I really, really wish someone could have seen the potential in at least some of the buildings on this site.

This is Magnolia in Waco, the complex developed by Chip and Joanna Gaines of HGTV's Fixer Upper.

Super cool and they plan to soon renovate the round silos as well.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/magnolia1.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/magnolia2.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/magnolia3.jpg

Im a big fan of Chip & Joanna and their TV show. This looks really nice. Starting to understand why a lot of guys were clamoring for at least a thought at renovating.

I am also a big fan of Chip & Joanna. Planning on another trip to Waco next week! As reported, they are ending their show after the 5th season. Spending downtime with their family and relax. Each one of them have their own distinct talents and make a super great team and husband and wife. Best wishes to them!

They are? Awww man, gonna miss seeing them bring smiles to people with state of the art renovations. They really lifted people's spirits.

This is from this morning.

You can see they have already taken two of the silos down on the side edge of this property.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/coop100117a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/coop100117b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/coop100117c.jpg

9I7WJ-x7KA8

I'm amazed at how stable that is.

I just can't wait to see what the plans are for the site. Hopefully something really dense. It will be a nice expansion of Downtown OKC to add to the expansion that the convention center, park, and Strawberry Fields will offer.

If you look closely, or if you have been close to the Coop, several years ago when the crosstown created a new switching leed into the Coop, to deliver the cotton seed hulls, and the BNSF started to charge exorbitant amounts to switch the facility, they bought a beautiful old switch engine, sort of like a 1940's Ford. If they don't move it to Altus, wonder what chance the Oklahoma Railway Museum could acquire it?

I just can't wait to see what the plans are for the site. Hopefully something really dense. It will be a nice expansion of Downtown OKC to add to the expansion that the convention center, park, and Strawberry Fields will offer.

Don't hold your breath.

I would hope they would only be allowed to build mid-high rise construction on this site. Nothing under 10 stories at least.

Any word on when plans for the site will be revealed?

Is this one of those cases where demolition can occur without specific plans for the site in place? Or is the public just not privy to them yet?

I would hope they would only be allowed to build mid-high rise construction on this site. Nothing under 10 stories at least.+12

If you look closely, or if you have been close to the Coop, several years ago when the crosstown created a new switching leed into the Coop, to deliver the cotton seed hulls, and the BNSF started to charge exorbitant amounts to switch the facility, they bought a beautiful old switch engine, sort of like a 1940's Ford. If they don't move it to Altus, wonder what chance the Oklahoma Railway Museum could acquire it?

PCOM 1944, their GE 80-ton switcher originally owned by the USAF, has a beautiful paint job on it. Sadly, from the rumblings I've heard, they have no plans to take it to Altus and will instead be looking to dispose of it. If I'm remembering correctly, I think I heard on Facebook that they're asking for a stupid high price for the unit, just like they wanted for the land - but someone please correct me if I'm remembering wrong here. It's still on-property here in OKC - in fact, you can see it right in the center of Pete's first picture in post #785.

The Railroad Pictures Archive has some great pictures of the unit, for those interested in seeing it: http://rrpicturearchives.net/locoPicture.aspx?id=177946

As crazy as this sounds, I'd like to see it 'memorialized' within the new development. Maybe next to a future canal extension or a small pocket park. Would give the new development some historic credence to the past.

Is this one of those cases where demolition can occur without specific plans for the site in place? Or is the public just not privy to them yet?

The new ordinance says site plan before demolition but the committee allowed it anyway.

I would hope they would only be allowed to build mid-high rise construction on this site. Nothing under 10 stories at least.

To successfully develop this location, I think the owners are going to have to find a new product to bring to market. As it is, it seems like everything getting built in downtown OKC is one of four things. 1) Limited service hotels, 2) high end apartments, 3) really high end townhomes, and 4) trendy restaurant/music venues. I don't know how many of these places OKC can support, but I don't think we can fill up the Coop, Strawberry Fields, Film Row, and Core 2 Shore areas with just these same types of development. We can't fill the area with just $1700/month apartments and $500K townhomes. I think they're going to have to find a new demographic to appeal to.

I don't want to see this area become a spiritual extension of Lower Bricktown, and the type of designs that went in there. My worry is that the rush to fill up the space will lead to a lack of density and solid planning.

My hope is that they'll extend the canal (and not in a winding, curvy way) as it is in Bricktown, and front it with lots of retail space. Then above that, include 3-4 stories of residential. With the amount of land they've got available, I think they could target the next lower price point and make up for in volume what they lose in per-unit prices.

My hope is that they'll extend the canal (and not in a winding, curvy way) as it is in Bricktown, and front it with lots of retail space. Then above that, include 3-4 stories of residential. With the amount of land they've got available, I think they could target the next lower price point and make up for in volume what they lose in per-unit prices.

+1 !

To successfully develop this location, I think the owners are going to have to find a new product to bring to market. As it is, it seems like everything getting built in downtown OKC is one of four things. 1) Limited service hotels, 2) high end apartments, 3) really high end townhomes, and 4) trendy restaurant/music venues. I don't know how many of these places OKC can support, but I don't think we can fill up the Coop, Strawberry Fields, Film Row, and Core 2 Shore areas with just these same types of development. We can't fill the area with just $1700/month apartments and $500K townhomes. I think they're going to have to find a new demographic to appeal to.

I don't want to see this area become a spiritual extension of Lower Bricktown, and the type of designs that went in there. My worry is that the rush to fill up the space will lead to a lack of density and solid planning.

My hope is that they'll extend the canal (and not in a winding, curvy way) as it is in Bricktown, and front it with lots of retail space. Then above that, include 3-4 stories of residential. With the amount of land they've got available, I think they could target the next lower price point and make up for in volume what they lose in per-unit prices.
I know that retail follows rooftops, but we need retail downtown. I believe you're right. We now have or will soon have lots of hotels, apartments, townhomes, and eateries. And I know it won't be here, but there has to be at least one decent downtown grocery store.

To successfully develop this location, I think the owners are going to have to find a new product to bring to market. As it is, it seems like everything getting built in downtown OKC is one of four things. 1) Limited service hotels, 2) high end apartments, 3) really high end townhomes, and 4) trendy restaurant/music venues. I don't know how many of these places OKC can support, but I don't think we can fill up the Coop, Strawberry Fields, Film Row, and Core 2 Shore areas with just these same types of development. We can't fill the area with just $1700/month apartments and $500K townhomes. I think they're going to have to find a new demographic to appeal to.

I don't want to see this area become a spiritual extension of Lower Bricktown, and the type of designs that went in there. My worry is that the rush to fill up the space will lead to a lack of density and solid planning.

My hope is that they'll extend the canal (and not in a winding, curvy way) as it is in Bricktown, and front it with lots of retail space. Then above that, include 3-4 stories of residential. With the amount of land they've got available, I think they could target the next lower price point and make up for in volume what they lose in per-unit prices.
I know that retail follows rooftops, but we need retail downtown. I believe you're right. We now have or will soon have lots of hotels, apartments, townhomes, and eateries. And I know it won't be here, but there has to be at least one decent downtown grocery store.

Another silo is gone... Lower right corner.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/coop100817a.jpg

has anyone said anything about brown field clean up on this site?
wasn't the cost of pollution clean up the main reason funk jr. dropped
the plans to build his OKC energy stadium here?

has anyone said anything about brown field clean up on this site?
wasn't the cost of pollution clean up the main reason funk jr. dropped
the plans to build his OKC energy stadium here?

I think the reasoning had more to do with the lack of TIF funding for hotels on the site, a result of the OMNI convention hotel agreement. An exert from Steve's article in June, 2017:

“For our particular project to be successful as currently envisioned, it would require a considerable public investment to complement our substantial private investment,” Funk said. “At this time, we believe it is imprudent for us to proceed given the economic realities. From the beginning, we recognized it was a complex real estate deal and would be a heavy lift. The timeline and cost to secure the additional property we needed to proceed with confidence became a hurdle too high to clear.”

I think the reasoning had more to do with the lack of TIF funding for hotels on the site, a result of the OMNI convention hotel agreement. An exert from Steve's article in June, 2017:

“For our particular project to be successful as currently envisioned, it would require a considerable public investment to complement our substantial private investment,” Funk said. “At this time, we believe it is imprudent for us to proceed given the economic realities. From the beginning, we recognized it was a complex real estate deal and would be a heavy lift. The timeline and cost to secure the additional property we needed to proceed with confidence became a hurdle too high to clear.”

This was before the OMNI deal and I don't think Funk's deal hinged on hotel development (but could be wrong). I recall hearing cleanup of the site would have been extensive and was a major factor, but I can't recall if I heard that from news reports about the decision to withdraw from the agreement or from informed speculation.

This will alter the face of Downtown OKC for I-40 drivers instantly. Look at this section on google satellite view and you will soon see that this is nearly as big as Bricktown. Hopefully the vision will be just as impactful and more urban as the Bricktown District. I see it as a major opportunity for a modern looking development that connects with the historic Bricktown, not as a chance to extend Bricktown. The existing buildings is what made Bricktown possible in the first place.

Historic Bricktown is what it is. I think the presumption is that COOP will extend Lower Bricktown (which is not part of historic bricktown), unless the marketing geniuses at the current owner's company can craft a new district identity (e.g. "Mill District" a la Fayetteville).

Looking at Pet's pic from above I would say put some type of open-air stadium there, just makes sense, and will usurp some of that open space.

Looking at Pet's pic from above I would say put some type of open-air stadium there, just makes sense, and will usurp some of that open space.

^^^like maybe a new soccer stadium? Energy? Maybe?

^^^like maybe a new soccer stadium? Energy? Maybe?

Read way above. That ship has quite apparently sailed.

Read way above. That ship has quite apparently sailed.

Gotcha.....I remember now, I think Mr. funk was looking at wheeler park now instead.

Funk Jr. probably realized that the Producer's COOP Mill site's price was exorbitant (37 acres--in the $100 million+ range--it was too pricey for OKC to consider for the new Convention Center.) A stadium in the Wheeler District would allow him more funds to expand the stadium if an MLS expansion franchise became available.

USL most recent 2017 stadium Rio Grande Valley (Edinburg, TX) cost $16.8 million; it includes a 9,700 seat soccer stadium & a 2,000-seat amphitheater. Why would Trump Jr., spend roughly $65 million on 27 acres of land just for stadium development?

I'm not sure if the Omni's hotel agreement would affect the smaller hotels in the 100-300 room range. Fairfield Inn & Suites has plans to build a 133 room hotel on the new convention center site.

Omni does have first rights to develop a hotel on the 4 square block Cox Convention Center site if & when that parcel become available. According to the agreement; it doesn't stop office/retail development--only first rights to develop a hotel on the current cox site.

I wouldn't rule out a stadium in this space quite yet...

Sooner Investments is the firm responsible for the latest renderings involved with the new OU basketball arena and surrounding area in the University Town Center so they are definitely aware of what a focus on athletics can do for an area.

Whether its a stadium or something else, I'd be willing to bet there will be an anchor development in this area that is surrounded by restaurants, retail & residential.

I wish the stadium would go here. Whoever takes the land needs to look at this from more than one angle. It's a huge plot of land, so yes you can put in a stadium (and some parking), but let that parking double for the other stuff you develop there. Mixed-use, residential, whatever. There's a huge potential for all of that. The benefit is the proximity to Bricktown and downtown. The down size, Core2Shore is close as well and that's an HUUUUUGE area of private development that we really haven't made any progress in developing yet.

Personally, i'm not excited about Wheeler because of where it is. Right now, it's not an awesome area in terms of security so leaving my car there during an event doesn't give me warm fuzzies.

I wish the stadium would go here. Whoever takes the land needs to look at this from more than one angle. It's a huge plot of land, so yes you can put in a stadium (and some parking), but let that parking double for the other stuff you develop there. Mixed-use, residential, whatever. There's a huge potential for all of that. The benefit is the proximity to Bricktown and downtown. The down size, Core2Shore is close as well and that's an HUUUUUGE area of private development that we really haven't made any progress in developing yet.

Personally, i'm not excited about Wheeler because of where it is. Right now, it's not an awesome area in terms of security so leaving my car there during an event doesn't give me warm fuzzies.

I don't like the idea of the stadium going in at Wheeler either. I was really hoping the Humphrey's development would have been so successful that it expanded eastward. And the Co-Op site just seemed like a great spot where the stadium could work with what's already there as far as other stadiums nearby and close amenities.

I *really* don't like the idea of taking any or all of Wheeler Park for this stadium.

But that seems to be the direction we are heading.

Maybe we can finally get something similar to "The Hill" that was rumored to be coming to Bricktown.
https://humphreys.com/project/the-hill-at-bricktown/
I also love how their website says this was built...

I *really* don't like the idea of taking any or all of Wheeler Park for this stadium.

But that seems to be the direction we are heading.

Can you elaborate? I actually just spent some time at Wheeler Park and I was struck by how large it is and how under-utilized it is. The baseball diamonds get used by youth leagues, and there appears to be some pick-up soccer there at times (but nowhere near as much as at nearby fields at SW 22nd and Walker). Otherwise it is a pretty large area that the city maintains for what reason? The main use seems to be as parking for people accessing the River Trails. This use is compatible with a stadium there.

I don't like the idea of the stadium going in at Wheeler either. I was really hoping the Humphrey's development would have been so successful that it expanded eastward. And the Co-Op site just seemed like a great spot where the stadium could work with what's already there as far as other stadiums nearby and close amenities.

It's not clear from your post if you are confusing Wheeler DISTRICT with Wheeler PARK, but just to be clear for everyone again, the stadium discussion is about Wheeler PARK, which is on the north side of the river and in no way connected to the Wheeler DISTRICT other than by name and relative proximity.

Can you elaborate? I actually just spent some time at Wheeler Park and I was struck by how large it is and how under-utilized it is. The baseball diamonds get used by youth leagues, and there appears to be some pick-up soccer there at times (but nowhere near as much as at nearby fields at SW 22nd and Walker). Otherwise it is a pretty large area that the city maintains for what reason? The main use seems to be as parking for people accessing the River Trails. This use is compatible with a stadium there.

I agree. With the amount of urban parkland coming online in and around downtown over the next few years I think it is reasonable to take a part of Wheeler Park offline for a facility like this. It also makes sense geographically due to the proximity of the local Hispanic population that offers so much fan/ticket holder potential.

It's not clear from your post if you are confusing Wheeler DISTRICT with Wheeler PARK, but just to be clear for everyone again, the stadium discussion is about Wheeler PARK, which is on the north side of the river and in no way connected to the Wheeler DISTRICT other than by name and relative proximity.

I may very well be confused. Thank you for the clarification.

Can you elaborate? I actually just spent some time at Wheeler Park and I was struck by how large it is and how under-utilized it is. The baseball diamonds get used by youth leagues, and there appears to be some pick-up soccer there at times (but nowhere near as much as at nearby fields at SW 22nd and Walker). Otherwise it is a pretty large area that the city maintains for what reason? The main use seems to be as parking for people accessing the River Trails. This use is compatible with a stadium there.

Very heavily utilized for softball, as I've played there hundreds of times myself.

And I assure you for the people who use that park, it's highly valuable.

I spend a lot of time in the OKC public parks... I make it a point to go to a different one almost every week. And most are not teeming with people. Does that mean the City should make that property available to rich people for private development?

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For size and location reference.

Wheeler is BIGGER than COOP. I really hope we don't lose the fields in this, those won't be reproduced at Scissortail, at least not to this scale.

I hope they could use the land west of Western, shown in red; green is all owned by the City.

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

I like the idea of using the area west of western for a stadium.. but not actually Wheeler park.

I hope they could use the land west of Western, shown in red; green is all owned by the City.

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

Would it fit?

There's currently some kind of Dolese operation going on there. I was thinking the lake area on the far east side of the green, that way it would still potentially be a walk from downtown. However, the area on the west side might be better for whatever neighborhood develops out of the starwberry fields effort.

Answered my own question by putting a copy of the ballpark on top of that site. It fits. Not sure how much parking, but it can work.

Maybe instead of building the proposed athletic fields maps3 park on the south side of I40 across from the Sundance bridge they should just build the stadium there?

Wheeler park is within walking distance and there are already the softball fields and other large fields for various athletics.

I can do a proper photoshop tomorrow, but a stadium would fit. Not sure if an MLS size expansion would fit though.

the brick has a bigger footprint than the peak, so I used that. I have a hard time imagining even an MLS stadium needing MUCH more space. MLB or NFL, sure.

The CO-OP site would have been perfect for the CC. , I mean PERFECT!

The CO-OP site would have been perfect for the CC. , I mean PERFECT!
I agree. Really wish that could have happened.

14179 14180

Tested this by throwing Sporting KC's 18,000-seat stadium into Google Earth. Without parking, it fits pretty easily on the west side of Western, oriented either North-South or parallel with the river.

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Also fits very comfortably on the east side of Western obviously. It actually doesn't use of that much of the existing footprint of Wheeler Park. As you can see each orientation really only takes one softball field offline since Wheeler is laid out so poorly at the moment. If the city cared to, they could renovate Wheeler Park at the time of stadium construction and probably wouldn't even lose any fields. The generic green space is easily replaced by Scissortail just a couple blocks away.

Obviously that plan addresses the concerns about turning park land into a privately-owned stadium, albeit without taking into account the parking which would unfortunately likely accompany. Personally I don't have a problem with putting a stadium here; seems like a clear-cut example of 'higher and better use' that would benefit the entire community more than the current park.

One more pic for fun: KC's stadium at Wheeler with the skyline in the background. This is roughly what someone would see from the Wheeler ferris wheel.

14183

Yeah, looks like the stadium on the east side of Western would obstruct the view from the Wheeler Plaza [Ferris Wheel courtyard thingie] to downtown.

That would suck

Whoo! Expensive build from the foundation perspective, right there next to the water and in a depositional environment.

what about the north east corner of the walker-sw 15th intersection?
cheap land; close to downtown, wheeler, convention center, capitol hill, south side, i-40,
streetcar and embark bus lines. next to the river and accesible by boat from boathouse district.


14185

what about the north east corner of the walker-sw 15th intersection?
cheap land; close to downtown, wheeler, convention center, capitol hill, south side, i-40,
streetcar and embark bus lines. next to the river and accesible by boat from boathouse district.


14185

Nice work!

what about the north east corner of the walker-sw 15th intersection?
cheap land; close to downtown, wheeler, convention center, capitol hill, south side, i-40,
streetcar and embark bus lines. next to the river and accesible by boat from boathouse district.


14185

:idhitit:

Just a note But very likely this stadium will be Publicly owned if it is built

what about the north east corner of the walker-sw 15th intersection?
cheap land; close to downtown, wheeler, convention center, capitol hill, south side, i-40,
streetcar and embark bus lines. next to the river and accesible by boat from boathouse district.


14185

Now you're talking...

what about the north east corner of the walker-sw 15th intersection?
cheap land; close to downtown, wheeler, convention center, capitol hill, south side, i-40,
streetcar and embark bus lines. next to the river and accesible by boat from boathouse district.


14185

I'll take even just that streetcar stop. Folks would use it get to the river via transit. Currently you can only do that with route 50. Of course, if you're going to run the streetcar down walker to that point, might as well go all the way to SW 25.