The building behind Velvet Monkey IS Velvet Monkey. All of it is Estrella's. That's all one building, a former ice house if I'm not mistaken.
This is true. Estrella's loft style home is behind the salon. The upper floor was used to house the machinery from the ice house, so there was never a roof. She would like to make a rooftop patio someday, but I believe the cost for elevator and everything else it would take have put that on hold for a while

The sale of the building that housed the Coin-Op laundromat and the vacant gravel lot next door closed on Friday. They still have 2 weeks to move their equipment so you wouldn't know by looking at it. Before you ask, I don't have a link for you to verify this. But, I'm sure you can search the county records in a few weeks when it updates. It is now owned by Sweet Sixteenth LLC. The principal owner is Steve Mason. I have no link to that info either, except to tell you I know that because I am the silent 30%. The reason the legal entity is different than the name on the title of his other holdings is that he has some silent partners on this one that are not a part of the rest of his empire. There are no specific plans at this point. We think the space would be best used by a restaurant/coffee shop/bar/music venue because of the lot(potential patio) next door. But, since there is no lease yet, it's whatever $ wants it to be. If you or anybody you know has interest in the space, you may contact Steve Mason's office or the Plaza District office.

http://www.plazadistrict.org/2012/05/plaza-patio-partnership/

Don’t you wish there were more places to sit and enjoy the Plaza District?

We would love for you to bring your lunch, read a book, or listen to a street musician on the wonderful, wide sidewalks we’re so lucky to have.
This week, we’re wanting to make that possible! We’re partnering with Better Block OKC (http://www.betterblockokc.com/), an awesome project working to enhance public space and street life in OKC (May 18-19th, be there!!)

With each $100 donation to the Plaza District, we will purchase a cafe seating set pictured below. The cafe sets will be at home in the Plaza District, but loaned out to Better Block OKC as needed. In fact, they will debut at our pop-up park this Friday at LIVE on the Plaza, then return to Better Block OKC on May 18-19th at NW 7th/Hudson.

http://www.plazadistrict.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/patiotable.jpg (http://www.plazadistrict.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/patiotable.jpg)

With your donation, you’re helping two organizations make OKC a more vibrant, pedestrian place, and your donation is tax deductible. The deadline to donate is this Friday at noon.

I just found out yesterday that a good friend of mine is one of the buyers of the old Coin-Op. He said they have absolutely no clue what they are going to do and he is open to any suggestions. He threw out the idea of having a place like Barcadia in Dallas. Small bar with old school video games. Please give suggestions for what you would like to happen and i'll pass them along. Just to the right of the building is an empty gravel lot that he would love to make a patio. Please send suggestions!

I just found out yesterday that a good friend of mine is one of the buyers of the old Coin-Op. He said they have absolutely no clue what they are going to do and he is open to any suggestions. He threw out the idea of having a place like Barcadia in Dallas. Small bar with old school video games. Please give suggestions for what you would like to happen and i'll pass them along. Just to the right of the building is an empty gravel lot that he would love to make a patio. Please send suggestions!

I've never been to Barcadia, but The Max in Tulsa is a pretty cool niche place. Definitely would fit well in the Plaza District. A patio would be great.

I'd still like to see a great breakfast place in Plaza District, Midtown or Deep Deuce.

Here are menus from two of my favorite Chicago restaurants that serve breakfast. They are always packed with people.

http://chicago.menupages.com/restaurants/yolk/menu

http://chicago.menupages.com/restaurants/milk-honey-cafe/menu

http://chicago.menupages.com/restaurants/bongo-room-2/menu

Any of those areas could greatly benefit by duplicating a place like Ozzie's or The Diner out of Norman. They aren't hip by any means, but they are just plain old delicious with an appropriate amount of retro. I'd just as soon eat breakfast at either as I would anywhere else in the state.

I'd still like to see a great breakfast place in Plaza District, Midtown or Deep Deuce.

Here are menus from two of my favorite Chicago restaurants that serve breakfast. They are always packed with people.

http://chicago.menupages.com/restaurants/yolk/menu

http://chicago.menupages.com/restaurants/milk-honey-cafe/menu

http://chicago.menupages.com/restaurants/bongo-room-2/menu

Reminds me of my favorite place to go for breakfast when I'm in LA. It has a very eclectic menu.

http://hugosrestaurant.com/menu/breakfast

I have to wonder if any restaurants in OKC have this designation in the menu.

- Vegan
- Vegetarian
- Gluten-Free
() - Can be Vegan
() - Can be Vegetarian
() - Can be Gluten-Free
- Contains Nuts

Many restaurants offer gluten free menus now or notes on their main menu when an item is gluten free or can be made so. Same with vegan and vegetarian items. At least enough that I have noticed it while dining out. Unfortunately I can't think of any off the top of my head. I don't remember seeing any nut allergy warnings.

Oh wait, locally I think Coolgreens does something like this. I know I've seen something similar at the more modern and healthy places around town. National chains like BJ's and Outback do too. It's still not super common.

Coffey's offered gluten free.

Cafe7.

Drove by yesterday and they had completed the bottom half of brick on Mule.

Just learned that Steve Mason just closed on the old Dye's Furniture building directly east of Saint's Pub at 1709 NW 16th.

Not sure of his plans but let's hope he brings some of his 9th Street magic to the area:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/1709nw16.jpg

Sweet! That building has great potential. Saint's is a great place, the Mule looks promising, and all the local shops are great. If great owners can take over the last few remaining buildings then this district could really become special. I think the district needs a full time music venue...

This is great news. One of the problems we have in the Plaza District is a lack of continuity. There are "nodes" of activity separated by underutilzed properties. This purchase and the purchase of the laundromat are starting to close those gaps and fill in the holes in the neighborhood. Fantastic.

Plaza District Seeks Ideas for New Development of the Coin Laundry Building

If you had the power to build a new place in your neighborhood, what would you build? This is the question posed by Popularise, a new platform that engages both the developer and community in the development process. With Popularise, developers post projects and share that power with the local community who can then submit ideas and vote for what they would like to see built in their neighborhood.

A new development in the Plaza District has been featured on this national platform which includes projects from Washington D.C. and Seattle. “We’re excited to see the community’s response and ideas for this building,” says Plaza District Executive Director Kristen Vails, “We are looking for creative ideas for the development of the space which will serve the neighborhood and Plaza District well.”

Since the 1950's, the Coin Laundry has served the Plaza District surrounding neighborhoods. With the youngest son working his way through college, and the elderly father too tired to run the operation, the family put the business up for sale. Knowing the building would be in good hands, the family sold Friendly Coin Laundry to Sweet Sixteenth LLC, a new group devoted to investing in Plaza District's continued revitalization.

While community input is encouraged, the platform also allows local businesses to submit their ideas, plans and concepts to be considered by both the community and developer. To show their commitment to local business, district sponsor Fowler Volkswagen of Norman is offering up to $1250 in rent support for first 6 months to the tenant selected by the developer. With this support, Fowler VW is both growing local business and spurring the Plaza District’s progress.

All are encouraged to submit, vote and become a part of the Plaza District dream team. Visit:

https://popularise.com/cities/4/neighborhoods/11/projects/13

^

The laundry is partially owned by Steve Mason as well.

His group just closed on it a few weeks ago.

Yes! Sweet Sixteenth includes Aimee and Aaron Ahpeatone (Aimee is the Plaza Board President), Travis Mason, George Mason and Maria Mason. Steve will be coaching these new developers through the process. We are excited to see what happens!

Property owners turn to social media for redevelopment ideas
By Brian Brus
Journal Record
Oklahoma City reporter - Contact: brian.brus@journalrecord.com / 405-278-2837 / https://twitter.com/JRBrianBrus
Posted: 09:29 PM Monday, June 4, 2012

OKLAHOMA CITY – Property owners in the Plaza District have turned to social media to seek redevelopment ideas for the area’s empty buildings.

The 1,500-square-foot Coin Laundry Building near Indiana Avenue and NW 16th Street, for example, which still advertises on its dark windows “Dry 25¢” and “Wash 75¢,” might serve the community better as an arcade bar, tea shop or book store, online respondents said. Other suggestions have included a ramen bar, hat store and anti-gravity yoga studio.

Only some of the feedback on Popularise.com will yield commercially viable ideas, Plaza District Executive Director Kristen Vails said. Many of the submissions are merely wishful thinking, while others are linked to businesses that are already successful and might expand into the area. The important thing is that the Coin Laundry Building is on the drawing board and has already attracted so much community interest.

The Plaza District, just a few blocks south of Oklahoma City University, has struggled for years to find its identity in the older neighborhood, but is now attracting interest and some say it is on the edge of gentrification.

“The Plaza District is a neighborhood commercial district boasting Oklahoma City’s local arts flavor,” the merchants organization that Vails heads describes the district on its website. “Located on NW 16th between N. Classen Boulevard and N. Pennsylvania Avenue, the Plaza District is home to art galleries, studios, retail shops, restaurants, and creative services. Visit these local businesses owned by young, creative entrepreneurs and attend performances at the renovated Plaza Theatre for Lyric at the Plaza.”

Coin Laundry was sold a few years ago to Sweet Sixteenth LLC, a small group of local developers including Amy and Aaron Ahpeatone and Steve Mason and his children. Vails said the group is looking for creative ideas to fit next door to neighbors including PhotoArt Studios and Urban Wineworks.

Popularise.com is just a few months old and currently attracting projects and community feedback only in Washington, D.C., and Seattle. Oklahoma City is Popularise’s third drawing board site. But Vails said it’s already proven its worth in those communities and she expects the concept to grow quickly via word-of-mouth and other social media. At the very least, Coin Laundry has attracted 1,600 viewers.

“While community input is encouraged, the platform also allows local businesses to submit their ideas, plans and concepts to be considered by both the community and developer,” she said.

Fowler Volkswagen of Norman is offering up to $1,250 in rent support for the first six months to the Laundry Building tenant ultimately selected by the developer. By vote, an arcade bar is the most popular idea submitted so far, but it lacks a brand or label. A teahouse, possibly as part of The Art of Tea franchise, is the second most popular idea, followed by a Nani franchise sushi restaurant.

Around the corner, a light blue, two-story house referred to as “the barn” has also been placed on Popularise.com. The farmhouse was built in 1907 and purchased recently by Struble Properties. Its neighbors include Bomb Shelter Gallery, Sons & Daughters boutique and The Mule Public House. The 1,300-square-foot building is zoned for commercial as well.
Vails said the owners will wait a few months to shut down the Popularise.com sites and move forward with development based on feedback.

An arcade bar could be awesome, I think Elliott Nelson opened something like that in the Blue Dome.

I actually think the Blackwelder farm house is the most interesting property on popularise. But what is Brian Brus smoking to say that the Plaza District "may be on the edge of gentrification" ?? I don't know what gentrification is supposed to look like for the older areas west of Classen, but I would argue that Plaza clearly is gentrified particularly if you go there on a Friday night.

The thing that amazes me about 16th now is that it really is bustling at all hours of the day, whereas just a year ago it was kinda dead during the day - the retail businesses are doing much better now.

An arcade bar could be awesome, I think Elliott Nelson opened something like that in the Blue Dome.

It is called The Max.

I'd still like to see a great breakfast place in Plaza District, Midtown or Deep Deuce.

Here are menus from two of my favorite Chicago restaurants that serve breakfast. They are always packed with people.

My wife and I, along with a couple of partners are trying to get our idea selected in the contest for the coin Laundry building. It is right along the lines that you are describing. The posting on Popularise is here, https://popularise.com/cities/4/neighborhoods/11/projects/13/concepts/278 (https://popularise.com/cities/4/neighborhoods/11/projects/13/concepts/278) we also have a blog we will be posting our progress to @ http://coinlaundryokc.com/ We will have architectural renderings and CAD layout in the next couple of days. I'd love to hear thoughts...

This looks awesome! Love the idea and respect all the thought that went into this.

I voted for you on Popularise.


Look forward to the renderings.

Excellent proposal. I think this would be a great fit for the area. If this happens, you won't be able to keep me out. Good luck to you, sir.

Thanks Pete! Yeah, we live on 16th St just a few blocks to the west and I've been wanting a good patio breakfast spot in the area since we moved in several years ago. In fact, I was interested in buying the building before and put out some feelers, but I think the current owners deal was already in the works. I Really think it could be a very strong asset to the neighborhood. It would be a really "unpretentious" menu of southern/okie classics with a little hispanic influence (and spice of course) in a modern, hip decor. It could really be great.

Love the late-night weekend hours as well.

Looks like your proposal is kicking tail with 46 votes and no other with more than a handful.



Let's take this little project as an opportunity to assess how far OKC has come in recent years:

1. District is brought back from the dead with lots of interesting local businesses, a well-organized merchants group, and a forward-thinking leader that has done a great job marketing through social media.

2. Local developer (Mason & Co.) buys properties with an eye to delivering what the neighborhood *needs*, as opposed to just a pure profit motive.

3. Collaboration between the district and developer leads to this promotion and competition; dozens of ideas are submitted, local business (Fowler) will help with initial rent.

4. Something great and unique is almost guaranteed to happen in this space.



Yes, it's just one small building but this type of thinking, collaboration and participation is what is going to make urban OKC a great place to live, and more of it is happening with each passing day. Very exciting stuff and shows the creative resources that already exist.

An arcade bar could be awesome, I think Elliott Nelson opened something like that in the Blue Dome.

It's The MAX Retropub and it's owned by Tulsa city councilor Blake Ewing who also owns Joe Mama's Pizza, Boomtown Ts and Back Alley Blues and BBQ

http://www.themaxretropub.com/

Okc is desperately needing better breakfast options, therefore, you get my vote.

Just got the CAD layout (rough first draft, of course) up on the blog for our proposal.

http://coinlaundryokc.com/2012/06/13/coin-laundry-cafe-plan/

Serious question, since this is the Coin Laundry Cafe is it going to be retro styled...by that is it going to be like the buffeterias (a quick google search means I am prob not calling it the correct thing but that is what is stuck in my head right now) of days gone by where entrees, sandwiches, deserts etc would be in individual type compartments where you put in your coins and opened the windowed access door to get your stuff? But instead of the smaller vending machine style of today it was an entire wall, with customer access on one side and employee access to the compartments on the other for restocking. My mother talks about such a place at one of the big department stores that used to be downtown when she was growing up. I have seen them in old B&W movies, often in the "big city".

This all looks really slick! Hope it works out:

http://coinlaundryokc.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/clcafe-concept-plan.jpg?w=580&h=901

Serious question, since this is the Coin Laundry Cafe is it going to be retro styled...by that is it going to be like the buffeterias (a quick google search means I am prob not calling it the correct thing but that is what is stuck in my head right now) of days gone by where entrees, sandwiches, deserts etc would be in individual type compartments where you put in your coins and opened the windowed access door to get your stuff? But instead of the smaller vending machine style of today it was an entire wall, with customer access on one side and employee access to the compartments on the other for restocking. My mother talks about such a place at one of the big department stores that used to be downtown when she was growing up. I have seen them in old B&W movies, often in the "big city".

I believe the term your looking for is Automat. Which is definitely a concept we had talked about early on. The problem I see in an Automat concept is renovation costs. It would require installing a rather complicated coin operated system, including many small electronically operated doors, as well as blocking off the staff from their customers. All that being said I still love the concept, but didn't think I Was the right guy to do it or that this was the right space to put it in (I have a feeling that the stripping of the inside, with it's complicated plumbing trench and concrete anchors will be costly enough). What we are looking for is much more of a traditional diner format only with a youthful, colorful, modern decor, and bathed in as much natural sunlight as we can get. We want the food to also be classic, home style stuff with a little Hispanic influence. The "feel" of the restaurant would be modeled a lottle more in the vein of a hybrid of Barnaby's in Houston, the Blue Dome diner in Tulsa, Magnolia and Spider House in Austin, etc.. Just a nice comfy place to drink a coffee, eat some eggs and bacon, and read a book or talk with friends. The name Coin Laundry is more just in the sake of preservation, because I HATE the idea of painting over a beautiful hand painted sign.

Anyway, thanks for the support and thoughts, I Really didn't mean to hijack this thread, I won't post any more self promoting links (unless something far more serious happens), but feel free to follow the blog and share any of your thoughts/concerns/critiques.

Thanks for the info...Automat is what I was thinking of! Now that I had the right word, the right images showed up in google (click on the image for larger view)
1817

I appreciate what you are dong...I like it when a place is repurposed and the history can be retained (but can be confusing to some if the name of the place doesn't match its function...like the Pachinko Parlor which I thought was an gaming arcade featuring those machines). But like the old downtown dept stores that wee converted into residential, like the Montgomery etc.

Thanks for the info...Automat is what I was thinking of!
1817

YES!! There's that great Doris Day / Cary Grant movie "A Touch of Mink" where Doris Day works in the Automat, sooooo cool.

You will see these in large use in asia, especially Japan.

It would be really awesome to see one in OKC, but downtown would probably be a better place to see it. Or near a large university. I always assumed they made money by having a really high volume of customers, which this type of establisment can easly feed. Really would not work well with the limited traffic of plaza. A restraunt would do well, but not a automat designed to feed tons of people in the shortest amount of time.

You can read more about why they started to shut down here. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automat)

You will see these in large use in asia, especially Japan.

It would be really awesome to see one in OKC, but downtown would probably be a better place to see it. Or near a large university. I always assumed they made money by having a really high volume of customers, which this type of establisment can easly feed. Really would not work well with the limited traffic of plaza. A restraunt would do well, but not a automat designed to feed tons of people in the shortest amount of time.

You can read more about why they started to shut down here. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automat)

Yeah there are two great concepts that keep getting thrown around when talking to people about our project, the first is an automat and the second being a combo laundromat and bar. Both of these are things I would think would be a great fit in a space like the new retail @ the Level development or a similar "urban" housing development. But the Plaza is mainly people who live in houses, most with access to laundry facilities and also nowhere near the foot traffic to support either of these business models to the level that would be needed to justify it's occupation of what is really a piece of pretty prime "hip" inner city real estate. Not to mention, that the space is only 1500 Sq Ft...

I believe every apartment at LEVEL has washers and dryers. At least the model does.

I believe every apartment at LEVEL has washers and dryers. At least the model does.

Yeah, it's really pretty impossible to find a large block of people in okc without easy access to laundry services...

I agree, having a concept that has washers and dryers is wasting space. While a bar laundry mat sound cool, I think it would be underutilized and potentially attract a crowd that you may not want.

Yeah, it's really pretty impossible to find a large block of people in okc without easy access to laundry services...

Well, you can find large areas where people cannot afford or do not have washer/dryers in house, but they typically are not the people who would be at a laundromat/bar... or have extra money to spend... or attract tons of young buisness like Plaza wants to...

Whatever goes in needs to be universally appealing. I live in that area and love plaza, but I know that I will never be part of that crowd. I am not retro enough, or artsy or whatever. Its not that I feel snubbed or anything, I just know that I don't quite fit in with everything going on so far. A good bar or restraunt, that is not too far titled to a specific crowd of people would be fantastic. Put something down there that will attract all types, not just the local artist and indie crowd.

A tea house would be cool, but honestly, what kind of mix of customers are you going to see. You probably will not be attracting new people to plaza by large amounts. A good late night diner, restraunt, bar (something similar to speakeasy, mcnellies, JJ's, etc. in that it is not to tilted to certain types of crowds) would be amazing. I know that I would spend more time in the plaza if that was the case.

Maybe the coin laundry is not the specific venue to provide this type of generic appeal, but it needs to come in somewhere. If they keep putting in artist live/work spaces, or places that are so far out there in their uniqueness (which I am not saying is a bad thing at all), it is going to become an artist only street, that most people will only walk through for an hour on live night or during the festival. Plaza should be working on bringing in places that develop foot traffic by lots of different groups all throughout the week and weekend.

Sorry that rant went on a little longer than I expected...

Regarding the bar / laundromat idea, there have been several of them in California and I've never seen any do very well.

For years I lived in Manhattan Beach and didn't have a washer and dryer; I would say that was true for most the people that lived there. Yet, I never went to either of the two laundry/bar places and it seemed not many others did either.

And I agree, the demographics in OKC are very different and even less conducive to this concept.

Whatever goes in needs to be universally appealing. I live in that area and love plaza, but I know that I will never be part of that crowd. I am not retro enough, or artsy or whatever. Its not that I feel snubbed or anything, I just know that I don't quite fit in with everything going on so far. A good bar or restraunt, that is not too far titled to a specific crowd of people would be fantastic. Put something down there that will attract all types, not just the local artist and indie crowd.

To be completely honest, that is EXACTLY, what we'd like to do with this space. I mean, dont get me wrong, I want it to be stylish and sort of hip, cool decore etc. But while I am kind of on the fringe of that target group the plaza has been pitching to, I have long thought it was missing something that kind of binds everything together (churches and all). I know that you can't please EVERYONE, but I really do think the district would benefit greatly in an anchor that has certain things that just flat out appeal to most people. In my limited experience on planet earth, nothing brings a community together like a good old fashioned plate of homestyle breakfast food and hot, cheap, cups of good coffee.

I hope it goes through. Just do one thing if you develop this, please make it open on sundays.

I would love to be able to walk with our dog and sit outside or ride our bikes down and have breakfast on sunday instead of having to drive north. Nothing is open in midtown for breakfast on sundays, and that is, quite simply, a tragedy.

I hope it goes through. Just do one thing if you develop this, please make it open on sundays.

I would love to be able to walk with our dog and sit outside or ride our bikes down and have breakfast on sunday instead of having to drive north. Nothing is open in midtown for breakfast on sundays, and that is, quite simply, a tragedy.

I'm still shocked no one has done a breakfast restaurant. Those are some of my favorite places to eat when I'm in Chicago. So many of the concepts have been repeated, but all we have downtown is iHOP.

I hope it goes through. Just do one thing if you develop this, please make it open on sundays.

I would love to be able to walk with our dog and sit outside or ride our bikes down and have breakfast on sunday instead of having to drive north. Nothing is open in midtown for breakfast on sundays, and that is, quite simply, a tragedy.

You got it buddy! But seriously, I Wouldn't think of being closed on Sundays. My wife and I eat out for breakfast every Sunday morning, it's a ritual.

I'm thinking of buying in the Plaza District area, but I'd like to get some opinions of the place first. I've spoken to some business owners there, who have been very frank and helpful. What do you guys think the future of this area is like?

I know the central part of it on 16th Street is looking good, with new development and renovations. Just to the north and south, however, are some pretty terrible properties and a lot of crime (according to the business owners there). Apparently, the crime rates dropped somewhat after those apartments were bought and redevelopment began, but it's still an issue. As for the property in general, I can see a couple directions this area could go:

1) It will stay the same, with some pretty nice properties mixed with dilapidated buildings. Plaza District becomes stagnant or modestly improves.

2) Redevelopment continues, the area improves nicely. The dilapidated homes and commerical buildings will be demolished or renovated and "flipped" (many of the houses there are in such poor condition, they simply cannot be saved if the land is to be improved).


For those who know the area, what is your honest judgment of this area's future? The business owners I've spoken to have expressed guarded optimism, while acknowledging the crime problem just to the south.

JMHO from someone who's looking into buying in the area as well:

North of 16th is Gatewood. Despite a few sketchy blocks (largely centered around neglected rental properties) the neighborhood is pretty solid. You have the benefit of living in an urban conservation district, which means they have far more avenues to keep property owners in line. I actually looked on zillow and there are about 11 properties for sale in the neighborhood, with several sales coming in the past few months. There's even one off the locally famous Carey Place. There also appears to be really strong appreciation. That alone makes the neighborhood's future bright.

South of 16th....that's a whole 'nuther story. That would be Classen-Ten-Penn. The neighborhood isn't as near as bad as it was in the mid 2000's, when that was Sureno's territory (which have now been pushed south of 10th). Its still pretty run down though. They now have a community organization but as far as I'm concerned it is not a historical district. So you're on your own. It could come back, appreciation appears to be alright. But given the fact that Gatewood, which is viewed as a better neighborhood still has some room to grow, its going to be a while before CTP gets redone on a large scale. Only buy here if you're a real urban pioneer.

The most likely scenario of yours is 2, with Gatewood continuing to show strength and the areas of CTP within a block or 2 of the Plaza District maybe start to improve. I personally am leaning towards Linwood or Denniston Park area for other reasons, but I would buy near the Plaza. Just stay north of 16th.

IMO, having just moved into the neighborhood on 22nd st, between penn and indiana, I believe the neighborhood will get better.

More buisness if going to bring more people into the area which will help push the rif raf out. The houses on the backside (to the north) of 16th are pretty run down, but it just seems to be poor white trash, and not ghetto thugs. If you stay on indiana and move north or west, the neighborhood is nice. Hopefully if people are vigilant and report crime and report people who violate OKC housing ordianances, these people will be gone soon.

Part of the problem is that plaza has developed a mainly artist commune around itself. While this can be the awesome, public art hippy thing that everyone admires, it also brings in a lot of undesirables. Along with low cost housing to support the artist, recreational drug use usually goes up as well.

If people just do their part and report run down yards, houses, sketchy people, and plaza continues to grow, I cannot see the slums still being in plaza (at least north of 16th) within 5 years.

Crime is going to exist everywhere downtown. I had more issues when I lived on 16th in Mesta Part across from a state senator than I have seen or heard about in gatewood. Much less skectchy, poor, hood, white trash people walking around for sure in mesta, but at least they keep to themselves.

I agree with what the two previous posters said.

I live (rent) in the area of Gatewood and 16th. I used to live in Jefferson Park and this area feels significantly less "dangerous". We have lived here for two years now and we feel the area is where we would like to buy. I have small children and it doesn't bother me to raise them here. I am that confident in the future of the neighborhood.

The Gatewood neighborhood is really a street by street proposition. Some streets are as nice as you'd see in Mesta Park, while others are downright scary. The nicest areas are around St. Francis of Assisi church and school. There are many large, beautiful, well-taken-care-of homes in this area. Generally the area west of and including Indiana/Carey Place, east of Penn, south of 23rd and north of 16th I would definitely consider (although it get a bit less nice between Virgina and Penn). The other area to consider is streets to the north of Classen SAS all the way to the Walgreens. The areas between Gatewood and Douglas can be fairly seedy, especially Blackwelder.

Like it was said before, unless you are really a pioneer, I would avoid Classen-Ten-Penn. I think it only a matter of time before the neighborhood comes back, but it is pretty rough. Many of the houses are probably tear-downs, but there are some real gems availble for brave souls. I'll admit I'm temped at times.

I live on 16th St, just a few blocks west of the Plaza District in the neighborhood of Crestwood. If you're looking to buy I'd HIGHLY recommend it. The plaza is a 4 minute bike ride away but the neighborhood is VERY relaxed and "safe-ish", really, a great neighborhood.

If you like what's going on in the Plaza District, consider reserving tickets to our annual fundraiser, the Urban Pioneer Awards! Tickets are $50 and support our continued efforts--plus it's a great time to get together with folks who care about downtown, inner city, and urban neighborhoods!


2012 Urban Pioneer Awards

Skirvin Hilton Hotel
Wednesday, August 1st 2012 11:30 A.M.- 1:00 P.M.
Purchase tickets here

WAYNE AND MICHELLE COYNE TO BE HONORED AS
2012 URBAN PIONEERS
It is the Plaza District Association’s pleasure to announce that Wayne and Michelle Coyne are the recipients of the 2012 Urban Pioneer Award. Wayne Coyne, lead singer of The Flaming Lips, and Michelle Martin-Coyne, an acclaimed photographer, have paved the way for creativity in Oklahoma City and brought the international spotlight to our state.

After growing up in the Classen Ten Penn neighborhood just two blocks from the Plaza District, the Coynes purchased their current home there in 1980s. Over the years, they’ve not only seen the decline of the neighborhood, but also they’ve experienced it. Today, they are celebrating the Plaza District’s rise as a center for creativity and entrepreneurship in Oklahoma City.

“The neighborhood had gotten pretty bad. Years ago, there came a time when we had to sit down and decide if we were going to stay,” said Michelle Coyne. And staying is exactly what they did.

“Staying and believing in this neighborhood, the Coynes deserve this recognition just as much as any developer, philanthropist or visionary. The Coynes are a symbol of our city’s entire generation of urban pioneers who have chosen to stay and defend the good of their neighborhoods,” said Plaza District Executive Director Kristen Vails.

However, a neighborhood doesn’t thrive by its people just living there, it thrives by the community its neighbors create. They may be internationally known artists, but to neighborhood kids, the couple is known most for their spooky, out-of-this-world decorations on Halloween. Michelle makes sure her elderly neighbors are doing well, and they both frequent Plaza District events, always taking time to chat with star-struck kids and local artists.

Even outside the neighborhood, the Coynes are making sure Oklahoma City continues to thrive. Michelle Coyne volunteers on the MAPS 3 Parks Advisory board, and the couple is working to re-open the Womb Gallery, bringing international attention to the arts in Oklahoma City. Whether at the forefront, or behind the scenes, the couple is working to progress the role of art and creativity in Oklahoma City.

The 16th Street Plaza District has undergone a remarkable transformation over the last several years. As arts and culture continue to grow in Oklahoma City, the Plaza District is providing opportunities for new creative spaces, local businesses and engaging events focused on the arts.

To celebrate these achievements, each year the Plaza District hosts the Urban Pioneer Awards to recognize those individuals who have been instrumental in the rebirth of our inner city – “Urban Pioneers” who have made the Plaza District and Oklahoma City the vibrant and creative community it is today.

The Coynes join an impressive list of past Urban Pioneer honorees including Tom McDaniel, Lou Kerr, Meg Salyer, Mark Funke, Mike Turpen, Ann Simank, Steve Mason and Bill and Bob Ross.

The Coynes were selected as the 2012 Urban Pioneer Award winners by a group of past honorees and Plaza District board members including Tom McDaniel, Lou Kerr, Meg Salyer, Steve Mason, Aimee Ahpeatone and Stephen Kovash.

The 2012 Urban Pioneer Awards honoring Wayne and Michelle will be held Wednesday, August 1st at the Skirvin Hilton Hotel Grand Ballroom.

The 2012 Urban Pioneer Awards will be held Wednesday, August 1st at the Skirvin Hilton Hotel. Tickets are available for purchase here. https://plazadistrict.wufoo.com/forms/m7x1z5/

Wayne and Michelle Coyne to receive "Pioneer Award".

http://newsok.com/ties-strong-between-wayne-and-michelle-coyne-oklahoma-citys-16th-street-plaza-district/article/3694900

Drove by today and they were painting the old awning of the gas station to the east of Everything Goes Dance Studio black. It looks so much better now.

Ah, was wondering about that when I saw the tape around the property.

First time to visit the Plaza District tonight - lots of good stuff going on there. A return trip to Saints is definitely on my agenda.

I love the Plaza Arts district and Saint's Irish Pub is a great place.
2010

Looks like The Mule is getting close to opening:

http://www.plazadistrict.org/2012/08/the-mule-its-almost-here/

This sounds great! Trivia night and grilled cheese? Doesn't get any better than that.

2012 Plaza District Festival Celebrates Local Creativity
Annual festival to celebrate a revitalized arts district and community

Event Date: Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012
Event Time: 12 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Event Location: 1700 block of NW 16th Street, Oklahoma City, OK
More Info: www.plazadistrictfestival.com

On Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012, Oklahoma City’s Plaza District will come alive to celebrate local creativity with the annual Plaza District Festival, presented by Fowler Volkswagen of Norman. Participants in this year’s festival can enjoy live music, artist booths, kids’ art activities and a variety of local concessions. The annual event celebrates the progress of the Plaza District, a district once blighted by urban decay, now boasting a renewed energy embraced by creative and diverse culture.

Along with Media Sponsor Oklahoma Gazette, The Plaza District Festival is proud to exclusively host Oklahoman artists, performers and vendors, making this festival a truly local event. More than 40 Oklahoma artist booths will line 16th Street, while local musicians and performers will be entertaining at locations spread throughout the district. The Everything Goes Dance Studio Stage will host performances every hour, highlighting the performers and students of Everything Goes Dance studio. Performances will include ballet, hip-hop, flamenco, tap, jazz and more! Live music will be hosted on the street throughout the day with performances from local favorites such as The Grown Ups, The Wurly Birds, Porch Mice and The Otis Watkins Band.

The festival is proud to host OECU’s Kidapalooza, a FREE interactive art experience for children and families. Kidapalooza features a wealth of kids’ educational art activities, thanks to the support of Oklahoma Employee’s Credit Union and the Oklahoma Arts Council. Children can create four art projects alongside art instructors from Norman Firehouse Art Center, as well participate in painting a kids mural to later be displayed in the Plaza District. For aspiring performers, the Oklahoma City Philharmonic will present an “Instrument Playground,” where children have the chance to experiment with all the instruments used in the symphony alongside professional musicians. Other activities for children include puppet making, a moon bounce, Metropolitan Library activities, a free photo booth and face painting.

Some of OKC’s finest mobile food trucks will offer local food, complemented by beer and wine. Beer tents will be hosted by district restaurants Saint Pub and The Mule, and wine by district winery Urban Winery. Proceeds from beverage sales benefit the Plaza District Association, to continue to provide these creative events and opportunities. Plaza District merchants will be open for shopping throughout the event, also hosting an array of art openings, live music and special events!

Local artists Dylan Bradway, Amanda Bradway, Tanner Frady and Dusty Gilpin will be painting a 16’x 32’ mural on the west wall of Saints Pub. Visitors are encouraged to watch the mural painting throughout the day. Velvet Monkey Salon will host a fashion show featuring designs of 10 stylists on a runway outside Velvet Monkey and 8pm.


2012 Plaza District Schedule & Activities

Fowler VW Tent
Bigfoot & Bigfoot Calling Contest
Treasure Chest of Treats

OECU Kidapalooza (FREE! 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.)
Art in Action Interactive art activities by Norman Firehouse Art Center
Kids Mural Painting
OKC Phil Instrument Playground
Metropolitan Library Crafts & Activities
Face painting
Puppet Making
Moon bounce, Hula Hoops, Sidewalk chalk and more!
FREE Photo booth

Food Vendors
Mobile Vendors
Big Truck Taco
Heo’s Kitchen
Roxy’s Ice Cream Social
Atomic Dog
Sambino’s Italian Ice
Restaurants
The Mule
Saints Pub
Urban Wineworks
Anotjitos Guatamaltecos
3 Beer Tents benefitting Plaza District Association

Everything Goes Dance Stage
Dance performances at the top of every hour

West Stage
4pm: Evan Michaels
5pm: The Dead Armadillos
6pm: Porch Mice
7pm: The Otis Watkins Band
8pm: The Wurly Birds
9pm; The Grown-ups

Bad Granny’s Backroom
12:30pm Alan Peters (OKC) (Singer/Songwriter)
1:30pm Mikael Olof Junderwater (Tulsa) (Singer/Songwriter)
2:30pm Joe Sixpack & The Americans (Norman) (Alt/Hip-Hop)
3:30pm Maria Fantasma (Tulsa) (Singer/Songwriter)
4:30pm Sticky Stranglets (OKC) (Alt-Rock)
5:30pm Movements (Tulsa) (Alt-Rock)
6:30pm Deadweight (Lawton) (Voodoo-Reefer Rock)
7:30pm Risk On Da Disk (Tulsa) (Reggae/Hip Hop)
8:30pm Alan Doyle and The Outsiders (Tulsa) (Hip-Hop/Rap)
9:30pm Brother Gruesome (OKC) (Alt-Rock)

Special Events at Plaza District Businesses
12-10pm Live mural painting on west wall of Saints Pub by Dylan Bradway, Amanda Bradway, Dusty Gilpin and Tanner Frady
12 - 10 pm Bomb Shelter presents the entire Elements Series in a special one-day event
8pm Velvet Monkey Fashion Show

Event Date: Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012
Event Time: 12 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Event Location: 1700 block of NW 16th Street, Oklahoma City, OK
Link to Media Kit: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/jsf31pim8ykmu29/6evq2O0Vav
More Info: www.plazadistrictfestival.com

Cool - my weekend plans are set. H & 8th on Friday, then Plaza District Festival on Saturday. That is going to be a fun weekend!