You can see pretty far down that street without seeing another human. That's the next big step for AA - pedestrian traffic.

Cool teeter totter though.

You can see pretty far down that street without seeing another human. That's the next big step for AA - pedestrian traffic.

Cool teeter totter though.

Which will come with additional housing nearby.

And the streetcar:)

But what we need is what we're starting to get: retail stores close enough to walk between. Retail, retail and more retail, with a few more things like Coffee Slingers in between.

Automobile Alley needs safer and more inviting east-west pedestrian crossings. There is FAR too much auto/people conflict, and of a very dangerous variety. Until a better approach to this is in place, the district will struggle to become a fully-realized walking-friendly district. It is absolutely critical for its development. Far more important than the oft-discussed quiet zone.

What is the possibility of getting another stoplight at, say, NW 9th? I have to admit, I cringe every time I drive down Broadway at the people playing real life Frogger trying to cross the road.

I don't know if any amount of infrastructure will quickly solve pedestrian-auto conflicts in DT OKC.

The only thing that helps is more pedestrians. You MUST make auto travelers respect pedestrians instead of battling with them. Pedestrians must take to using crosswalks and not jaywalking, and autos must slow down and stop sitting over crosswalks.

I know it is cringe-worthy, but I feel like the first step to this process is ticketing both parties in violation.

For example, the many employees dashing accross EKG outside the Santa Fe garage needs to have an officer on the other end giving out warnings that people must use one of the crosswalks just 50 yards away in either direction. Eventually ticketing. Same goes for the crosswalks surrounding this area, police need to warn and eventually cite drivers who stop for a red light over the crosswalk and people who block intersections.


Perhaps we need a separate thread specified for pedestrian/auto discussions. As I feel like these are usually scattered throughout various development threads.

I don't know if any amount of infrastructure will quickly solve pedestrian-auto conflicts in DT OKC.

The only thing that helps is more pedestrians. You MUST make auto travelers respect pedestrians instead of battling with them. Pedestrians must take to using crosswalks and not jaywalking, and autos must slow down and stop sitting over crosswalks.

I know it is cringe-worthy, but I feel like the first step to this process is ticketing both parties in violation.

For example, the many employees dashing accross EKG outside the Santa Fe garage needs to have an officer on the other end giving out warnings that people must use one of the crosswalks just 50 yards away in either direction. Eventually ticketing. Same goes for the crosswalks surrounding this area, police need to warn and eventually cite drivers who stop for a red light over the crosswalk and people who block intersections.


Perhaps we need a separate thread specified for pedestrian/auto discussions. As I feel like these are usually scattered throughout various development threads.

I have been thinking for a while that DTOKC, Inc. or somebody, needs to do a lunch and learn on crosswalks, etc., in the CBD. It seems people just think it's okay to cross wherever and whenever.

OKC Chamber reception event held at the Plenty rooftop:

https://scontent-b-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/1005333_279517382173466_1125533298_n.jpg

Source: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=279517382173466&set=a.164434183681787.15932.125154924276380&type=1

This was a great event. There were a lot of people there and local products, great food provided by the Ice House, Wine from Water's Edge, vodca from Prairie Wolf and beer from Redtail Brewing.The rooftop at Plenty is absolutely amazing.

I've actually discussed that exact thing before with DOKC staff, and they were receptive. I hate to ever take a position against pedestrians -- I used to love that in Norman it was accepted that a pedestrian could step off of a curb just about anywhere and was ALWAYS to be given right-of-way -- but downtown OKC does have a bit of a jaywalking problem. If ALL parties followed the rules as written, there would be very few pedestrian-vehicle conflicts downtown...EXCEPT in a precious few areas, NOTABLY Broadway.

There are several ways to address the issue there (curb extensions, a median, angled and/or back-in parking, and stoplights at intersections all come to mind), and I think the correct solution is a combination of most of these options. I do believe there needs to be at least one additional signal with protected crosswalk between 6th and 10th. I understand the desire to put one at 9th, since the 9th corridor is currently booming, but that ignores and even stymies the growth potential for cross streets south of there. Since there is already a signal at 6th and one at 10th, the intersection at 8th would make the most sense if only one were installed.

I've actually discussed that exact thing before with DOKC staff, and they were receptive. I hate to ever take a position against pedestrians -- I used to love that in Norman it was accepted that a pedestrian could step off of a curb just about anywhere and was ALWAYS to be given right-of-way -- but downtown OKC does have a bit of a jaywalking problem. If ALL parties followed the rules as written, there would be very few pedestrian-vehicle conflicts downtown...EXCEPT in a precious few areas, NOTABLY Broadway.

There are several ways to address the issue there (curb extensions, a median, angled and/or back-in parking, and stoplights at intersections all come to mind), and I think the correct solution is a combination of most of these options. I do believe there needs to be at least one additional signal with protected crosswalk between 6th and 10th. I understand the desire to put one at 9th, since the 9th corridor is currently booming, but that ignores and even stymies the growth potential for cross streets south of there. Since there is already a signal at 6th and one at 10th, the intersection at 8th would make the most sense if only one were installed.

Agree completely.

I think a combination of curb cuts, a landscaped median, and back in parking would do wonders for Broadway. Add in the streetcar and we've got our iconic boulevard.

Back in the late 50s or early 60s, we experimented with a "mob walk" approach at Main and Broadway: the lights would go red in all directions, and pedestrians were encouraged to go directly to their destination. That is, if going from the NW corner to the SE corner, walk diagonally across the intersection in the shortest path, instead of the usual NW to NE to SE path.

It was a classic mess! Perhaps the time has come to try it again, though...

Jim, that is called a pedestrian scramble, and is used around the world in places like Tokyo and even in the U.S. in Chicago and LA. I'll link a video of one recently added to Oxford Circus in London (which I recall being a pain to navigate during my visit in 2000).

Are you saying OKC previously experimented with this, decades ago? That is amazing if so. Not sure if we have the critical mass of pedestrians anywhere downtown to require one any time soon, but I know we had much more pedestrian activity then.

Oxford Circus:


http://youtu.be/Aw-6OSCnHA0

Are you saying OKC previously experimented with this, decades ago? That is amazing if so. Not sure if we have the critical mass of pedestrians anywhere downtown to require one any time soon, but I know we had much more pedestrian activity then.Back then, our downtown area was an urbanist's dream. Solid retail on both sides of Main from Broadway to Walker, more on Park Avenue (NW 1) and Grand (now Sheridan). Broadway was solid up to NW 10. Around a dozen movie houses, ranging from first-run to wino hangouts (and at least one burlesque house). The Herskowitz Building at Broadway and Grand was 9 floors of residential apartments, and most all of the buildings on Main were multi-story with small offices and some apartments on the upper floors. Then came the wrecking balls and implosion experts...

Right. I'm very familiar (in fact at times I have been borderline obsessed) with the city as it existed in the 40s and 50s and with the urban renewal travesty. I was mostly very surprised at the fact that what is currently thought of as a new-ish, innovative and even trendy approach was once attempted here 50+ years ago. So often we follow the rest of the world when it comes to urban issues, but when you think about this crosswalk experiment or consider what type of congestion must have inspired the invention of the parking meter, it dramatically snaps into focus how active the streets in downtown once were.

Back in the late 50s or early 60s, we experimented with a "mob walk" approach at Main and Broadway: the lights would go red in all directions, and pedestrians were encouraged to go directly to their destination. That is, if going from the NW corner to the SE corner, walk diagonally across the intersection in the shortest path, instead of the usual NW to NE to SE path.

It was a classic mess! Perhaps the time has come to try it again, though...

Downtown Denver has those (or had them when I lived there in the mid-1990's). Downtown Seattle has one light on 2nd Avenue iirc. I think they can be effective in retail and auto heavy sections of the city and OKC should look into it for Aalley and perhaps EK Gaylord from Main to Reno.

Downtown Denver has those (or had them when I lived there in the mid-1990's). Downtown Seattle has one light on 2nd Avenue iirc. I think they can be effective in retail and auto heavy sections of the city and OKC should look into it for Aalley and perhaps EK Gaylord from Main to Reno.

As of last year, most of those in Denver have been converted to normal crosswalks

As of last year, most of those in Denver have been converted to normal crosswalks

I think they could be interesting and I have experienced them before but I'm not sure they are a good idea for most intersections.

Quit Nguyen posted some very cool pics of the Plenty Mercantile rooftop at the 'Wine + Chocolate Workshop' last month:

http://31.media.tumblr.com/8859ea82b8d8ffc4cae012e66d644890/tumblr_mtt6iqoPDZ1rhzoh4o1_1280.jpg

http://31.media.tumblr.com/010b272a47c7fc10a46251204ab28db7/tumblr_mtt6iqoPDZ1rhzoh4o3_1280.jpg

http://24.media.tumblr.com/44e81cee37a1a74a9f03c2cb54824f88/tumblr_mtt6iqoPDZ1rhzoh4o9_1280.jpg

http://25.media.tumblr.com/a8bf8040f35ffd96dec7e494165a6d25/tumblr_mtt6iqoPDZ1rhzoh4o8_1280.jpg

http://31.media.tumblr.com/1e6f533219185595686cd06a9043b2d2/tumblr_mtt6iqoPDZ1rhzoh4o5_1280.jpg


Source: Quit in OKC (http://okc.quitnguyen.com/post/62460079985/plenty-mercantile-wine-chocolate-workshop)

Another fun pic of the teeter totter in front of Plenty Mercantile (this one from their facebook page):

https://scontent-b-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/543935_271717252953479_728151104_n.jpg

Any idea on the number of folks they can host at the rooftop at Plenty?

Any idea on the number of folks they can host at the rooftop at Plenty?

I think it's 150. I have an official flyer with stats (for rental purposes) at home, I can check later and post. I've been to 2 events up there in the last week and a half and I must say one of the coolest places in OKC. Glad to see all these rooftop bars in OKC, that's at least 5 in Midtown/AA area now. The last event I went to was elbow to elbow the entire rooftop.

I attended an event there, and its a great space.

I think it's 150. I have an official flyer with stats (for rental purposes) at home, I can check later and post. I've been to 2 events up there in the last week and a half and I must say one of the coolest places in OKC. Glad to see all these rooftop bars in OKC, that's at least 5 in Midtown/AA area now. The last event I went to was elbow to elbow the entire rooftop.

Thanks Metro. We're hosting a group for a few days next June, that might be a good midweek option. I talked to one of the owners about their plans for that before they opened it up, glad to see it was well received!

Meh. We don't disagree as much as you represent. I will stipulate the core problem is poor, auto-centric design.

Downtown Denver has those (or had them when I lived there in the mid-1990's). Downtown Seattle has one light on 2nd Avenue iirc. I think they can be effective in retail and auto heavy sections of the city and OKC should look into it for Aalley and perhaps EK Gaylord from Main to Reno.


As of last year, most of those in Denver have been converted to normal crosswalks
There are still some that have all the lights red and all crosswalk lights lit. Not as many as there used to be but I know there are a few still left right by my office.

We wandered around there some on Friday, some nice progress has been made all over the area.

Just saw that AA plans to turn on their Christmas lights on Nov. 21.

Always a stunning display.

Just saw that AA plans to turn on their Christmas lights on Nov. 21.

Always a stunning display.

Thats right around the corner. I was down there about a week ago and didn't see any installed yet.

They've been installing them this past week, but have a ways to go yet.

I also posted this article by Molly Fleming in the Entertainment area about the current play that the Reduxion Theater is presenting. This will be a positive for both the theater and Automobile Alley.


Reduxion Theatre moving to Automobile Alley
By Molly M. Fleming
The Journal Record

OKLAHOMA CITY – Automobile Alley will soon join two other districts in the city that have theater tenants.

Reduxion Theatre Co. will move to the Cadillac Building at the corner of Ninth Street and N. Broadway Avenue by Feb. 7, which will be the opening night of the production William Shakespeare’s As You Like It.

Since 2011 the company has been at 1613 N. Broadway Ave., just a few blocks north of its new home. It occupies 4,200 square feet at its existing location and will upgrade to about 5,000 square feet on the first floor of the Cadillac Building.

The additional space will allow for more seats, which Executive-Artistic Director Tyler Woods said is likely to happen as the theater takes its place on the front row at Automobile Alley. He and his wife, Erin, co-founded the theater company in 2000. It became a nonprofit organization in 2007.

Tyler Woods said the company was looking for a new space because it has already sold out tickets for its production of Cabaret.

“We were contacted by our board members (Kristian and Debra Kos), who had this space at Ninth and Broadway, and they told us to come look at it,” he said. “They thought it would be perfect. It’s a huge warehouse space, which is exactly what we moved into at our current location.”

The new space offers higher ceilings, making it more accommodating for high lighting and swinging swords in plays.

Media Coordinator Erin Woods said the 2013-2014 season will wrap up in May. At that time, they will do any renovations as funding allows. They will complete about $75,000 in construction before moving to Automobile Alley. They are working with HSE Architects – their soon-to-be neighbors in the building at 914 N. Broadway Ave. – on the renovation.

She said surrounding Automobile Alley businesses have been helpful with the move.

“It’s been terrific to get to know everybody,” she said.

The move will allow theater patrons to eat or grab a drink in the district and then catch a show, just like they can do in the Plaza District or Film Row, the other two districts with theaters.

“Theaters are becoming anchors in town,” Tyler Woods said. “It’s a place for people to have an entertainment option that’s unusual. The fact that we now have these great theaters gives people even more options on the weekends.”

The new location will help the company take its productions to a broader audience, Erin Woods said.

Great news! I had seen the building permit and thought it might be a satellite location for the theater rather than a complete relocation.

This will add much needed nightlife to Auto Alley, in a similar way the Lyric does for the Plaza District.


Auto Alley, another district on a big roll!

Awesome. I've been to the Reduxion Theatre a few times and always thought it should be in a better facility.

Awesome. I've been to the Reduxion Theatre a few times and always thought it should be in a better facility.

Correct. They do a very good job with the space they have but it's hardly ideal. The restroom setup is particularly bad.

Dang! I just noticed what an awesome pic is being used as the background image for the AutoAlley twitter page:

https://si0.twimg.com/profile_background_images/378800000013863823/bd692f4fdac98c3e329e9b1fe5a62198.jpeg

That is a great photo!

Would this be a place for backward angled parking if they did that along Broadway as mentioned before or would it start farther north?

I went to the Reduxion Theater's current production of "Cabaret" tonight and visited with Erin Woods, who is the managing director. They are very excited about the upcoming move to the Cadillac building. Her only concern was about gaining weight by being so close to Hideaway Pizza.

Panoramic by Josh DeLozier

http://static.wixstatic.com/media/da441b_68544342bc162c0741a32896b5f5d60f.jpg

Source: Oklahoma City Panoramics by Josh DeLozier | PANORAMICS (http://www.joshdelozier.com/?_escaped_fragment_=panoramics/c21rz)

Dang! I just noticed what an awesome pic is being used as the background image for the AutoAlley twitter page:

https://si0.twimg.com/profile_background_images/378800000013863823/bd692f4fdac98c3e329e9b1fe5a62198.jpeg

That is a great photo!

That's my Lamborghini.

That's my Lamborghini.

Oh yeah? Well......... see that piece of gum on the sidewalk? That's mine!

(and leave it there -- I'm going to come back for it later... :eek: )

Looks like there is a meeting on Jan 24th regarding angle parking for auto alley. Correct me if someone knows the exact time/date. Just noticed the public notice sign on 8th street.

Yes, it is Item V. B of the traffic commission tomorrow at 1:30pm.

http://okc.gov/AgendaPub/view.aspx?cabinet=published_meetings&fileid=2175670

Broadway would be reduced to 3 traffic lanes, 2 south and 1 northbound.

Noticed it just says angled parking, not reverse angled parking...

It'll be interesting trying to back out of the angled parking into the single Northbound lane during rush hour...

Given the success of the reverse angled parking at 7th and Hudson, perhaps it's a good idea not to do it. People here do not have common sense. It's "uncommon".

Having used it in Austin on Congress St, I will say that it's definitely a little unnerving getting used to backing in, but it truly made getting out easier. And Congress is no wimpy street, traffic wise.

Now if we could just create pedestrian crossings for Broadway. I always feel like Im taking my life in my hands when crossing anywhere but tenth.

So I'm guessing this would eliminate the center "turn lane"?

Yes, 7 lanes to 5. 3 thru traffic, 2 parking

Here's what it says:


To accommodate the requested angle parking, reconfiguring N Broadway
Avenue by removing one north bound through traffic lane and all left turn
lanes between NW 6 Street and NW 9 Street is necessary. In order to
maintain an acceptable level of service at the intersection of N Broadway
Avenue and NW 10 Street, all left turn and through traffic lanes were
retained. Based on a preliminary angle parking plan layout, the number
and spacing of active driveways on the east side of N Broadway Avenue
between NW 5 Street and NW 6 Street precludes the use of angle
parking on this block and therefore the block between NW 5 Street and
NW 6 Street is not suitable for angle parking purposes. This block of N
Broadway Avenue is suitable for realigning the lanes and transitioning N
Broadway Avenue from a four lane roadway with turn lanes and parallel
parking to a roadway with three lanes and 45 degree angle parking.
Similarly, the block between NW 10 Street and NW 9 Street would need
to be reconfigured to transition N Broadway Avenue from a four lane
roadway to a three lane roadway in order to start angle parking to the
south of NW 10 Street.

I heard the angled parking was approved. Not sure if it will be back in or pull in though. The schematic showed pull in parking that was used as an example.

It was indeed approved. Pull-in, not back-in.

Curious to know if anyone has the numbers on how many more spaces will be available with angled compared to parallel?

Curious to know if anyone has the numbers on how many more spaces will be available with angled compared to parallel?

As per Steve's article.


A date for actually painting the spots, resulting in an increase of up to 24 spaces along Broadway between NW 5 and NW 10, however, remains unknown. The street carries an average of 12,000 vehicles a day.

http://www.oklahoman.com/article/3927117?embargo=1


Oklahoma City Traffic Engineer Stuart Chai said that the switch from parallel to angled parking requires an ordinance change that will next be considered in February by the Oklahoma City Council. Even with council approval, final design work must be completed, and because the project is funded by the Automobile Alley Association, he is unsure who will do the work.

Angled parking may be added along Automobile Alley this spring | NewsOK.com (http://m.newsok.com/angled-parking-may-be-added-along-automobile-alley-this-spring/article/3927117)
(Mobile link)

I'm surprised it only adds a couple dozen spaces. I really expected there would be more. Still, a great thing for the district.

I'm surprised it only adds a couple dozen spaces. I really expected there would be more. Still, a great thing for the district.

A couple dozen spaces will make a big impact. Not to mention slowing the traffic so pedestrians can safely cross the street.

Auto Alley is already way ahead of most other districts in OKC in terms of aesthetics and urban feel. This will help make the district all around more intimate and walkable.

As per Steve's article.



http://www.oklahoman.com/article/3927117?embargo=1

Why doesn't the city get off it's arse and be supportive?? Auto Alley is important. The city has always done very little for AA compared to other districts like C2S which has become a moneypit with no results yet. AA does have that incredible existing urban fabric already mentioned in this thread. But yet they had to wait longer than a decade for the quiet zone, which Jim Couch opposed for so long, and most of the public enhancements came out of the Murrah fund.

Of course it would help AA if it's council person was more aggressive for downtown and not just a butt in a chair.. (Granted Meg's votes have been pivotal, but downtown needs more than a vote, it needs a bulldog advocate)

Meg has to be careful when advocating for Automobile Alley, since she has significant real estate holdings in the district. I can tell you that prior to her election as a council member, there was no more staunch supporter/advocate of AA. None. As in, her efforts were probably as much as the next two people combined.

This sounds about right...

Angled parking may be added along Automobile Alley this spring | News OK (http://newsok.com/angled-parking-may-be-added-along-automobile-alley-this-spring/article/3927117)


Public Works Director Eric Wenger said the wait won't be much longer.

“We will make this happen this spring,” Wenger said. “We will expedite the work as soon as we get the work done.”

Why doesn't the city get off it's arse and be supportive?? Auto Alley is important. The city has always done very little for AA compared to other districts like C2S which has become a moneypit with no results yet. AA does have that incredible existing urban fabric already mentioned in this thread. But yet they had to wait longer than a decade for the quiet zone, which Jim Couch opposed for so long, and most of the public enhancements came out of the Murrah fund.

Of course it would help AA if it's council person was more aggressive for downtown and not just a butt in a chair.. (Granted Meg's votes have been pivotal, but downtown needs more than a vote, it needs a bulldog advocate)

I agree.

In another thread somewhere Sid pointed out why Tulsa's urban districts are perceived as being so much better than OKC's which in fact they are really smaller and don't offer as much. The answer is the incredible urban fabric of districts like the Brady, Blue Dome, Cherry St, etc. Auto Alley has the potential to be that kind of district in OKC. It is already one of if not the most eye-pleasing stretch of development in the entire OKC metro.

I agree Core2Shore is a money pit and from everything I've seen thus far, the city is messing it up big time by the same lack of vision and mediocrity that brought us lower Bricktown.