed for Boathouse Row, I really hope they demolish the cotton gin and the rock climbing venue. It makes it look dirty and detracts from the architecture of the soon to be finish line and the boathouse's themselves. It needs to be new and modern!!

Cotton gin yes. OKC Rocks no. Granted, I dont like the painting on the side of it but I dont see a problem with a grain elevator being down there. Preferebly just painted white. And it definitely fits into the area being a rock climbing place. I think it compliments the rowing area and future white water rafting very well.

Cotton gin yes. OKC Rocks no. Granted, I dont like the painting on the side of it but I dont see a problem with a grain elevator being down there. Preferebly just painted white. And it definitely fits into the area being a rock climbing place. I think it compliments the rowing area and future white water rafting very well.


I agree about keeping it and the location. I wish there was a location to have a decent mountain biking course near here too. Or maybe something like this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventure_park (could be indoors or outdoors) But i have a feeling something like the would need to be further outside the city.

I agree about keeping it and the location. I wish there was a location to have a decent mountain biking course near here too. Or maybe something like this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventure_park (could be indoors or outdoors) But i have a feeling something like the would need to be further outside the city.

The boathouse foundation has talked about possibly having rock climbing, zip line, ropes course elements at the whitewater site like the one in North Carolina they are modeling it on. If their was only more space for mountain biking by the skate park, it seems like those two would bring a similar audience that would build on each other.

The lower drawing looks to be more recent as items constructed in the last few months are labeled as existing on it and overlays precisely with a current map, the whitewater drawings has some of the odot construction drawn in the wrong places by at least a few hundred feet.

I am not sure which college's boathouse your saying would be gone, okcu's is the blue triangle one west of all the other college ones.

The blue one is the Devon Boathouse... look at it, it's right next to the Byers St. bridge and the Finish Line Tower. If the Devon Boathouse is the operations base for OCU, then that is awesome, but yes, for all, wondering, I was talking about the dash outline TBA boathouse on the far east side.


The white water diagram is purely conceptual, I'm sure. I don't think they're going to accidentally build ontop of the completed OU Boathouse. ;]

One thing is for certain, looking at pics of the view from the top of the Finish Line Tower looking east, they're going to have to move those brand new power lines again if they're going to build this whitewater facility. Powerlines over water with people in it? Yeah, that's not a risk factor, lol.

All photos courtesy http://boathousedistrictdevelopment.blogspot.com

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zmr0XVA-8UQ/Tf53NDnlwDI/AAAAAAAADCc/GVCFfxXrzJ4/s1600/IMG_6302.JPG

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3aKPCTX_HM0/Tf53L4Tns2I/AAAAAAAADCE/RiYpl-UW_Lo/s1600/IMG_6086.JPG

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5Rd8rZm8FlE/Tf56dxIUMGI/AAAAAAAADCk/euDLyH9i-Sk/s1600/IMG_6121.JPG

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BkyFCCRy5oo/Tf56eGQFiJI/AAAAAAAADCs/PxtZgQPCENw/s1600/IMG_6308.JPG

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qGNudTUXUsc/Tf56e48T7NI/AAAAAAAADC0/jLJY-eeIQ-o/s1600/IMG_6309.JPG

The blue one is the Devon Boathouse... look at it, it's right next to the Byers St. bridge and the Finish Line Tower. If the Devon Boathouse is the operations base for OCU, then that is awesome, but yes, for all, wondering, I was talking about the dash outline TBA boathouse on the far east side.



One thing is for certain, looking at pics of the view from the top of the Finish Line Tower looking east, they're going to have to move those brand new power lines again if they're going to build this whitewater facility. Powerlines over water with people in it? Yeah, that's not a risk factor, lol.


the devon boathouse has always been oklahoma city U's boathouse just as the New UCO boathouse when completed will be called the CHK boathouse

Why would it be called the CHK boathouse when the Chesapeake Boathouse already exists? You saying that the current Chesapeake Boathouse is going to be renamed by another company?? I hardly think so...

Where did he say that? No where. The UCO Boathouse has indeed been said to be sponsored by Chesapeake as well as their original boathouse. And yes, it has been dubbed the CHK Boathouse.

technically named "CHK | Central Boathouse" I believe

Why would it be called the CHK boathouse when the Chesapeake Boathouse already exists? ...

While they did not contribute the entire sum to build the building like they did with the finish line tower and the Chesapeake Boathouse, 3 million was given by the company and another million from one of the executives of the company in addition to that for the UCO building.

They finally gave a estimate (though vague) on the Bricktown to Boathouse Distract river/pedestrian connection as being completed as sometime in 2013 in the most recent OCRRA meeting, sounded somewhere in the middel of the year.

They finally gave a estimate (though vague) on the Bricktown to Boathouse Distract river/pedestrian connection as being completed as sometime in 2013 in the most recent OCRRA meeting, sounded somewhere in the middel of the year.
Any more details? Like how exactly they're planning to execute it?

Any more details? Like how exactly they're planning to execute it?

They just had awarded the design contract like last month so their has not been detailed plans completed/presented yet, the bonds will be sold in April 2012, the only other thing mentioned was they are now going to be adding some additional parking as part of this.

(My opinions) As far as the schedule if the past is an indicator they will probably do the work they have to drain the east basin in Jan-Feb 2013 if they can limit it to that period since they had determined that those months have the least impact on tourism and training on prior work projects. Though that is by no means the first or last phase of the project. It does seems less prone to work stoppages during every event verses some of the projects not being right in the middle of where everyone is at. Ideally they might even get the trail/sidewalk on the north side of the canal that goes under the bridge in by October 2012 to be used for the Oklahoma Regatta.

Where did he say that? No where. The UCO Boathouse has indeed been said to be sponsored by Chesapeake as well as their original boathouse. And yes, it has been dubbed the CHK Boathouse.

F'in sweet dude. Chill on the real, lol. If there's a Chesapeake and a CHK, then totally bodacious bra...


While they did not contribute the entire sum to build the building like they did with the finish line tower and the Chesapeake Boathouse, 3 million was given by the company and another million from one of the executives of the company in addition to that for the UCO building.

One mill per letter...not too shabby!

Photos from about a week ago. Finish Line Tower to be dedicated next month:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/boathouse71111.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/finishtower71111.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/finishtower71111b.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/finishtower71111c.jpg

Wow those are some great shots both the skyline above the Cheapeake Boathouse as well as the Finishline tower! This is already a stellar development and I can't wait to see what is instore for this area as time goes on!

Chesapeake Boathouse and cruise boat burglarized in Oklahoma City
A riverboat used for cruises in Oklahoma City has been burglarized. Police have not made any arrests.

BY ROBERT MEDLEY rmedley@opubco.com
Published: July 20, 2011

A boat used for short cruises on the Oklahoma River has been repaired and is ready for more pleasure cruises, despite a recent burglary.

Burglars broke into the Chesapeake Boathouse and stole computers and two vehicles and then broke into a riverboat, police said.

Sometime late Sunday or early Monday, the boathouse at 725 S Lincoln Blvd. was broken into, and a sport utility vehicle and pickup used by Chesapeake Energy were stolen from the parking lot.

A police officer found the SUV in the 500 block of SW 52. Inside the SUV — which had Chesapeake Energy stickers on it — were parts of a broken cash register and receipts and checks written to the boathouse, according to the police report.

The stolen Chesapeake pickup was found at 3030 S Prospect Ave.

Computers and equipment were missing from the boathouse, Master Sgt. Gary Knight said. Equipment also was stolen from the riverboat, which appeared to have floated a short distance from the boathouse.

Jeanne Smith, a spokeswoman for Metro Transit, said the Devon Discovery cruise boat had a window broken and a satellite radio stolen.

Two televisions in the boat were not taken. The cruise boat is owned by Metro Transit, she said.

“They took it for a short ride and beached it up against the riprap,” Smith said. “It's just fine. They really got away with nothing.”

Anyone with information about the case can call Crime Stoppers at 235-7300.

Read more: http://newsok.com/chesapeake-boathouse-and-cruise-boat-burglarized-in-oklahoma-city/article/3587291#ixzz1SmSuwJn9

Idiots

I drove by there a while ago and noticed graffiti on the Chesapeake Boathouse sign. Really sad. We can't escape this S#!T.. Pisses me off.

A product of OKC turning into Mexico, per a certain thread. lol

naw, just another aspect of being a "big league city" (according to the "guerilla" marketing guy responsible for that not-to-be-named campaign)

Photos from about a week ago. Finish Line Tower to be dedicated next month:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/boathouse71111.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/finishtower71111.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/finishtower71111b.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/finishtower71111c.jpg

Where are the critiques???? People were having a fit about this structure when we saw the initial plans and then later the revised plans. I think it looks really good, having seen it up close and from a distance. Perhaps that's a good sign for the skydance bridge. Maybe it will turn out better than expected too.

This area looks fantastic, I am really proud of OKC!!

Where are the critiques???? People were having a fit about this structure when we saw the initial plans and then later the revised plans. I think it looks really good, having seen it up close and from a distance. Perhaps that's a good sign for the skydance bridge. Maybe it will turn out better than expected too.

I agree with you Betts. The whole area will be very unique with award winning architecture that is as functional as it is striking. As for the criticism of the designs initially, few people know how to look at plans or even renderings and to envision the finished product, or to understand the changes that are likely to take place. Rand doesn't have too many duds. But, people still like to be critics and some are even paranoid. Others are just defeatists. We can't take their opinions too seriously. I am glad that these projects stayed the course and are getting completed in an impressive way. People not familiar with OKC who drive through and this is one of their first views of downtown OKC will have a very good impression, especially as it is backed up with the Devon Center. Makes me proud of OKC.

There were a few posts way back reflecting concern about what seemed to be a change in design.

Besides that, there has been hundreds of posts praising the design (probably even thousands) and the whole area in general.


I'm getting tired of people trying to paint broad generalizations from a handful of negative posts and posters on this site. The irony of doing so is that that is the worse sort of negativity in itself. Also, the "what can the whiners say now?" posts are equally negative and only contribute to the tone and viewpoint that is ostensibly being attacked.

Mostly i like Elliot's designs, but minimalism isn't for everyone to be sure. Some would look at it and think it's cheap looking slice of cheese. But I think it's different enough that the shape of everything down there is what makes it interesting. I agree with Pete that too often when one comment is made, we end up hearing "everyone" thinks that.

People not familiar with OKC who drive through and this is one of their first views of downtown OKC will have a very good impression...
Don't take this as a negative comment per se as I like the looks of the boathouses and the finish line tower...But how much are they going to see as they drive through along the relocated I-40, in the partially depressed channel (made even more so by the retaining walls)? Or is it near enough to the interchange? I have the same question when it comes to "increased visability" of the Landrun Monument.

The Landrun Monument will certainly be visible. This is from Doug, taken in 2008:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/landrun/landrun_7_29_2008_45.jpg

I think Boathouse Row will be pretty visible from I-35 as you head north into downtown, especially at night when it is all lit up.

Photos from about a week ago. Finish Line Tower to be dedicated next month:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/boathouse71111.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/finishtower71111.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/finishtower71111b.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/finishtower71111c.jpg

Pete, maybe I'm seeing something that isn't really there. In your last pic it appears that there has been some construction started on the CHK/Central Boathouse if you look just to the right of the Devon Boathouse in the background.

That's just the railing on the "prow" of the Devon boathouse.

That's just the railing on the "prow" of the Devon boathouse.

I'm referring to the area that is above the horizon which show some kind of structure that you can see through. I've seen many pics of the Devon Boathouse that don't show anything like that in front of it.

I'm referring to the area that is above the horizon which show some kind of structure that you can see through. I've seen many pics of the Devon Boathouse that don't show anything like that in front of it.

I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that's just the railing of the triangle patio area just in front of the boathouse (but I can see how the optical illusion makes it look like construction in the distance).


(Doh! Just realized I was repeating after Pete)

I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that's just the railing of the triangle patio area just in front of the boathouse (but I can see how the optical illusion makes it look like construction in the distance).

You could be right but the prevous pics I've seen of the Devon Boathouse don't show a railing for the patio area.

You could be right but the prevous pics I've seen of the Devon Boathouse don't show a railing for the patio area.

Right, because when it first opened there wasn't one. I remember standing on that patio, looking off the ledge and thinking surely they're going to put a rail here. Looks to me like they did, though I haven't been down there lately to confirm.

You can see the rail better here:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/boathouserail.jpg

While I agree that contemporary/minimalism, or whatever we want to call the style of the boathouse row facilities, is not to everyone's liking, I find them very striking and appropriate. When all the facilities are complete and we have a half mile of these structures accented with stunning lighting it will be a very unique and visually impressive scene. It definitely will be a view that will be a signature for OKC. When this view of the river with the downtown in the background, punctuated with the Devon Tower, is displayed in an ad, magazine article, TV shot or movie frame, people will recognize it as being uniquely OKC. I happen to think OKC is really starting to gain a "look" with all this, the Skydance bridge, etc. I can't wait to see what it looks like in 10 years. It is a great time to say we are from OKC.

Agreed Rover!

I've said several times that Boathouse Row all lit up with the skyline in the background will be OKC's new signature view and something that will be truly unique.

Pete, maybe I'm seeing something that isn't really there. In your last pic it appears that there has been some construction started on the CHK/Central Boathouse if you look just to the right of the Devon Boathouse in the background.

They will almost certainly be starting on the OU Boathouse before the CHK/Central one, since OU's is fully funded and just waiting on paperwork approval at a few levels and UCO's is around three quarters funded.

ON EDIT: Not trying to hijack the thread, Pete, feel free to move this post to a more appropriate thread...

The Landrun Monument will certainly be visible. This is from Doug, taken in 2008:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/landrun/landrun_7_29_2008_45.jpg

What vantage point was the pic taken? Meaning, was it taken from "eye level" of the average passenger car? Are there not significant retaining walls (possibly indicated by the poles in that pic, see below from another thread taken by UnFrSaKn). As you can see these retaining walls are rather massive and dwarf even the large construction vehicles. Shoot, even the relatively short "concrete divider" can significantly ubsruct buildings and tall raos signage (depending on proximity to the wall). This is something that the ULI folks warned us about, to avoid it & "not let ODOT" do it.




http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/Downtown%20OKC/Interstate%2040%20Crosstown/I-40CrosstownWalkerAve7-7-11-1.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/Downtown%20OKC/Interstate%2040%20Crosstown/I-40CrosstownWalkerAve7-7-11-2.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/Downtown%20OKC/Interstate%2040%20Crosstown/I-40CrosstownWalkerAve7-7-11-3.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/Downtown%20OKC/Interstate%2040%20Crosstown/I-40CrosstownWalkerAve7-7-11-4.jpg


As far as I-35, Pete may be correct, but I was speaking more about along the partially below grade/retaining wall, relocated I-40.

I know that elevated crosstowns are out of vogue now, but they serve a purpose. It gives those "pass through" drivers more of a panoramic view of the City. When you are known as fly-over or drive-through, you need to take advantage of everything you can to encourage people to stop, not put them in a ditch, ban billboards and development. In some ways we were trying to do it right (the Skydancer Bridge).

I know that elevated crosstowns are out of vogue now, but they serve a purpose. It gives those "pass through" drivers more of a panoramic view of the City. When you are known as fly-over or drive-through, you need to take advantage of everything you can to encourage people to stop, not put them in a ditch, ban billboards and development. In some ways we were trying to do it right (the Skydancer Bridge).

Sorry, but I disagree Larry. This road is being rebuilt more for local traffic than pass through traffic. It's nice to have a view from the freeway but I would much prefer that we have views for those not on the freeway who don't want to look at cars.

I understand what you are saying and that certainly seems to be the thought process behind the trend to now build roads below grade.

But again it goes back to why does a city spend millions/billions on economic development/tourism and then does things that seem contrary to the stated objective? If you are a destination city and people are going to stop anyway, it makes some sort of sense, but when you aren't....

Larry,

I had the opportunity to take photos of downtown from the new I-40 pavement on Thursday. They were taken from the driver seat of a 2007 chevy pickup (a fairly typical vehicle given the large number of trucks and SUV's in OKC). I'll try and post them tomorrow in the Crosstown updates thread in the transportation portion of this forum.

I know that elevated crosstowns are out of vogue now, but they serve a purpose. It gives those "pass through" drivers more of a panoramic view of the City. When you are known as fly-over or drive-through, you need to take advantage of everything you can to encourage people to stop, not put them in a ditch, ban billboards and development. In some ways we were trying to do it right (the Skydancer Bridge).


They serve a purpose to keep the street grid more intact, the panoramic effect was incidental. Elevated roads cost many times to build, decay faster, ice faster, and are harder to maintain/modify than when the freeway is below the overpasses.


Sorry, but I disagree Larry. This road is being rebuilt more for local traffic than pass through traffic.

It was stated at one point near 95% of the traffic would pass through the crosstown. Though a noticeable portion of that would be locals passing from one side of the city to the other.