https://www.facebook.com/matthew.r.burch?fref=ts

ahh... thanks. was looking at ua's page. it doesn't look like their kickstarter is going to make its goal... i wonder if that factored into the decision.

https://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/3ebbee29e8b2d339a6d53bbf928ac96009ce7d82/c=0-0-3024-2274&r=x513&c=680x510/local/-/media/2017/05/01/USATODAY/USATODAY/636292324797903390-1A5539DB-B4B0-4359-9F01-EF03AA47D8F8.jpg

OKC Farmers Market
311 S. Klein Ave., Oklahoma City Downtown OKC
(405) 486-0701

Home - OKC Farmers Pubic Market: https://okcfarmersmarket.com/

Oklahoma Gazette: https://www.okgazette.com/oklahoma/okc-farmers-market/Event?oid=6684670
Oklahoman: http://digital.newsok.com/Olive/ODN/Oklahoman/default.aspx

Oklahoma City - Farmers Public Market opened on June 16, 1928, on what had been the site of Delmar Gardens Amusement Park. The market, a two-story, 40,000-square foot mix of Spanish architecture with terracotta ornamentation, was built by John J. Harden in response to farmers selling their produce on downtown streets. The first floor was used by farmers selling produce, while the second floor hosted concerts, dances, boxing matches and roller-skating.

Before the start of its slow demise in the 1970s, the market also housed a grocery, meat market, candy store, bakery, cafe and a drug store. Legends like Hank Williams Sr., Count Basie and Bob Willis played in the secondfloor auditorium.

Once the OSU-OKC market closes, Farmers Public Market will be home to more than 40 vendors.

“Come March, we will not have a vacant spot,” McAnally said.

Burch, who opened Urban Agrarian in 2012, said OSUOKC’s actions are a bonanza for the Farmers Market district.

The changes coincide with traffic lights being added to the Klein Avenue and Oklahoma City Boulevard intersection and a change of Klein from one-way to two-way traffic next month, providing the landmark its best access and visibility in decades...

...The market inside the building shut down in the 1970s and was replaced with an antique mall, though farmers still operated permanent stands surrounding the main building. The farmers stands continued to operate through the 1990s, but they virtually disappeared when the OSU-OKC market opened in 1996...

...“The market was a feather in their cap at OSU for almost 30 years,” Burch said. “They were so proud of this. There will be public relations and some aspects of being downtown that might be good. But buying groceries and parking downtown, that’s not what everyone wants.”--Excerpts from the Oklahoman, Steve Lackmeyer - Business, February 2, 2020

Will life to the Farmers Public Market area ever return to this historic city venue?

I know that I (and other people) have already mentioned this in the Boulevard thread, but the absolutely asinine planning of the Boulevard/Western/Classen area has killed any momentum this district had for the foreseeable future.

I do think the area bounded by SW 3rd, Western, I-40, and Exchange is an interesting possibility for the MAPS soccer stadium, and possibly cheaper than the Producers Coop location depending on who owns that land. Would also give people a reason to go to this district 15-20 times per year, and good highway access as well.

I found this to be an interesting read on the closing of the OSU market and the non input given to the vendors on the move to Scissortail Park. Federal grant money and how the decision was made begs for further follow up.

Farmers, customers dislocated by OSU-OKC are choosing Farmers Public Market over Scissortail Park
https://oklahoman.com/article/5653810/farmers-customers-dislocated-by-osu-okc-are-choosing-farmers-public-market-over-scissortail-park

The new vendors at the Farmers Public Market are a great addition to the ones they already have! Also looks as if Palo Santo is close to opening in the strip next to the Loaded Bowl.

I found this to be an interesting read on the closing of the OSU market and the non input given to the vendors on the move to Scissortail Park. Federal grant money and how the decision was made begs for further follow up.

Farmers, customers dislocated by OSU-OKC are choosing Farmers Public Market over Scissortail Park
https://oklahoman.com/article/5653810/farmers-customers-dislocated-by-osu-okc-are-choosing-farmers-public-market-over-scissortail-park

That's a pretty biased headline by Steve. I know not all farmers and customers are choosing the Farmers Public Market over Scissortail. He had a few other facts wrong in the article as well. I just hope everyone gives both venues a chance instead of writing one of them off. I think they can both be special places and successful.

That's a pretty biased headline by Steve. I know not all farmers and customers are choosing the Farmers Public Market over Scissortail. He had a few other facts wrong in the article as well. I just hope everyone gives both venues a chance instead of writing one of them off. I think they can both be special places and successful.

Generally, writers don't get to choose their own headlines, the copy editors do that part of the job (the writers may have suggestions that the copy editors can consider, though), that's the way it's been at the dozen or so papers my wife's been a copy editor at, including the Joklahoman.

Large Farmer's Market tract seeking multi-family rezoning (https://www.okctalk.com/content.php?r=689-Large-Farmer-s-Market-tract-seeking-multi-family-rezoning)

The new owners of a 14-acre tract are taking steps towards rezoning that could lead to high-density housing in the Farmer's Market District.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/farmersmarket010420a.jpg


The site was formerly home to the original Oklahoma City streetcar maintenance facility but had been largely vacant for some time. In recent years, there has been significant cleanup and removal of old utility lines in advance of putting the property up for sale.

The current owners are a charitable trust. The property is now under contract to an entity headed by Richard Moyer and J. Patrick Donnelly. The purchase price is unknown but it was listed for $5.5 million.

Thursday, the Riverfront Design Committee gave their approval to change the zoning on the parcel from industrial to R-4, which allows for the maximum density of residential units.

Attorney and developer Bert Belanger told the committee the new owners are just starting the process of meeting with architects and thus far do not have a specific development plan.

Belanger has been a part of many multi-family developments in Oklahoma City and owns other properties in the immediate area.

The move comes after the completion of the new Oklahoma City Boulevard which runs to the north of the district.

Belanger also mentioned he has been working with the city to possibly close Exchange between Reno and the Klein/ SW 3rd intersection. Once a direct connection between downtown and the Stockyards to the southwest, Exchange was turned into a dead-end just south of Reno as part of boulevard construction.

The rezoning application will now move to the Planning Commission and City Council will have the final vote for approval.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/farmersmarket020620d.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/farmersmarket020620a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/farmersmarket020620b.jpg

makes it even more important that the city make the klein/blvd interchange a 4 way light

Makes the ridiculous Boulevard/Western/Classen overpass even more frustrating, as well.

I've been waiting for something to happen here. Though I'd rather see another big mixed use development

I've been waiting for something to happen here. Though I'd rather see another big mixed use development

I suspect this will involve more than just housing.

if I had money I would be trying to buy the Urban Farmhouse buildings now.

Also now pipedreaming of 3rd street being redeveloped between here and park with bars/restaurants/shops - creating an Austin TX 6th street vibe.

Maybe this will help Strawberry Fields group get going on their stuff. This entire area between the park and Farmers District is basically downtown's last hope of a connection since the Boulevard severed the Film Row connection.

Ikea!

The 'Vinyard' properties just east of the Farmer's Market area has been for sale for quite some time:

https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/portfolio/15452287/

The 'Vinyard' properties just east of the Farmer's Market area has been for sale for quite some time:

https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/portfolio/15452287/

Pretty nice row of buildings. And right across from Lively Beerworks, which I highly recommend!

Ikea!

You're thinking too small. This area is just calling out for a Great Clips.

You're thinking too small. This area is just calling out for a Great Clips.

Dear God, get this person on city council. Make them mayor. The Farmers Market absolutely NEEDS a Great Clips. What a splendid idea!

I swear to God I am going to pistol whip the next person who says, Great Clips.

Shenanigans

I swear to God I am going to pistol whip the next person who says, Great Clips.

make sure you get a [great] video clip of that pistol whip

I swear to God I am going to pistol whip the next person who says, Great Clips.

https://www.bing.com/search?q=great+clips+locations+Oklahoma+city&PC=U316&FORM=CHROMN

Great Clips "Where even YOU can get a haircut!"

The rezoning to build apartments here has passed at council.

Just received an email from Trade Supply Co that they are moving from their Midtown location to The Farmers Market district.

From their Facebook page; this will be on the corner of Klein, right by Loaded Bowl and Palo Santo.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/trade100820a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/trade100820b.jpg

^^^
I'm guessing this is due to increased rent in Midtown?
Anywho, I'm glad to see this in the Farmer's Market. I've seen some express concern on other threads that the Farmers Market had plateaued. Good retail injection.

I like this move, Trade is a great business operated and owned by a great guy. I like that he is expanding the size of the shop. Plus now I will have an even better reason for hitting up Power House!

Trade has a temp store set up in Silo next to what will be their new location:

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/trade122020a.jpg

There should be a full P180 makeover done here before more businesses get settled in. Minimize disruption to first pioneers.

There should be a full P180 makeover done here before more businesses get settled in. Minimize disruption to first pioneers.
Agreed.

^^^^

There is a new place going in called Atomic which features a DIY garage for motorcycles and a bar.

Not sure if it's the same people, but very similar to the Oki Moto project that was on Linwood.

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/atomic2.jpg


HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/atomic3.jpg

Large Farmer's Market tract seeking multi-family rezoning (https://www.okctalk.com/content.php?r=689-Large-Farmer-s-Market-tract-seeking-multi-family-rezoning)

The new owners of a 14-acre tract are taking steps towards rezoning that could lead to high-density housing in the Farmer's Market District.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/farmersmarket010420a.jpg


The site was formerly home to the original Oklahoma City streetcar maintenance facility but had been largely vacant for some time. In recent years, there has been significant cleanup and removal of old utility lines in advance of putting the property up for sale.

The current owners are a charitable trust. The property is now under contract to an entity headed by Richard Moyer and J. Patrick Donnelly. The purchase price is unknown but it was listed for $5.5 million.

Thursday, the Riverfront Design Committee gave their approval to change the zoning on the parcel from industrial to R-4, which allows for the maximum density of residential units.

Attorney and developer Bert Belanger told the committee the new owners are just starting the process of meeting with architects and thus far do not have a specific development plan.

Belanger has been a part of many multi-family developments in Oklahoma City and owns other properties in the immediate area.

The move comes after the completion of the new Oklahoma City Boulevard which runs to the north of the district.

Belanger also mentioned he has been working with the city to possibly close Exchange between Reno and the Klein/ SW 3rd intersection. Once a direct connection between downtown and the Stockyards to the southwest, Exchange was turned into a dead-end just south of Reno as part of boulevard construction.

The rezoning application will now move to the Planning Commission and City Council will have the final vote for approval.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/farmersmarket020620d.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/farmersmarket020620a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/farmersmarket020620b.jpg


This property recently sold for $3 million. Buyer is the owner of Dynamic Gaming Solutions, located in OKC and provides machines to casinos.

I haven't seen any additional movement on the proposed apartments; I suspect they are awaiting the MAPS4 stadium decision on location.

Wow. I mean lots of future development! I hope they all come to fruition.

Wasn't this the proposed soccer stadium site? If so that indicates it's not chosen?

Wasn't this the proposed soccer stadium site? If so that indicates it's not chosen?

There are 3 finalists:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/stadium030221m.jpg

Right, but if the farmers market site is selling/rezoning to residential, is that an indication that it is out of the running?

Or am I confused about the location of this within the fm district?

Right, but if the farmers market site is selling/rezoning to residential, is that an indication that it is out of the running?

Or am I confused about the location of this within the fm district?

It was rezoned some time ago, something initiated by the group that had it under contract and now is the owner.

I'm sure the apartments are Plan B if it is not chosen as the stadium site.

Pete, is there any ETA on when a site might be chosen?

Pete, is there any ETA on when a site might be chosen?

Next month the MAPS 4 board should announce the order these projects will start and be implemented.

Everyone wants to go first but you can count on the Fairgrounds Arena being one of the first.

From a connectivity perspective, this tract is a mess. There's going to have to be quite a bit of infrastructure investment to make either the soccer stadium or housing work here. Their graphic shows 4,300 cpd on Exchange Ave. - I wonder if that's pre- or post-Boulevard. Anyway, ideally you'd want to narrow SW 3, Exchange Ave., and Klein Ave., so that this tract is less divided from the Public Market building and the district as a whole, but there are industrial neighbors that run big trucks through the SW 3/Klein/Exchange intersection somewhat regularly, which means you have to maintain quite a bit of pavement to allow for wide turns.

If you chose the site for the soccer stadium, you'd need a fair amount of parking and good vehicular access. ODOT owns the land immediately to the south and east. I have no idea if it would work, but if you could extend SW 5 west of Western Ave. through that ODOT land up to a future stadium, that would help a lot to get people on and off I-40 and potentially allow for narrower streets/better pedestrian and biking connections to the Farmer's Market District.

If they go down the housing route, you have to ask yourself who really wants to live next to a major highway - without the benefit of immediate access to said highway - or, for that matter, concrete plants and truckyards?

Edited to add: Their proposal to close Exchange Ave. between Reno Ave. and SW 3 is a good step but it doesn't really help this property itself, unless coupled with some additional steps. But maybe they have something in the works - I don't know!

7-11 is planning a new store on the NW corner of Reno and Western:

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/711092021a.jpg


HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/711092021b.jpg


HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/711092021c.jpg


HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/711092021d.jpg


HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/711092021e.jpg

Well that's a bummer for that fantastic corner. But hey at least it looks like it will be the nicest gas station in the area - which pretty much guarantees that the blue VP Fuel or whatever at Classen and Sheridan will close down, which opens that land up for better use.

EDIT: Also the Conoco across the street will probably close.

Pretty sure this supplants the conoco.

Jesus man how hard is it to put the parking behind the store? That’s all they have to do in this situation to make a much more urban feel why is that so hard to do. OKC needs to impose an ordinance to require parking to either be structured or place behind the building and mandate a front entrance in this case it should be at the corner.

^

You would also have to put the pumps behind the store and then make the north side the entrance, making the streetside the back of the store.

What you describe makes zero sense for a gas/convenience store.

I didn’t realize it had pumps I just figured a 7 eleven doesn’t usually serve gas around Hollywood but everywhere else it does. Ooff.

At any rate I figure it could still be done but even in downtown LA and SF they build them like this. I just didn’t see the pumps at first.

The pumps are clearly shown on the site plan I posted above.

In the site plan but not the rendering. As I said there are no 7 elevens around me that have gas pumps which is why I saw that and made the assumption there wouldn’t be any gas pumps. I’m glad downtown is getting another gas station though.

In the site plan but not the rendering. As I said there are no 7 elevens around me that have gas pumps which is why I saw that and made the assumption there wouldn’t be any gas pumps. I’m glad downtown is getting another gas station though.

It's pretty much completely opposite here - very few 7-Elevens *don't* have gas pumps. NW 36th/Penn, NW 59th/May, and maybe a few others that are old and in residential neighborhoods instead of on a main thoroughfare.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/711092221a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/711092221b.jpg

What are the odds they have insight to the future soccer stadium location?

What are the odds they have insight to the future soccer stadium location?

The committee hasn't even started to meet and the stadium is at the tail end of the MAPS 4 timeline.

I doubt this move is in any way related.

^

You would also have to put the pumps behind the store and then make the north side the entrance, making the streetside the back of the store.

What you describe makes zero sense for a gas/convenience store.

Conceivably you could put the store on the corner with the pumps on the side and around the back to make it more of an urban design...which would look nicer though I doubt 7-11 does that very often.

I suppose it could create an issue with the trucks that have to refuel the gas. Personally I’ve never seen a fuel station with the pumps behind it but I’m sure they exist somewhere.

It would be nice to see that petrol station across the street redeveloped into a flat iron building and Exchange tied into Reno and western via a new roundabout.

Well, I suppose something had to be built on this corner eventually and with the plot backing up to the boulevard overpass a gas station is better than nothing. It will be interesting to see what can be done to make the bike lanes running through this area (along the west side of N. Western Ave.) safe. I was already skeptical about safety and having a bike lane cross W. Reno Ave. at Western and that was before a busy gas station was planned. You can see that the work on the off-street trail south of Reno and east of Exchange Ave. is progressing from Pete's aerial shot. They've also made progress building a short off-street trail from the southern terminus of Western just north of the Boulevard to the underpass. Finally, the sidewalks and (hopefully) the pedestrian signals at S. Klein, Exchange, and SW 3 having been getting a rebuild over the past couple of weeks.

What could have been...

https://twitter.com/UrbanFortWorth/status/1450603239490002949

Took this today.

You can see the 7-Eleven under construction in the foreground, the big parcel that is being considered for the multi-purpose stadium, the river bridge that will be converted to pedestrian use, and Wheeler District in the distance.

Also, I'll never understand why they effectively cut off Exchange just north of the river.

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/farmersmarket072122a.jpg

Wasn't there a fairly large apartment complex supposed to go in near the Farmers Market?

that Exchange/Reno/Classen-Western interchange is PERFECT for an urban roundabout or even multiple lights.