I believe this is still going forward but there is a lot of work behind the scenes before an announcement is made.

Steve said in one of his chats that Richard McKown was working on this.

Just heard they will be presenting their renovation plans at the next Downtown Design Review Committee on Sept. 13th.

Allford Hall Monaghan Morris is the architect; same people that did Level / Mosaic / OK SEA, so this should be pretty slick and interesting.

Just heard they will be presenting their renovation plans at the next Downtown Design Review Committee on Sept. 13th.

Allford Hall Monaghan Morris is the architect; same people that did Level / Mosaic / OK SEA, so this should be pretty slick and interesting.

can't wait to see what they come up with ..

i wonder if it will have any retail included

Last I heard it was to be retail on the ground floor, apartments on top and perhaps office in between.

I love it when these things go to design review because that means we'll have access to the plans and renderings in great detail.

AHMM is on a roll.

And they have now filed their application for formal review on Sept. 11th.

Renderings to follow but here's the summary:

*****************

Renovation and rehabilitation of existing building with new windows, landscaping, new entries, brick restoration, new trash enclosure, and a new metal canopy.

I can't wait to see the renderings. I'm tired of being sad every time I walk past this great old building. Excellent news.

I can't wait to see the renderings. I'm tired of being sad every time I walk past this great old building. Excellent news.

I agree. This will be great for Bricktown. I'm surprised it has sit this long...

This has always been one of my favorite buildings in Bricktown. So excited to see such a quality team working to transform it.

Not a ton of new info, but here we go!

Life set to return to the last boarded-up building in downtown Oklahoma City | NewsOK.com (http://m.newsok.com/life-set-to-return-to-the-last-boarded-up-building-in-downtown-oklahoma-city/article/3877090)

Yay!!

I am curious what the west side of the building will look like. I assume they are going for historic tax credits and won't remove old brick to add new windows. Will the old awning be removed or replaced?

I am curious what the west side of the building will look like. I assume they are going for historic tax credits and won't remove old brick to add new windows. Will the old awning be removed or replaced?

I believe the old awning with be renovated or replaced; it is going to stay in some form.

Not to be a downer, but where do all the office workers park? In the adjacent parking lot or is that owned by another entity? The only reason I ask is because the only thing better than a revitalized Rock Island Plow building is a revitalized Rock Island Plow with new structures flanking it instead of parking lots...

The parking lot immediately west of the building is under the same ownership.

Right now, it is striped for 32 spaces.
.
There are also large surface lots immediately west, east and north and the massive Uhaul lot just south. Different ownership, but there is an absolute sea of immediately adjacent parking.

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

I hope Richard fights to get angled parking on Oklahoma and Reno.

doubt either happen .. with Oklahoma becoming the major bricktown entrance off of the blvd

Wasn't the city looking into a single lane of parking on both sides of Reno a few months ago, for after the boulevard is open.

I don't understand why there seems to be so little interest in converting the surface lots to structured parking with retail. Solves all problems, real or imagined.

Wasn't the city looking into a single lane of parking on both sides of Reno a few months ago, for after the boulevard is open.


http://www.okctalk.com/other-urban-development/27547-bricktown-strategic-plan.html


the bricktown strategic plan was looking at the idea that was work of the planning dept and bricktown stakeholders

I've seen the detailed plans for this project but have been asked not to publish them just yet.

The old metal awning will be removed and a new one installed in it's place. There will be a new west entry door but no windows added to the west facade.

Hope to be able to share at least some of the renderings soon. First class job all the way.

Rock Island Plow Building Up Close | News OK (http://newsok.com/rock-island-plow-building-up-close/article/3877526?custom_click=rss)

Here is the package.

Credit to AHMM for all images and note that all these have been submitted for planning but not yet approved.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/plownew1.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/plownew2.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/plownew3.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/plownew4.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/plownew5.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/plownew6.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/plownew7.jpg

More:


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/plownew8.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/plownew9.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/plownew10.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/plownew11.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/plownew12.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/plownew13.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/plownew14.jpg

Wow!!!!!!

Neat!

This is a knockout. The attention to detail and the surrounding area is awesome.

Hard to see how this would not be approved. This is outstanding. Love it!

Bravo.

I'm a bit surprised there will be no retail, as that had been previously rumored.

I'm a bit surprised there will be no retail, as that had been previously rumored.

My thoughts exactly Pete. As much as I am grateful for someone to come and redo this eyesore of BT, I wish they would have integrated retail on the first floor. Maybe just on the Oklahoma side (east) of the building and built a platform/landing much like the one in front of BT Candy Company for people to access the different stores. I am curious if the distance from the building to the sidewalk on that side had anything to do with them scraping those ideas.

The renderings say it offers space for retail, office or restaurant use. It looks like retail could be added on the Oklahoma facing side and take advantage of those entrances.

Maybe they're waiting to have tenants lined up?

The renderings say it offers space for retail, office or restaurant use. It looks like retail could be added on the Oklahoma facing side and take advantage of those entrances.

Maybe they're waiting to have tenants lined up?

Yes, it does say that, thanks.

Just was thrown because the renderings are showing office use.

I know at one time they were talking to potential retail tenants -- hope that is still the case.

This really just looks fantastic. One more big step in revitalizing Bricktown. Now all we'll need is to fill in a lot of those surface lots with new all-brick buildings. :)

That's going to be an impressive change. Imagine the renovations we're seeing here in place of:

http://www.okctalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=4342 (https://www.google.com/maps/preview?hl=en#!data=!1m8!1m3!1d3!2d-97.510506!3d35.464241!2m2!1f311.91!2f90.33!4f75!2m 4!1e1!2m2!1sliCCaMCc1-7Jj6NbZmXjPg!2e0&fid=5)

Here's my photos from a while back:

Oklahoma City (October 02 2012) - a set on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/williamhider/sets/72157631693033546/)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8450/8054782650_02cc75827f_b.jpg

More so than the potential lack of retail, why not residential at least on the top floor, as that's what I thought McKown was an expert in.

More so than the potential lack of retail, why not residential at least on the top floor, as that's what I thought McKown was an expert in.

The numbers don't work. He tried. Retail is still a possibility for the first floor.

http://www.unique-gift-basket-ideas.com/image-files/smiley_waving_100.jpg

Hi Steve!

The numbers don't work. He tried. Retail is still a possibility for the first floor.

Steve, thanks for that. i was curious if that was the case.

I can't wait for a day when the numbers do work. I would love to live in a renovated building like this.

A couple more schematics:



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/plow9413a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/plow9413b.jpg

A couple more schematics:

[center]
http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/plow9413a.jpg

So it looks like there will be an entrance off of Oklahoma for retail.

My first time reading this post. I've always wondered about this building, and I'm glad to see it's being put to great use. I have a question though...

What do you guys generally think of when you mention "downtown retail"? I get a little confused when people say that Bricktown or Automobile Alley are the next retail boomtowns for OKC. Honestly, I don't believe that OKC is able to sustain more than 3 malls (Outlet, Penn, and QSM seem to be all stepping up their games), so I find it hard to believe that any national retailers would show up downtown. On the other hand, if you're referring to a Pharmacy, Grocery store, or Target-esque retailer, then I can agree with that.

Please enlighten me :)

The more people that live downtown, the more likely expanded retail will work. I doubt it will be many national chains (outside of the ones you mention) but i think expanded retail downtown will consist mostly of local shops like the ones going up in AA. Have to continue adding residential to assure that their will be enough people consistently in the area to shop there.

If the renderings are to be believed, it looks like they intend to keep the painted sinage on the sides faded, or removed completely. Does anyone know for sure?

My first time reading this post. I've always wondered about this building, and I'm glad to see it's being put to great use. I have a question though...

What do you guys generally think of when you mention "downtown retail"? I get a little confused when people say that Bricktown or Automobile Alley are the next retail boomtowns for OKC. Honestly, I don't believe that OKC is able to sustain more than 3 malls (Outlet, Penn, and QSM seem to be all stepping up their games), so I find it hard to believe that any national retailers would show up downtown. On the other hand, if you're referring to a Pharmacy, Grocery store, or Target-esque retailer, then I can agree with that.

Please enlighten me :)

Perhaps not national retail. Really, why would we want national retail in Bricktown? Look at stores like Rawhide, Plenty and Bow & Arrow Boutique on Automobile Alley. Those stores are great fun to shop in precisely because they aren't national chains. They've got really unique merchandise and so shopping is always interesting. I can find things in these stores that not everyone has. I'd be far more interested in getting shops like these in Bricktown. The national chains can go to the malls - that's fine with me.

I would be 100% satisfied if we never got a national retail chain in downtown or AA. Local is Lovely, ya know.

I agree. Local shops are a much better fit for these areas. Retail always wants to see more residents nearby, but it's my impression that national retail really isn't what downtown residents are looking for anyway. I think part of the motivation is to have a different day to day experience than what memorial, I-240, or NW Expressway offers. If these people wanted to live near big box megastore complexes, there's plenty of opportunity to do that elsewhere in the city already. Local retail also creates a more homegrown and unique experience as opposed to national chains that usually would just rather import their same turnkey concepts into every market. While there are still a lot of retail brands people covet here, we do have a lot of national retail. What we don't yet have is a single dense collection of local shopping that, when put together, create a shopping district and destination of its own. Plaza district is probably the closest we have to a real local shopping district at this point.

Good points.

I don't understand why so many people on here want OKC to be a chain covered hell similar to everywhere else in the nation. I think AA should be the one place in town that is free of that. Frankly I don't believe the mass market appeal that a lot of national chains depend on would work on Broadway.

Good points.

I don't understand why so many people on here want OKC to be a chain covered hell similar to everywhere else in the nation. I think AA should be the one place in town that is free of that. Frankly I don't believe the mass market appeal that a lot of national chains depend on would work on Broadway.

The thing with AA though is that a lot of its ground floor storefronts have been filled with offices. You certainly want office in the mix, but this type of use of street level frontage kind of limits its potential from being a cohesive retail destination. There is still some vacancy and surface lots that could be redeveloped, but, at this point, it will take a conscious effort on the part of property owners to re-purpose some storefronts before AA can really be a vibrant shopping corridor.

If only the city would subsidize local retail development like they do outlet malls and sporting goods stores...

With regard to sustainable retail downtown, what is the retail presence like in downtown Kansas City, if anyone knows? Read in those TIGER recaps that KC has a downtown workforce of 65,000 with residential numbers about 4,600.

Good points.

I don't understand why so many people on here want OKC to be a chain covered hell similar to everywhere else in the nation. ...

Because for some it tells them they have finally arrived. It's only after they arrive that it then dawns on them their destination was hell.

The thing with AA though is that a lot of its ground floor storefronts have been filled with offices. You certainly want office in the mix, but this type of use of street level frontage kind of limits its potential from being a cohesive retail destination. There is still some vacancy and surface lots that could be redeveloped, but, at this point, it will take a conscious effort on the part of property owners to re-purpose some storefronts before AA can really be a vibrant shopping corridor.

If only the city would subsidize local retail development like they do outlet malls and sporting goods stores...

I think that will change overtime. There are still a lot of empty storefronts in AA either being renovated or former businesses up for lease so I think the change is beginning.

Because for some it tells them they have finally arrived. It's only after they arrive that it then dawns on them their destination was hell.

I would be fine with the only national retail chains in DT either being CVS or Walgreens and some type of larger grocery store. Other than that, bring on the local options.

There are already 14 retailers on Auto Alley -- all locals. And there are more in the works.

This in addition to 10 restaurants.

I would be fine with the only national retail chains in DT either being CVS or Walgreens and some type of larger grocery store. Other than that, bring on the local options.

Yeah, you don't see many local drug stores opening up much any more. Would love to see the old Nichols Hills drug store and counter be reborn on AA. That would be a draw for sure.


There are already 14 retailers on Auto Alley -- all locals. And there are more in the works.

This in addition to 10 restaurants.

And it still feels kind of disjointed. A little bit of infill and a couple of new storefronts will definitely help.

To me, this is what TIF or BID funds should be used for. We shouldn't just simply go around the utilities. We spend the money to do it right so it is right for decades to come.

spending millions of dollars (if we did this everywhere clearly this project wouldn't cost millions) to move trees 10 feet would be a huge waste of money

I agree Sid. Doing things wrong now to match things done wrong in the past is a pretty lame guiding principle. We are supposed to learn from mistakes, not keep repeating them.

Put the trees in planters until the next time the road is fixed.

I think I'm struggling with the notion that local retail could outboom national retail. For the most part, when you compare apples to apples, local is much more expensive than national retail. For me to have a wardrobe or house with even 75% local products would have easily cost me twice as much as it did in reality. Even if you have a monthly (or weekly) block party like Live at the Plaza, you see tons of people walking through the store, but I rarely see people approach the register. And downtown real estate I would assume is way more expensive than uptown and beyond.

I agree with the viability of lifestyle centers, but you would need it to be dependent on every day necessities (grocery stores, pharmacies, restaurants, gyms, outdoor activities) and proven retailers to be sustainable, especially as downtown real estate and other costs rise.

$4,000,000 building permit today for this project.

Looks like we should start to see construction soon.

Can't wait to see this building start to come back to life!