One factor is the land owner's (Producers Cooperative Oil Mill) need / sense of urgency to sell the property? It's one thing to try to get the highest price possible for a property while behind the scenes really needing to sell it and another to try to get the highest price possible because you don't really care if it sells anytime soon. Anyone know of the land owner's condition / need to sell the property? Their business should be coming back OK since its move to Altus because cotton prices have rebounded.

this site has SOOOOO much potential but it may be many, many years until something good happens with it.

I've often thought the best solution for this area is for something to buy it, do the clean up and then sell it off in pieces. If they have the deep enough pockets for it, but can't develop the whole thing, make some money off of doing the hard work first.

Steve Lackmeyer is reporting today on The Oklahoman website/app that there are plans filed with the OKC Planning Dept. indicating this will soon be demolished. Not more to the story than that for now...

Steve Lackmeyer is reporting today on The Oklahoman website/app that there are plans filed with the OKC Planning Dept. indicating this will soon be demolished. Not more to the story than that for now...

Yep, I'll have a story out very soon with details.

Didn't see that one coming.

Producers Coop under contract, all structures to be demolished (http://www.okctalk.com/content.php?r=409-Producers-Coop-under-contract-all-structures-to-be-demolished)

OKCTalk has learned that shortly after a purchase attempt by one local group failed, another quickly placed the largest available downtown tract under contract.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/coop073117c.jpg


Sooner Investment has started preliminary engineering on the site which could include an extension of the Bricktown Canal and another canal inlet directly from the Oklahoma River.

Also, an application was filed with the city yesterday to demolish all structures on the site.

Sooner recently announced plans to develop a Warren Theater in Midwest City. They are also the developers of the massive 200-acre University Town Center in Norman as well as numerous other commercial projects in Oklahoma, Arizona and Florida.

The 37.75-acre Producer's Coop land became available when the company moved their cotton oil processing to Altus in 2015.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/coop073117.jpg


The owner of the Oklahoma City Energy soccer club, Bob Funk, had the property under contract for almost a year before pulling out of the deal, citing the inability to make the numbers work while including a new stadium for the Energy which has ambitions to one day join the Major League of Soccer, the top flight of the sport in the U.S. And Canada.

Sooner Investment brings extensive commercial development experience to the challenging parcel, as many existing structures must be removed, contaminated soil cleaned and road access improved.

The new Oklahoma City Boulevard runs directly north but currently does not have access to the property, although that is envisioned. Similarly, while the new convention center and Omni Hotel will be directly west on the other side of Shields, new roads would likely be built under Shields in addition to the only current access at SW 4th Street.

The coop is considered the last major piece of the downtown / Bricktown puzzle. At the same time, much new private investment is anticipated in the area west of the new MAPS3 Scissortail Park.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/coop073117b.jpg

Well, I for one can't wait for a downtown University North Park!

Sooner Investments does quality work.

I'm sure they'll do some sort of mixed use with hotels, housing and some retail, especially along the canal extensions.

This is a really good thing and they seem to be moving pretty fast.

Great article! Thanks for providing so much more information than that other article published first.

I'm excited to see ideas on what they want to do with the area. Being so tightly connected to the new CC area and south bricktown/canal it could really be a beautiful area.

Sooner Investments does quality work.

I'm sure they'll do some sort of mixed use with hotels, housing and some retail, especially along the canal extensions.

This is a really good thing and they seem to be moving pretty fast.

Great work, Pete -- thanks! I am really excited to at least see those buildings gone as they really are such an eyesore along I-40. Do you know how far along Sooner Investments is in having a concrete plan for the site beyond just demolition?

It does sound great! Knew you'd be on the ball with this, Pete. Thanks for the extra info. I would think the area is in good hands with Sooner Investments.

Canal extension? Please let this be the lower Bricktown we all deserved.

Perhaps this getting rolling will get Fred more inspired for the Lumberyard plot.

Just wondering if anyone knew the history of this site. have they been there since the founding of OKC when a lot of cotton was grown in central Oklahoma?

The sheer cost of the land dictates density.

Lower Bricktown was bought from the city for a song, which is why most of it is still surface parking and small buildings.

http://newsok.com/article/5558424?utm_source=NewsOK.com&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=ShareBar-Twitter

Oklahoman article states plans will be released in September and demolition should have the site cleared by November. Also says Sooner is in talks with an "urban lifestyle housing developer".

The housing, office and even hotels are easy.

The hard part is retail and that is where Sooner shines.

That this came together so quickly after the Funk/Energy deal fell apart makes that all the more disappointing. Any development here is great, but a soccer facility would have been truly unique.

That this came together so quickly after the Funk/Energy deal fell apart makes that all the more disappointing. Any development here is great, but a soccer facility would have been truly unique.

Sooner had been working on this for a while and likely had a pretty good idea the Funk deal was not going to work.

The land is too expensive for that type of use and a soccer stadium and related parking would have taken most of it. Plus, Funk & Co. are not experienced developers.

We'll still get the soccer stadium and this is probably a better outcome for the development of this property.

I will also say the soccer stadium thing is very long-term... Like might not happen for a decade.

With the new buyers, things should start happening pretty fast.

This is great news! So glad to hear how quickly this seems to be moving after thinking this could sit undeveloped for quite some time.

That this came together so quickly after the Funk/Energy deal fell apart makes that all the more disappointing. Any development here is great, but a soccer facility would have been truly unique.

"If you build it, they will come" does not work in real life...especially since there are a dozen cities ahead of OKC in terms of getting an MLS team. I would wait til a concrete plan is in place to get an MLS team here before building a stadium. Just my opinion.

"If you build it, they will come" does not work in real life...especially since there are a dozen cities ahead of OKC in terms of getting an MLS team. I would wait til a concrete plan is in place to get an MLS team here before building a stadium. Just my opinion.

That is why you do what they plan too. Build an 8 to 10k stadium that is expandable to mle size 18-22k

"If you build it, they will come" does not work in real life...especially since there are a dozen cities ahead of OKC in terms of getting an MLS team. I would wait til a concrete plan is in place to get an MLS team here before building a stadium. Just my opinion.

I tend to agree with this, that the MLS is a long, LONG way away, but my point that a soccer field here would have been a unique opportunity for downtown stands.

Can't wait to see the demolition of this skyline eyesore.

I just hope they really take the residential component seriously. That could add a lot of life to this area.

http://newsok.com/article/5558424?utm_source=NewsOK.com&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=ShareBar-Twitter

Oklahoman article states plans will be released in September and demolition should have the site cleared by November. Also says Sooner is in talks with an "urban lifestyle housing developer".

Wait, are we certain the articles states the "demolition should have the site cleared by November"? I see where the master plan will be "out" in September. Are we sure the articles use of the word "clearance" means demolition of the site or could it mean that the plan gets clearance? That seems like an absurdly short time frame for getting such a massive area cleared. I hope I'm wrong!!

I believe the site will be cleared soon, which is why there is an application for demolition now.

I will also say the soccer stadium thing is very long-term... Like might not happen for a decade.

With the new buyers, things should start happening pretty fast.

I'm honestly happy we are getting something different here.

The land is too expensive for that type of use and a soccer stadium and related parking would have taken most of it.

Really? What's the difference between this and Bricktown Ballpark? Looking at a map, this lot seems a lot bigger. I would think stadium capacities would be comparable, and unless I'm mistaken, there was only the one Sheridan and Oklahoma/Mickey Mantle garage for parking.

Really? What's the difference between this and Bricktown Ballpark? Looking at a map, this lot seems a lot bigger. I would think stadium capacities would be comparable, and unless I'm mistaken, there was only the one Sheridan and Oklahoma/Mickey Mantle garage for parking.

Bricktown ballpark is owned by the city on very inexpensive land.

And the city also owns the huge surface lot directly east and there is plenty more surface parking all around.

I just hope they really take the residential component seriously. That could add a lot of life to this area.

agreed. many masterplanned urban communities can feel very very sterile. Hopefully there will be multiple entities designing and building these developments.

I love the sound of this new plan.

Last I heard there is the potential for a serious brownfields remediation effort though, is that something they're going to have to deal with sooner rather than later given the short timeline on the site clearing?

I believe the site will be cleared soon, which is why there is an application for demolition now.

Awesome. This is so huge for downtown OKC. We have a lot of exciting stuff that should come to fruition at the same time; Park, Streetcar, First Nat'l, and Convention Center. Maybe this development will finish a phase or two by 2020? Is that timeline realistic? It seems like it is within reach if we have the land cleared before the end of 2017.

I am SO excited to see the development plan come September.

Canal extension? Please let this be the lower Bricktown we all deserved.

Was going to say the same thing

Any idea how long it will take to rehab the land before they can start to build?

Really? What's the difference between this and Bricktown Ballpark? Looking at a map, this lot seems a lot bigger. I would think stadium capacities would be comparable, and unless I'm mistaken, there was only the one Sheridan and Oklahoma/Mickey Mantle garage for parking.

Difference: The ballpark was completed in 1999, the CO-OP was sold in 2017. Fortunately bricktown land values have changed a bit in the last 20+ years.

Bricktown ballpark is owned by the city on very inexpensive land.

And the city also owns the huge surface lot directly east and there is plenty more surface parking all around.

I'd be interested to know the history of this. Did the city use eminent domain for the Bricktown site? If yes, has property value increased so much that the city wouldn't consider doing something similar for acquire land for a future soccer facility? With this site now out of play, this would mean the chance of a future soccer facility in a prime location are basically dead.

Yes, somewhat off-topic now that this site has pivoted, but I think the future soccer complex is still discussion (/separate thread?) worthy.

There has been talk of putting the soccer stadium on at least part of Wheeler Park, which of course is owned by the city.

Not sure it's a good idea to use a public park in this way but I'm sure there would be a long discussion about that before things got too far.

As this sounds good on the surface, lets not hope they sale to anyone & this just ends up another University Town Center (Norman). We need to see high density urban development here. Not suburban style development, with sprawling box retailers & cheap hotels.

Another question that just occurred to me on account of G.Walker's post, what sort of approval and planning committees have jurisdiction over this area? Do they have teeth, and do they have a history of actually using the teeth that they have to enforce good and urban development?

It falls within DTD-2. Which would be reviews from Downtown Design Committee and Riverfront Design Committee.

^

It's part of the Scenic River design district which is where they submitted their application to demolish.

I'm looking at all the properties they own and trying to figure out how this is a good thing.

I'm looking at all the properties they own and trying to figure out how this is a good thing.

Hopeful and banking on our design committees to come through and maybe this quote from Hayes "talks are underway with an urban lifestyle housing developer and Sooner Investment is doing engineering studies on the site."

I'm looking at all the properties they own and trying to figure out how this is a good thing.

They've done a really good job at University Town Center in building up a huge amount of retail and then spinning off parcels for a hotel, etc.

I just hope they really take the residential component seriously. That could add a lot of life to this area.

I'm not holding my breath.

They need to coin it as a development, and take that approach & have a vision. Kind of like Chisholm Creek up north. If they just break up parcels & sell the acreage to anyone & let them do as they please, this can end up not so good.

Lower Lower Bricktown. Even Lower Bricktown, Now With Additional Parking.

They need to coin it as a development, and take that approach & have a vision. Kind of like Chisholm Creek up north. If they just break up parcels & sell the acreage to anyone & let them do as they please, this can end up not so good.

Of course that is not the plan.

It will be a planned development with the likelihood of bringing into partners for specific parts of the plan. It's a very common approach, which is what is happening at Chisholm Creek and University Town Center.

They've done a really good job at University Town Center in building up a huge amount of retail and then spinning off parcels for a hotel, etc.

Yes, but even University Town Center didn't live up to how it was sold. I'm looking at an old Oklahoman article that promises "retailers comparable to Penn Square Mall," which is not the case. Anchors are Academy, TJ Maxx, Petco, Ulta, Target?

http://newsok.com/article/2000619

Yes, but even University Town Center didn't live up to how it was sold. I'm looking at an old Oklahoman article that promises "retailers comparable to Penn Square Mall," which is not the case. Anchors are Academy, TJ Maxx, Petco, Ulta, Target?

http://newsok.com/article/2000619

That was before the recession and retail has changed greatly since that time.

They've brought in a lot of good restaurants and retailers given what the development is.

Not sure it's a good idea to use a public park in this way but I'm sure there would be a long discussion about that before things got too far.

Not sure if you are being sarcastic here, Pete.

Not sure if you are being sarcastic here, Pete.

Should have stipulated that the long conversations would be behind closed doors with all key decisions made in advance, followed by a sham of a public meeting.

Should have stipulated that the long conversations would be behind closed doors with all key decisions made in advance, followed by a sham of a public meeting.

Zing!

I love the sound of this new plan.

Last I heard there is the potential for a serious brownfields remediation effort though, is that something they're going to have to deal with sooner rather than later given the short timeline on the site clearing?

The current owners have met with State officials about entering the state Brownfield’s program. So it appears they intend to address the environmental issues before sale.

View from the Coop/Lumberyard Site.


http://i.imgur.com/Iu9RMDM.jpg

I hope they can turn this into something similar to the Houston City Centre. I think this would be a great idea to attract various businesses, housing and retail, while being able to walk everywhere in a pedestrian friendly and car-independent environment. The area should be designed for people to have close proximity to their jobs, food, and entertainment.

If people are expecting significant retail and housing. Then in advance expect significant parking. That is just the reality of development in this city

If people are expecting significant retail and housing. Then in advance expect significant parking. That is just the reality of development in this city
As it is in most cities. Retail follows rooftops. Cars bring people to shop from rooftops farther away to justify the scale of retail development. Why do people expect quality retail to locate where there are few people and then have no parking?