I kinda thought someone might go there...

http://33.media.tumblr.com/7e10a5ed141f2bceba800d4bd6de73f6/tumblr_msvl818ZRW1r1vf9eo1_500.gif

it's already been broughten :wink:

A+ for you.

I thought the price of a home was based on your income, because they wanted a blended economic background for its residents

This is an important read that reminded me of the idea that the Wheeler District needs some kind of charter, private, or magnet school:
Why White Parents Won't Choose Black Schools*|*Abby Norman (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/abby-norman2/why-white-parents-wont-ch_b_8294908.html)

Also, here is the incredibly powerful "Ths American Life" episodes that is referenced in the article:
The Problem We All Live With | This American Life (http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/562/the-problem-we-all-live-with)

Studies have repeatedly shown that integration closes the achievement gap for students or color without lowering achievement for white students, but white flight persists as our country has given up on Brown v. Board and integration. Give these resources a read/listen.

double post

what ever happened with the Wheel? I thought it was suppose to be up in the summer. I keep waiting for it to pop up over there.

Is the Wheeler District even still happening at this point?

what ever happened with the Wheel? I thought it was suppose to be up in the summer. I keep waiting for it to pop up over there.

See post # 1066.

Is the Wheeler District even still happening at this point?

Are you just trolling...?

Are you just trolling...?

Eh, I was feeling cynical. I would like some updates or signs of life though.

Eh, I was feeling cynical. I would like some updates or signs of life though.

They hired a Director of Operations (I think that's the title), announced October 1 on Twitter. There is a lot of behind-the-scenes work that is being done...

Eh, I was feeling cynical. I would like some updates or signs of life though.

double post

They hired a Director of Operations (I think that's the title), announced October 1 on Twitter. There is a lot of behind-the-scenes work that is being done...

I'll give them a follow in Twitter. Thanks for the heads up.

I just wish we could get an update every now and then.

I just wish we could get an update every now and then.

That would be nice.

Twice as nice: Wheeler District could get bilingual school | The Journal Record (http://journalrecord.com/2015/11/16/twice-as-nice-wheeler-district-could-get-bilingual-school-real-estate/)

Can someone post the copy from the article for us non-subscribers?

Steve's update and some other questions as well.

What's the latest on the Wheeler District? | News OK (http://newsok.com/whats-the-latest-on-the-wheeler-district/article/5461724)

I went out and walked along the river and noticed construction started on the Ferris Wheel Plaza the construction comes up to the Pathway. I didn't know where the property line was so I snapped picture. Good to see the Ferris Wheel going up and the development starting. I post pictures off my phone didn't have my point and shoot camera with me.

Here are some photos I took of the construction.
12161121621216312161

Nice find, I think someone said this spring, so it looks like they've started.

Yes, thanks for the photos.


And yes, they should now start pushing hard to be open this spring or the summer at the latest.

From the Wheeler twitter feed:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/wheeler021216.jpg

Is there an official updated timeline?

For now, they are planning to get the Ferris wheel and plaza open this summer.

They are working on the first part of the commercial and housing but have not committed to a specific timeline.

I do know they are working hard and plan to move forward.

Any word on the price point for the housing yet?

I hoping we start hearing something soon. My fiance and I have talked about how cool it would be to move here when they get under way.

There's now an instagram account for "wheelerferriswheel", no posts yet though.

Any word on the price point for the housing yet?

I have spoken with Blair several times and he said it is going to vary as there will be townhomes, condos and apartments, much like what you are seeing in DD right now. I would assume it would depend on the amount of TIF money they can get for their development as that would bring the cost down per unit.

I was hopeful it would start before things got too much worse, but things have been so slow. Didn't Blair's brother have similar issues getting his development here in OKC off the ground and then he left for Carlton Landing?

I was hopeful it would start before things got too much worse, but things have been so slow. Didn't Blair's brother have similar issues getting his development here in OKC off the ground and then he left for Carlton Landing?

Which development are you talking about? The Flatiron Building?

Which development are you talking about? The Flatiron Building?

Probably Block 42

Which development are you talking about? The Flatiron Building?

I may very well be mistaken, but I thought Grant had tried a development not too far from downtown that never got anywhere (maybe Crown Heights-ish?).

I may very well be mistaken, but I thought Grant had tried a development not too far from downtown that never got anywhere (maybe Crown Heights-ish?).

Ah, I remember that. If I remember correctly, that was during the 07-09 recession, so financing might have been the issue. I know the Lake Eufaula development was always on the map, it was just moved to the front as things ticked down the list like the Flatiron and the CH development.

Ah, I remember that. If I remember correctly, that was during the 07-09 recession, so financing might have been the issue. I know the Lake Eufaula development was always on the map, it was just moved to the front as things ticked down the list like the Flatiron and the CH development.

Yep, I think it was supposed to be right off Broadway Extension at 36th St. With what's going on now with the price of oil, I just found it oddly similar in an ominous way. I certainly hope this Wheeler development enjoys a different outcome. Also, I really would love to see the Crown Heights proposal revisited as I think OKC has more of an appetite for that sort of development now.

Grant's proposal was killed by NIMBYs.

Grant's proposal was killed by NIMBYs.

I hate that word. It's like using racist to oppose anyone who disagrees with Obama. EVERYONE who's informed has an opinion on what gets built near them. Are they all NIMBYs?

Grant's proposal was killed by NIMBYs.

NIMBYs alone? I remember there was opposition, but I thought there was an article where Grant also cited the souring economic conditions at the time...? As an aside, you think the Humphreys ever circle back around to that land?

NIMBYs alone? I remember there was opposition, but I thought there was an article where Grant also cited the souring economic conditions at the time...? As an aside, you think the Humphreys ever circle back around to that land?

I think it was a combination of people not understanding the development completely being against it and then financing dried up as well.

I hate that word. It's like using racist to oppose anyone who disagrees with Obama. EVERYONE who's informed has an opinion on what gets built near them. Are they all NIMBYs?

It's not a curse word, as far as the way I use it. It's only an acronym. Sometimes the NIMBYs are right. In this case, I don't think they were. If a Wal-Mart Supercenter or a juvenile detention center had been proposed for that location, absolutely the NIMBYs would have been right.

I agree, hopefully that 36th development could be revisited (I was/am so looking forward to more of those developments in the inner city)

and that they have success with Wheeler. It could be why they're taking their time with the construction - just to be safe during a local recession. Pete, Steve, and others have mentioned that this is actually a good thing because it could allow the downtown market to absorb all of the upcoming openings during the current wave and Wheeler open a new wave, independently in a few years - with everyone having success.

It's not a curse word, as far as the way I use it. It's only an acronym. Sometimes the NIMBYs are right. In this case, I don't think they were. If a Wal-Mart Supercenter or a juvenile detention center had been proposed for that location, absolutely the NIMBYs would have been right.

I'll apologize then, but there are lots of people on this board that use that word as a curse, and overly broad, with the implication that there are just tons of people who oppose any and all development or progress near them. I might concede that there could be those type of people, but most people just prefer quality development. Folks may disagree what that is, but rarely are folks opposed to ANYTHING going in somewhere. There are usually various reasons folks oppose a development and they tend to be more complicated than just "not in my back yard".

The Ferris wheel and plaza are now on fast track with the optimistic goal of being open by Memorial Day.

When is the rest of the district going to start? The ferris wheel will be awesome and all, but the most exciting part is this urban village. I'm assuming once they get this done they will shift their focus to that?

They will be starting on the first phase very soon.

They will be starting on the first phase very soon.

Plans or rendering photos?

Plans or rendering photos?

At the top of the page.

They will be starting on the first phase very soon.

From the Wheeler District's Twitter account on February 24: "we're making progress! We hope to break ground on housing next year. We're excited to get started!"

At the top of the page.

Let me rephrase, UPDATED plans or rendering photos?

Let me rephrase, UPDATED plans or rendering photos?

No idea when those will come forth.

Looks like most of the development is in the flood plain. Any idea how they will address that or will it just require flood insurance for anyone who buys in the development?

Looks like most of the development is in the flood plain. Any idea how they will address that or will it just require flood insurance for anyone who buys in the development?

I think they plan on using fill dirt. I am not sure if it will be enough to change the flood determination. There are methods to change the official flood map. It just takes time and money.

Refer to this page for terminology: http://www.clackamas.us/planning/flood_terms.html

Most of the area is in the flood way fringe. In the fringe, they can use fill material (or other methods) to raise the finished floor elevation of regulated structures above the base flood elevation.

No changes to flood map necessary.

Looking at a contour map, Wheeler District is definitely within the floodplain, as well as a large area of OKC is. The floodplain ranges from about 1 mile to 2 miles wide.

Look at the Flood Insurance Rate Map, where the flood way (where flood waters are conveyed) and the flood way fringe (where water backs up) are defined. The flood way is relatively narrow. The fringe is what makes the floodplain so wide. You can build within the flood way fringe.

While I am sure they will eventually make a lot of money on this development, it is crazy to think they bought this land for over $7 million, ten years ago. Assuming they had a mortgage on it, they have probably paid over a million dollars just in interest over that time period. That is patience....

I don't see them starting on housing next year.

They were a year late on a Ferris wheel.

^^^^^^
Housing/development is where their experience lies; Ferris wheels are not. Not to mention much of the housing will be constructed by other builders. If they can get streets/utilities done this summer housing starts will follow immediately.

By the way, there are a number of moving parts associated with the Ferris wheel plaza. It's not simply plopping a wheel out there. They have had to plan the plaza in such a way that it is immediately more than just a wheel out in a field, while at the same time planning for the wheel and plaza to thoughtfully integrate with permanent commercial and residential that will closely surround it in the future. They don't want to throw the wheel up and at a later date have to move/re-orient. Meaning LOTS of planning beyond what might seem at first glance to be a simple task.

I'd love to be wrong and hope I am. As I've said in the past, my fiance and I have talked extensively about moving to WD when it gets underway.

^^^^^^
Housing/development is where their experience lies; Ferris wheels are not. Not to mention much of the housing will be constructed by other builders. If they can get streets/utilities done this summer housing starts will follow immediately.

By the way, there are a number of moving parts associated with the Ferris wheel plaza. It's not simply plopping a wheel out there. They have had to plan the plaza in such a way that it is immediately more than just a wheel out in a field, while at the same time planning for the wheel and plaza to thoughtfully integrate with permanent commercial and residential that will closely surround it in the future. They don't want to throw the wheel up and at a later date have to move/re-orient. Meaning LOTS of planning beyond what might seem at first glance to be a simple task.

This has always been my concern with putting the Ferris Wheel in first. The neighborhood is far more important than the Ferris Wheel + its immediate surroundings. So hopefully the planning has given them the ability to have maximum flexibility when it comes time to start developing the actual neighborhood.