When my group of friends and I were all old enough to go downtown (1999), traveling down I-235 from Edmond and taking the 6th St. exit and traveling down Walnut through Deep Deuce to get to Bricktown was a boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooring drive. I'm so excited to see all the development and construction the area has seen and is receiving. I hope there's still a plan by Humphries and if not, by someone else, to develop the Flatiron building and also the triangular piece of property just to the north of Maywood Apartments. This area has come along in a major way!


...I think we're still 5-10 years out from having these areas start to connect. Midtown, Automobile Alley, Deep Deuce, Bricktown, the medical center, all of them are still separated from one another by large empty plots of land...

I know that there is sidewalk access on the bridges that go over 235, but I think a pedestrian bridge in this area would be vital for linking downtown and the medical district area together. Here is my preferred pedestrian bridge location:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8511/8517546382_46d7411154.jpg

It is too bad there is nearly 1,000 feet of unbuildable interstate right-of-way and no existing walkable urbanism east of I-235.

Wrong, Kerry. The core Medical Center Area is very walkable.

Photo (credit metro) from Devon Tower showing good progress on this project:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/maywood3613.jpg

Thanks Pete. I also wonder, with all this new density in Deep Deuce, I wonder when it will make economic sense for Humphrey's to develop his Triangle building.

Almost like SimCity lol...

Thanks Pete. I also wonder, with all this new density in Deep Deuce, I wonder when it will make economic sense for Humphrey's to develop his Triangle building.

And/or the Maywood Flatiron project (the triangle with the gas station immediately north of this property).

Deep Deuce is filling up fast with the area to the north set to be developed into apartments with a Starbucks across the street.

Thanks Pete. I also wonder, with all this new density in Deep Deuce, I wonder when it will make economic sense for Humphrey's to develop his Triangle building.

That's exactly what I said in Part 1 of my post (#435) ;)

Thanks Pete. I also wonder, with all this new density in Deep Deuce, I wonder when it will make economic sense for Humphrey's to develop his Triangle building.

I don't know but I hope it's soon!

Me too, as I always liked his proposal for that lot. Would be a great little infill project.

Photo from metro:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/maywood32013.jpg

That red van won't be able to park there for too much longer...

Another sleepless night! I'm tired and grouchy, so hang on... The Nascar like chain of concrete trucks ran all night again, allowing four hours of sleep, at best.

How can the developers be so short sighted and continue this practice? Of course, they say the city wants them to pour at night, to not interfere with traffic flow.

I am tired of excuses! In my opinion, the message being sent is, don't move downtown until all construction is finished!

That red van won't be able to park there for too much longer...

What's going in where the red van is?

Another sleepless night! I'm tired and grouchy, so hang on... The Nascar like chain of concrete trucks ran all night again, allowing four hours of sleep, at best.

How can the developers be so short sighted and continue this practice? Of course, they say the city wants them to pour at night, to not interfere with traffic flow.

I am tired of excuses! In my opinion, the message being sent is, don't move downtown until all construction is finished!

This is really unacceptable, just like knocking out all the street lights for months in that area when Level was under construction.

I don't buy the "traffic flow" excuse... It's not like those streets are major thoroughfares.

You have every right to be upset.

This is really unacceptable, just like knocking out all the street lights for months in that area when Level was under construction.

I don't buy the "traffic flow" excuse... It's not like those streets are major thoroughfares.

You have every right to be upset.

i doubt very seriously that the noise is loud enough even to surpass the noise ordinance

i doubt very seriously that the noise is loud enough even to surpass the noise ordinance

That would make you both presumptuous and wrong. When they drop their chutes and/or rev the engines while adding water, the noise is deafening.

Come on over around 3am next time, so you know what you are talking about.

What traffic are we not wanting to disrupt exactly? That's a silly reason for this neighborhood.

The city says they are concerned about the intersection of 4th and Harrison especially during rush hour. So instead, the trucks are directed down 3rd street from Walnut.

Have you tried calling Ron Bradshaw directly?

Have you tried calling Ron Bradshaw directly?

Yes, he is working on it.

Yes, he is working on it.

Cool. He's always seemed like a good guy to me.

What's going in where the red van is?

It was my impression based on all the information of new development springing up in the area that that lot was to be developed. I will understand better when the project map is updated, so maybe I'm wrong, lol.

It was my impression based on all the information of new development springing up in the area that that lot was to be developed. I will understand better when the project map is updated, so maybe I'm wrong, lol.

haha, yeah, the map will help a lot. I thought I had heard that the Brownstones were going to be extended in that direction, but then someone else said that idea had been canned. So I don't know what to believe at this point.

SoHo, return my phone call and I will give more detail.

Suffice it to say concerning the noise, I gave Skip Kelly (Ward 7 City Councilman) a call and within an hour received a phone call from the city engineer at the Public Works Department. He says not only has the city NOT authorized construction at night, it had NO idea it was going on. He was sending two city inspectors over as we spoke to investigate and make contact with the construction company to make them aware that they are NOT allowed to do continue 24 hour construction. He assured me that if it continued he would work with me personally to insure the police department went out there and shut them down.

He also confirmed what we have all always believed - the city never authorized or suggested 3rd Street be used instead of 4th Street for construction traffic purposes. That is another issue I will deal with him on once we get the noise under control.

In the future, the best place to post complaints (or praises) associated with Maywood Park is under Other Urban Development - Maywood Park Owners Association. I check it frequently and as the President, assure you that I will do anything I can to make living in Maywood a pleasurable experience. (I know you know this Soho and hope to speak with you soon).

Shameless plug for the run-off election: I am so thankful I have Skip to count on when things like this pop up. He is always very receptive.

Boom!

lindsey, OKC needs more people like you. Thanks for taking initiative on this and other important matters.

The city inspectors found out that the construction company was planning another pour at 1 am tonight, shut that down and worked a deal out with them to start at 7am and direct the construction trucks down 4th St (instead of 3rd).

4th Street will be closed most of the day tomorrow due to this pour BUT everyone should be able to sleep tonight.

I don't live downtown, but I'm happy for you guys. I know they want the perfect temp when it comes to pouring concrete, but it's pretty inconsiderate that they do it in those time slots.

How'd you sleep last night, Soho?

I can't speak for Soho but word is the construction company did NOT work through the night and thus, I would assume everyone in Maywood Park got a good nights sleep.

Awesome job, lindsey.

Just shows the power of getting sharp, motivated people directly involved with City Hall.

How'd you sleep last night, Soho?

Quite well :)

Everyone pulled together and fogged the city, developers and contractor with dozens of calls.

Here is an eye opener for everyone, - the city's initial response was to cite City code, chapter 35-5-7 which says, noise requirements in the CBD do not apply and the contractor had/has the right to work 24 hours a day. And amazingly held the position that 3rd is not a residential street... It is mixed use and therefore we have/had no right to complain!

Bradshaw's group helped greatly in exercising a common sense approach, rather than hide behind city regs. Hats off to them.

From today:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/maywood32913.jpg

Matchstick construction from here on up?

Matchstick construction from here on up?

It's gonna fly up, that's for sure.

It's gonna fly up, that's for sure.

Yeah...cause I see no concrete columns coming up now...

Looks like Phase II of this project -- set for the parcel immediately across Oklahoma to the east -- is getting ready to go.

Application to close a coupe of alley easements in that eastern property. I suspect we'll see something before the design committee before long.

Looks like Phase II of this project -- set for the parcel immediately across Oklahoma to the east -- is getting ready to go.

Application to close a coupe of alley easements in that eastern property. I suspect we'll see something before the design committee before long.

That's awesome. Does that mean we're soon to see that metal shed disappear?

Here's some photos I took yesterday, Sunday:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8107/8654517312_d1e110eee9_b.jpg

View of the northwest corner
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8249/8653414793_f96903645f_b.jpg

I will be looking to move downtown around December. Does anyone know a ballpark timeline on this project as far as when the first tenants will be moving in? Seems like since the underground parking garage is done, it should start moving fairly quickly. I could be wrong though, as I know nothing about construction.

From yesterday:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8399/8712186070_8cf5335079_b.jpg

I drove past these today. I was a little surprised to see them this far along.

Now that the concrete work is done, the framing will go stupidly fast. Come back in a couple more days and there will likely be another floor up.

I'm particularly interested in these because I'm looking to move downtown this fall, and it expands my options. How active is that rail line right next to it?

I'm a little concerned, Level has concrete floors, and seemed pretty quiet the couple times I was there. Stick-built probably won't be as solid.

I'm particularly interested in these because I'm looking to move downtown this fall, and it expands my options. How active is that rail line right next to it?

I'm a little concerned, Level has concrete floors, and seemed pretty quiet the couple times I was there. Stick-built probably won't be as solid.

Level is also stick-built.

I'm particularly interested in these because I'm looking to move downtown this fall, and it expands my options. How active is that rail line right next to it?

I'm a little concerned, Level has concrete floors, and seemed pretty quiet the couple times I was there. Stick-built probably won't be as solid.

There are trains night and day but you do get used to them very fast. If it helps, I live physically much closer to the train tracks than you would at Maywood and the trains don't bother me a bit. Took a few days to get used to no doubt, but I don't even hear them at night. Occasionally will disrupt TV watching during the day but very rarely. I wouldn't let the tracks stop you from looking downtown. Plus if we ever get that quiet zone...

Level is also stick-built.

Ahhh. Ok. Well, they had solid floors at least. I'll see how this one pans out.

I concur about the railroad. I think I heard them for about a day. And I've never heard one at night unless I was already awake. I'm more interested in the quiet zone for prospective neighbors than myself.

Looks like Phase II of this project -- set for the parcel immediately across Oklahoma to the east -- is getting ready to go.

Application to close a coupe of alley easements in that eastern property. I suspect we'll see something before the design committee before long.

application to close the easements has its final hearing in front of the city council on june 18th

Is phase II going to look the same as what's going up now?

Is phase II going to look the same as what's going up now?

we don't really know yet . i would guess similar ... but it is not gone to design review

Yeah, I'm going to be bummed if it's the same design. Even though there's quite a bit of contrast between Level, the Aloft Hotel, the Brownstones, and Maywood, it's starting to look a little homogeneous with the 3-4 story brick buildings. Something to break that up would be awesome, but I'm not holding my breath.

I do know Ron Bradshaw said they were going to incorporate the little buildings on Walnut that house the detail business, so maybe the design will be different.

Holy cats, this project is almost fully framed (thanks to metro for the photo):

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/maywood53113.jpg

Holy cats, this project is almost fully framed (thanks to metro for the photo):

Do you know the estimated completion of this first phase?

Do you know the estimated completion of this first phase?

Exterior Shell or the whole project?

Holy cats, this project is almost fully framed (thanks to metro for the photo):


You must really love your cats, Pete..

These are the cheapest apartments I have seen built in my life. Deep Deuce will be known for its cluster of cheap apartments and hotels. Deep Deuce is evolving into university style housing.

Wait til the faux stucco goes on.

Brownstones, The Hill, The Lofts at Maywood, Aloft Hotel, the Clark Building?

Deep Deuce Apts. are all getting renovated. Granite counter-tops, stainless, wood floors. I've seen the new units. We are moving into one next month. Hardly cheap dorm-room finishes.

Yea, you have a point, but the ongoing trend doesn't look good. Everything after 2010 is cheap.

Brownstones, The Hill, The Lofts at Maywood, Aloft Hotel, the Clark Building?

Deep Deuce Apts. are all getting renovated. Granite counter-tops, stainless, wood floors. I've seen the new units. We are moving into one next month. Hardly cheap dorm-room finishes.

I hear what you are saying, but these are mostly cosmetic things.

Some on here are fond of attacking suburban development by calling them rolling ghettos. If we aren't careful with building construction we may be in danger of creating the same thing downtown. You will be amazed at how run down these buildings with large flat expanses of faux stucco look in 20-25 years....maybe less. it's like the difference between a Mercedes and a Chevy...the finish looks good on both when they are new, but the thinner metal and fewer layers of paint, less pigment, and fewer layers of finish means in 10 years the Chevys look much worse.

Alright. :)

To quote you. "I'm not worried".

Ok you win, I will reserve my judgment of Deep Deuce until I see what Bomasada Group pulls off.

I don't disagree and diversity is fine, but we seem to be overloading on low construction value buildings. If most of the neighborhood is that, then it will not age well. Hope I'm wrong.

I also note after looking at your examples that those seem to be streets of smaller buildings. We have very large apartment buildings dominating blocks at a time. (and keep in mind they are p,anning on building another equally large one right beside it.) You can mix in a few sub standards, but when a few dominate the neighborhood and dwarf the better structures, I think we are asking for trouble down the road. Hope I'm wrong.