505 E. Sheridan (http://goo.gl/maps/8MxLk)
owner=Gary Brooks & Andy Burnett / OCURA
cost=$75 million (est.)
architect= Galier Tolson French
start=Summer 2014
250 +100 apartments

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/steelyardwiki1.jpg
Information & Latest News
9/5/14: $28.9 million in building permit applications filed (http://www.okctalk.com/content/42-steelyard-project-bricktown-set-start-construction.html)
8/22/13: East Bricktown before & after (http://newsok.com/east-bricktown-project-before-and-after/article/3875184)
8/22/13: Bricktown project offers new vision (http://newsok.com/bricktown-retail-residential-development-offers-new-vision/article/3874985)
7/7/13:
BCA-13-00015: Formal application made to the Bricktown Design Review Committee to be heard 8/14/13.
"Construct a 4-story, 250 unit apartment building with 10,640 SF of retail space and construct a five level parking garage."

As of November 29, 2012:

$1.5 million Brownfields grant for site cleanup; $4.5 federal stimulus funding
Demolition of the Stewart Metal Fabricators buildings to begin in January 2013.
Cleanup, relocation of sewer lines and utilities expected to continue for 12 to 15 months.
Construction could begin in early 2014.
20,000 sq. ft. of retail along Sheridan
50 affordable units
200 market rate units
100 Phase II units (may be combined with first phase)
Structured parking garages


Links
Gallery

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

Alright. I guess somebody must have talked Bob Meinders down a notch...

Can't wait to see the design. Doesn't the yellow highlighted area include the Bricktown Fire station?

Not only would this bring more life to Bricktown it really helps solidify Deep Deuce and areas adjacent as a good concentration of living units.

Yeah, the impact on Bricktown is the BIGGIE here, we're in desperate need of rooftops there. I'm avoiding exclamation marks, but trust me, I'm pretty ecstatic that this is being pursued. If City Hall bungles this deal like they bungled Bomasada...

I'm not very familiar with the history of the location. What does Meinders have to do with it? Does he own the land and asked some ridiculous price for it? Or is it something else.

I think this has the potential to a fantastic addition to Bricktown. What exactly will the $4.5 million grant cover? The land or the construction or both?

Can't wait to see the design. Doesn't the yellow highlighted area include the Bricktown Fire station?

Thanks for pointing that out. I changed the graphic.

according to the article Brooks stated that these apartments will be catered to the "working class", and not as upscale as Level and the Edge, hopefully they are not too cheap looking...

We need some entry-level apartments in that area for students and the younger crowd.

There is a way to keep things simple and efficient without completely cheaping out.

True...let's hope for the best, this will give new life to good ol' Bricktown..

Moreover, 8 stories for the hotel is a decent size, I wonder who will be pe the operator? Probably Holiday Inn?

Interesting how these funds were originally targeted for Core to Shore. Just another sign that downtown is not ready to expand horizontally until it expands vertically.

Interesting how these funds were originally targeted for Core to Shore. Just another sign that downtown is not ready to expand horizontally until it expands vertically.

this

As important as anything here is not just what is gained, but what is lost. Those fabricator buildings are such a terrible entrance to Bricktown. Would this get rid of them all?

Interesting, I know Andy Burnett. He's a local commercial Realtor, fairly young. Anyhow, this would be HUGE for Bricktown and is needed for long-term viability.

Moreover, 8 stories for the hotel is a decent size, I wonder who will be pe the operator? Probably Holiday Inn?

I can't find it on OKC.gov, but there was recently the completed Bricktown Strategic Plan, and on a map it showed a Candlewood Inn and Suites as a future hotel, along with Aloft and Hilton Garden Inn. The identifying dot was east of Lincoln and I was struck as it being an odd location; this Brooks project is probably what they were talking about/leaked.

Something like a slightly more urban Lincoln at Central Park would succeed wildly here if that's what they are thinking (a 1 bedroom starts at about 700/month there).

I've learned not to get my hopes up about things that don't have financing lined up, but consider me cautiously optimistic about this.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7052/6945620313_0d0ae23cc8_b.jpg

Who knows?, maybe this is just another separate hotel project that has been leaked, Bricktown would seem to be pretty well saturated/at market capacity with hotels if this is separate from Brooks' proposal and they both came to pass.

If I am correct this has to past Bricktown Design Committee. Say what you will about that, but nothing ugly has been build under their rule.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7052/6945620313_0d0ae23cc8_b.jpg

Who knows?, maybe this is just another separate hotel project that has been leaked, Bricktown would seem to be pretty well saturated/at market capacity with hotels if this is separate from Brooks' proposal and they both came to pass.

That hotel was proposed a few years ago. Nothing has moved on it.

Who knows?, maybe this is just another separate hotel project that has been leaked, Bricktown would seem to be pretty well saturated/at market capacity with hotels if this is separate from Brooks' proposal and they both came to pass.

I have not heard of the candlewood inn project

Who knows?, maybe this is just another separate hotel project that has been leaked, Bricktown would seem to be pretty well saturated/at market capacity with hotels if this is separate from Brooks' proposal and they both came to pass.

I have not heard of the candlewood inn project

Something like a slightly more urban Lincoln at Central Park would succeed wildly here if that's what they are thinking (a 1 bedroom starts at about 700/month there).

I've learned not to get my hopes up about things that don't have financing lined up, but consider me cautiously optimistic about this.

I think it should be more like the Regency or less really: 600-700 for a one bedroom, 500-600 for a studio even; those would be great prices for students, especially with a roommate.

Probably don't want to go below $500 though...

That hotel was proposed a few years ago. Nothing has moved on it.

Never heard of it, thanks for the info. My mistake.

I have not heard of the candlewood inn project

It's an old project that got scrapped, there is an old thread if you want to read up on it.

I think it should be more like the Regency or less really: 600-700 for a one bedroom, 500-600 for a studio even; those would be great prices for students, especially with a roommate.

Probably don't want to go below $500 though...

studios at regency are over 700 a month

It's an old project that got scrapped, there is an old thread if you want to read up on it.

in a presentation the other day .. it seemed like it still might be on "hold" ...

i know 1 problem with this project is the power lines .. they don't want them and the new hotel across the street doesn't want them either ... so where to the put them and at what cost??

If it's done well, that's great! If it's cheap construction that gets sold and resold over the next 10 years and is not well maintained, I can live without it. My biggest problem, always, with large volume rental housing is that the best way to make money on it is to cut costs everywhere you can, hold it for as short a time as possible (so construction issues are someone else's problem) and sell. Then we're stuck with another decaying eyesore in an important part of our city that will be less easy to tear down and appear less attractive for redevelopment than the Stewart Metal buildings.

this area is in need of rejuvenation, and I have always envisioned some type of housing in this area. This will be a big win for the area, but I was wondering if they needed the full $4.5M to do this project? If it were me, I would split these funds with Bomasada Group to have them reconsider building their project in AA. $2.25M for each, we could catch two fish with one hook...

Except for the Bomasada group is already off the table. You also have the potential to kill both deals or make one developer unhappy with the city.

Say the city proposes splitting it, both developers deny it. To at least get something, the city retract their proposal, and offer the full price to one of the developers. Making the developer who did not get picked angry.

Sounds good in theory but there is potential to screw both deals with that.

Except for the Bomasada group is already off the table. You also have the potential to kill both deals or make one developer unhappy with the city.

Say the city proposes splitting it, both developers deny it. To at least get something, the city retract their proposal, and offer the full price to one of the developers. Making the developer who did not get picked angry.

Sounds good in theory but there is potential to screw both deals with that.


I am not 100% sure, but is the $4.5M all of the grant money from the federal Neighborhood Stabilization funds? I just don't feel comfortable depleting ALL the funds just for one project, when you can potentially get two?

Gary Brooks is proceeding with The Edge without any financing assistance from the City, granted they did give him the land, but I think he could pull this new project off without the full $4.5M.

in a presentation the other day .. it seemed like it still might be on "hold" ...

i know 1 problem with this project is the power lines .. they don't want them and the new hotel across the street doesn't want them either ... so where to the put them and at what cost??

They also have since constructed a cell phone tower (an ugly one I'll add), in the middle of the candle wood site. Between that and the ODOT issues, I'll be shocked if it comes through.

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

Gary Brooks has a good reputation/relationship with the City re his developments of The Legacy @ Arts Quarters and The Edge @ Midtown, and now he has the east Bricktown apartments. I don't think if he submitted a proposal and they only gave him $2.25M or $3, he would get "angry", he is a developer. He said it himself in the article they have numerous hurdles to overcome to pull this off, so any financial assistance will help. I just think we can use some of the funds to convince other developers to proceed with projects.

LOL... You do realize the Legacy @Arts is the laughing stock of DT don't you? He stalled for years, got numerous extensions, and then didn't build what he proposed. It's cheap junk that will be a dump in 20 years. Even his good ole boys were more cautious and strict with him this go around on The Edge site. He is a "good ole boy" insider, when many DT have agreed there were better proposals left on the table.

LOL... You do realize the Legacy @Arts is the laughing stock of DT don't you? He stalled for years, got numerous extensions, and then didn't build what he proposed. It's cheap junk that will be a dump in 20 years.

Heh, I was waiting on you to comment back about The Legacy @ Arts. LOL

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

A very true saying.

LOL... You do realize the Legacy @Arts is the laughing stock of DT don't you? He stalled for years, got numerous extensions, and then didn't build what he proposed. It's cheap junk that will be a dump in 20 years. Even his good ole boys were more cautious and strict with him this go around on The Edge site. He is a "good ole boy" insider, when many DT have agreed there were better proposals left on the table.

I never said Legacy was a success, I just said he had a good relationship with the City re his developments. Which brings me to the point that I don't think he needs the full $4.5M to proceed with this project.

Ok, I was wrong $31M Edge @ Midtown is getting $1.5M in TIF to help with the financing. So that still brings me to question, does he really need the full $4.5M?

I am not 100% sure, but is the $4.5M all of the grant money from the federal Neighborhood Stabilization funds? I just don't feel comfortable depleting ALL the funds just for one project, when you can potentially get two?

Gary Brooks is proceeding with The Edge without any financing assistance from the City, granted they did give him the land, but I think he could pull this new project off without the full $4.5M.

remember this project is going to be for less expensive housing ..... i would guess that the hotel is what will make him money ... and i would guess that the 4.5 mil will be used mostly to clear and prepare the site for development ..

Ok, I was wrong $31M Edge @ Midtown is getting $1.5M in TIF to help with the financing. So that still brings me to question, does he really need the full $4.5M?


Maybe he needs it maybe he doesn't. At this point we have no idea.

I say give Gary Brooks $2.25M, and $2.25M to another developer to kick start another project...

Man, that $4.5M is awfully close to what it has been estimated a Quiet Zone would cost.

wow...that is close, I wonder if the City can justify with the Feds to convince some of that $4.5M to go to Quiet Zone?

Hotel, Structured parking, much needed affordable downtown housing, removal of the steel buildings.

If this development becomes a reality, I'd say, $4.5 million in already appropriated funds, is a a great win for the city, the district and all of downtown.

It's an old project that got scrapped, there is an old thread if you want to read up on it.

just saw the most recent Bricktown Strategic Plan, it is proposed as a Candlewood Inn, only 150 rooms though...on corner of Lincoln & Reno, totally separate from Gary Brooks development...

just saw the most recent Bricktown Strategic Plan, it is proposed as a Candlewood Inn, only 150 rooms though...on corner of Lincoln & Reno, totally separate from Gary Brooks development...

was getting ready to post the same thing .. the Bricktown Starategic Plan is going to be on the City Council docket on tuesday

Hotel, Structured parking, much needed affordable downtown housing, removal of the steel buildings.

If this development becomes a reality, I'd say, $4.5 million in already appropriated funds, is a a great win for the city, the district and all of downtown.

I don't know of too many cities that worry about having affordable downtown housing. Again, the risk is what is done to make it affordable. Do we give them a pass on making the structure entirely brick, despite it being in Bricktown? Or, do they cut corners elsewhere? Do we end up with a shoddy apartment complex that even those who want affordable housing won't want to live in 10 years from now? Does our 4.5 million in tax monies allow them to build affordable housing that doesn't look or act affordable? Or, do they still build poor quality housing despite the subsidy and pocket the profits? It's tricky to oversee to make sure that doesn't happen. Again, I like to see new projects downtown, but I want them to stand the test of time, and sometimes that doesn't go along with the affordable concept. What's affordable in Manhattan, downtown Chicago or San Francisco? When I was a young adult, my affordable near downtown housing in Denver was an aged townhouse that had fallen into disrepair, in a neighborhood that was barely gentrified. I didn't think it was my birthright to have the local taxpayers subsidize a new building with all the amenities.

J
I don't know of too many cities that worry about having affordable downtown housing. Again, the risk is what is done to make it affordable. Do we give them a pass on making the structure entirely brick, despite it being in Bricktown? Or, do they cut corners elsewhere? Do we end up with a shoddy apartment complex that even those who want affordable housing won't want to live in 10 years from now? Does our 4.5 million in tax monies allow them to build affordable housing that doesn't look or act affordable? Or, do they still build poor quality housing despite the subsidy and pocket the profits? It's tricky to oversee to make sure that doesn't happen. Again, I like to see new projects downtown, but I want them to stand the test of time, and sometimes that doesn't go along with the affordable concept. What's affordable in Manhattan, downtown Chicago or San Francisco? When I was a young adult, my affordable near downtown housing in Denver was an aged townhouse that had fallen into disrepair, in a neighborhood that was barely gentrified. I didn't think it was my birthright to have the local taxpayers subsidize a new building with all the amenities.

This is the same argument that is being made about the edge. It is the same developer. The neighborhoods have to live with the development long after the developer is gone. We need to demand quality and covenants for protection.

Too many of you are trying to apply the suburban apartment model to downtown apartments. They aren't the same. Suburban apartments get run down because someone builds newer apartments further out. If you build towards the core there is no where else to go but up. The expansion of suburbia is nothing more than operation rolling ghetto.

I don't know of too many cities that worry about having affordable downtown housing. Again, the risk is what is done to make it affordable. Do we give them a pass on making the structure entirely brick, despite it being in Bricktown? Or, do they cut corners elsewhere? Do we end up with a shoddy apartment complex that even those who want affordable housing won't want to live in 10 years from now? Does our 4.5 million in tax monies allow them to build affordable housing that doesn't look or act affordable? Or, do they still build poor quality housing despite the subsidy and pocket the profits? It's tricky to oversee to make sure that doesn't happen. Again, I like to see new projects downtown, but I want them to stand the test of time, and sometimes that doesn't go along with the affordable concept. What's affordable in Manhattan, downtown Chicago or San Francisco? When I was a young adult, my affordable near downtown housing in Denver was an aged townhouse that had fallen into disrepair, in a neighborhood that was barely gentrified. I didn't think it was my birthright to have the local taxpayers subsidize a new building with all the amenities.

No offense, but I think affordable housing developments are entitled to at least as much incentives as high-end developments have been.

As the parent of an ACM@UCO student, I say YES!! to more affordable downtown apartments.

No offense, but I think affordable housing developments are entitled to at least as much incentives as high-end developments have been.

No offense taken if you meant none:). I'm fine with affordable housing being given the same incentives as high end housing, as long as they're built for the same longevity. The aged townhouse I lived in on Capitol Hill in Denver was still standing (and has since been renovated) because it was quality construction. We have lots of close in housing in The Plaza Disrict, Jefferson Park, Gatewood etc and that's the kind of housing and distance from the CBD most people wanting affordable housing but proximity to downtown get in other cities. And if I were an ACM adminstrator, I'd built university housing for my students who want to live adjacent to campus.

Too many of you are trying to apply the suburban apartment model to downtown apartments. They aren't the same. Suburban apartments get run down because someone builds newer apartments further out. If you build towards the core there is no where else to go but up. The expansion of suburbia is nothing more than operation rolling ghetto.

I hope you're right, but I wonder what the Legacy will look like in 20 years.

Too many of you are trying to apply the suburban apartment model to downtown apartments. They aren't the same. Suburban apartments get run down because someone builds newer apartments further out. If you build towards the core there is no where else to go but up. The expansion of suburbia is nothing more than operation rolling ghetto.

Shoddy construction is shoddy construction, no matter where. Since we would hope downtown will be more sustaining, let's hope we get a durably constructed product here.

JTF, your hatred of suburban living and your insistence that everyone wants to live in a box downtown clouds your objectivity. There are many suburbs all over this country that have sustained beautifully and retained great value. And there are deteriorated and awful urban cores in many cities. Bad is bad wherever located. There are many urban slums and suburban slums. The issue is what this project will be. We don't have to take an overreaching overly-pius view of every project. At a rental rate of $1 or less per foot, there could be some concern as to the quality of the construction. Let's wait and see when we have more info.

I agree with Betts...in most cities the students, entry level workers, etc. don't live in the newly constructed and best located spaces. They often have to choose between location and space. Many live 2 or 3 or 4 to an apartment to make it affordable if they want a better location and nicer place. I know students in NYC who sleep in shifts to afford to be there. And the taxi drivers don't live in Manhattan, they live in Queens or the Bronx. It would be great if we can get a quality yet cheap housing solution near in, but the last thing we want is another disguised suburban apartment building plopped down in the core.

No offense, but I think affordable housing developments are entitled to at least as much incentives as high-end developments have been.

I agree completely.

Guys, there's more to this story - finer details I couldn't get in with space available. The grant is part of the federal stimulus and only requires that a percentage be "affordable" - meaning rent of less than $1 a square foot - which is actually market rate in the suburbs. It will go toward purchase of the land and allow for the rather expensive relocation of sewer lines on the site. Everything I've seen indicates this will be, quality wise, fairly competitive with other downtown rental and be at least as good if not better than Deep Deuce Apartments and Legacy. As for the exterior finish, remember this is Bricktown, the most stringent of all the urban design committees. They held Hampton Inn, McDonald's and others to a high standard and wouldn't relent. They also forced Chris Johnson to up his game quite a bit, though I'll be the first to admit what he's doing still won't have a lot of admirers on this site or elsewhere downtown. But there was only so much they could do, legally, to keep him tied up.
Obviously the ultimate resolution of this debate will be the final product.

Betts, I only said "no offense," because I know I'm disagreeing with you on an issue that is personally important for you.


Shoddy construction is shoddy construction, no matter where. Since we would hope downtown will be more sustaining, let's hope we get a durably constructed product here.

I agree, and you know I'll be out on the front lines if we end up looking at shoddy construction.

Guys, there's more to this story - finer details I couldn't get in with space available. The grant is part of the federal stimulus and only requires that a percentage be "affordable" - meaning rent of less than $1 a square foot - which is actually market rate in the suburbs. It will go toward purchase of the land and allow for the rather expensive relocation of sewer lines on the site. Everything I've seen indicates this will be, quality wise, fairly competitive with other downtown rental and be at least as good if not better than Deep Deuce Apartments and Legacy. As for the exterior finish, remember this is Bricktown, the most stringent of all the urban design committees. They held Hampton Inn, McDonald's and others to a high standard and wouldn't relent. They also forced Chris Johnson to up his game quite a bit, though I'll be the first to admit what he's doing still won't have a lot of admirers on this site or elsewhere downtown. But there was only so much they could do, legally, to keep him tied up.
Obviously the ultimate resolution of this debate will be the final product.

thanks for adding this steve .. you saved me from posting most of this ..... this project has been in the works for a long time the 4.5 mil of federal money has a time limit and while it was targeted for the core to shore area clearly that is not going to be developed in the short term ... the vote that will be in the city council will be to change the area that the federal money can be spent ... this will be a great project and i can't wait for it to get started