The #dallasbig is awesome and is all around the city. Many people pose with it and hashtag it to Instagram.

It would be cool to see something similar like #okcrising or #visitokc on the 'k'.

I think this is way cool.

Great way to get a focal point and start building around it.

And it will give people on the trails a destination.

Very excited to see this project get started!

Love this!

The "OKC" in front of the skyline is genius. I'm sure TNT/ESPN will be using this a lot for Thunder broadcasts.

Great way to start!

Love this!

The "OKC" in front of the skyline is genius. I'm sure TNT/ESPN will be using this a lot for Thunder broadcasts.

Also, the wheel itself will have bright, programmable LED's, so the whole thing in the foreground with the skyline behind will be pretty iconic.

Wonder if there is an angle that would also get the skydance in the pic as well, probably not without being weird, but will need to check out that perspective

I like it. That's kind of a lot of parking for what will eventually be a mecca of urbanism, but okay. I like the OKC sculpture and predict there will be many a selfie taken from it with the skyline, but at the same time it goes into that "yet another thing that says OK/C on it" bucket. Not sure "Wheeler" would have been any better. Maybe something a little more abstract or visually creative? Maybe the ferris wheel should be the "O"? I don't know, just thinking out loud.

I don't know the long range plans for sure, but I don't imagine the Parking is in the long term plans. In fact, the only thing that looks to be in the long range plans is the Ferris Wheel and maybe the sculpture. Even the Mural Wall is of a temporary nature. I get the feeling those other elements will be placed elsewhere in the district down the road when more important plans start taking shape.

makes sense, I'm okay with these intermediate plans to get things moving and establish this "place".

Those renderings look awesome. I love it.

I don't know the long range plans for sure, but I don't imagine the Parking is in the long term plans. In fact, the only thing that looks to be in the long range plans is the Ferris Wheel and maybe the sculpture. Even the Mural Wall is of a temporary nature. I get the feeling those other elements will be placed elsewhere in the district down the road when more important plans start taking shape.

Another thing about the parking: if you look at the plans it shows the parking will be on the existing concrete slab (leftover runway I think). So they are just painting lines on what already is there, not making a huge new parking lot.

Didn't notice that, that's cool.

Just for a point of reference, how tall is the Ferris Wheel at Frontier City?

Just for a point of reference, how tall is the Ferris Wheel at Frontier City?

The Frontier City website says the following; 20’ gondola Ferris Wheel

This means the Wheeler one is 3 times that size.

The one in Frontier is much taller than 20'.

seems a lot higher than 20' when you're on it though, would be nice to know the dimensions of the state fair wheel as well for reference.

also, am I so stupid that I never thought about Ferris "Wheel" and "Wheeler" District going together before? Gah...

The Frontier City website says the following; 20’ gondola Ferris Wheel

This means the Wheeler one is 3 times that size.

I am pretty sure they are about the same size. the one at wheeler is 9 stories tall

Yeah I mean the one at Frontier City has to be closer to 100' if not a little bit taller. I'm certain it's taller than feet though. I think the website might mean the gondolas are 20 ft

I am pretty sure they are about the same size. the one at wheeler is 9 stories tall

I just quoted the website (https://www.frontiercity.com/rides/family-rides/).

Isn't the Ferris Wheel at Frontier City elevated?
https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3240/2723752593_b07e5f21f1.jpg

Nope, I was wrong. It is German. SAGA - Seattle Area German American School (http://www.sagaschool.org/)

Norman has something similar.
Norman schools French immersion program plans information meetings - Norman Transcript: News (http://www.normantranscript.com/news/norman-schools-french-immersion-program-plans-information-meetings/article_07c9802a-a66b-11e4-9699-ff5b9d869c71.html)

Something like this would make an investment in this new type of development more palatable for your young parents out there, it seems.

Are most dual immersion schools only through elementary or do some continue into highschool?

Based on thrillscore.com, the Grand Centennial Ferris Wheel (Frontier City) is 99', with 20' gondolas.

Are most dual immersion schools only through elementary or do some continue into highschool?

I don't knoe about most, but I knoe that there are some that go all the way through.

Are most dual immersion schools only through elementary or do some continue into highschool?

They're primarily in elementary, but I really wish they'd continue them through high school. One of the biggest challenges is staffing the schools with bilingual teachers. The university I teach at in Texas probably has a far larger bilingual program than any Oklahoma university. The universities would likely need to expand their programs, which would be a smart long term plan anyway. So, if you build it I'll tell our grads to head north... ;)

This will be cool and it would also be a great place to put that Western Flyer that was presented a while back.

They're primarily in elementary, but I really wish they'd continue them through high school. One of the biggest challenges is staffing the schools with bilingual teachers. The university I teach at in Texas probably has a far larger bilingual program than any Oklahoma university. The universities would likely need to expand their programs, which would be a smart long term plan anyway. So, if you build it I'll tell our grads to head north... ;)

Complete tangent, but I can't really imagine a bilingual program in a university setting, and when I try to imagine it, I don't like the idea at all…at least not for undergrad.

Hopefully they get a full system going, or at least have the higher level schools into which that school would feed maintain bilingual curricula in certain core subjects. Maybe have bilingual history & literature + emphasis on high level Spanish and English. In fact, I know that publications like El Nacional are having a difficult time finding people who can actually write decent Spanish. Most bilingual kids going through American schools have a relatively poor level of Spanish, so there is a need that can well be met.

You pretty much just described how two way bilingual models work. Spanish in one class and then English in another...

I wish our entire university was two-way bilingual, but it would have to start by firing my monolingual butt. I was specifically referring to our preservice teachers who are majoring in bilingual education. Just their major classes use both English and Spanish, but other classes just use English… Unfortunately. :-(

Thrilled! I guess they will have to get a revocable permit since it is outsider of the property line and technically on city property. Provides better elevation for the Wheel for sure.

^^^^^^^^
They'll probably be going a different route.

Does this mean no more concerts?

Oklahoma River-side Ferris wheel expected to open later this year | News OK (http://newsok.com/oklahoma-river-side-ferris-wheel-expected-to-open-later-this-year/article/5406555)

Does this mean no more concerts?

The concerts were over last year.

I thought they were just changing locations?

Again I saw comments in one of the news forums stating.. " really a Ferris Wheel in Tornado country".. this always astounds me. it makes it sound like we are mole people living underground and have never dared to put anything skyward.. SMH

Again I saw comments in one of the news forums stating.. " really a Ferris Wheel in Tornado country".. this always astounds me. it makes it sound like we are mole people living underground and have never dared to put anything skyward.. SMH

The real question is "Really, more strip malls, tract homes and trailer parks in Tornado Country?"

What are they thinking, a ferris wheel?!?

I have to wonder if whoever wrote that has never driven up I-35 past Frontier City.

I filed it away with the complaints of the Skydance bridge " ice is gonna fall off of it onto traffic".. Simple thinking

I thought they were going to turn it into a big outdoor concert place. I guess they got too much hate from the neighborhood

That was a temporary use while no development was going on. The ultimate goal is a walkable, mixed-use neighborhood.

Again I saw comments in one of the news forums stating.. " really a Ferris Wheel in Tornado country".. this always astounds me. it makes it sound like we are mole people living underground and have never dared to put anything skyward.. SMH

This was my favorite one from the comments on Facebook: "Shame we couldn't feed the elderly, veterans and poor

Or

Maybe provide healthcare to over 160,000 Okies! Accept the Medicaid expansion gov. Behave like a humanitarian for GODs sake, if not for your own!"

This was my favorite one from the comments on Facebook: "Shame we couldn't feed the elderly, veterans and poor

Or

Maybe provide healthcare to over 160,000 Okies! Accept the Medicaid expansion gov. Behave like a humanitarian for GODs sake, if not for your own!"

I'm guessing those making these comments don't realize that the ferris wheel and the Wheeler Distict is a privately funded project and not a government project.

The ignorance the general public displays regarding the basics of civics and business is incredibly frightening.

The ignorance the general public displays regarding the basics of civics and business is incredibly frightening.

I was walking along the canal describing OKC's revitalization efforts to a newcomer at Tinker. A small group of people started saying similar ignorant things (schools, homeless, roads, etc.) For some reason I responded, to which one man doubled down on his arguments ("THEY ignore poor people and the SE side completely). I have no idea what came over me, but I blurted "Jesus Christ, how f--king dumb can you be?!" Another group of people along the canal started applauding. Haha

Can someone post the latest article in the Journal Record on Wheeler's request for a school proposal?

Humphreys seeks school for Wheeler District
By: Brian Brus The Journal Record May 8, 20150

OKLAHOMA CITY – Nearly a year ago, Blair Humphreys led a community meeting to discuss potential components of a new residential and mixed-use development just southwest of downtown Oklahoma City.

He’s nearly finished with the permitting process to install a signature Ferris wheel, and Humphreys is still pursuing a tax increment finance district to help develop infrastructure. But he’s trying to remain flexible on the idea of establishing a new school to serve young Wheeler District families.

“We want to work with the school district for a public school,” he said. “It’s in no way our decision on how a school would come together. I am certainly not an education expert, so I don’t take a hard position on this stuff. We just know that we want a school.

“You cannot create a great neighborhood without a great neighborhood school,” he said.

Read more Wheeler District coverage

Humphreys’ plans are expansive, involving 150 acres centered between the former Downtown Airpark and the Oklahoma River, just southwest of the planned MAPS 3 central park. He’s having a refurbished Ferris wheel installed on the river to establish a leisure area that taps into the riverside trails system. Humphreys in March received the City Council’s blessing to begin building the plaza, with an expected opening this summer.

He has also held several public planning sessions to provide feedback for planners, engineers and other professional consultants. Those meetings have been attended by interested retailers, restaurateurs and homeowners.

The latter group is the key to making Wheeler something more than a business center. Humphreys has said the 25- to 35-year-olds who are starting families will be the foundation of the community. And many of those new stakeholders will want a neighborhood school for their offspring.

Capitol Hill Elementary School, 2727 S. Robinson Ave., is the nearest elementary school to planned Wheeler residences. That feeds into Webster Middle School on S. Santa Fe Avenue and Capitol Hill High School on SW 36th Street. Humphreys said they’re good schools, but he still expects development to create more demand than Capitol Hill can handle now.

Some of his earlier discussions included references to private schools. Humphreys said Friday that’s not the route he’s most interested in now, nor is a charter school, a concept that has become so popular that legislators crafted a bill this session to allow large cities to bypass school district approval.

State Sen. David Holt, R-Oklahoma City, said the purpose of House Bill 1696 is to provide more choices for parents. If enough people want a charter school, they can request the City Council to allow it even if the school district has other plans. Holt said he did not receive any input from Humphreys before submitting the bill for consideration.

Blair Humphreys’ father, Kirk Humphreys, also a developer and former Oklahoma City mayor, has experience in creating charter schools. He sits on the board of directors of the John Rex Elementary School just west of the downtown business district.

Oklahoma City Public Schools District spokeswoman Tierney Tinnin said the school board and Superintendent Rob Neu have found the charter school bill to be unnecessary, and the district already has its eye on further growth in south Oklahoma City.

“John Rex Charter School is a great example of collaboration between the city and the district on behalf of students; this was initiated between both parties and did not require legislation,” Tinnin said. “Mr. Neu recommended and the OKCPS Board of Education approved to increase the enrollment at Santa Fe South Charter Schools to support the flourishing program and provide parents with additional options for their students.”

Blair Humphreys said a charter school is not his first option, even if the bill is signed into law. He said he has been reaching out to stakeholders and the school district to discuss options for a public school to serve Wheeler and surrounding neighborhoods.

When asked which officials have been contacted about the concept, Humphreys said, “The conversations have really been preliminary. There’s not been anything specific set out. We’ve just indicated our interest in seeing a public school and making those inroads with the right people so that it has stakeholder support.”

As for a tax increment finance district, or TIF, to help build up the infrastructure of the Humphreys project, Cathy O’Connor , president of the Alliance for the Economic Development of Oklahoma City, said she doesn’t have enough information yet to evaluate. That decision would be decided by the City Council.

Mayor Mick Cornett did not return phone calls for comment Friday.

O’Connor said she sees great potential in the Wheeler plan, and only time would tell whether such a large project near similar work in the Core to Shore downtown development would be competitive.

“To the extent that the Wheeler District can be complementary to other development closer to downtown, I think it could definitely be an advantage for us,” she said. “It’s not necessarily a conflict.”

Development energizes development, Blair Humphreys said, and the central business district has enough potential to spread around. Humphreys, who has a master’s degree in city planning and urban design, said he’s seen successful examples in the Plaza District and Midtown.

Not one mention of the idea of the school being a dual-immersion school :-(

The more and more I ponder about this project and what it's current potential is, the more and more I want it to be overly successful. Perhaps it will be the first true great urban neighborhood not only in OKC, but the state. My hopes are high for this, and I certainly hope momentum keeps pace, because this is seriously a catalyst, not "potentially," no, IT WILL BE a catalyst for additional development between it, and downtown OKC. We could see some great urban fabric develop along the river and further closer to Wheeler and downtown over time, linking South to North with the river as the heart in the middle.

Instead of requesting a new school for the elite of the new neighborhood, why not spend some $$ investing in the existing Capital Hill school system? Surely those existing schools could use a refurb or expansion to take on the new students and with new parents in Wheeler - the system itself could inprove with their INVOLVEMENT in the system. Adding a school (as a charter or whatever) seems to have an elitist feel to it - while the poor folks go to Capital Hill. I'd say, lets embrace what we have and make it better because Wheeler isn't in the same boat as downtown was (and therefore needed a new school).

^
That was my first impression as well.

Instead of requesting a new school for the elite of the new neighborhood, why not spend some $$ investing in the existing Capital Hill school system? Surely those existing schools could use a refurb or expansion to take on the new students and with new parents in Wheeler - the system itself could inprove with their INVOLVEMENT in the system. Adding a school (as a charter or whatever) seems to have an elitist feel to it - while the poor folks go to Capital Hill. I'd say, lets embrace what we have and make it better because Wheeler isn't in the same boat as downtown was (and therefore needed a new school).

Just a guess as the entire neighborhood seems to be marketed as an urban/walkable design, they probably want an elementary school within the border of the old airport or adjacent to it, so it is within a short walking distance to all the properties and the children do not have to use/cross any roads with much traffic. Actually looking at the distribution of elementary schools in the area, one at the old airport is pretty consistent with the current spacing between different schools in the area and they potentially will have more people per acre than anywhere around them.

Not only what Snowman said, but if they're wanting to do a dual-immersion school, that is not going to happen at Capitol Hill (even though it probably already should be).

Also consider that if Wheeler does what it's supposed to, that district alone could provide a few hundred students to an Elementary by itself, let alone any surrounding areas.

A neighborhood school makes for a more complete neighborhood.

Instead of requesting a new school for the elite of the new neighborhood, why not spend some $$ investing in the existing Capital Hill school system? Surely those existing schools could use a refurb or expansion to take on the new students and with new parents in Wheeler - the system itself could inprove with their INVOLVEMENT in the system. Adding a school (as a charter or whatever) seems to have an elitist feel to it - while the poor folks go to Capital Hill. I'd say, lets embrace what we have and make it better because Wheeler isn't in the same boat as downtown was (and therefore needed a new school).

Ever heard of MAPS for Kids? Yes, that was a while ago, but many of the improvements were just recently completed, including work to Capitol Hill. That said, I disagree that this development will create more demand than Capitol Hill can handle. I don't say that adamantly, I know declining enrollment is no longer the case thanks to the awesome Hispanic community that has emerged there, but I'd have to see it. Ideally, we could integrate Wheeler into the Capitol Hill fabric, which includes the high school which is a very important part of that community. I know that because it educated every generation of my family up until my generation, and we still maintain strong ties to Capitol Hill despite moving further south (I think you'll find this narrative is prevalent among Westmoore families).

Given that changing the boundaries or location of Capitol Hill HS should be off the table, I think then you move down the list to Webster Middle and Capitol Hill Elem. South Robinson will probably have streetcar moving up and down it in 5-8 years if I'm being optimistic, 10 if I'm being realistic. What if OCPS did a land swap with Humphreys to build a new CHES and redevelop the old property into affordable senior apartments or something like that? This could be a huge win-win on several different fronts (Wheeler catalytic development, inner city schools, affordable housing, profiting the locally-owned Humphreys Company, and south side revitalization).

Ever heard of MAPS for Kids? Yes, that was a while ago, but many of the improvements were just recently completed, including work to Capitol Hill. That said, I disagree that this development will create more demand than Capitol Hill can handle. I don't say that adamantly, I know declining enrollment is no longer the case thanks to the awesome Hispanic community that has emerged there, but I'd have to see it. Ideally, we could integrate Wheeler into the Capitol Hill fabric, which includes the high school which is a very important part of that community. I know that because it educated every generation of my family up until my generation, and we still maintain strong ties to Capitol Hill despite moving further south (I think you'll find this narrative is prevalent among Westmoore families).

Given that changing the boundaries or location of Capitol Hill HS should be off the table, I think then you move down the list to Webster Middle and Capitol Hill Elem. South Robinson will probably have streetcar moving up and down it in 5-8 years if I'm being optimistic, 10 if I'm being realistic. What if OCPS did a land swap with Humphreys to build a new CHES and redevelop the old property into affordable senior apartments or something like that? This could be a huge win-win on several different fronts (Wheeler catalytic development, inner city schools, affordable housing, profiting the locally-owned Humphreys Company, and south side revitalization).

The land swap would be a fantastic idea. From the last I heard almost every southside elementary school was bursting at the seams. I think it lessens as you go up though middle and high school.

The land swap would be a fantastic idea. From the last I heard almost every southside elementary school was bursting at the seams. I think it lessens as you go up though middle and high school.

Since overcrowding is an issue that is currently taking place without the added influx of Wheeler residents, I'm not sure a land swap would help the situation. I don't see the issue with adding another elementary school south of the river. OKCPS already had to convert nearby Jackson Middle into an elementary school and are adding a slew of portable buildings onto the existing school stock. Since this will be a public school (hopefully), it will be zoned appropriately to include the surrounding neighborhoods, providing both a mix of students at the new school and relieving overcrowding at nearby schools.

Plus in the near term, Wheeler will have much fewer residents than surrounding areas, so the vast majority of students at the school won't be students living in the planned community boundaries. Once the neighborhood tops out at somewhere north of 3,000 residents, having an additional school in the region will have been seen as vital. Hopefully they'll be able to add another middle school to the area (or reopen Jackson as one) to serve the growing population. Capitol Hill High should be able to support the area, but it may even make sense to split it into intermediate and senior high schools if growth warrants it.

All in all I think leading with a public school will help is a very smart choice by Blair & co. It will provide a neighborhood center of gravity to attract new residents and will force co-mingling with the surrounding neighborhoods to integrate it within the South OKC fabric.

I agree with the above, but that requires putting this decision off until that time. I think a lot of people seem to be looking for a decision on this in the near-term. Is that right?

I would also like to point out that even if they got approval for a new school in that area it would be three years before it would open. So if it takes a year or two to get approval then any child starting second grade this august will not attend a school in the wheeler district.

good points all.

I agree that this development will bring in significant increase of students and yes should have its own elementary school within walking distance. Very good points all , thanks!

Wheeler District LLC has commissioned a new mural as an artistic backdrop to a new public space it’s creating at the Wheeler Riverfront Recreational Plaza located at 1701 S. Western Avenue. Wind Wall, by artists Amanda Bradway and Erin Cooper, will be painted directly onto two stacked shipping containers and will measure 100’ X 24’.



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/wheelermural1.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/wheelermural2.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/wheelermural3.jpg

Love it! I can finally say I'll be a neighbor, not a resident of Wheeler but still excited to see it develop. I will finally be close to downtown again since the 1980's.