development
|category1=Central Business District
|category2=Preftakes Properties
|category3=Buildings with Retail Space
|category4=
|
|project=Old Union Bus Station
|address=427 W. Sheridan (http://g.co/maps/d7bjn)
|status=
|owner=Nick Preftakes
|cost=$2 million April 2012
|architect=
|start=
|finish=1941
|contractor=
|height=2 floors
|sq. feet=13,000
|acerage=.48
|other=
|
|image=http://www.okctalk.com/images/wikiphotos/bustation1.jpg
|

Information & Latest News
Union Bus Station Sells for $2 Million (http://newsok.com/union-bus-station-in-oklahoma-city-sells-for-2-million/article/3671568)
Links
County Assessor Record (http://www.oklahomacounty.org/assessor/Searches/AN-R.asp?ACCOUNTNO=R010018260)
Gallery

The byline says it all for me...the building will be preserved.

... I control the surrounding property and I can provide parking.”

If he is talking about the AutoHotel, I thought it was closed. If so, I guess he has plans to reopen it.

If he is talking about the AutoHotel, I thought it was closed. If so, I guess he has plans to reopen it.

he owns the now surface lots to the north and east of union station ... they have been fenced off (in part to make it hard for the grey hound buses) ... but they could be used for parking for a restaurant until a parking garage was built on part of this block as part of another development.

I've updated all the ownership maps and purchase information for that block:

http://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=24938&page=27&p=533787#post533787

Good news indeed that the building is being spared and hopefully will get a new purpose!

Here are a few interior pics from yesterday.


Looking north:
http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/busstation61912a.jpg


Also looking north; the stairs lead up to a restroom and a couple of small offices. The 2nd level is only at the far north end of the space.
http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/busstation61912b.jpg


Looking south:
http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/busstation61912c.jpg

Looks pretty decent and certainly less dingy than when I was in it last. I take it that the "restaurant" space is empty?

Looks pretty decent and certainly less dingy than when I was in it last. I take it that the "restaurant" space is empty?

Yes. And of course, the entire bus operation is getting ready to relocate to the other site on east Reno, so this structure will soon be shuttered.

My father used to be a manager at the Union Bus Station in the 60s/70s and had quite a few stories about goings on there that i cant repeat here.

Looks pretty decent and certainly less dingy than when I was in it last. I take it that the "restaurant" space is empty?

this.

kevinpate: I have seen "this" before...help me out here, what does "this" mean in "this" context?

kevinpate: I have seen "this" before...help me out here, what does "this" mean in "this" context?

Just a (shorter) version of:

What S/he said, or I agree with this person, or Nailed it!

thanks!

The new Greyhound Station at Reno and MLK appears to be about completed. I was wondering...will this completely replace the Downtown Station, and if so is the land slated for demolition and re-development?

Chris Sokol
Sokol Photography

Yes, the new station will completely replace the one at Sheridan & Walker.

The old station is owned by Nick Preftakes, along with almost everything else on that block.

He has stated he wanted to renovate it but the future use is unclear.

Thanks for posting about the new bus station. I never go out that way so I had no idea the project was so far along. Is there a chance we could get some photos? Hopefully we hear something soon about the intentions for the old station.

Yeah, some pics would be awesome! I've traveled along this part of town and never seen any construction or realized it was even going on.

The new bus station is very `meh'. I mean it's not ugly or anything it's just really small and boring looking. I really wanna know where the rest of it is because it looks smaller tn the old station.

The new station is likely only temporary until they can incorporate the buses into the new multi-modal facility at Santa Fe Station.

It looks like a converted gas station. It was built out of the old Gary Dale's BBQ/Choilata's (sp) Cafe.

I do like the marquee sign. It's a greyhound on a post lit in silver at night.

There is a sign out in front of the existing bus station that says they are moving Oct 28th. I had no idea that the move was so imminent.

There is a sign out in front of the existing bus station that says they are moving Oct 28th. I had no idea that the move was so imminent.

Thanks for that info.

I knew it was coming, but is only a week and a half away.


Could also mean that something will really get brewing on that entire Preftakes block. It's really the last thing that needed to happen, besides the last tenants leaving One North Hudson.

Don't all of the tenants at One North Hudson have to be out next year?

There is a sign out in front of the existing bus station that says they are moving Oct 28th. I had no idea that the move was so imminent.

Does this mean Urban Campers go with it too since it will probably be locked up?

47384739

http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/urban-development-buildings/4738d1382069369-union-bus-station-img_0134.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/urban-development-buildings/4739d1382069370-union-bus-station-img_0135.jpg

Looks like a pool / hot tub supply store.

Looks like a pool / hot tub supply store.

It reminds me of an abandoned Chevron station. I was stationed in Gulfport/Biloxi in the 90's when I was on active duty in the Navy. All the new Chevron stations were painted blue and grey in that type of design.


Does this mean Urban Campers go with it too since it will probably be locked up?

I have a feeling Reno and MLK will be a pretty interesting place to navigate starting next week. Sad to say they will be fresh off the bus, fighting over the street corners to panhandle and there will probably be a few auto/truck vs. pedestrian accidents. Some of those truckers blow through that intersection from Petro like they are being shot at.

It looks like a converted gas station. It was built out of the old Gary Dale's BBQ/Choilata's (sp) Cafe.

I do like the marquee sign. It's a greyhound on a post lit in silver at night.

It looks like a converted gas station because it is. Prior to housing Gary Dales BBQ, it was a full service station owned by said Gary Dale.

Oklahoma City's Union Bus Station to close; new station to open this week | News OK (http://newsok.com/oklahoma-citys-union-bus-station-to-close-new-station-to-open-this-week/article/3898569)

I thought someone said this was a temporary site. Why would you have a ribbon cutting ceremony at a temporary site?

I once attended a church that held services in a temporary sanctuary for 20 years.

Don't all of the tenants at One North Hudson have to be out next year?

Yes. They're in the planning stages of what will become a new boutique hotel.

Don't all of the tenants at One North Hudson have to be out next year?

April of 2014.

I thought someone said this was a temporary site. Why would you have a ribbon cutting ceremony at a temporary site?

Temporary as in 5 years? The City would like them to integrate into the intermodal hub eventually (if I understand and recall correctly), but that's a few years out.

I think it's more like 10 years for the buses to be integrated to the intermodal hub.

Our old friend Tom Elmore is at it again. From the comments section of the article:

Tom Elmore · Top Commenter · Researcher/Consultant at Self-Employed

"....thereby shining a bright, penetrating and inescapable light on the true character, vision and motivations of what passes for leadership in Oklahoma City."

Not even sure what this means or has to do with anything...

Our old friend Tom Elmore is at it again. From the comments section of the article:

Tom Elmore · Top Commenter · Researcher/Consultant at Self-Employed

"....thereby shining a bright, penetrating and inescapable light on the true character, vision and motivations of what passes for leadership in Oklahoma City."

Not even sure what this means or has to do with anything...

I argue with that guy waaaaaaaay too much, lol.

I argue with that guy waaaaaaaay too much, lol.

Is he the guy that is obsessed with the old I40 crosstown?

Is he the guy that is obsessed with the old I40 crosstown?

He was obsessed about maintaining the rail lines to Union Station that were being downsized due to the new I40 route.

"downsized" FOOMCROFLOL

The New Greyhound Station or a Strip Club Across from the Future American Indian Cultural Center | News OK (http://newsok.com/the-new-greyhound-station-or-a-strip-club-across-from-the-future-american-indian-cultural-center/article/3899517)

Maybe in the interim we can have a shuttle between the bus station and the hub since we're just talking two miles down Reno?

Maybe in the interim we can have a shuttle between the bus station and the hub since we're just talking two miles down Reno?

I'm just wondering that when/if they do move the Greyhound busses back to the intermodal hub, if those will be lined up and parked out in front of the freight docks. Probably getting a little ahead and off topic with this one.

Sounds like something may be changing with the bus station because this is the first inkling that it might not be saved.

Previously, Preftakes promised it would, but from Steve's chat today:


But I just don't know. I do believe the bus station is safe from demolition.

No, I wasn't trying to imply otherwise. I see no reason why it would be torn down.

I know Nick reasonably well, and while I do not profess to have any insight into what he is planning for that block, I did run into him right after the purchase of the station, and we discussed it briefly. Every indication I got was that he was saving it, and already had a purpose in mind for it. Again, he doesn't easily show his hand (nor did I ask him to), but I think it survives.

Good to hear all that.

I think everyone would love to see it re-purposed.

Looks like it could be a really cool retro diner with great outdoor seating.

Looks like it could be a really cool retro diner with great outdoor seating.

Yes. Absolutely and without question. Make it somewhat upscale and open late -- perhaps with bar service.

Could add a whole new definition of being a bus-boy.

http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/6143d1389877585-union-bus-station-bus11314a.jpg

10044
Shot this the other day, Such a shame. Would've made a great restaurant....

there was some equipment near the bus station this morning and a number guys walking around the structure measuring and pointing and such. Not sure what they were doing exactly but it didn't have that cheery vibe.

... a number guys walking around the structure measuring and pointing and such. Not sure what they were doing exactly but it didn't have that cheery vibe.

Fitting it for its coffin. RIP.

there was some equipment near the bus station this morning and a number guys walking around the structure measuring and pointing and such. Not sure what they were doing exactly but it didn't have that cheery vibe.

I'm sure they were making plans to remove the sign, as they are doing that today at the Lunch Box.

The trial on the demolition of this property is set for June 24th and estimated to take 3 days.

It will be a bench trial; no jury.

The relief that Shadid is asking is that the bus station not be demolished; although the court can't require renovation, that would certainly be the result.

I asked this on another thread but could never find it again, and I don't think there was a reply anyway.

SO what's the significance of the station? Why all the fuss to keep it? The structure isn't some great example of any style from a previous era. If it is, it's the most pathetic example of one I've ever seen. It's barely used, doesn't really fit today's needs for a bus station (if we even had sufficient traffic to warrant it) and is a great example of something in prime real estate holding up construction. With other structures in the area, such as the Walnut St. bridge, there was actual historic activities related to it and what it represented...so much that we had a ceremony for it's demo and rebuilding. I'm not aware of anything that happened at the bus station that is significant.

If I'm wrong in that, please please let me know. I'm currently on the "doze it and get it over with" camp. But if some new information were added to add to the "keep it" camp, then I would rather know that information before I say whether or not I would change my mind. I just don't feel like much has been said as to WHY we should be keeping this dump.

I asked this on another thread but could never find it again, and I don't think there was a reply anyway.

SO what's the significance of the station? Why all the fuss to keep it? The structure isn't some great example of any style from a previous era. If it is, it's the most pathetic example of one I've ever seen. It's barely used, doesn't really fit today's needs for a bus station (if we even had sufficient traffic to warrant it) and is a great example of something in prime real estate holding up construction. With other structures in the area, such as the Walnut St. bridge, there was actual historic activities related to it and what it represented...so much that we had a ceremony for it's demo and rebuilding. I'm not aware of anything that happened at the bus station that is significant.

If I'm wrong in that, please please let me know. I'm currently on the "doze it and get it over with" camp. But if some new information were added to add to the "keep it" camp, then I would rather know that information before I say whether or not I would change my mind. I just don't feel like much has been said as to WHY we should be keeping this dump.

The bus station is the least impressive building on that block to me. I don't get the love affair either. I'd much rather save the Auto Hotel & Hotel Black & sacrifice the bus station.

This is from the report by the City Planning Department that recommended it not be demolished:


427 West Sheridan (Union Bus Station), 1941, Moderne Style

This building is without question one of the most endearing legacy resources of downtown. It is best known for the distinctive projecting vertical neon sign that reading “Union Bus Station” that welcomed travelers from across the country for over 60 years. Character-defining exterior features include bands of blue glass tile, glass block, curvilinear wall corner, and cast stone coping with a unique geometric motif.

According to the 2013 Intensive Level Survey of Downtown, this building is individually eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, as follows:
This building retains excellent integrity from its original period of construction and continues to clearly convey its architectural association with the occurrence of Modern Movement Styling in downtown Oklahoma City. It retains all seven National Register aspects of integrity.

It was recognized in the Intensive Level Survey of Downtown as “an excellent example” of mid-20th century Moderne Style and of road-related transportation development in downtown Oklahoma City.

Greyhound bus service began in Minnesota in 1914 and by 1927, bus travelers could cross the country from New York to California in less than six days. When the Union Bus Station opened in 1941, travel by bus had overtaken rail transit in popularity. The aerodynamic, streamlined motifs of Moderne – sweeping curves, long horizontal lines, and towering signage – were the perfect architectural expression of this new style of travel as Greyhound built new terminals across the country.