Very few theater productions have taken place in the Stage Center for some time now. It may be an architectural wonder to some but it was poorly planned for any sort of production or plays. You should take that up with the architect and not the state of the arts community. Besides, how can you focus on the SC and ignore the massive planned renovations to the Civic Center Music Hall or momentum citywide to get more live music venues?

Architecture is a valid art form. That building is nothing, if not Art. But because enough people don't like it or "get" it, it will be razed without much thought. Lord help the OKCMOA if Chihuly ever falls out of style.


As far as artists struggling here, ever heard of the term "starving artist"? This is not something only in OKC. Go to Santa Fe, arguably the best art scene within driving distance. For every Georgia O'Keefe-level successful artist, there are 50 painters who have to peddle their work to tourists on the Plaza between working their "normal job" to pay bills. Even my family friend, who is mad talented and landed a role on a mid-level Broadway play in NYC, still has to work as a nanny to spoiled Manhattan brats 25 hours a week. She hates doing it but she's got bills and will do anything for her big break. Just the nature of the game.

And this is acceptable?

And this is acceptable?

Yes it is.

This hotel is bringing in significant art and raising the awareness and still it is more griping on this thread about how bad the city is in supporting art. Lol. Just a slow day I guess. Can' appreciate what IS happening.

BTW, SC isn't a piece of art. And if so, most art pieces don't require 100s of thousands of $ per year just to be maintained. Trying to tie its demise to the citizens capitalistic support for art is a serious straw man.

http://brighamyen.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/TCA_Olympic+Hill_HanoverLOW.jpg

As an aspiring developer/architect, I actually saved a picture of that complex a few months ago to look at it in detail.

If the corner section with dark borders was all different styles for each floor and was kept lit up at night it would look pretty cool.

A modern mid rise office building would be perfect.

http://cdn.cstatic.net/images/gridfs/5162eb66f92ea1428c00b898/MPBRendering.jpg

Hint of the old with a respectable dosage of modern. And ground floor retail.

That reminds me of this new infill along Vasagatan in Stockholm, across from their central post office. Much more important to match scale than recreate motif.

https://fbcdn-photos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/182986_10150176472942656_6581214_n.jpg

TIF funding approved yesterday:


Louisville, Ky.-based 21c Museum Hotels, meanwhile, received unanimous approval for $5.3 million in tax increment financing toward a $51.5 million conversion of the Fred Jones assembly plant at 900 W Main into a hotel and contemporary art gallery.

The redevelopment calls for 140 hotel rooms and a locally owned restaurant

Oklahoma City panel approves public funding for downtown development projects | News OK (http://newsok.com/oklahoma-city-panel-approves-public-funding-for-downtown-development-projects/article/3911683)

Hooray!

Congrats OKC. We are ready to see more!

That was fast action from the city. This looks very, very legit.

The city council also approved $3 million in tax increment financing to Indianapolis-based Milhaus Development, which is planning to build a 327-unit apartment complex at NW 10 and Shartel in Midtown.


A conversion of the Fred Jones assembly plant into a 21C Museum Hotel and redevelopment of the former Journal Record building both received unanimous final approval for tax increment financing Tuesday from the Oklahoma City Council.

Good grief, it's already been a month since the 21c discussion began?

Super excited about this. This has long been my favorite building downtown. I used to spend a lot of time there imagining the redevelopment possibilities.

Just want to say this is my favorite development going on in the Downtown area. This project is going to do more for this area then anybody can imagine. Like Ethan said before me, this building has been my favorite non skyscraper building in OKC for as long as I can remember and I'm so excited for this repurposment with this amazing brand. So Excited!!!

I'm with you guys. I've had a thing for this building's casement windows for years.

Heard the 21c people were in OKC this week interviewing general contractors.

Hopefully, this project will soon get rolling.


Still can't believe this is happening, but very glad it is!

Heard the 21c people were in OKC this week interviewing general contractors.

Hopefully, this project will soon get rolling.


Still can't believe this is happening, but very glad it is!

This is an example of a developer looking to the future and at trends and taking a risk. It's a stark contrast to what we see from people like Rainey Williams and many national retailers. I am pretty certain, barring an economic collapse, this hotel will spur significant development along with it.

This is an example of a developer looking to the future and at trends and taking a risk. It's a stark contrast to what we see from people like Rainey Williams and many national retailers. I am pretty certain, barring an economic collapse, this hotel will spur significant development along with it.

Ie., vision.

Granted this is a bit if a different animal, but in general hotels have a much easier time with site selection than do retailers. They usually get most of their customers through a reservation system, not from surrounding neighborhoods. Their customers are looking for a brand, and a general location, often dictated fully or in part by proximity to companies they are doing business with, attractions and highway access.

Typically, a hotel locating in a business or industrial area isn't being especially courageous. See I-40/Meridian. That said, this hotel is different than most. I suspect what drew them was heavily influenced by the building itself and its owners (their new partners).

This is an example of a developer looking to the future and at trends and taking a risk. It's a stark contrast to what we see from people like Rainey Williams and many national retailers. I am pretty certain, barring an economic collapse, this hotel will spur significant development along with it.

This is what I mean by, we need outside money. They are used to speinding it in large sums. Projects move through concept to completion much quicker (as all the players are usually lined up). I want both the local & outside investments.

They (outside developers ) also have their own financing sources that are more comfortable & agressive as well. I'm ready for 21c Museum Hotel... Welcome!

The last time a risk was taken in building a downtown hotel was in 1999 with the Renaissance, which itself was not much of a risk. People should attempt to understand and consider the fundamental differences in businesses and their respective models/customers before riffing on them.

That said, I'm not saying this hotel development isn't more risky/visionary than others; it is.

Granted this is a bit if a different animal, but in general hotels have a much easier time with site selection than do retailers. They usually get most of their customers through a reservation system, not from surrounding neighborhoods. Their customers are looking for a brand, and a general location, often dictated fully or in part by proximity to companies they are doing business with, attractions and highway access.

Typically, a hotel locating in a business or industrial area isn't being especially courageous. See I-40/Meridian. That said, this hotel is different than most. I suspect what drew them was heavily influenced by the building itself and its owners (their new partners).

I don't know why you're being defensive of retail site selection when the point was made that that process, which exists primarily to stamp out visionary pie in the sky stuff (for better or for worse, we can all agree on that), is contrary to the business philosophy here. These 21c guys take risks and are reaping huge rewards with a brilliant concept.

I agree with you totally that hotel site selection has less constraints on it than other processes, which goes to economic development 101, from which I always enjoy getting your perspective on. It's funny because I usually back you up and bash bchris, but he had an excellent point. They aren't a brand yet and they are pioneering a location as well, west of Film Row. It's similar to what you've accomplished as Bricktown's only stable, long-term retailer when all of us on here are constantly bashing Bricktown and Downtown for failing to attract retailers (though it clearly now is, and the best type of retail with the surge in local offerings).

I think you may be right that this is about the building, which will make them successful, and their partners in the owners and the city which gave them the TIF. This speaks as to why historic preservation is so vital to economic development, because as long as the best building stock is kept standing, those opportunities will work themselves out over time and they will be smashing hits.

This speaks as to why historic preservation is so vital to economic development, because as long as the best building stock is kept standing, those opportunities will work themselves out over time and they will be smashing hits.

Amen.

The only point I am trying to make is that - despite the fact that posters here are treating them as similar animals for comparison sake - hotel site selection and retail site selection have very little in common. Much in the same way that site selection for a truck stop has almost no similarity to picking a spot for a Cheesecake Factory. Sometimes folks here fail to consider use and intended/desired consumers when spouting on a subject. At its most basic, they really are the most fundamental aspects of business.

Also, thanks for the props, but do want to point out that both Bass Pro and Painted Door Gallery predate our efforts.

At first I was very skeptical of this site, but after driving around the area again last week after a late lunch at Joey's, it's not as bad as I originally thought. I think the connection to the rest of the expansion in Film Row will happen rather quickly.

The only point I am trying to make is that - despite the fact that posters here are treating them as similar animals for comparison sake - hotel site selection and retail site selection have very little in common. Much in the same way that site selection for a truck stop has almost no similarity to picking a spot for a Cheesecake Factory. Sometimes folks here fail to consider use and intended/desired consumers when spouting on a subject. At its most basic, they really are the most fundamental aspects of business.

Also, thanks for the props, but do want to point out that both Bass Pro and Painted Door Gallery predate our efforts.

It's an insult to compare you and Avis to Bass Pro, but that is noted. I'll hit up the Painted Door anytime I need some chochky whatnot. I admire that you merch actual stuff.

http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/6133d1389877444-21c-museum-hotel-21c11314a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/6134d1389877445-21c-museum-hotel-21c11314b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/6135d1389877446-21c-museum-hotel-21c11314c.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/6136d1389877447-21c-museum-hotel-21c11314d.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/6137d1389877448-21c-museum-hotel-21c11314e.jpg

Man I love that building. Always dreamed it would be some great loft housing someday. But this is awfully close, and really, might be better. Better because I'll be able to spend the night there sometime!

It really is an amazing building. And knowing the people at 21c will spare no expense to rehab just makes me incredibly giddy. This is the kind of project that spurs development all around it. Think about how many upper to upper upper class people that will want to stay there. Then think about all the money those kind of people are willing to spend. High end shops are going to pop up all around here just because they are gonna have that target market right next door. Its gonna be spectacular, and I wouldn't be surprised if Film row becomes the fastest growing district after this is finished.

I hope there is a rooftop bar. Seems to be pretty standard at most their hotels.

Will also be very interesting to see what the Jones family has in store for the surrounding properties, as Steve has said a few times that they plan to invest some money.

I seem to remember a vodka distillery that was based here for a while that has since left for greener, less law-restrictive pastures. Am I wrong?

Not exactly. They shut down entirely. It's a shame, too. They were making good vodka.

One more thought on that: they were actually a few years in front of the handcraft distillery craze, which is somewhat amazing. They might have survived if they had opened now instead of then...especially if the distiller whiskey instead of vodka.

somewhat random, but about 10 years ago or so, A local Christian rock band (that made it "big" in the Christian rock world) shot a music video at this building on the roof. They also shot a video at the old Green Door club when it was in Bricktown.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q18NtIVJVxw

Christian Rock and Roll? Does God know about this?

^

That's cool! Also, I kind of like their sound.


It will be interesting to see if they keep the water tower on the roof and if so, if they paint it, put 21c on it, etc.

Can't wait to see what they do with the interior.

Haha snuck that post in on you Pete. Don't you hate it when that happens?

Having played drums in a music video before, makes them hard to watch. Knowing how fake all the performances are. Lol. I like their sound but not a fan of the vocals.

somewhat random, but about 10 years ago or so, A local Christian rock band (that made it "big" in the Christian rock world) shot a music video at this building on the roof. They also shot a video at the old Green Door club when it was in Bricktown.

Wow, had no idea. What I do know though is about that music video they did at Green Door. If you watched the music video, I'm in the first 3 seconds of footage. It turned out to be their last concert because they broke up.

Found the video. Don't want this to go off topic though. I'm at the :08 mark on the left. To edit this video, they replay the song many many times and each one people were asked to go crazy like it was one take. It got kinda repetitive but was the only music video I could say I was or will ever be involved in.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPD6KzrMDnY

Does anyone know if the plans are to keep that water tower on the top of the building? I think that could be a fun feature to incorporate into any rooftop design.

If they are accepting historic tax credits (I believe they are..?) the removal of the water tower would probably be discouraged if not outright forbidden.

I do think that it would be allowable or even encouraged for them to remove the late-nineties era Fred Jones logo and replace it with the classic script FJ logo or even the Ford logo that probably existed when it was a Model T assembly plant. Knowing the Halls, they would probably hope to preserve the Fred Jones portion of the history, as I know they are genuinely (and rightfully) proud of that heritage.

Does anyone know if the plans are to keep that water tower on the top of the building? I think that could be a fun feature to incorporate into any rooftop design.

Geez I hope so. There's a cheesy lifestyle center in one of Cleveland's western burbs that's building a large expansion, with one building incorporating a fake replica water tower. It's kinda funny actually bc the local snoots were up in arms against it so I had to actually go out and argue for it.

http://media.cleveland.com/westlake/photo/crocker-park-15831447jpg-0a02a2282e3f1d51.jpg

As cheesy as it is, its light years ahead of most of OKC's suburban developments and something like that would be welcome for West Edmond.

Gah. Cheesy is right. Get ready for the JTF onslaught of disagreement, but disneyfied creation of false history is so inauthentic, and sort of sad. I love design tips-of-the-cap, but trying to make something nearly indistinguishable from something of a different era borders on insulting. It's like the neighborhood that names its streets after the trees that were clear cut and the creeks that were paved over.

If something is old, authentic, and has real quality it should be preserved unless something of higher and better use replaces it. But when building new, it should represent the era in which it was built, including advances in design and technology, while remaining sensitive to the neighborhood surrounding it.

The building the next block down in that rendering is ten times better. Or at the very least has none of the "ick" factor.

As cheesy as it is, its light years ahead of most of OKC's suburban developments and something like that would be welcome for West Edmond.

West Edmond? I wish our suburbs had that much density. That's better than most of the developments we get downtown. I'd love to have a nice ALL BRICK and masonry warehouse style development like that downtown OKC.

That building with less ick might be the new American Greetings HQ, I think. The argument was to support a good developer that goes above and beyond because they take pride in the deliverable. The downtown urbanites up here attack the Crocker Park lifestyle center bc "it lacks character" so the developer wanted to add more elements of interest and I support that.

I really do think more and more how everything boils down to taking pride in the deliverable.

Spartan, don't get me wrong; 95% of that building looks like something that I would be proud to see pop up in Bricktown. It's the other 5% that troubles me. Let me guess: the capstone detail - which in another time would have been hand-crafted carved stone - is made of an extruded styrofoam material, covered with a thin layer of plasticized plaster? Much like EIFS? You've already mentioned the fake water tower, designed to make people feel nostalgic and comfortable? Neither provides an AUTHENTIC sense of place. It's like they ran out of ideas.

I know it's a project you were involved with, and frankly you should take pride in it overall, but what I am talking about is symptomatic of a larger problem here and in this country in general. I read an article the other day about Pizza Hut responding to the "handcrafted" craze by training their cooks to artificially and on purpose put flaws into the crusts of their new "hand-tossed" pizzas. Are they really hand tossed? I guess it doesn't matter if the customer thinks it is. Other restaurants are developing meat-cutting machines designed to make their machine-cut meat seem butcher-sliced.

Locally-handcrafted beer becomes "a thing", so clever entrepreneurs set up a local P.O. box, order contract brew from another part of the country, toss in a handful of local grain onto tons of fermenting out-of-state grain, slap on local labels and brag about being "local" brewing companies brewing "with [insert locality here] grain". Or worse, a major brewing corporation creates a fictional brewing company at a fictional address, doesn't put their corporate name anywhere on the label, and passes it of as "craft" and "micro." And the public laps it up none the wiser. Sometimes even thinking they are doing a type of good deed or actually supporting local jobs.

McMansions, faux antiques... ...everywhere, people are searching for authenticity, but instead finding things that sort of SEEM authentic. Meanwhile, authenticity already surrounds us, but we often can't see it for one reason or another. Sometimes we even knock it down to build our own sanitized version.

So anyway, sorry to go on a rant. I just don't like being lied to. And in a way, all of those things I list above are lies. Maybe they're white lies, but they're lies nonetheless. It doesn't mean I won't eat the occasional Pizza Hut pizza, or that I wouldn't live in your building. It just means that if I have a choice I would rather eat pizza at Empire, or the just-opened Knucks in Bricktown that makes their crust with COOP beer, brewed in a place I can actually VISIT. And - no offense - I would probably rather live in the building behind your building.

Spartan, don't get me wrong; 95% of that building looks like something that I would be proud to see pop up in Bricktown. It's the other 5% that troubles me. Let me guess: the capstone detail - which in another time would have been hand-crafted carved stone - is made of an extruded styrofoam material, covered with a thin layer of plasticized plaster? Much like EIFS? You've already mentioned the fake water tower, designed to make people feel nostalgic and comfortable? Neither provides an AUTHENTIC sense of place. It's like they ran out of ideas.

I know it's a project you were involved with, and frankly you should take pride in it overall, but what I am talking about is symptomatic of a larger problem here and in this country in general. I read an article the other day about Pizza Hut responding to the "handcrafted" craze by training their cooks to artificially and on purpose put flaws into the crusts of their new "hand-tossed" pizzas. Are they really hand tossed? I guess it doesn't matter if the customer thinks it is. Other restaurants are developing meat-cutting machines designed to make their machine-cut meat seem butcher-sliced.

Locally-handcrafted beer becomes "a thing", so clever entrepreneurs set up a local P.O. box, order contract brew from another part of the country, toss in a handful of local grain onto tons of fermenting out-of-state grain, slap on local labels and brag about being "local" brewing companies brewing "with [insert locality here] grain". Or worse, a major brewing corporation creates a fictional brewing company at a fictional address, doesn't put their corporate name anywhere on the label, and passes it of as "craft" and "micro." And the public laps it up none the wiser. Sometimes even thinking they are doing a type of good deed or actually supporting local jobs.

McMansions, faux antiques... ...everywhere, people are searching for authenticity, but instead finding things that sort of SEEM authentic. Meanwhile, authenticity already surrounds us, but we often can't see it for one reason or another. Sometimes we even knock it down to build our own sanitized version.

So anyway, sorry to go on a rant. I just don't like being lied to. And in a way, all of those things I list above are lies. Maybe they're white lies, but they're lies nonetheless. It doesn't mean I won't eat the occasional Pizza Hut pizza, or that I wouldn't live in your building. It just means that if I have a choice I would rather eat pizza at Empire, or the just-opened Knucks in Bricktown that makes their crust with COOP beer, brewed in a place I can actually VISIT. And - no offense - I would probably rather live in the building behind your building.

+1

I agree urbanized. I just wanted to show the fake one to show how cool it is that here we have a real, authentic one that we can preserve and highlight. I think we can both agree that we need more things of interest and things to be proud of.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&docid=c3YCMlxpvoaSqM&tbnid=nbSR4RSNkx6KxM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cleveland.com%2Fbusiness%2Fin dex.ssf%2F2011%2F05%2Famerican_greetings_moving_it s_world_headquarters.html&ei=7SjbUpX1MIGMygHnroCYCw&psig=AFQjCNEWP1F3hcprMwzbIonh4S8NvN6YSQ&ust=1390180942725362

Spartan, don't get me wrong; 95% of that building looks like something that I would be proud to see pop up in Bricktown. It's the other 5% that troubles me. Let me guess: the capstone detail - which in another time would have been hand-crafted carved stone - is made of an extruded styrofoam material, covered with a thin layer of plasticized plaster? Much like EIFS? You've already mentioned the fake water tower, designed to make people feel nostalgic and comfortable? Neither provides an AUTHENTIC sense of place. It's like they ran out of ideas.

I know it's a project you were involved with, and frankly you should take pride in it overall, but what I am talking about is symptomatic of a larger problem here and in this country in general. I read an article the other day about Pizza Hut responding to the "handcrafted" craze by training their cooks to artificially and on purpose put flaws into the crusts of their new "hand-tossed" pizzas. Are they really hand tossed? I guess it doesn't matter if the customer thinks it is. Other restaurants are developing meat-cutting machines designed to make their machine-cut meat seem butcher-sliced.

Locally-handcrafted beer becomes "a thing", so clever entrepreneurs set up a local P.O. box, order contract brew from another part of the country, toss in a handful of local grain onto tons of fermenting out-of-state grain, slap on local labels and brag about being "local" brewing companies brewing "with [insert locality here] grain". Or worse, a major brewing corporation creates a fictional brewing company at a fictional address, doesn't put their corporate name anywhere on the label, and passes it of as "craft" and "micro." And the public laps it up none the wiser. Sometimes even thinking they are doing a type of good deed or actually supporting local jobs.

McMansions, faux antiques... ...everywhere, people are searching for authenticity, but instead finding things that sort of SEEM authentic. Meanwhile, authenticity already surrounds us, but we often can't see it for one reason or another. Sometimes we even knock it down to build our own sanitized version.

So anyway, sorry to go on a rant. I just don't like being lied to. And in a way, all of those things I list above are lies. Maybe they're white lies, but they're lies nonetheless. It doesn't mean I won't eat the occasional Pizza Hut pizza, or that I wouldn't live in your building. It just means that if I have a choice I would rather eat pizza at Empire, or the just-opened Knucks in Bricktown that makes their crust with COOP beer, brewed in a place I can actually VISIT. And - no offense - I would probably rather live in the building behind your building.

#+2

I agree urbanized. I just wanted to show the fake one to show how cool it is that here we have a real, authentic one that we can preserve and highlight. I think we can both agree that we need more things of interest and things to be proud of...

+1.

Spartan, don't get me wrong; 95% of that building looks like something that I would be proud to see pop up in Bricktown. It's the other 5% that troubles me. Let me guess: the capstone detail - which in another time would have been hand-crafted carved stone - is made of an extruded styrofoam material, covered with a thin layer of plasticized plaster? Much like EIFS? You've already mentioned the fake water tower, designed to make people feel nostalgic and comfortable? Neither provides an AUTHENTIC sense of place. It's like they ran out of ideas.

I know it's a project you were involved with, and frankly you should take pride in it overall, but what I am talking about is symptomatic of a larger problem here and in this country in general. I read an article the other day about Pizza Hut responding to the "handcrafted" craze by training their cooks to artificially and on purpose put flaws into the crusts of their new "hand-tossed" pizzas. Are they really hand tossed? I guess it doesn't matter if the customer thinks it is. Other restaurants are developing meat-cutting machines designed to make their machine-cut meat seem butcher-sliced.

Locally-handcrafted beer becomes "a thing", so clever entrepreneurs set up a local P.O. box, order contract brew from another part of the country, toss in a handful of local grain onto tons of fermenting out-of-state grain, slap on local labels and brag about being "local" brewing companies brewing "with [insert locality here] grain". Or worse, a major brewing corporation creates a fictional brewing company at a fictional address, doesn't put their corporate name anywhere on the label, and passes it of as "craft" and "micro." And the public laps it up none the wiser. Sometimes even thinking they are doing a type of good deed or actually supporting local jobs.

McMansions, faux antiques... ...everywhere, people are searching for authenticity, but instead finding things that sort of SEEM authentic. Meanwhile, authenticity already surrounds us, but we often can't see it for one reason or another. Sometimes we even knock it down to build our own sanitized version.

So anyway, sorry to go on a rant. I just don't like being lied to. And in a way, all of those things I list above are lies. Maybe they're white lies, but they're lies nonetheless. It doesn't mean I won't eat the occasional Pizza Hut pizza, or that I wouldn't live in your building. It just means that if I have a choice I would rather eat pizza at Empire, or the just-opened Knucks in Bricktown that makes their crust with COOP beer, brewed in a place I can actually VISIT. And - no offense - I would probably rather live in the building behind your building.

I think I like this post. And I'd do that +x thing, but I can't count as high as you've gotten with all the pluses.

Geez I hope so. There's a cheesy lifestyle center in one of Cleveland's western burbs that's building a large expansion, with one building incorporating a fake replica water tower. It's kinda funny actually bc the local snoots were up in arms against it so I had to actually go out and argue for it.



Crocker Park is expanding? Last time I was there it was dead.

Yes, they're going ahead on 750,000 sf of office for American Greetings, 300 more apartments, and 4 more retail buildings.

I usually have trouble finding parking, but it's nice on less busy days.

West Edmond? I wish our suburbs had that much density. That's better than most of the developments we get downtown. I'd love to have a nice ALL BRICK and masonry warehouse style development like that downtown OKC.

I agree. I am just saying I wish our suburbs had some mixed-use developments the suburbs in other cities do. Nonetheless, development like that would have been awesome for lower Bricktown along the canal in place of what was built.

A3-qTC4WXMw

I'm anxious to see all they are bringing. This will be a first class location that will pull the others in their direction.

Heard today that this building (on the NW corner of Sheridan and Fred Jones) will house a restaurant on the ground floor and a live music venue upstairs.

http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/5517d1387553083-21c-museum-hotel-r013689095001pa.jpg

To the immediate east of the 21c will be a communal art space for artists and classes.

Operated by the same group?

I don't think it's the 21c group.

This is one of the buildings owned by the Hall family and part of their plan to renovate and develop the properties around 21c.

I know they are working up their grand plan for the rest.

Heard today that this building (on the NW corner of Sheridan and Fred Jones) will house a restaurant on the ground floor and a live music venue upstairs.

http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/5517d1387553083-21c-museum-hotel-r013689095001pa.jpg

To the immediate east of the 21c will be a communal art space for artists and classes.

By the time the hotel opens, it may not seem nearly as out of place as it did when proposed for this area. Looks like things are going to move quicker than expected around it.