That's fine and all, but make no mistake, one half-block is not going to change someone's decision/curiosity to walk this street if there is actually something worthwhile on the other side.

That's not an endorsement on my part...but it's really not a big deal at all. This development is standing in stark-contrast to where we are today with a vast majority of the developments happening in downtown, and it is doing so with at least a passable reason.
I agree. It's just not a major issue. As I've said before, we can't expect every new downtown development to be a "Mona Lisa". It doesn't happen here and it doesn't happen in any city.

Can you give me examples of buildings that have great pedestrian interaction that has been built recently?

This is the issue I have with it...the city really could set a precedent. Set an example. Am I exaggerating when I say just about nothing that has been built lately has good pedestrian interaction? You say it is only half a block but OKC is full of those half-blocks. And we are building yet more parking garages with no on-street interaction. See what I mean? I hear you, and if we had a really walkable downtown and developers were building great, walkable projects I'd be far, far less worried. But this seems to me at least to be yet another page in OKC's history of not appreciating the value of the pedestrian/public space.

I'm wary of getting into this because of the potential for moving goal posts. Good for OKC is different than good for Seattle which is different than what is good for Philly, Istanbul, Berlin etc.

Deep Deuce is obviously where the best street-interaction is happening and that's the way it should be considering it's a residential neighborhood. Mayfair Phase I kind of sucks, but outside of that, everything completed since 2010 and everything proposed has acceptable to great street interaction for OKC. The CBD is a little different, but there also really have not been that many projects constructed in the CBD...Devon has incredible street interaction despite the setback. The Main St. parking garage will have street-level retail/office that's great interaction for OKC.

The Edge, The Steelyard, Maywood Phase II, House of Bedlam, aLoft will all have great street level interaction. Furthermore, walking around the CBD the other night, I was very surprised by how walkable many portions of the district are given how absolutely doom and gloom this forum is about walkability.

This coming from a guy who is only a week removed from spending two months in places like these: 4493

Can you give me examples of buildings that have great pedestrian interaction that has been built recently?

This is the issue I have with it...the city really could set a precedent. Set an example. Am I exaggerating when I say just about nothing that has been built lately has good pedestrian interaction? You say it is only half a block but OKC is full of those half-blocks. And we are building yet more parking garages with no on-street interaction. See what I mean? I hear you, and if we had a really walkable downtown and developers were building great, walkable projects I'd be far, far less worried. But this seems to me at least to be yet another page in OKC's history of not appreciating the value of the pedestrian/public space.

Not this one....the infamous Boston City Hall.

http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk92/gandjdunlap/800px-Boston_city_hall.jpg (http://s278.photobucket.com/user/gandjdunlap/media/800px-Boston_city_hall.jpg.html)

I was very surprised by how walkable many portions of the district are given how absolutely doom and gloom this forum is about walkability.

That's an extreme characterization.

We have some key, vocal people who are passionate about improving walkability in OKC and it's really only through their efforts (and a relatively small number of like-minded activists) that things have improved, the City gets called on lots of silly things they are doing or planning to do, etc.

And having walked almost every inch of DD, Brikctown, the CBD, Film Row, Midtown and 23rd a couple of months ago, it's clear we still have a LONG way to go.

Yes, OKC is progressing. Things are becoming much better than they were before. The problem that I have is that this city can do about anything, and it is better than what was done before (don't take this 100% literally).

In my belief, Sid is arguing that OKC can do better. There is A LOT of work to do to fix this city. The current design of the OCPD violates urban planning basics. This is a city project, and the city should know better. The city should have some of the "brightest minds" around OKC, and quite frankly, I find this embarrasing. A standard should be set at the maximum level by the city, and this falls short. OKC should know better. They have already screwed things up once, and they should do everything in all of their power to correct these mistakes.

This project isn't absolutely terrible. It just is not good enough. Anyone can feel free to accept that this is the best that OKC can do, but I believe that it isn't. WE CAN DO BETTER. That's it.

I'm wary of getting into this because of the potential for moving goal posts. Good for OKC is different than good for Seattle which is different than what is good for Philly, Istanbul, Berlin etc.

Deep Deuce is obviously where the best street-interaction is happening and that's the way it should be considering it's a residential neighborhood. Mayfair Phase I kind of sucks, but outside of that, everything completed since 2010 and everything proposed has acceptable to great street interaction for OKC. The CBD is a little different, but there also really have not been that many projects constructed in the CBD...Devon has incredible street interaction despite the setback. The Main St. parking garage will have street-level retail/office that's great interaction for OKC.

The Edge, The Steelyard, Maywood Phase II, House of Bedlam, aLoft will all have great street level interaction. Furthermore, walking around the CBD the other night, I was very surprised by how walkable many portions of the district are given how absolutely doom and gloom this forum is about walkability.

This coming from a guy who is only a week removed from spending two months in places like these: 4493That's awesome! Is that all housing up top?

Yes, OKC is progressing. Things are becoming much better than they were before. The problem that I have is that this city can do about anything, and it is better than what was done before (don't take this 100% literally).

In my belief, Sid is arguing that OKC can do better. There is A LOT of work to do to fix this city. The current design of the OCPD violates urban planning basics. This is a city project, and the city should know better. The city should have some of the "brightest minds" around OKC, and quite frankly, I find this embarrasing. A standard should be set at the maximum level by the city, and this falls short. OKC should know better. They have already screwed things up once, and they should do everything in all of their power to correct these mistakes.

This project isn't absolutely terrible. It just is not good enough. Anyone can feel free to accept that this is the best that OKC can do, but I believe that it isn't. WE CAN DO BETTER. That's it.You could have the most urban police station you can think and make it better by painting it with gold. I don't think we really should be concerned with making this better. There are plenty of other projects we should make better or criticize, I just don't see this police station being one of them. To each their own I guess :)

That's awesome! Is that all housing up top?

Housing and Office

That's an extreme characterization.

We have some key, vocal people who are passionate about improving walkability in OKC and it's really only through their efforts (and a relatively small number of like-minded activists) that things have improved, the City gets called on lots of silly things they are doing or planning to do, etc.

And having walked almost every inch of DD, Brikctown, the CBD, Film Row, Midtown and 23rd a couple of months ago, it's clear we still have a LONG way to go.

It is an extreme characterization, but 1. I meant to say some, not imply that it's a universal forum agreement. 2. Extremes and Characterizations are somewhat normative for forum dialogue and this forum while better than some is not really all that different. The way many on this forum have handled the Shadid issue(s) is a great example.

In reply to the rest of the post: I agree and am grateful for the work of those who have educated and promoted on walkability. I also agree we have a long way to go. I just hope that we're proceeding with a good mixture of realism, pragmatism, and idealism. I think in reality, things probably play out pretty well as evidenced by the great direction our city is headed...but like I alluded to earlier, ideology tends to run amok in internet forums.

This. Don't know why there is such an uproar over a building that none of us would technically want to go to. Also, since I assume this is getting paid for by taxpayers, what would people say if they built some $60 million dollar sexy headquarters? heads would roll

No doubt... Imagine if the streetcar went in front of the Police HQ. People would be gettin' their feet caught in the tracks all the time cause they'd get bedazzled by how sexy the building was.

How did this design with bad interaction with Main get past the Design Review?

How did this design with bad interaction with Main get past the Design Review?

Because the ordinances are flexible, and the committee was presented with facts that led them to approval.

I honestly think it would be fine if they just ditched the barricade. I think this is still achievable, too.

6014

Dirt is moving on this site BTW.

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1/14/14

I totally missed creating this Set yesterday. Here's some from 1-13-2014

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7445/11940628524_9e1bda6ee3_b.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3670/11940629044_bd37610c11_b.jpg

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5542/11941028476_02627c3c1e_b.jpg

Wow, that's actually a dense block

Not Police Headquarters news, but it's that time of the year again at my work, providing tuxedos for Fight Night which is an event the OKC Police Activities League hosts to raise money for underprivileged children in the metro area.

I was talking to one of the officers picking up and he told me that the department is currently restructuring their divisions and the one he works at, Will Rogers--right there on the west side of I-44 between NW 23rd and NW 36th--will be moving down to the southwest corner of Will Rogers World Airport off of SW 59th where they will also have the helipad (which is currently located there at the old Downtown Airpark. I asked what was to become of the old Will Rogers Division location and he said that would eventually become their equine/K-9 unit training center which is currently located just east of Portland on the north shore of the Oklahoma River (apparently the property value right there has gone up considerably and something will eventually replace their current facility).

Is that what's being built at SW 54th (where it curves into 59th) and Portland inside the airport fence (NE corner of the aiprort though)? A new police facility that will have a helipad? That would make sense. And it would solve a big mystery for me...

Yes. We discussed this in the aviation thread about a year ago :)

Oops, must not have been paying attention to that thread at the time...

Is that what's being built at SW 54th (where it curves into 59th) and Portland inside the airport fence (NE corner of the aiprort though)? A new police facility that will have a helipad? That would make sense. And it would solve a big mystery for me...

Yep.

The Santa Fe Division will be split - currently it covers the entire south side from east to west. Will Rogers Division will go away, and the Divisions will be aligned in a NE, NW, SW, SE structure instead of the NE, NW, Middle, and South structure they have right now.

Yes. We discussed this in the aviation thread about a year ago :)

Sorry, I don't partake of the aviation thread...

Sorry, I don't partake of the aviation thread...

But if it's inside the airport fence, you can guarantee it has been discussed about in detail in that thread.

But if it's inside the airport fence, you can guarantee it has been discussed about in detail in that thread.

Oh, I don't know where it's suppose to be located (either outside or inside of the fence). The officer and I did not get that far. Either way, I still don't venture into the aviation thread. It gets me about as excited as the politics thread....

Oh, politics threads can actually get you pretty excited. It's why I avoid them like the plague.

The new districts are going to be split from 10th and Penn; Hefner NW of, Springlake NE of, Will Rogers SW of, and Santa Fe SE.

Work begins on new Oklahoma City police headquarters | News OK (http://newsok.com/work-begins-on-new-oklahoma-city-police-headquarters/article/3928187)

The new districts are going to be split from 10th and Penn; Hefner NW of, Springlake NE of, Will Rogers SW of, and Santa Fe SE.

Pretty much but it is still in flux and has not been set in stone yet.

The new districts are going to be split from 10th and Penn; Hefner NW of, Springlake NE of, Will Rogers SW of, and Santa Fe SE.

Wayne Coyne will be the center of the OCPD crosshairs. Lol

Pretty much but it is still in flux and has not been set in stone yet.

The N/S dividing line should have been Reno, regardless it's going to be difficult for everyone for awhile getting used to things however it ends up redrawn.

The N/S dividing line should have been Reno, regardless it's going to be difficult for everyone for awhile getting used to things however it ends up redrawn.

It was likely decided based on call volume. From what I understand under the current district lines Will Rogers and Hefner are slammed with calls. Santa Fe is spread thin and Springlake has times where there is no activity until something bad happens. A force of any sized should be balanced or at least close to balanced as possible so that all officers are sharing in the responsiblities of answering calls.

The old police station is really outdated. It has to be 60 years old and they have totally outgrown it. It has been added on to over the years but the original part is not very functional IMO.

The old police station is really outdated. It has to be 60 years old and they have totally outgrown it. It has been added on to over the years but the original part is not very functional IMO.

Quite correct. The old Jail Building facing Shartel has been sealed up and NOBODY is allowed to enter without biohazard suites for a long list of health/disease reasons. As to divisions and districts each square mile is cut into fourths and each one of the 1/4 sections is polled for calls for service, self-initiated calls etc. and then decisions are made as to where the lines are drawn. Batural barriers like the OK River are taken into consideration. As much as possible lines also follow section line roads or half mile section lines. The ultimate goal is to make sure that calls are as equally spaced among the divisions. And balanced between districts in each division.

Today, courtesy of Metro:


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/police013114.jpg

That sucks that they're just going to demolish the old police when this one is finished and just turn it into a parking lot. At least a multi-storied structured garage would've been better.

Quite correct. The old Jail Building facing Shartel has been sealed up and NOBODY is allowed to enter without biohazard suites for a long list of health/disease reasons. As to divisions and districts each square mile is cut into fourths and each one of the 1/4 sections is polled for calls for service, self-initiated calls etc. and then decisions are made as to where the lines are drawn. Batural barriers like the OK River are taken into consideration. As much as possible lines also follow section line roads or half mile section lines. The ultimate goal is to make sure that calls are as equally spaced among the divisions. And balanced between districts in each division.

The jail building that Marva Ellard is going to redevelop?

Is that happening? Good lord I hope so.

Is that happening? Good lord I hope so.

I hope so too. Given the names for these new apartment complexes, Im sure it could have a trendy name like: Clink, Big House, Slammer

I hope so too. Given the names for these new apartment complexes, Im sure it could have a trendy name like: Clink, Big House, Slammer

Congrats, you win the Internet for a day

why does OKC only have 4 precincts? most large cities have multiple; that and given the area of OKC's city limits I'd expect there to be at least double the precincts if not 9 or 10 (one being a downtown specific/special events precinct).

I've posted several times about Boston Massachusetts Luxury Hotel ? The Liberty Hotel (http://www.libertyhotel.com/) in Boston, a converted historic jail that is now a luxury hotel. It has a restaurant/lounge called Clink.

I've posted several times about Boston Massachusetts Luxury Hotel ? The Liberty Hotel (http://www.libertyhotel.com/) in Boston, a converted historic jail that is now a luxury hotel. It has a restaurant/lounge called Clink.

The Crossbar Hotel? What an original! They could also include a doughnut shop and name it Cops Place.

The doughnut place could just be called "The Hole"

Like

As long as the gift shop sells soap on a rope.

Like

why does OKC only have 4 precincts? most large cities have multiple; that and given the area of OKC's city limits I'd expect there to be at least double the precincts if not 9 or 10 (one being a downtown specific/special events precinct).

Cleveland has 4/5 and has talked on and on about further consolidation. I think precincts in general are antiquated and hinder city wide progress.

http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/7052d1395151313-police-headquarters-police031714.jpg

Hows the Polic Derpatrment coming along?

Nothing has started upward yet. The in-ground infrastructure is proceeding and part of the foundation is beginning to be poured.

The Crossbar Hotel? What an original! They could also include a doughnut shop and name it Cops Place.

And how many of them are across the street from the new police HQ or a county jail? Somehow, I don't think too many people would be excited about staying in a hotel in that area. It's just asking for something bad to happen to your car...or to the guests.

The doughnut place could just be called "The Hole"

So, something completely off the subject, but funny nonetheless: One of my friends used to live out in Choctaw and came across a place called Butts' Donuts (The owner's last name was Butts.) Guess what they called their donut holes...

And how many of them are across the street from the new police HQ or a county jail? Somehow, I don't think too many people would be excited about staying in a hotel in that area. It's just asking for something bad to happen to your car...or to the guests.

The new 21C hotel is going to be 2 blocks away. Would you consider that "in that area"?

Not to mention the historic jail's future.

It's just so funny that someone considers the area near a jail or a police station to be dangerous. Do they seriously think that criminals are going to be hanging out around there thinking that would be a good place to commit a crime? :o

It's just so funny that someone considers the area near a jail or a police station to be dangerous. Do they seriously think that criminals are going to be hanging out around there thinking that would be a good place to commit a crime? :o

Exactly. Was thinking the same thing. Patrol cars are in and out of there 24/7. That's the last place you'd want to commit a crime.

It's necessarily the criminals inside, its the company that a jail collects...or a police department. If you think outside the police station is any less frequent to issues than down the street, I'm sorry but that's just not true. Just because an intelligent person makes that connection, it doesn't mean that criminals do....if they were smart, they wouldn't be doing what they are doing anyway. :P

The other issue is noise. I live near an EMSA staging point with a Fire Station relatively near by as well. You get to where you basically don't hear things anymore, but for a visitor, it's extremely annoying to hear sirens go off all the time...or see the lights through the curtains.

Bombermwc - are you under the impression that police officers are sitting in their patrol cars in the headquarters parking lot waiting for a call to come in and then tear out of the parking lot with lights and sirens blaring like it is the police equivalent of a fire station?

Not to mention the historic jail's future.

Because of asbestos, confirmed presence of bird flu and other disease/carcinogenic airborne pathogens the current plan is encapsulation and demolition.