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 recuse herself from votes that impact AA or Shadid will sic the authorities on her. See streetcar vote.

I would like to request from Spartan and bchris if they would mind pointing us to the evidence that core to shore is a becoming money pit. I have yet to see any figures on it, unless you include the park. I have always looked at core to shore being the part that is filled in by the private sector. I am hoping that this is not another fact that Spartan has made up with one of his blinded minions rushing in to support his lie.

Hey! It's everybody's favorite curmudgeon, Popsy!

I would like to request from Spartan and bchris if they would mind pointing us to the evidence that core to shore is a becoming money pit. I have yet to see any figures on it, unless you include the park. I have always looked at core to shore being the part that is filled in by the private sector. I am hoping that this is not another fact that Spartan has made up with one of his blinded minions rushing in to support his lie.

Bchris is probably pretty far down my list of minions, but I appreciate the assumption. Missed ya man.

As for the money pit, it all starts with the crosstown relocation and the river, and most recently with rerouting the streetcar down there, but we've spent more money down there than anywhere else. You can debate those if you want but when the Chamber counts investments they count any investment public or private that touches a plot of land, which is just economic development best practice. Core 2 Shore is an undeniable money pit even for the most optimistic urban visionary.

Rerouting of the streetcar "down there". Do tell?

Why don't you?

Bchris is probably pretty far down my list of minions, but I appreciate the assumption. Missed ya man..Dude I really hope you're joking.

If you aren't, that is just sad bro. I have never seen someone who is in love with their self as much as you.

Dude I really hope you're joking.

If you aren't, that is just sad bro. I have never seen someone who is in love with their self as much as you.

What does this even mean? All he said was bchris wasn't his 'minion' which anyone who has common sense and has read at least 2 threads on this board would be able to figure out.

Will the new angled parking be metered?

Will the new angled parking be metered?

I think it will be like the parallel parking there now where it has a time limit.

What does this even mean? All he said was bchris wasn't his 'minion' which anyone who has common sense and has read at least 2 threads on this board would be able to figure out.Calling anyone a minion is just uncalled for.

Calling anyone a minion is just uncalled for.

Not trying to argue with you, but he was referencing Popsy's post.


I would like to request from Spartan and bchris if they would mind pointing us to the evidence that core to shore is a becoming money pit ... I am hoping that this is not another fact that Spartan has made up with one of his blinded minions rushing in to support his lie.

Whoops, never mind. LOL

Not trying to argue with you, but he was referencing Popsy's post.Ok then my bad, I didn't get that part.

Noticed the old Cricket building on Broadway and 9th has a dumpster in the back and the for lease sign has been removed. Anyone seen any building permits on this?

Noticed the old Cricket building on Broadway and 9th has a dumpster in the back and the for lease sign has been removed. Anyone seen any building permits on this?

I have always thought that this is a prime location, but that the tenant (Cricket) is less than desirable. I would love to see that small parking lot in front turn into a patio space of some kind. Keeping my fingers crossed...

Noticed the old Cricket building on Broadway and 9th has a dumpster in the back and the for lease sign has been removed. Anyone seen any building permits on this?

No building permits as of yet. Might just be clean-up at this point.

Comment From Josh: The old Cricket building on 9th and Broadway has a construction dumpster now and seems to have work being performed. Have you heard if this will remain offices or will we see it finally become retail/restaurant?

Steve Lackmeyer: It will become the home of the new Funk-led soccer operation.

Was hoping the street level office spaces in auto alley would be decreasing, but not so much.

^

Wouldn't be surprised if they sell merchandise out of that location as well.

Live chat


Comment From George
Steve I was very excited to read that the city is finally going to get angled parking along Broadway. Do you think the city could be so bold as to put in reverse back up spots? I think they would work a lot better on broadway and be the smart decision for the long term

Steve Lackmeyer: The engineers won't go for back angle parking along Broadway. But I sense they are willing to discuss experimenting on lesser traveled side streets. I've been talking with Public Works Director Eric Wenger and I've observed how both he and City Manager Jim Couch are showing a greater interest in planning discussions and new urbanist approach to building cities. I think we are in a time where change is occurring, and decision makers are beginning to realize that, and we may need to realize assumptions we make about what people may or may not do is up for change as well.

I went on the downtown bike tour that was lead by Wenger and was surprised by what seemed to be a budding embrace of much of what's going on downtown (including good things said about coming transit). I wasn't sure at the time if he was just pandering to his audience or if he was truly maturing in this way, though I've been very much hoping for the latter...

I've noticed some work guys (clean up crew?) coming in and out of the building directly behind Hideaway Pizza on 9th St. The building doesn't have an address listed on it, so I can't provide it here. Anybody know what's happening there?

I've noticed some work guys (clean up crew?) coming in and out of the building directly behind Hideaway Pizza on 9th St. The building doesn't have an address listed on it, so I can't provide it here. Anybody know what's happening there?

That building -- 111 NW 8th -- was purchased in December of 2012 by Stan Lingo of Lingo Construction. Lingo has their super-slick new HQ just two doors down at 123 NW 8th.

Looks like plans are for a bar. Trying to find out more details. Perhaps another venue with a rooftop??

http://www.oklahomacounty.org/assessor/Searches/sketches/picfile/2729/R010804500001tA.jpg

http://www.oklahomacounty.org/assessor/Searches/sketches/picfile/2729/R010804500001vA.jpg

I hope they put a new awning on the front! Good place for a bar since there aren't very many right off Broadway.

Lingo has done a great job with their own building almost next door, so you can expect a quality renovation here.

This building has zero parking, which shouldn't be a problem with all the street parking around.

If Lingo goes with the architect for their current building, then they will use Rand Elliott. You can bet that building will look slick if he is involved.

Yes, so glad to see some midblock development. The main arterials have been getting most of the love, but it's the smaller midblock streets that provide some super cool character when done right. They are like little urban "caves" if you will.

Yes, so glad to see some midblock development. The main arterials have been getting most of the love, but it's the smaller midblock streets that provide some super cool character when done right. They are like little urban "caves" if you will.

Which is one of the arguments for couplets there.

Which is one of the arguments for couplets there.

Yep not to derail the thread, pun intended; the streetcar couplet will be great especially for AA.

I hope they put a new awning on the front!...

Haha that's a joke, right?

...This building has zero parking, which shouldn't be a problem with all the street parking around.

Parking is getting pretty tight in AA quicker than you might think. That said, the beauty of a bar in that area is that office parking is nearby (for instance Lingo's), which is occupied by day but not by night, so if leveraged properly it can serve a day purpose and a night purpose too.

There is also a ton of church parking in that area.

Haha that's a joke, right?

I was being serious. I'm sure Lingo will turn this building 360 degrees.

Still not following...

Turn it 360 degrees? So they are going to renovate the building, and then revert it back to the old?

Use your imagination guys. If Project 180 is 90 then maybe 360 will be 180 and that wood awning will bra distant memory.

That wooden awning probably looked cool when they built it.

Man, it's hard to imagine. Those cedar shake faux mansard roofs were popular in the sixties and seventies for people trying to hide the fact that a building was old. They are the scourge of small town Main Streets throughout the U.S.. If Rand is on the case, I can guarantee that it will not reappear LOL.

Just tear it down and build something new on that site

Shhhhhhhhhhhh

Just tear it down and build something new on that site

Why? The private sector has found a viable use for this building. And it's design is functional enough for a remodel. :)

Probably nothing, but I noticed the lease signs were taken down on the empty lot on the NW corner of 13th and Broadway next to the Garage Lofts. Anyone know who owns lot? bob moore family?

Probably nothing, but I noticed the lease signs were taken down on the empty lot on the NW corner of 13th and Broadway next to the Garage Lofts. Anyone know who owns lot? bob moore family?

I hope something happens with that lot. It will go a long way in defining the corner and the start/end of Automobile Alley and Midtown.

Probably nothing, but I noticed the lease signs were taken down on the empty lot on the NW corner of 13th and Broadway next to the Garage Lofts. Anyone know who owns lot? bob moore family?

Yes, Moore.

My co-worker spoke to the guys working on the 111 NW 8th St building. They told him there are no plans for the building right now, as Lingo will continue to use the space for storage. Bummer.

My co-worker spoke to the guys working on the 111 NW 8th St building. They told him there are no plans for the building right now, as Lingo will continue to use the space for storage. Bummer.

Thanks for the update.

I'll see if I can find out their longer-term plans.

The Contemporary Arts Center is taking another step forward.

Architect is chosen for new Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center | News OK (http://newsok.com/architect-is-chosen-for-new-oklahoma-contemporary-arts-center/article/3944667)


Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center announced Elliott + Associates Architects will design its new home, which will be built at NW 11 and Broadway along Automobile Alley.

I thought there was already a design?

If there was, it evidently wasn't official.

I thought there was already a design?

I think you must be mistaken.

I remember they only announced the location, and included a rendering of an art museum in another country as a potential "inspiration" for the theme they wanted.

I guess I presumed the rendering presented was the proposed design

From the gazette:

Anglers

Work will begin later this month to change parking and lane configurations on a stretch of Automobile Alley.
Kelley Chambers
March 19th, 2014

Parking and traffic flow on a stretch of N. Broadway Avenue, known as Automobile Alley, will change with a conversion from parallel parking to 45-degree angled parking on both sides of the street and fewer lanes of traffic.

Weather permitting, city workers plan to re-stripe the street over one weekend this month, adding at least 20 new parking spaces along N. Broadway Avenue between NW Fifth and 10th streets.

A second phase will add angled parking to NW Seventh, Eighth and Ninth streets that jut off of Broadway Avenue.

Business owners and others along that stretch of road have struggled with a lack of parking spaces for years. Also, at times, the stretch turns into a congested speedway, they said. In 2009, a study was conducted by the Automobile Alley Association (AAA) to explore the viability of the changes.

“Our organization funded the original engineering study,” said Mickey Clagg, association president.

In January, the city’s Traffic and Transportation Commission approved the measure. The Oklahoma City Council approved it unanimously March 11. Ward 6 Councilwoman Meg Salyer recused herself from the vote because she is a property owner in the area.

The process
Eric Wenger, City of Oklahoma City Public Works director, said the work will not be lengthy or disruptive.

“This really is just a re-striping of the existing Broadway,” he said. “There’s very limited work that’s being done with concrete or curbs. It’s just lifting the existing paint markings up and putting new paint markings down.”

No changes are proposed to the posted two-hour free parking along that stretch of Broadway, according to a letter to the mayor and city council from City Manager Jim Couch.

The AAA report showed overall cost estimated at $8,564.40, with funding coming from the Public Works Department’s Traffic Management Division.

Also, available traffic lanes will reduce from five to three. In addition to more parking, pedestrian safety was an issue.

Anthony McDermid, principal at TAP Architecture and past president of the association, was instrumental in the planning phases of the project.

“When you’ve got 45-degree parking on both sides of the street, there are fewer lanes to cross,” he said. “It will force the traffic to slow down and create a much safer pedestrian environment.”

Also, McDermid said as more retailers have opened along Automobile Alley, there was a growing demand for more parking in close vicinity to those stores.

“The goals of angled parking were aimed at providing more convenient parking outside the storefronts,” he said.

Concerns
Some concerns remain, however, about how the new changes will affect the final alignment for a proposed streetcar route, a MAPS 3 project.

A report presented to the Traffic and Transportation Commission by city staff at the January meeting noted the reduction of lanes on Broadway might pose challenges in planning for the streetcar. It might also alter city bus routes due to the narrower travel space and possible lack of curbside access.

“We’re going to need to look at the streetcar project independently once that route is laid in,” Wenger said.

In addition, McDermid said he would like to see angled parking extended north, along more of that stretch of Broadway.

Oklahoma Gazette News: Anglers (http://okgazette.com/oklahoma/article-20730-anglers.html)

Sorry, but our city's traffic commission is incompetent.

Buses run on much narrower lanes in cities all over the globe with no problem. Streetcars and light rail do, also.

i don't think the lanes are the issue, I think the curbside access is. That can be cured though, just eliminate parking where you need the bus/streetcar stop. .. Piece of cake.

i don't think the lanes are the issue, I think the curbside access is. That can be cured though, just eliminate parking where you need the bus/streetcar stop. .. Piece of cake.

I would think that is a given.

Ya, you'd think. :..

Have they changed the lanes on Broadway yet? The Gazette article said it would be done one weekend "this month". I am not sure if that means in the next month from March 19th or the month of March.

Not as of Tuesday night.

Noticed a sign on the way to the gym this morning, Broadway is closing Saturday from 5th to 10th. Sounds like the angled parking is about to become reality.

FYI Broadway was restriped today and the angled parking was added!

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