I know that I have seen people post various items about the JFK Neighborhood over the years. Usually it is in relation to a Health Sciences topic. In doing a search of OKCTALK, I could not find a thread specific to it however.

Activity has increased in the area, so it probably deserves it's own thread with basic information.

The neighborhood association recently received a $10,000 grant from the City of Oklahoma City that financed landscaping in the center median along Lottie and enabled the neighborhood to put identification signs along the perimeter. The graphic artist in our office at Bezdek + Associates, Jon Mooneyham, designed the new logo and signs. Walter Jacques, who works at the Health Department and volunteers with transit related issues, has somewhat adopted the neighborhood and helped write the grants and is spearheading improvements with neighborhood leaders.

Here is some basic information:

JFK Neighborhood (President John Fitzgerald Kennedy Neighborhood)

North Boundary (NE 8th Street)
South Boundary (NE 1st Street)
West Boundary (Lincoln Blvd.))
East Boundary (Martin Luther King Blvd.)


Current neighborhood officers:

President: Jeff Trevillion
Vice President: Walter Jacques
Secretary: Shana Trevillioin
Treasurer: Marion West


John F. Kennedy (JFK) Neighborhood was established by the City of Oklahoma City in 1975 as Urban Renewal initiated a revitalization and improvement campaign for those remaining in this area. JFK Neighborhood Association was established in 1987.


Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/group.php?gid=316561840754

JFK has a history of which I'm hoping Doug Loudenbeck has some photographs. It is a neighborhood just outside of downtown that still retains some historic buildings. Much of it has been bulldozed by Urban Renewal although Urban Renewal has successfully redeveloped some housing in the area. The Adventure Line train route crosses through JFK.

It is a neighborhood that needs volunteer help and strong redevelopment projects.

Neighborhood clean-up this Saturday!

There will be a huge Adopt-A-Street/Clean Sweep event in the JFK Neighborhood on NE 8th Street this Saturday from 8:00am - noon, including a 30 cubic foot dumpster for big trash pickup (old appliances, furniture, etc.) and free used tire disposal (residential tires only, no rims or large farm tires). The drop-off site will be at NE 8th and Missouri for big trash, tires and recyclable materials (glass, plastic and aluminum. Needed resources are manpower and pickup trucks to help with hauling. Elderly residents who need help moving their big trash and tires can call 226-1111 for assistance during the event.

Thanks Urban and congratulations to JFK for bringing urban renaissance and organic redevelopment to the Eastside of OKC.

Having worked at the Capitol for the past 4 years, I have always been fascinated by an architects rendering of an 'Arch de Triumph' type structure that was supposed to span Lincoln Boulevard just south of the Capitol, the rendering is on display on the first floor in the rotunda.

Does any one have any more information on this, why it wasn't built. I have always wanted to get some private funds, and maybe a beautification grant to construct this. With the new Supreme Court building that the courts are moving into, along with (hopefully) a complete renovation of the Capitol Building, I think that this structure would be the perfect gateway coming North for the seat of government.

Thoughts?

I would assume it was never built for the same reaspn the dome wasn't constructed originally, lack of funding. But if the state could get some private funds and grant money it would look awesome.

Attached is the best picture I could find....it was supposed to be the WWI Memorial Arch.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5221/5621456927_ec0598d219.jpg

I'll try and snap a picture of the rendering downstairs...It is really something else!

I would assume it was never built for the same reaspn the dome wasn't constructed originally, lack of funding. But if the state could get some private funds and grant money it would look awesome.

Attached is the best picture I could find....it was supposed to be the WWI Memorial Arch.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5221/5621456927_ec0598d219.jpg

Lincoln Boulevard is a good deal wider today that it was when that drawing was made in 1920, so building it according to the original design (as the dome was), would be difficult.

http://dc368.4shared.com/img/pD1NCbHo/s3/0.6281228274695569/IMAG0037.jpg
http://dc311.4shared.com/img/yA1lFbAp/s3/0.27672878329784323/IMAG0036.jpg

Snapped these at the Capitol on Friday...just now getting them uploaded.

Thanks Sid and Seth. It is so interesting to see these early plans that never came into being. Wish we could still somehow do this - of course with private funding and donations.

The huge Adopt-A-Street in Lower JFK went without a hitch on April 16th. We collected 628 (not a typo!) illegally-dumped tires, filled a 30 cubic yard dumpster, had Boy Scout Troop 1101 clear a section of sidewalk that had been covered in mud and even picked up litter along NE 8th Street, the primary cleanup area. Additionally, we separated the recyclables (the tires were also recycled) and HazMat, such as car batteries, fuel tanks, etc. Thanks to the volunteers from the Oklahoma State Department of Health, volunteers from the JFK Neighborhood Association and Boy Scout Troop 1101! Thanks also to DEQ for the tire disposal exemption, the Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority for the use of their property, OKC Beautiful for the use of the recycling containers and the Neighborhood Alliance of Central Oklahoma for putting the word out! Photos are at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/walterjacques/sets/72157626521576126/

Maybe incorporate something similar with the new Boulevard?

I think that would be a GREAT idea...not sure if it would fit in though...if not this (if we wanted to keep it in the Capitol District) and instead decided to put in a HUGE fountain with the Boulevard that would be cool too.

Are there any plans for that old boarded up school (Page Woodson) on Stonewall and 6th street? It's a rather prominent structure in the JFK Neighborhood area.

I believe that building has changed hands in the last 5 years, and now I think it is owned by the medical center..it might eventually be turned into more space for the OUHSC but probably not soon.

I believe there was also a proposal to turn it into an African-American cultural center for OKC, which would have been really awesome, but I think those plans fizzled out.

Drove by the school today and snapped a few photos. I saw a for sale sign too.

Alongside of the school:
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5267/5673754824_0c4a413f4b_z.jpg

Front of the school:
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5303/5673756220_e56d33f863_z.jpg

I decided to play around with my photo editing software and this photo came out a bit creepy:
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5024/5673757500_0ddfb9f340_b.jpg

I've never donated to anything but I really would for this, it would be awesome to have this arch!

Page Woodson School is still owned by the OKC Public Schools.

You can see lots of photos here:

http://www.abandonedok.com/page-woodson-school-revisited/



I believe that building has changed hands in the last 5 years, and now I think it is owned by the medical center..it might eventually be turned into more space for the OUHSC but probably not soon.

You may be confusing this with the old Moon Junior High on 11th (Stanton Young) just east of Lincoln. It's right across Lindsay from the Dean McGee Eye Institute and is being used by the HSC as service center. It's actually owned by OCURA.

Sale info: http://www.naisullivangroup.com/Docs2010/600N.HighAvenue-FLYER.pdf

http://i.imgur.com/QV1O3.jpg

Image I took today in the neighborhood.

Awesome picture!

The neighborhood association recently received a $10,000 grant from the City of Oklahoma City that financed landscaping in the center median along Lottie and enabled the neighborhood to put identification signs along the perimeter. The graphic artist in our office at Bezdek + Associates, Jon Mooneyham, designed the new logo and signs.

My neighborhood, Skyline (just west of Will Rogers Park) is looking to add some identity signs along Portland and throughout the neighborhood. Can you give us some tips are what type of signage would be most appropriate? I noticed JKF placed their signs on the regular telephone/light poles along NE 4th.

My neighborhood, Skyline (just west of Will Rogers Park) is looking to add some identity signs along Portland and throughout the neighborhood. Can you give us some tips are what type of signage would be most appropriate? I noticed JKF placed their signs on the regular telephone/light poles along NE 4th.

Good to see neighborhoods trying to become "better." As for the JFK Neighborhood along NE 4th; that's just ghetto. Lol

The Neighborhood Alliance thought enough of JFK to put them in the finals for Neighborhood of the Year.

http://www.nacok.org/Finalists.pdf (PDF file)

They didn't win, but as the phrase goes, it's an honor just to be nominated.

My neighborhood, Skyline (just west of Will Rogers Park) is looking to add some identity signs along Portland and throughout the neighborhood. Can you give us some tips are what type of signage would be most appropriate? I noticed JKF placed their signs on the regular telephone/light poles along NE 4th.

We have done quite a bit of signage design for the neighborhoods. It seems that the pole mounted sighns area minimum of 18" tall by a minimum of 6" wide if it is a rectangular design. However Deep Deuce and Auto Alley have round designs. Just depends on what you are trying to say/display. Always ask the artist for your art in "vector" format so that it is scalable at the sign shop. Signs in Right-of-Ways require Revocable Permits to be "official."

Want to know more, just stop by the office.

My neighborhood, Skyline (just west of Will Rogers Park) is looking to add some identity signs along Portland and throughout the neighborhood. Can you give us some tips are what type of signage would be most appropriate? I noticed JKF placed their signs on the regular telephone/light poles along NE 4th.

We have done quite a bit of signage design for the neighborhoods. It seems that the pole mounted signs are a minimum of 18" tall by a minimum of 6" wide if it is a rectangular design. However Deep Deuce and Auto Alley have round designs. Just depends on what you are trying to say/display. Always ask the artist for your art in "vector" format so that it is scalable at the sign shop. Signs in Right-of-Ways require Revocable Permits to be "official."

Want to know more, just stop by the office.

anybody notice the new houses that are going in here? they are really nice and decently priced, although they seem to be spliced with older homes that sell for about half the price.

Here are some examples:

516 Bath Cir, Oklahoma City, OK 73117 - Zillow (http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/516-Bath-Cir-Oklahoma-City-OK-73117/2118728980_zpid/)

1712 NE 8th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73117 - Zillow (http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1712-NE-8th-St-Oklahoma-City-OK-73117/94675169_zpid/)

I'm putting this here, even though the Park Place Apartments (at NE 28th) are a bit north of what would be considered JFK.
Not sure of the proper district for this...


Molly Fleming article:

http://www.naisullivangroup.com/OKNews/Buildinganewbrand-DEIoverhaulingOklahomaCityapartmentcomplex.pdf



What’s taking place at Park Place is an $8 million renovation plan that, once completed, will boost
the rent from government affordable housing to prices ranging from $675 to $1,000 a month.

“It will be like night and day,” said Kristi Anglin, property manager. “It will definitely be something
that appeals to this area.”

Built in 1967, the complex was remodeled into affordable government housing in the mid-1990s.
Since then, it has fallen into disrepair as maintenance issues were not addressed. That is all about
to change through a plan that was drafted even before DEI purchased the complex.


http://journalrecord.com/files/2013/04/mf-park-view-apartments-bbf-1-04-10-13.jpg



The first building and the leasing office are expected to be completed and ready for residents
by June, with the rest of the complex expected to be done by early 2014.

But the work on the complex won’t just be physical.

“We plan to create a new identity here,” Hastings said. “We will give it a new name.”

Hastings said they expect to attract clients who work in the surrounding government offices,
downtown area, and the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. He said the complex
is within walking distance of many state offices and only a 10-minute bicycle ride from the
Health Sciences Center.

I was driving around the area this morning. So much vacant land on the south end of the neighborhood. Does anyone know of anything for sale? It all seems to be held by investment companies. I'm looking to build something modern like the home on 6th and Lincoln and I love the feel of this area.

I'd love to build a modern home in this area. Has anyone seen any lots for sale? Most of the land seems vacant.

Good luck to Rev. Jackson. He seems very sincere in his comments.

JFK neighborhood in Oklahoma City seeking a renaissance | News OK (http://newsok.com/jfk-neighborhood-in-oklahoma-city-seeking-a-renaissance/article/3868683)

Dunbar Elementary (and 3 other OKC schools) sold to developer Oak Hills Private Equity.

http://www.naisullivangroup.com/OKNews/DeveloperbuysDunbarElementarythreeothersites.pdf

Possible use could be multi-family housing. But Oak Hills has not stated for certain their plans for Dunbar.

Some photos of Dunbar Elementary:

http://mypictureman.smugmug.com/School/OKC-Dundar-Fairgrounds-Reunion/i-bHv3vPR/0/X2/102568ChrisShoes0002-X2.jpg

http://mypictureman.smugmug.com/School/OKC-Dundar-Fairgrounds-Reunion/i-FKKZgPb/0/X2/102568ChrisShoes0004-X2.jpg

http://mypictureman.smugmug.com/School/OKC-Dundar-Fairgrounds-Reunion/i-LnsXQcn/0/X2/102568ChrisShoes0006-X2.jpg

http://mypictureman.smugmug.com/School/OKC-Dundar-Fairgrounds-Reunion/i-2V54x27/0/X2/102568ChrisShoes0007-X2.jpg


Source: OKC Dunbar "Old Fairgrounds" Reunion Sat Sept 25, 2010 - MyPictureman's Photos (http://mypictureman.smugmug.com/School/OKC-Dundar-Fairgrounds-Reunion/13921732_Kq6fbq)

Nice thread. I grew up in the neighborhood, and moved back here after college.

I have a hard time seeing that school repurposed as housing, but maybe my imagination is a bit lacking. It will be interesting to see what is developed there.

I received a letter in the mail from the OKC Urban Renewal Authority that they were planning on renovating the Page Woodson School and also rezoning the immediate area around the school from Residential to PUD status. Does anyone know what their plans are? There was a meeting on Monday at the 5th Street Missionary Baptist church but I couldn't go.

See this thread:

Page Woodson School .

The school was bought from OCURA by a developer who plans to convert it to housing.

OCURA is now seeking proposals to develop a good deal of the land around it.


And BTW, Welcome to the Site!

Thanks!