Here are some images I took today. Yes - Joeys from Classen is moving. Open April 1st, is my understanding at the new space! I know where I'm gonna start having business meetings.

I also caught a pic of the Paramount's continuing restoration/revitalization efforts. ALL of the awful stainless steel siding is GONE and work continues. Now if we could just find those letters that used to hang on the front...

Mcca, Falcone's not so much...lol

Awesome pics Shipwreck. Wow that is looking good. Bike lanes. Holy crap. Holy crap. I can't say that enough.

I was in the Film Row district this morning, and..............WOW!!

I thought I was dreaming as I drove along and witnessed REAL BICYCLE LANES!!

Not share the road with a faded marking in the road or a flimsy sign saying share the road. REAL dedicated lanes with the Full striped marking to define the lane. Unbelievable in Okc!

This is the Renaissance which is alive in Okc.

Norman city leaders need to take a look. For a city that probably has more bicyclists than anywhere else in Oklahoma there are no on-street bike lanes anywhere.

Wedge too.

And Hobbys

Drove down their last week and about crapped myself when I saw the bike lanes...more please.

Bike lanes?? Never heard of such a thing!! lol.

It seems like this is big news...Film Row's first restaurant and the city's first real bicycle lanes. Steve, where are you?

Is Joey's any good? I went to the one on Classen years ago and was fairly unenthused. I'm a bit of a pizza snob, however. But the space looks fantastic.

I like their pizza. It's not amazingly unique, but they have a good sauce.

So just read this article and was wondering if anyone knew more about the School they are talking of and where they want it to go? I would hate for the new Joey's Pizzeria at 700 W. Sheridan to have their new liquor license suddenly invalidated because a school is built nearby. Thoughts?

http://www.newsok.com/article/3552643

I imagine there is some sort of grandfather provision (if the liquor license is issued and it came first). If the school comes first then the license shouldn't have been issued.

The bike lanes look like they might just be placeholders which will one day be occupied by trolley tracks. They're exactly the right width, aren't they?

No those aren't wide enough, if it would be converted to a dedicated streetcar right of way.

I imagine there is some sort of grandfather provision (if the liquor license is issued and it came first)

This is exactly how it works.

Plus, there are several other restaurants close to the proposed Sheridan/Walker school site but they wouldn't be affected for the same reason.

Well hopefully they will think this through. There may be more than one restaurant/bar to open in the area. A commercial area should be an area in which it is possible to obtain a liquor license.

You would think...

Are they almost done with this project? Anyone have any pics? Would love to see the progress!
LOL! I guess I missed the earlier post with the pics....

Well, pretty much. Joeys Pizza opened up last week on the ground floor. It is very nice, I ate there for lunch on Tuesday.

I'm eating lunch at Joeys tomorrow (Friday, April 8, 2011) at 1pm if anyone want to join me and talk shop about the Film Exchange. :tiphat:

While eating lunch at Joey's Pizzeria today in the 700 W. Sheridan space of the Film Exchange building, I couldn't help but notice the view from my table. Gone are the traffic cones and road closed signs. Now the only signs of construction are on the outskirts of Historic Film Row. The row is now standing primed and ready - charting its own course after decades of neglect. Those along the Row are now its caretakers. They are responsible for its future. But they are not alone. If you look carefully, you can still see elements from those who came before. Listen carefully and you might even hear the laughter from one one of its screening rooms. The tinkle of coffee mugs in the Film Coffee Shop. The sound of a Griffith Theatre movie truck promoting War Bonds turning the corner in front of the MGM. The spirits of former employees posing for a quick photo.

The area is alive once again and you can feel it stirring. Welcoming all visitors. Anxious to be part of the cityscape again.

While eating lunch at Joey's Pizzeria today in the 700 W. Sheridan space of the Film Exchange building, I couldn't help but notice the view from my table. Gone are the traffic cones and road closed signs. Now the only signs of construction are on the outskirts of Historic Film Row. The row is now standing primed and ready - charting its own course after decades of neglect. Those along the Row are now its caretakers. They are responsible for its future. But they are not alone. If you look carefully, you can still see elements from those who came before. Listen carefully and you might even hear the laughter from one one of its screening rooms. The tinkle of coffee mugs in the Film Coffee Shop. The sound of a Griffith Theatre movie truck promoting War Bonds turning the corner in front of the MGM. The spirits of former employees posing for a quick photo.

The area is alive once again and you can feel it stirring. Welcoming all visitors. Anxious to be part of the cityscape again.

Awesome, thanks for the photos!

Amen.

Wow! That first picture is a little creepy... It reminds me of a scary movie...

I ate at Joey's on Friday and just want to say it's was great. The building and the interior look really nice. This will definitely be a cool place to hang out in the future. All of you should go and let us know what you think.

Does Joey's have a full bar?

Does Joey's have a full bar?

I talked to the owner Saturday and she said they should have their bar stocked and ready to go by Tuesday (tomorrow)...

That is amazing! It's like looking through a wormhole! Thanks for posting!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/59959526@N06/5611931923/in/photostream

or just another great group photo under the east side Paramount logo...

Hey gang!

I just received word that my book Oklahoma City: Film Row will be released August 15, 2011! I am planning on a release/signing cocktail party and can provide more info later. In the meantime, if interested, here is a link on my Film District facebook page about the book.

:Smiley171

Oklahoma City Film Row Book Information and Cover (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Oklahoma-City-Film-Exchange-District/184232698210#!/notes/oklahoma-city-film-exchange-district/new-book-about-film-row-coming-soon/424920398708)

I ate at Joey's on Friday and just want to say it's was great. The building and the interior look really nice. This will definitely be a cool place to hang out in the future. All of you should go and let us know what you think.

I think the owner of Joey's should do a Groupon. It would be a great way to get new business and let people know they've moved.

that sounds like a great idea - how how would it work? I've never heard of that before. :tiphat:

I think the owner of Joey's should do a Groupon. It would be a great way to get new business and let people know they've moved.

I've been trying to work with them to do their advertising.

I think the owner of Joey's should do a Groupon. It would be a great way to get new business and let people know they've moved.

+1.

So just read this article and was wondering if anyone knew more about the School they are talking of and where they want it to go? I would hate for the new Joey's Pizzeria at 700 W. Sheridan to have their new liquor license suddenly invalidated because a school is built nearby. Thoughts?

http://www.newsok.com/article/3552643

I talked with one of OKC's leading planners about this and they said that yes, Joey's liquor license should be grandfathered in. However, anything that came after a potential school (nothing approved yet) was built on the Urban Renewal lot at Walker and Sheridan would not be able to have one if within the 300 ft perimeter, although now I hear there may be some trying to change that law (maybe extend it?? Anyone know more??). This could actually be a plus for Joey's as it would make them the only licensed beer/liquor entity on the row, allowing them to serve as cash bar to any events and of course the BIG plus, is that it would prevent any more bars all along the row as it was in the mid 60's to late 70's (it was horrible and helped personify the whole Skid Row legacy).

Any way, those are my thoughts - what are yours?

Good for Film Row, I guess, and glad to see IAO making the best of it as they can. I heard it wasn't their idea to move, but when the building they're in, (ask who owns it) got sold out from under them well before their lease was up, what else could they do but move where their landlord wanted them to? Hope this doesn't hurt them. With upcoming construction and the mess, this struggling but important arts organization may not make it. Okay, I hate to burst everyone bubble, but this area will never develop until the City rescue Mission is moved out of the area.. Why is this ignored.. any imput..

Okay, I hate to burst everyone bubble, but this area will never develop until the City rescue Mission is moved out of the area.. Why is this ignored.. any imput..

I encourage you to read the article starting on page two: http://www.scriptfolio.net/AUGUST2010ISSUE.pdf

Okay, I hate to burst everyone bubble, but this area will never develop until the City rescue Mission is moved out of the area.. Why is this ignored.. any imput..

Dude, have you ever lived in a big city? The district is already doing well, and having a few street denizens doesn't take away from it.

Dude, have you ever lived in a big city? The district is already doing well, and having a few street denizens doesn't take away from it.

Exactly, soonerguru. Street people are just a fact of life whether it's on Broadway in New York, Hollywood Blvd. in LA, or Las Vegas Blvd in Las Vegas. I've seen multitudes of them there and those cities and those areas still seem to survive just fine.

Joey's needs help. I've eaten there in the last week and their pizza is sub-par.

I thought it was much better than when they were on Classen

Joey's needs help. I've eaten there in the last week and their pizza is sub-par.

Take into consideration that they are still working out any kinks and of course training new staff. Personally, I have found it to be my new happy place.

The space is incredible, and I hope it's successful, but the pizza is not very good, nor was it when it was on Classen.

The Film Exchange District is now on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/OKCFilmExchange

The space is incredible, and I hope it's successful, but the pizza is not very good, nor was it when it was on Classen.

I hate to be a downer, but I agree with you.

However, anything that came after a potential school (nothing approved yet) was built on the Urban Renewal lot at Walker and Sheridan would not be able to have one if within the 300 ft perimeter, although now I hear there may be some trying to change that law (maybe extend it?? Anyone know more??). This could actually be a plus for Joey's as it would make them the only licensed beer/liquor entity on the row, allowing them to serve as cash bar to any events and of course the BIG plus, is that it would prevent any more bars all along the row as it was in the mid 60's to late 70's (it was horrible and helped personify the whole Skid Row legacy).



Man that would be too bad, unless people are just hoping for this district to be office space. Restaurants and Bars would be a good fit, I would think.

Dude, have you ever lived in a big city? The district is already doing well, and having a few street denizens doesn't take away from it.

The "street denizens" I've run into around that area have always been nice and polite. Still, it doesn't give off a good feel or look to those who aren't familiar with the area and they'll be discouraged from visiting any business located there. Businesses, of course, don't like that.

The "street denizens" I've run into around that area have always been nice and polite. Still, it doesn't give off a good feel or look to those who aren't familiar with the area and they'll be discouraged from visiting any business located there. Businesses, of course, don't like that.

It is my understanding that new street lighting will be installed through May and June if all goes according to plan, so that will certainly help. OCPD has done a great job of sending extra patrols through the area and I receive monthly crime stats from them and believe it or not, in the past 7 years only ONE crime has ever been reported in the 600-700 blocks of Sheridan Avenue. That was a public drunk. But it was early on, like 2006 or 2007.

I know that the thought of the indigent in the area is a huge turn-off - but the thought can be larger than the reality. Sure, you may have a higher chance of seeing more less fortunate in our area, but that's because those who are helping are along Reno, only two blocks away. There are probably the same number of sightings, if not more in many other areas of the City, from Midtown to Bricktown.

Below is an image of what the space now occupied by Joey's looked like in 2005 BEFORE anything was done to renovate. I encourage you to drive through the area today and see the dramatic difference. Most of these physical transformations only happened in the past few years.

There was a question/statement earlier on that the are would never develop as long as there were homeless. The area HAS developed and the sales tax revenue being generated is awesome, compared to thirty years of dereliction/blight and no contribution. Our district was the spark (in my opinion) that ignited the entire Project 180. The Devon Tower was just a catalyst, albeit a big one.

There were many times that our vision fell on deaf ears or got a lotta slack, but the support far outweighed it and the development and amazing transformations in the area only continue. Some of them, like the film strip crosswalks and spotlight pedestrian ramps are great examples of innovation and firsts for the cityscape. Did I mention the bike lanes?

I am very proud of what has been and is being accomplished down there. It is very exciting!

OK, sorry - off my soapbox.

Joey's needs help. I've eaten there in the last week and their pizza is sub-par.

I think their pizza is really, really good.

Also, their new ovens are gas, before they were on electric.

The Ballpark District and Lodo in Denver are full of homeless and are both thriving urban districts with plenty of businesses and lots of loft apartments. Just ignore them [the bums] and they won't bother you.

Panhandlers are NOT a necessary or welcome part of a thriving urban landscape. Their plight should be addressed responsibly by the city, the churches and anyone else who can help, but ignoring the issue and letting it just exist is not the answer.

Panhandlers are NOT a necessary or welcome part of a thriving urban landscape. Their plight should be addressed responsibly by the city, the churches and anyone else who can help, but ignoring the issue and letting it just exist is not the answer.

I wasn't aware this issue was being ignored or just being allowed to exist by responsible civic leaders and organizations. Saying that panhandlers or homeless can be in an area which is otherwise successful and attractive does not equate to such a statement.

Panhandlers are NOT a necessary or welcome part of a thriving urban landscape. Their plight should be addressed responsibly by the city, the churches and anyone else who can help, but ignoring the issue and letting it just exist is not the answer.

Again, I encourage everyone to read the article Homeless An Issue? on page 2 of our district's newsletter, THE ROW. A lot of great information: http://www.scriptfolio.net/AUGUST2010ISSUE.pdf

I think Joey's pizza is very good! Probably one of the top 2 places in OKC. Their crust is AMAZING!!!

Thanks for posting

Looks like the school will be built at Sheridan and Walker. I do wish that writers would go ahead and steer away from the phrase Skid Row nowadays and stop making the place still sound scary. A lot of investment and hard work has gone into its development and growth.

So what are your ideas about the school?

Here's the article: http://newsok.com/city-school-board-approves-site-for-downtown-school/article/3574909

Yes Shipwreck, That was a beautiful building on the corner of Walker and Sheridan and very historic part of OKC.. The old IOOF was a beautiful building and my parents and grand-parents ran the old Oklahoma Import grocery on the corner of Walker and Sheridan, also bought the Oklahoma plasma building which was an old Film Row building on sheridan close to dewey that the City demolished.. It had a very very very deep basement to house the movies.. I Love Film Row and hope it surpasses Riptown someday. jp

Here are some images of that building on the corner of Sheridan and Walker. I want to learn more about it, of course and especially about the Oklahoma Plasma building you have mentioned!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/59959526@N06/5813293492/in/photostream

http://www.flickr.com/photos/59959526@N06/5812725759/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/59959526@N06/5813293402/in/photostream/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/59959526@N06/5812725721/in/photostream/

http://www.kfor.com/news/local/kfor-film-row-flourishes-again-20110908,0,662359.story

I couldn't find the thread on Film Row so I decided to start this one.There is a video within the link.

______________________________

OKLAHOMA CITY -- New development is helping rejuvenate a section of downtown known for its history. Within the past 18 months, at least five new businesses have opened up on Historic Film Row.

The Oklahoma City Film Exchange District is from Walker to Classen and SW 2nd St. to NW 1st and Colcord Dr.

Historic Film Row is near the 700 block of Sheridan.

"Originally this area was known as 'Film Row,' but during the 1960s and '70s, a lot of bars and prostitutes and drugs moved into the area and its history was quickly forgotten and the area became known as 'Skid Row,'" historian Bradley Wynn said.

In 2006, the City declared the 42-block portion, from Walker to Classen and SW 2nd to NW 1st and Colcord Drive, the Oklahoma City Film Exchange District.

Wynn said the area has transformed over the past five years.

He attributes the turnaround to private companies investing money into the many historic buildings in the area.

Most of the buildings were built by film studios like Paramount and 20th Century Fox in the 1920s and '30s.

They were film exchanges where theaters from all across Oklahoma and Texas would come to buy movies.

The movie studios eventually left and some of the buildings remained vacant for decades.

Private investors have re-furbished the old buildings so businesses like Joey's Pizzeria and a production company could move in.

The city has also poured $3.4 million into the streets and sidewalks to help promote more development in the Film Exchange District.

Wynn said the Film Exchange District, which is made up of 42 blocks around Historic Film Row, is the fastest growing district in Oklahoma City

Its very rare for something to be posted on here that originates from KFOR and KOCO. Its always "The OKlahoman" on here. So, thank you. And this is interesting to see how OKC continues to expand and grow, even restore history, despite of all the economic turmoils.