The SW 25th example is a good one. Forgot about that.

The 3 listed by wsucougz all have problems with connectivity/walkability, parking being the major culprit. If it were just about orientation of the main entrance to the street, almost every Walgreen's would qualify.

it's about visibility and attention from passersby. If there are a bunch of parked cars and the sidewalk looks daunting, all of the sudden the pedestrian is stimulated to focus on how to negotiate the variety obstacles in their way. The Drake entrance, however (and the 25th as well) does not have these obstacles and therefore the pedestrian is stimulated to focus on the development in front of them. They become more aware of what's going on at a particular corner.

Another one that I just thought of is John Hunsucker's building (jeepnokc), It's not quite as inviting as the Drake, but it's also not a restaurant or a business trying to bring people in from the street.

I know that a Cox Solution Store is the sexiest tenant, especially for that key corner location.

But, I've used them now 4 or 5 times and it's been incredibly handy.

Of course the reason I've had to go in so many times is the total ineptitude of Cox, but that's a whole other rant.

I know that a Cox Solution Store is the sexiest tenant, especially for that key corner location.

But, I've used them now 4 or 5 times and it's been incredibly handy.

Of course the reason I've had to go in so many times is the total ineptitude of Cox, but that's a whole other rant.

I don't think I've ever had to use a Cox solutions store, but I can see how it would be less of a hassle to do that than deal with their phone customer service.

For all the complaining about Cox, at least if you live in OKC you don't have to deal with Time Warner. You have never dealt with a completely inept cable company until you've dealt with them.

For all the complaining about Cox, at least if you live in OKC you don't have to deal with Time Warner. You have never dealt with a completely inept cable company until you've dealt with them.

Truth. Last year, Time Warner's way of telling me I was eligible to upgrade to a new modem was by shutting off my internet service until I went in to figure out what in the world was going on/request the new one. Effective, I suppose, but not the best way to keep a loyal customer base.

Looks like they leased that upstairs space with the outdoor patio to Safety Skills, an on-line safety training company. It was formerly known as Noodle Stream and are moving from the First National Center.

https://safetyskills.com/

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/rise022016.jpg

Good ol Safety Skills. I had to pass their 48 some odd tests when I worked in the oil industry.

I remember when Noodle Stream moved into FNC.

Marva Ellard has started work on the houses and old apartments north of the rise. Most of the window boards are down and demo work has started on he interiors. Just taking the boards off the windows has made a dramatic improvement in appearance. Should look really nice when these are completed and occupied.

Marva Ellard has started work on the houses and old apartments north of the rise. Most of the window boards are down and demo work has started on he interiors. Just taking the boards off the windows has made a dramatic improvement in appearance. Should look really nice when these are completed and occupied.

She does such great work. It seems like she hasn't done a whole lot since her proposal wasn't chosen for the land that became the Edge. But her ideas were great and I wish she'd assemble some land and try it elsewhere.

Here is a photo of the cottages. The one on the far west is under renovation; doesn't look like they've touched the 2-story 4-plex at the east end.

When I last spoke with Marva, she said the units on the vacant land on the east end would be built after the cottages were finished.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/rise061016.jpg

Here is a photo of the cottages. The one on the far west is under renovation; doesn't look like they've touched the 2-story 4-plex at the east end.

When I last spoke with Marva, she said the units on the vacant land on the east end would be built after the cottages were finished.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/rise061016.jpg

They are renovating the building north of that one too or at least it looked like
they were when I drove by.

Stopped by Old School Bagel this morning and the place was absolutely slammed. The place has no visibility to any major streets, but seems its found a nice following. They always do a nice job.

She does such great work. It seems like she hasn't done a whole lot since her proposal wasn't chosen for the land that became the Edge. But her ideas were great and I wish she'd assemble some land and try it elsewhere.

Assemble some land? You know she and her partners own that entire block, corner to corner, save the 3 holdouts on the NW corner right? The historic homes couldn't be demolished and were upheld with a heavy hand by HP. Being 1 block off 23rd, across from parking lots, dilapidated, and behind the rise I don't think it's a big deal to raize them. But we've had that conversation before. It's just my opinion, and since I'm not on the commission it doesnt matter. Anyway, it's rezoned commercial mixed use now so who knows what'll happen! But I doubt they're going to be for sale! I'm happy to see action of any kind.

Assemble some land? You know she and her partners own that entire block, corner to corner, save the 3 holdouts on the NW corner right? The historic homes couldn't be demolished and were upheld with a heavy hand by HP. Being 1 block off 23rd, across from parking lots, dilapidated, and behind the rise I don't think it's a big deal to raize them. But we've had that conversation before. It's just my opinion, and since I'm not on the commission it doesnt matter. Anyway, it's rezoned commercial mixed use now so who knows what'll happen! But I doubt they're going to be for sale! I'm happy to see action of any kind.

They're renovating at least two of those houses right now.

The 4 plex is underway also

They put a new sign up on the center:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/rise111116.jpg


And here are the cottages under construction to the north:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/uptown111116.jpg

Update on the 3 of the cottages plus 4-plex on 24th: it would appear they've only just been scraped of loose paint and prayed white to avoid any further dilapidation citations for now. The paint is purely superficial and no demo or substantial repair work has taken place beyond the two that border Dewey, which are extensive remodels to say the least. They are complete overhauls.

I'm glad to see the progress but this is fast getting to the point where having those structures boarded up is not okay.

They've owned them now for many years and that entire area around them is booming. Time to get this project done and for it to stop looking like a shanty town.

Walgreens Pharmacy going into the empty space (believe the last vacancy) between The Drake and Anytime Fitness.

Pretty interesting since there is a full Walgreens less than a mile away at 23rd & Classen.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/walgreens1.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/rise111416.jpg

Nothing compliments a thriving commercial district with fine dining like a Wal-mart pharmacy...

oh man... now any given corner will have three drug stores on it: walgreens, cvs, and now walmart. -M

Sorry!

That was a typo... WALGREENS Pharmacy, not Walmart. I've corrected my post.

glad that was just a typo... walgreens and cvs are enough without another competitor trying to oversaturate the market. -M

I don't understand the logic with them being so close to their other store...

I don't understand the logic with them being so close to their other store...

Honestly I'm pretty into them opening a store here. This one will be pedestrian-accessible, which is not the case for the two down the street.

If you read the book "Good to Great" it talks about Walgreen's philosophy of treating "clusters of stores" as one entity from a numbers perspective vs each store as their own entity. If that is what they still do then I'm sure this is just another store in a defined cluster. Though in that scenario it baffles me why they couldn't have had one just a mile down Walker either in the Edge (before the bookstore got that space) or something like that. Though I guess they probably count the St Anthony's location as part of that cluster.

The more I think about this the more I like it. A drugstore, even one close to the 23rd/Classen monster intersection, does more for the viability of uptown retail than another bar, however hip that bar might be. Granted there are more options int he world than bars or drugstores, but you get my point. A mix of retail is moe important for the local neighborhood and more sustainable than is an entertainment district.

If this had existed yesterday I would have gone there.

Based on the plans that Pete posted, it looks like this will be a pharmacy only - not a full drugstore. It's a step in the right direction, certainly, but I don't think this will quite live up to everyone's expectations because of the limited scope of the location. I find myself wishing they had decided to go for an urban-model full drugstore as their first foray into "unconventional" stores for the OKC market.

OKC is nowhere near an urban city, but in Urban cities, it's not uncommon to find the same store/brand within 500 meters of each other, let alone 1 mile.

I noticed The Rant clothing store has closed.

The rumblings are that it will be converted into yet another restaurant space. I am happy for success and totally spoiled by all the options I can now walk to. But I was really pulling for retail. Uptown is hurting for things to do that doesn't involve consumption by mouth.

I met someone (forgot his name) during Open Streets OKC on 23rd that said he's opening a new clothing store in that space. He was fairly vague about it, but I gave him my business card since he didn't have any on him. We'll see if he contacts me.

Not surprised by The Rant's closing. Unfortunately, for the style of clothing they sold, they were in the wrong part of town IMO.

Definitely. I was amazed it lasted so long.

This is the new clothing store taking the old Rant space:

http://www.spowellandco.com/

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/spowell090617.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/spowell090617b.jpg

saw a Walgreens Clinic, can anyone confirm...

saw a Walgreens Clinic, can anyone confirm...

Yes, been there for a year.

^^^^^^^^
It’s called Community by Walgreens, is pharmacy-only (without the store associated with most Walgreens) and essentially replaces the small Walgreens that was inside the Saint Anthony physicians building on 9th, which just closed. The pharmacists and pharmacy techs relocated from that store, in fact.

huh... that seems so close to the existing walgreens at 23rd and classen to be worth the expense.

S. Powell -- the clothing store facing Walker -- is having a store closing sale, so it looks like they will be soon out of business.