Pete...When do they start construction on this attraction. I can't wait till they get the Wheel up and running nothing in the news and I drove by the site last week no activity at the old airpark. Nothing on their social media pages or website. Looks like everything on the development is just sitting stagnate for the past few months. You go across town on another larger multi-use development Chisum Creek they are very active on their social media and webpages.

Pete...When do they start construction on this attraction. I can't wait till they get the Wheel up and running nothing in the news and I drove by the site last week no activity at the old airpark. Nothing on their social media pages or website. Looks like everything on the development is just sitting stagnate for the past few months. You go across town on another larger multi-use development Chisum Creek they are very active on their social media and webpages.

Chisolm Creek is a whole different type of development. It's big-box retail based and all it takes is having 3 to 5 major tenants in place and the rest will fall in place if you have the right developers backing the project (and very clearly Chisolm Creek does).

Wheeler is essentially building a small town in the middle of the city.

Blair Humphreys told me they want to install the wheel and the related development (plaza, sculpture, etc.) this summer.

I'm sure they'll be starting soon and the mural is evidence they are moving forward.

Wheeler is essentially building a small town in the middle of the city.

I've never heard it put this way, but it really is what they are doing. I think that's the perfect comparison.

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.

I tried to convince my fiance that we should buy a house in the area. She doesn't share our same vision of the future of those neighborhoods though lol. I think you made a wise and fruitful investment. Congrats.

I tried to convince my fiance that we should buy a house in the area. She doesn't share our same vision of the future of those neighborhoods though lol. I think you made a wise and fruitful investment. Congrats.

You could buy a house down there for peanuts, fix it up a bit, rent it out, and then when things start to take off, remodel it and move down there...

Wheeler is essentially building a small town in the middle of the city.

Isn't that how cities/urban neighborhoods are supposed to be--a connection of small towns/communities?

Do they have an estimated timeline for completion?

You could buy a house down there for peanuts, fix it up a bit, rent it out, and then when things start to take off, remodel it and move down there...

LOL trust me, I was trying to get skin in the game in any way shape or form. She wasn't having it for anything south of I40, even just a house we rented out. :(

Isn't that how cities/urban neighborhoods are supposed to be--a connection of small towns/communities?

In Spanish, they have the term Barrio (Bah-ree-oh). It could loosely be translated district, but doesn't have the same connotations that we think of when we say district, and you really can't use Neighborhood anymore because Suburban Subdivisions co-opted the definition. To me a barrio is a place where the majority of your daily life takes place: Where you sleep, eat, play, learn, find entertainment, shop, work, make friends. That's not to say you can't do any of those things in other barrios, but for sure all of those things need to be accessible in your barrio even if you choose to "outsource" certain things.

To me, a city is a collection of barrios, which OKC indeed has. Most barrios in OKC can more or less be boiled down to the school-district lines that divide high schools. There's somewhere between 5 and 10 barrios in the NW quadrant of the city alone. The difference between OKC and any average city in the Western world is that in the space that those 5 to 10 barrios occupy, there would be between 25 - 75 barrios depending on the density of the city. The Federal district of Buenos Aires is ~80 square miles (Roughly, Reno/Council/122nd/Western), and within that space they have 48 Barrios and 2.9 million people, with a significant inflow (extra 5-7 million) from the "suburbs" areas during the workday. The size of the smallest barrio en BsAs is about 0.6 Square miles and the largest about 6.1 square miles. So downtown is essentially its own barrio, and it really functions as such.

In a city the barrios generally overlap, unless there is a major divider (like a highway or river). In BsAs, major streets generally act as at least one boundary for the various barrios, but not all boundaries are clearly established. Even in the case of major streets, a few blocks on either side of the street are very likely to have a similar feel and development style.

The problem with OKC (and many US cities) is that our barrios are not connected on the human scale…they are connected by the automobile, and they are subsequently developed around the automobile making the automobile is essentially a necessary component of life if one is to live @ Developed-Western-World Middle-Class standards.

It will likely never reach the level of density of your average Western-world city…hopefully automobile transportation stays cheap for multiple decades to come but it's a shame we haven't built more areas to be more car-optional so that in the case that something skyrockets the cost of auto-transportation, that we can still have a functional economy. If gas skyrocketed to $9/gallon tomorrow, most US cities outside of the N.E. would have a near impossible time adapting.

I'm not at all against the automobile or against barrios built around the automobile (though I personally don't want to be apart of one), but building a city around nearly entirely auto-centric barrios is definitely not the way to build a compelling and competitive city.

I would love to live in a barrio, especially one that is walker friendly. Everything about this is great, but you do say that automobile transportation is cheap and you hope that it will stay that way. I think that statement is how most people feel, but they don't realize the true costs of owning a vehicle. In most cases it costs at least $10,000 a year to own a vehicle. That to me is not cheap. Also, if your city is based on automobile transportation, your roads are not in good shape. Tax dollars to fix roads and bridges that have heavy traffic cost a ton of money.

I gave up my car this year. I have not had one since January and have saved so much money. I have also been able to meet new friends and strenthen bonds I already had. Asking for a ride has become a highlight now. I am lucky I live close to where I work and I have bus stops near my house. So I know not everyone would be able to do what I do, but if our barrios were made for non-automobile transportation, more and more people would ditch their cars for the savings.

$10k/year is relatively cheap to own a vehicle. Own one in a major city and that $10k MIGHT get you 10 months of parking…

And yes, it is still expensive, but if you're making $50k/year and you value certain things that living in an auto-centric barrio (like space), it's still affordable, especially if you avoid the keeping up with the jones' mentality and avoid buying a new car every 3 to 5 years (unless that's also the hobby to which you dedicate significant money)

The mural for the windwall was approved today.

We should start to see some action here soon.

"Oklahoma City continues its expansion and development of new districts around downtown. These areas complement Oklahoma City’s sense of community and give its residents more housing, schools and retail options. One upcoming district under development is the Wheeler District, which covers the area from the former Downtown Airpark to the Oklahoma River.

Plans call for a nine-story Ferris wheel, originally from the Santa Monica Pier. The creation of this new district has prompted a strong resident response with valuable input on the Ferris wheel, public space and roundabouts. The district has already garnered interest from a grocer, retailers, restaurants and potential homeowners.

Wheeler is still in the early stages of planning and development. It is suspected that the school, Ferris wheel and first homes will be the area’s major developments set to open in 2016.

Wheeler will be a beneficial district in a currently underdeveloped area. Although still in the planning stages, construction is in the early phase, with the first homes being built on the west side of Western Avenue. Construction on other major infrastructure will continue over the next several years.

The Downtown Airpark’s renovation will include 150 acres just southwest of the planned MAPS 3 central park. The Ferris wheel will be installed next to the river following resident input, creating a recreational area that coincides with the city’s riverside trails system. The plaza, along with the Ferris wheel and mural art, is expected to open this summer.

A unique aspect of the plaza development takes into account environmental factors. Shipping containers, along with greenery, will be added to the area to block the Oklahoma wind.

The district is part of several different sites south of downtown that are on the cusp of great development. Although the district will go through many stages of improvement over the next few years, it will grow quickly with the support of the Oklahoma City community.

The city continues to invest in its future by providing residents with great housing, schools, restaurants, retail and entertainment. With community involvement, the Wheeler District is sure to be a great addition to the riverfront and the city as a whole.

Cathy O’Connor is president of The Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City."

Read more: O?Connor: Welcoming the Wheeler District | The Journal Record (http://journalrecord.com/2015/06/23/oconnor-welcoming-the-wheeler-district-opinion/#ixzz3dzYTP7z1)

How can there be input from residents? There aren't any wheeler district residents, and not even any neighboring residents for some distance surrounding where the Ferris wheel would go, right?

11008

I imagine they are speaking about the people that live in nearby neighborhoods like this one - as well as city residents at large.

I get that, but just to get from that neighborhood to where there ferris wheel will be you have to drive all the way down to I think 29th, go all the way around the old airport part, back up to the river. I doubt there will be any interconnecting at this stage. I'm just saying even though right next to each other the two are effectively different worlds until sometime in the very distant future maybe.

11008

I imagine they are speaking about the people that live in nearby neighborhoods like this one - as well as city residents at large.

Yeah I'll be one of them next month. I consider myself a neighbor and care about the success of the district since this is why I moved here. Also downtown's success as a whole of course.

Hey, I haven't read through the whole thread, so i don't know if this has been brought up or not. I was with a friend last night at Wheeler park, watching his kids play T-ball. At one point the wind shifted from the west and for the rest of our time a the park the smell was terrible! No matter how nice the Wheeler District is, they are STILL not going to move the Stockyards. That smell will be here from now on. How will they spin that to potential residents?

The residents of Edmond don't seem to care too much about smell, so I doubt if it will be a big deal.

Dog food is a little different than cow crap?
And I lived in Edmond for many years and never once smelled the dog food in my yard.
The smell at Wheeler park was really bad last night.

Maybe if they run the ferris wheel really fast it will blow the stench away:tongue:

Fun fact. The stockyards are unincorporated. The City does not wield complete control.

Fun fact. City home rule. Why has OKC annexed most of Central Oklahoma, but not a historic economic engine just west of downtown?

I don't know why we're fun facting, just thought it was a fun fact.

There are plenty of people that are dying to move there at this moment. I don't think they will need to spin anything any sort of way.

Well they better get used to the smell of cows and manure

That's a gross over statement. I went to school at mount st Mary's just a few blocks away and can remember maybe two or three days in 4 years that I even noticed it. I highly doubt it will be a problem at all.

Thought that they moved the Stockyard's operations to El Reno (OKC West Stockyards) ; or did they just develop another livestock market?

https://www.okc-west.com/

Well they better get used to the smell of cows and manure

I'd say the funk from the Oil Mill is worse than cow smell from Stockyards and it hasn't kept people from working and living downtown.

Thought that they moved the Stockyard's operations to El Reno (OKC West Stockyards) ; or did they just develop another livestock market?

https://www.okc-west.com/

I don't know about any of that, but I've been down there when cattle trucks were arriving, so SOMEthing is going on there still...

Thought that they moved the Stockyard's operations to El Reno (OKC West Stockyards) ; or did they just develop another livestock market?

https://www.okc-west.com/

A lot of it moved, but not all of it. Also, OKC West was pretty much destroyed in 2013 by the 'big' tornado but has since been rebuilt.

I wonder if that's for some specific technical reason or if it's simply so they can still call it a functioning stockyard.

A lot of it moved, but not all of it. Also, OKC West was pretty much destroyed in 2013 by the 'big' tornado but has since been rebuilt.

Curious as to why you put big in quotes.

Curious as to why you put big in quotes.

Probably because it was the widest tornado in recorded history.

Curious as to why you put big in quotes.

Yes, because it was the widest tornado ever recorded at 2.6 miles wide at the point where it crossed I-40.

Track thought the quotes were being used to indicate irony, and was curious because it was, in fact, very big.

Instead the quotes were being used for emphasis. This led to miscommunication on the internet.

Miscommunication on the Internet? Why, I've never heard of such a thing!

Of course, I meant "Traxx" and not "Track", but my phone's automisspell feature kicked in.

Track thought the quotes were being used to indicate irony, and was curious because it was, in fact, very big.

Instead the quotes were being used for emphasis. This led to miscommunication on the internet.

Yeah, this.

I have a question for Pete see if he can find out about the Wheel. I drove down Western on my way home. I happened to drive by the old downtown airport. I thought they said construction was going to start on the Wheel Plaza and be open by the end of the summer. It is Mid July and not even a blade of grass has been moved on this property. Has the project been postponed and moved back to a later date. I wanted to be able to ride the Ferris Wheel this Fall but looks like the project is moving slow. Thanks!

It's a little behind schedule but still very much moving forward.

Probably be ready in the fall vs. this summer.

Awesome! Thanks Pete

Is the Ferris Wheel even in Oklahoma yet or still in Kansas?

Is the Ferris Wheel even in Oklahoma yet or still in Kansas?

If it is just in storage, what does it matter which state it is in?

What I mean is, is it still being refurbished in Kansas or is it finished and in Oklahoma ready to be assembled?

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
Has any work started on this or the ferris wheel? I thought it was planned to open by the years end.

Steve said in last Friday's chat that the Ferris Wheel project has been delayed until early next year. I wonder if the other phases of development will be delayed as well.

Steve said in last Friday's chat that the Ferris Wheel project has been delayed until early next year. I wonder if the other phases of development will be delayed as well.

He said that was due to weather so I would suspect that, at this point, any other delays would only be for the same reason. I doubt, however, that anything else was close enough to beginning for weather to be a factor.

He said that was due to weather so I would suspect that, at this point, any other delays would only be for the same reason. I doubt, however, that anything else was close enough to beginning for weather to be a factor.

I know rain affects soil conditions, etc but there are many other projects moving forward in the city despite the weather.

I'm really excited about this, but I'm curious about two things.

1) Is there a final architectural design for the area? The last thing we've seen are the drawings from the charrette. I really want to know what style the homes and buildings will be in. What will it actually look like?

2) What is the expected price range?

I am potentially interested in buying a home in this area. A lot of things have to fall into place for that to happen, but it looks like it may be feasible for me to do it. Now if every home is half a million dollars, I can't do it. And if every building is a funky, weird design, I probably wouldn't want to do it. But it has been a year since the charrette, and I think that's long enough for them to get a better idea of what they are trying to build here.

^I have not read thru this thread - is there an expectation or projection that the homes are $500k range or are you just saying if they are that high you'd be out?

^I have not read thru this thread - is there an expectation or projection that the homes are $500k range or are you just saying if they are that high you'd be out?

There's just a lot of speculation as far as I know. You can basically buy a Brownstone downtown for $500K, so I'd expect they'd be lower priced than that. But I haven't heard anything official at all. And yeah, I'd be out at that price.

There was a lot of buzz last summer during the charrette, now not so much. I wish they would share more information to keep the momentum going.

According to their Twitter account the Ferris wheel is about to become actively en route whether it likes it or not brought you by Carl's jr

According to their Twitter account the Ferris wheel is about to become actively en route whether it likes it or not brought you by Carl's jr

Sleep, plupan. :)

Sleep, plupan. :)

It was like 10:30 his time when he posted that...

Yeah but they really are bringing the Ferris Wheel according to their Twitter account

I guess I thought it was already brought

I guess I thought it was already brought

It was being refurbished in Kansas... I assume that's where they are bringing it from.

I guess I thought it was already broughthttp://33.media.tumblr.com/7e10a5ed141f2bceba800d4bd6de73f6/tumblr_msvl818ZRW1r1vf9eo1_500.gif

it's already been broughten :wink: