good idea David

Looks nice and all....but why a flower?

One small tip. If bike lanes are actually created in downtown OKC, please let them be separated from the street by a curb or some physical barrier as they often are here in Amsterdam. It make it so much nicer (and safer) to ride a bike. Also better for the automobile drivers as they don't have to worry about hitting bikes. In the rendering above it is hard to tell if the lane is separate or part of the road.

Unfortunately in the United States that is usually not the case, and the renderings I've seen show just a dedicated lane, painted with green paint and bike lane signage. I seriously doubt we'll see seperate curbs for bike lanes, hey bike lanes is a HUGE step forward for this City, or any city for that matter.

Looks nice and all....but why a flower?

Shrugs shoulders...
Because of OKC is a blooming city?




just grasping there. :tiphat:

Once you start looking at all this you realize the scope is MASSIVE!

Virtually every street downtown (not just the CBD!) will be completely transformed.

God Bless Devon (and Larry Nichols) for not only settign up the TIF to make this happen, but fronting $95 million so it can get started *now*. That way when the tower is done, all this will be too -- in addition to the changes at the Myriad Gardens and the Ford Center... With the new I-40 not too far behind.

That's a tremendous amount of change and activity in this "bad" economy. Three years down the road things are likely to be much better and if MAPS III passes, there is likely to be incredible momentum in the central city.

Very exciting stuff!

Pete, those drawings were done by an earlier consultant as part of a master plan and from what I understand, they're not coming into play with the current project. You are correct in summizing that what's at hand here is massive and a potential game changer for downtown. Not sure people believed me on that when I first popped this story....

Those renderings I posted from the OKC Planning site do look quite a bit different than the one shown in Steve's article.

Would still like to see more details since this is ready to get started and is very comprehensive.

More detailed renderings should be out this next month. I'll get them out as soon as I can.

Pete, those drawings were done by an earlier consultant as part of a master plan and from what I understand, they're not coming into play with the current project. You are correct in summizing that what's at hand here is massive and a potential game changer for downtown. Not sure people believed me on that when I first popped this story....

Steve is correct - these renderings are a part of the Downtown Streetscape study the City commissioned a couple of years ago. The pictures reflect ideas for a streetscape design offered by the consultant who worked on that plan (EDAW, Denver CO). Instead of concepts, the Plan will be used for identifying what streets should receive treatment. And even then, the new streetscape improvements may vary from it.

This consultant isn't involved with the Devon/TIF streetscape implementation and while some of the concepts may be used, it's unlikely any of those renderings will be utilized.

Shrugs shoulders...
Because of OKC is a blooming city?

just grasping there. :tiphat:

The consultant was going for a replica of the state wildflower, the 'Indian Blanket.'

You're right, Pete, it is a massive project.

I don't think, though, that the Devon TIF dollars will be spent on streetscape projects throughout all of downtown, including Bricktown. This is a map I lifted from the City website, discussing the TIF:

http://i724.photobucket.com/albums/ww242/luckynedpepper/eCopyTemporaryInternetFiledowntown2.jpg

The map reflects where the streetscape improvements will happen. Also, accompaning text:

"•Streetscape improvements funded through TIF and
G.O. Bond
•Approx. 6 miles of streets between Dean A
McGee / Reno / Dewey / E.K. Gaylord
•Hardscape, softscape, urban amenities,
accessibility, wayfinding, intersection
enhancements, public art, monumentation
•Project completion anticipated in fall 2013"

GO Bond Del?

Del, there was already $30 million for streetscapes and $14 for the Myriad Gardens from a 2007 general obligation bond. There is also $40 mil in an opportunity fund (not sure of source).

This would all be on top of the $95 million from the Devon TIF.



BTW, although I assumed this to be the case, I'm not 100% sure that all TIF funds have to be spent within that established district. I believe the district, in this case, can just be the Devon property, as that is the only development that will be contributing tax dollars. But those dollars are obviously being spent outside the Devon property, and since the funds will be going towards specific urban projects, it may be that that area can be quite large (like all of downtown rather than just the CBD or the area actually generating the tax revenue).

GO Bond Del?

Yeah, I'm guessing that's what they'll do. But the TIF dollars can only be spent within the boundaries of the TIF District.

How you doin??

Thanks Pete. Yes, I remember the 2007 Bond devoted to downtown streetscaping projects and you're right; it's that money which will have to be utilized in the areas outside of the Devon TIF. That TIF district was specifically defined in the creation of the TIF last December.

I'm trying to make sure about the actual boundaries, and so far, have only found the info I posted above.

Actually, I think we are talking about two separate things:


The TIF (Tax Increment Financing) is the property (in this case being develped by Devon) that will generate the taxes.
The TIRZ (Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone) is the area where those dollars will be spent.


I believe the area shown by Del is the TIRZ. Small distinction but I wanted to get this in the discussion so I (and others) can keep it straight in the future.


But as stated, there are lots of other funds available through the general oblgvation bond and the opportunity fund, and I believe Nichols insisted this all be invested for the Myriad Gardens and overall streetscape projects, including Bricktown, Auto Alley, Midtown, The Film Exchange, Deep Duece and the Arts District.


It also seems like the most work is needed with the TIRZ (effectively the CBD) as several streets need to be converted to two-way, on-street parking is to be added and the higher density requires more of just about everything. It's also the most visible and trafficed part of downtown thus deserves and needs the most attention.

The consultant was going for a replica of the state wildflower, the 'Indian Blanket.'

aka 'Gaillardia'

Thanks Pete. Yes, I remember the 2007 Bond devoted to downtown streetscaping projects and you're right; it's that money which will have to be utilized in the areas outside of the Devon TIF. That TIF district was specifically defined in the creation of the TIF last December.

I'm trying to make sure about the actual boundaries, and so far, have only found the info I posted above.

Actually, the GO Bond funds could still be used within the TIF district... they could supplement TIF projects if need be.

Here's the big thing guys... what we're talking about - the gardens, the streetscapes - that's all "PHASE 1." The relatively unprogramed phase 2 will be bigger....
Now, before anyone jumps to respond, sit, close your eyes, and contemplate what this really means.
Yeah, this is big. Is anyone still accusing of making a big deal out of nothing on this?

I'm trying to add up all the dollars involved.

Steve, in your article of today you mentioned there would be $95 million in street improvements. A few days ago it was announced $35 million would go towards the Myriad Gardens. That's at least $130 million for these two projects plus whatever it takes to set up an on-going maintenance endowment.

The Devon TIF is estimated at $115 million, there is $44 million from a 2007 general obligation bond and about another $40 million from the oportunity fund. That's a total of $199 million minus at least $150 million for what is being called Phase I.


Where is all the money coming from for an even larger Phase II??

OK, now you're challenging my math and memory, which is always worth doing ...
Here's what I was told in September:
The first phase improvements, set to be completed by the tower's opening in 2012, will be funded by $59.6 million from the increment district and $17.4 million in bond funding voters approved in 2007 (this is the street package, without the gardens).
A couple of weeks ago, I was told there would $35 million going to the gardens from the TIF, with another $8.75 million from the 2007 bond issue for replacing the Crystal Bridge's glass panes.
Today I had a story in which city officials said more than half of the $95 million for streetscapes would be bid out next year, with the other half to be bid out the following two years.
My understanding is that $95 million still represents Phase I.
Now we've got to figure out if Phase I went up in funding, or if more funding is materializing for the entire tif than first anticipated...
Good questions Pete. Are you interested in a career where you're expected to be ok with low pay, long hours and humiliating insults?
(just kidding... kinda...)

Good questions Pete. Are you interested in a career where you're expected to be ok with low pay, long hours and humiliating insults?

Haha!

Actually, I'm already ahead of you there. I have a job that I actually have to PAY to do (host this site) and I'm more than happy to forward some of the complaints and endless and often contridicting 'suggestions' that come my way. :Smiley259

But I suspect both of us do all this for reasons other than fame and fortune. :wink:


Anyway, I don't mean to give you a hard time I just like to try and figure things out!

Oh yeah... Pete, you're crazier than I am! In all seriousness, a decade ago I was part of a reporting team with Jack Money covering this kind of development downtown. Sadly, the reality of the business doesn't allow for such team reporting much anymore and Jack left the paper in January. I owe much of my success over the years to having had a great partner in crime. Fortunately, we still get to work on books together.

Here's the big thing guys... what we're talking about - the gardens, the streetscapes - that's all "PHASE 1." The relatively unprogramed phase 2 will be bigger....
Now, before anyone jumps to respond, sit, close your eyes, and contemplate what this really means.
Yeah, this is big. Is anyone still accusing of making a big deal out of nothing on this?

I don't remember anyone saying it wasn't a big deal, I think the majority of us grasped that it was from the get go.

Yeah, there were some, Metro. Not you, but others. Some registered their doubts with comments, others by email, others in person....

Thanks for clarifying, I just didn't notice much online, nor in personal conversations, so I get the general feeling the majority realize how big this is. Anyhow, keep up the good reporting.

This seems awesome. I did hear some grumbling about "Devon's strong-arm tactics," and, conversely, how the "city was trying to hold Devon back, and we better let them have what they want or they'll move to Houston."

It's really funny what you hear.

This really is exciting. Great renderings.

There is a new website with a presentation on this entire project (now dubbed Project 180 -- I love that!) here:

City of Oklahoma City | Public Information & Marketing (http://www.okc.gov/project180/)

not sure why there elected to use an acres measurement for the the street area to be renovated, just seems a wee countrified but this WILL look nice.

Project 180 to Transform Downtown Oklahoma City
Posted: Dec 14, 2009 3:50 PM CST Updated: Dec 15, 2009 8:29 AM CST

Oklahoma City to Receive Makeover Downtown

The focus of Project 180 will be on 180 blocks downtown.

By Gan Matthews, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Downtown Oklahoma City has changed a lot in recent years, and is about to get another big makeover starting next year.

The project has nothing to do with the latest MAPS initiative, but it has something to do the construction of the new Devon Energy building downtown and some recent bond issues.

Project 180 is the name of a downtown makeover covering 180 blocks. The Myriad Gardens will undergo some of the biggest changes.

For openers, the Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory will be re-glazed. New, clear panels will replace the acrylic one. The Gardens will be closed for a year for other improvements, too.

"I believe that over here in the east garden where our Christmas tree is at we're having a restaurant and then on the other side of that we're getting an ice skating rink and stuff, so yeah, it's gonna be awesome," Linda Hanley with the Myriad Gardens Security said.

And that's just the beginning. Project 180 will makeover everything you stand on in downtown, from streets to sidewalks.

"You'll see that we're going to have landscaping, they'll see new parking meters, they'll see even plug-ins for electric cars," Kristy Yager with the city of Oklahoma City said.

Complementing the decision by Devon Energy to build its new headquarters downtown, Project 180 will aim to attract more businesses and economic development into the area.

This sounds like a great project. The ultimate spring cleaning. BTW - I loved the new way finder system downtown while we were there a few weeks ago. I just followed the arrows where I wanted to go. It was a big help.

News9's copywriters are horrible.

Ya, Oklahoma City needs this face lift but commuting downtown will be a NIGHTMARE for about a year.. :(

There only doing a few streets at a time. I think that it is the goal of the city to make sure that it is as painless as possible.

I got an e-mail yesterday from What's Up Downtown about the Project 180 Meetings being held in the 3rd floor of city hall council chamber (3rd floor). There will be meetings Dec 17th, Dec 29th and Jan 12th at noon and 6pm. The e-mail states that all of the meetings will cover the same information and will give people information about the 3 year project and the impact it will have on you and your business.
I tried to find the information on the downtownokc website but was not successful. This is a e-newsletter that I signed up for somewhere when I was downtown that I get probably once a week so I am sure the meetings are open to everyone.

Yes I've seen the announcement of those meetings in several places. If only OCURA would be so open.

The City has several pages on its website dedicated to the Project 180 initiative. Here is the page about the Public Meetings - dates and times:

City of Oklahoma City | Public Information & Marketing (http://www.okc.gov/project180/publicmeetings.html)

* Dec. 17 noon & 6 p.m.
* Dec. 29 noon & 6 p.m.
* Jan. 12 noon & 6 p.m.

Meetings will be held in the City Hall Council Chamber, 200 N Walker (3rd floor).

All meetings will cover the same information and they are open to everyone.

Oklahoma City seeks quick turnaround
Project 180, which will give downtown a makeover, will begin as early as May
BY STEVE LACKMEYER
The Oklahoman
Published: December 18, 2009

The first public presentation of Project 180 — the $140 million downtown makeover — was met with a positive response from the more than 60 people who gathered Thursday at City Hall.

Assistant City Engineer Laura Story told the crowd the project remains on track for starting May 1, and wrapping up in 2014.

Once complete, all streets, sidewalks, parks and public spaces in the 180-acre central business district and arts district will have been rebuilt.

For the rest of Steve's article:

NewsOK (http://newsok.com/okc-seeks-quick-turnaround/article/3425835?custom_click=lead_story_title)

I sure would love to see a larger (or more detailed) version of this pic or more renderings.....any availible? It looks awesome.

http://photos.newsok.com/2/showimage/786143/lead620/

I sure would love to see a larger (or more detailed) version of this pic or more renderings.....any availible? It looks awesome.

http://photos.newsok.com/2/showimage/786143/lead620/

Here is the thread dedicated to the Myriad Gardens renovation:

http://www.okctalk.com/okc-metro-area-talk/19474-myriad-gardens-get-makeover.html

Post #9 by metro has other renderings.

More renderings of the street changes are on my blog OKC Central - Information about Oklahoma City, Bricktown and beyond (http://www.okccentral.com)

If not too much bother, could someone explain to me where exactly the central park will tie in? I've driven the areas that I think will be involved, but can't seem to reconcile my version with the gardens.

If not too much bother, could someone explain to me where exactly the central park will tie in? I've driven the areas that I think will be involved, but can't seem to reconcile my version with the gardens.

The Central Park will be two blocks wide (like the Myriad Gardens), will start where I-40 currently presides and will go down to where I-40 will be in 2012. So it will be two blocks wide and five blocks long. The Skydance Pedestrian Bridge will be going south across the new I-40 at Robinson. The park will then continue south of I-40, one block wide (Harvey to Robinson) to the Oklahoma River. The main area between the current I-40 and the new I-40 will be about 40 acres and the area south will be about 30 acres. At least, that is the plan :)

The Central Park will be two blocks wide (like the Myriad Gardens), will start where I-40 currently presides and will go down to where I-40 will be in 2012. So it will be two blocks wide and five blocks long. The Skydance Pedestrian Bridge will be going south across the new I-40 at Robinson. The park will then continue south of I-40, one block wide (Harvey to Robinson) to the Oklahoma River. The main area between the current I-40 and the new I-40 will be about 40 acres and the area south will be about 30 acres. At least, that is the plan :)


Thank you, for some reason, I was under the impression that it would link to the gardens. I suppose this is due to the "Devon's front yard" thing. Thank you for clarifying.

If not too much bother, could someone explain to me where exactly the central park will tie in? I've driven the areas that I think will be involved, but can't seem to reconcile my version with the gardens.

The Myriad Gardens is two blocks wide, running east to west between Hudson and Robinson Avenues. The new park is planned to be in the same 2 block alignment, between Hudson and Robinson.

The Gardens' south edge is presently Reno Avenue. The new park is planned to to have it's north edge along the new Boulevard, which will be constructed in the same place where I-40 is now, basically, SW 3rd Street. The new park will continue south, two blocks in width, until it meets up with the new I-40, at approximated SW 8 to 9th Street

The area between the current Gardens and the north edge of the new park, Reno to SW 3rd, is currently the Downtown Ford auto dealership and other support businesses such as Ira's tire store. The design is for this property to be redeveloped into uses such as office, commercial, possibly hospitality uses, with a 'green' link along the Harvey Avenue alignment, connecting the Garden's and the new park.

On the south side of the new park, the new I-40, there will be a pedestrian bridge that crosses the new highway, at approximately the Harvey Avenue area, connecting with more linear park space that will continue south until it meets up with the north side of the Oklahoma River.

The Myriad Gardens is two blocks wide, running east to west between Hudson and Robinson Avenues. The new park is planned to be in the same 2 block alignment, between Hudson and Robinson.

The Gardens' south edge is presently Reno Avenue. The new park is planned to to have it's north edge along the new Boulevard, which will be constructed in the same place where I-40 is now, basically, SW 3rd Street. The new park will continue south, two blocks in width, until it meets up with the new I-40, at approximated SW 8 to 9th Street

The area between the current Gardens and the north edge of the new park, Reno to SW 3rd, is currently the Downtown Ford auto dealership and other support businesses such as Ira's tire store. The design is for this property to be redeveloped into uses such as office, commercial, possibly hospitality uses, with a 'green' link along the Harvey Avenue alignment, connecting the Garden's and the new park.

On the south side of the new park, the new I-40, there will be a pedestrian bridge that crosses the new highway, at approximately the Harvey Avenue area, connecting with more linear park space that will continue south until it meets up with the north side of the Oklahoma River.


And thank you as well. This is all very informative, and frankly exciting.

Look for an announcement soon re: Bob Howard Ford (S. of Myriad Gardens) relocating.

MAPS3, the 2007 bond issue and the Project 180 appear to be historical projects for OKC. The present a great challenge for those involved to spend money in the most efficient possible way. I hope the people in charge of Project 180 plan their work around MAPS3 projects (and vice-versa) in such a way that there isn't renovation work UN-done and wasted. Hopefully, they will have great communication channels. Wasting money would certainly not help any future project elections.

I totally agree mug. Does anyone know, for instance, if Project 180 will have some consideration for the streetcar lines?

IMO, I think the streetcar should be the FIRST of the MAPS 3 projects, not necessarily to have it up and running but moreso have it PLANNED and rails being put in - to take advantage of Project 180's tearing up of the streets.

I/WE (Im sure) would HATE for the city to renovate the streets only to tear them up again for rail.

Is there some way the city could "borrow" from the 180 money to get planning for the streetcar in full steam? If Project 180 will start in May, that means we have roughly 6 to 10 months to have a plan for the streetcar before we'd begin to see street construction in the 'rail' corridor/alignments. That's NOT a lot of time and certainly there might not be enough MAPS money collected in that essentially 1-6 month time, particularly if the mayor really wants Central Park to begin first.

I truly hope everyone will sit down together; 2007 bond leaders, Project 180 coordinators, and MAPS 3 officials - so that where projects overlap we can plan accordingly and gain synergy. There should eventually be more than enough money to complete ALL projects with synergy gained - so much so that I think the MAPS 3 projects should all be world class and top knotch. We may even have much longer than 6 miles of rail for our 'starter' tram route.

OMG, what a time to be from OKC or live in OKC. ... This all is BIG and will totally help OKC realize the potential all of us have known the city to have.

I do hope, that once the downtown makeover is in full earnest - that city leaders start planning and rezoning (and enforcing) the inner city urban areas surrounding downtown, so that those areas develop organically and we have strategically placed incubators of development to ensure we get the fully thriving city we want. From there we could go to the inner suburban core.

I honestly hope/think that the city should trim off the rural areas of the city limits and the state to give ACOG and/or Oklahoma County more power to manage the watershed areas (without the city having to incorporate that said areas).

If we had a city limit coinciding with the current urban area, OKC today would still have 550,000 people but the city size would be about 300 square miles (keeping some area in the NW/SW for growth). That corresponds to a reported population density of 1833 1/3 ppsm, more than double the roughly 900 figure they currently use. Tell me which figure is a more accurate representation/feel of OKC? (900 or 1833 1/3)

Tell me, with that density figure (which surely will be higher in years to come) - that retailers would continue to balk at a city with a brand new downtown, population over 600,000 (metro over 1.4M) and city density over 2,000 ppsm?

OKC surely should be right there in 2012 - we need to get ready for it NOW and plan accordingly.

Good times! Continue the Renaissance!

HotRod: Great to hear from you! Wish you were back here in OKC.

So am I the only one that's kind of underwhelmed by what's been presented so far for the new streetscapes?

So am I the only one that's kind of underwhelmed by what's been presented so far for the new streetscapes?

What were you expecting and what suggestions do you have to offer to make it better?

I really like what I've seen from Project 180 so far. It looks very big city.

I'm excited about this project, my only concern is the landscaping (trees, shrub beds, etc;) the proposal calls for property owners to take care of areas that front their buildings or possibly a fund set up for ongoing maintenance. I know that in the past things were built with maintenance plans in place, and after a few months they realize how expensive and time consuming it is and the maintenance falls back on the already underfunded Parks Department.

I'm excited about this project, my only concern is the landscaping (trees, shrub beds, etc;) the proposal calls for property owners to take care of areas that front their buildings or possibly a fund set up for ongoing maintenance. I know that in the past things were built with maintenance plans in place, and after a few months they realize how expensive and time consuming it is and the maintenance falls back on the already underfunded Parks Department.

I'm sure it will be maintained by the BID (Downtown OKC, Inc).


So am I the only one that's kind of underwhelmed by what's been presented so far for the new streetscapes?

What have you seen besides the 2 renderings on Steve's blog? I've seen quite a bit and really like it. The new Robinson will have some really cool features in the (narrower) median involving native stone.

Now that's what I like to hear about. Involve native stone. I also liked hearing about the corner fountain at the Myriad Gardens going in, and the possibility of LED lights on Crystal Bridge. I want to see what $120 million is actually being used for..

2 renderings.. no I've seen about 10 renderings probably. Everything that the city has released on its website and in the reports, I've seen. I am grateful that Anthony McDermid was able to seal the deal for horizontal street lights. There I said something positive.

Spartan, I've posted links on my blog to the full update reports that have a lot more detail than in the two renderings.

Well I've seen the full renderings of the gardens as well and it's a tremendous improvement. I love it. No more ugly concrete brutalist architecture.

Steve what blog are you talking about, Okccentral for me still has two pictures with no links,can you point me in the right direction please.