This really needs to be brought back up again to the Bricktown design commitee and city council approval. I'm sure it would pass just because it would be great for this very small corner location. This would be a GREAT anchor piece in a "ENTERTAINMENT" district. Look at the developments since July the whole project proposal was brought up by bad timing. Timing is everthing. You look at the recent developments in this district. The Family entertainment center being built right next door, The miniature golf. The development is already across from Bricktown Ballpark, Movie Theater and Bowling Alley. Plus lower bricktown you have Bass Pro, The Chevy Events center and the new Criterion. Adding this to the line up of bricktown attractions. Really this guy should really start up this project.

This ride would be an excellent tie in with Brickopolis and the put put course. They really should bring it back to the table.

Sounds like a fantastic development for people who hate real development.

Meanwhile this is one of those infamous "Four Corners" that refuse to develop in the heart of Bricktown that make me scratch my head every time...

Exactly. This is a highly valuable piece of land right where the canal turns the corner and they wanna put a mini golf course on it and this stupid flyer contraption next to it. This is a prime spot for a nice development with some retail an possibly living units up above. Bricktown sorely needs retail but we just keep putting in new restaurants.

Bricktown sorely needs retail but we just keep putting in new restaurants.

The coming residential should make that more likely.

Exactly. This is a highly valuable piece of land right where the canal turns the corner and they wanna put a mini golf course on it and this stupid flyer contraption next to it. This is a prime spot for a nice development with some retail an possibly living units up above. Bricktown sorely needs retail but we just keep putting in new restaurants.

That parcel has been sitting as a grass lot for years. If a developer thought there was money to be made on it wouldn't they have developed something by now? A few people on here have explained why the canal facing property isn't as prime as it would seem. The upgrades to the Santa Fe Station should help it out some.

Exactly. This is a highly valuable piece of land right where the canal turns the corner and they wanna put a mini golf course on it and this stupid flyer contraption next to it. This is a prime spot for a nice development with some retail an possibly living units up above. Bricktown sorely needs retail but we just keep putting in new restaurants.

Who is "they"? This attraction was proposed by someone not from Bricktown, and then rebuffed and denied by Bricktown property owners and BUDC, yet you are citing it as an example of how Bricktown stinks. Sortof a no-win situation for and unreasonably harsh assessment of Bricktown, if you ask me.

By the way, there are retail spaces planned in the Steelyard and in the structured parking to be constructed on the SW corner of Sheridan and Oklahoma. Brickopolis will also be home to new retail.

As one of the few people ever to create from scratch and own a retail store in Bricktown - and the only poster on this board to do so, to my knowledge - I can tell you that the biggest obstacle to retail has probably been the giant uninterrupted floor plates in the old warehouse buildings, which are not properly scaled for most retail. Building owners understandably don't want to carve them up for 500-1500 sq ft retail operations, possibly compromising the rest of the floor for other development.

The new spaces being planned and constructed will help tip the scales for retail. It's coming.

There will actually be quite a bit of retail and service space at Steelyard: 20,000 square feet.

That's a lot of space and while it may take some time to fill it, great credit to Gary Brooks for including that into his plans. Way more retail space than any urban housing development to date.

Who is "they"? This attraction was proposed by someone not from Bricktown, and then rebuffed and denied by Bricktown property owners and BUDC, yet you are citing it as an example of how Bricktown stinks. Sortof a no-win situation for and unreasonably harsh assessment of Bricktown, if you ask me.
Where did I say Bricktown stinks? Point that out to me. Where in my post am I giving a harsh assessment of the entire district? Show me.

All I'm saying is, that it's a great piece of property in a prime location. Something better could be done with it other than a mini golf course and a six flags ride.




I can tell you that the biggest obstacle to retail has probably been the giant uninterrupted floor plates in the old warehouse buildings, which are not properly scaled for most retail. Building owners understandably don't want to carve them up for 500-1500 sq ft retail operations, possibly compromising the rest of the floor for other development.
But right now it's an undeveloped plot of dirt. If a building were built there, it could be divided up however the developer saw fit. It wouldn't be an old warehouse, it'd be brand new. Hopefully built to look old.

NOBODY IS INSTALLING THE SIX FLAGS RIDE. NOBODY. Yet you talk about "they", as if it is the whole district behind it, and as if it is an approved project.

Regarding the mini golf, it is a temporary activation of a long-empty space, until real development emerges. This is no different than Bleu Garten or the Holiday Pop-Ups in Midtown. It is simply temporary space activation and place making. If you have a better idea for that plot of land, perhaps you pursue a development agreement with the owner.

...But right now it's an undeveloped plot of dirt. If a building were built there, it could be divided up however the developer saw fit. It wouldn't be an old warehouse, it'd be brand new. Hopefully built to look old.
If that canal corner ends up being nothing more than a 1-2 story building with retail, it would be a major fail. That corner should and will likely be home to a large development, hopefully with a hotel or housing component. Those types of deals are complex and take time to put together. The owner has tried earnestly on several occasions, but they have slipped to his fingers and gone elsewhere in the district. There will come a time when that is the most desirable land remaining in Bricktown, and it will be developed. Meanwhile he invested in a great building across the canal that was designed in a way that will enable easier development on the canal corner property when it comes along.

Complain all you want about miniature golf, but that won't be the longterm future of that space, and in the meantime it will activate the canal and a previously dead space, and will make for thousands of happy families and memorable date nights.

in the meantime it will activate the canal and a previously dead space, and will make for thousands of happy families and memorable date nights.

Disgusting. This kind of thing makes me sick.

Who is "they"? This attraction was proposed by someone not from Bricktown, and then rebuffed and denied by Bricktown property owners and BUDC, yet you are citing it as an example of how Bricktown stinks. Sortof a no-win situation for and unreasonably harsh assessment of Bricktown, if you ask me.

By the way, there are retail spaces planned in the Steelyard and in the structured parking to be constructed on the SW corner of Sheridan and Oklahoma. Brickopolis will also be home to new retail.

As one of the few people ever to create from scratch and own a retail store in Bricktown - and the only poster on this board to do so, to my knowledge - I can tell you that the biggest obstacle to retail has probably been the giant uninterrupted floor plates in the old warehouse buildings, which are not properly scaled for most retail. Building owners understandably don't want to carve them up for 500-1500 sq ft retail operations, possibly compromising the rest of the floor for other development.

The new spaces being planned and constructed will help tip the scales for retail. It's coming.

Huh?

What's funny is many of Bricktown's issues, which weren't actually mentioned by anyone until you, are implied in nearly every sentence of this rant. These issues, as is evident by the defensiveness, make for an untenable position for those involved. I wonder how investors behind The Canopy feel about Andy Alligators Family Fun Planet coming to the block.

the lack of standards is becoming a real issue, and I'm concerned that this drastically undercuts the value of developers who do things right of their own volition.

Oh, please.

NOBODY IS INSTALLING THE SIX FLAGS RIDE. NOBODY. Yet you talk about "they", as if it is the whole district behind it, and as if it is an approved project.

Regarding the mini golf, it is a temporary activation of a long-empty space, until real development emerges. This is no different than Bleu Garten or the Holiday Pop-Ups in Midtown. It is simply temporary space activation and place making. If you have a better idea for that plot of land, perhaps you pursue a development agreement with the owner.

They = the people wanting to put it up and the people who (if it happens) allow it. I thought that was understood. I don't know the names of the individuals so I said they. Have you not ever heard this? Nowhere did I ever indicate that I was talking about the entire district of Bricktown.

They = the people wanting to put it up and the people who (if it happens) allow it. I thought that was understood. I don't know the names of the individuals so I said they. Have you not ever heard this? Nowhere did I ever indicate that I was talking about the entire district of Bricktown.

He's trying to tell you it's dead.

I noticed this is still on the Bricktown map. Is this project still alive?

I noticed this is still on the Bricktown map. Is this project still alive?

Wish it were. Great out-of-the-box use of space.

It's not alive in Bricktown; I should remove it from the map.

The proprietor was trying to make it happen at another location, but frankly the passion around this came largely from contributing to Bricktown, not from wanting to be a ride owner.

Then if there is so much enthusiasm for Bricktown and this site in particular, somebody should actually develop it.

The Star Flyer will find a great site, I'm sure, like Fair Park or Del City.

with the miniature golf and house of bedlam there now I think this would have been a great fit on that corner..

^
Yep, I agree.

Especially with Bricktown trying to make a big push away from rowdy clubs and to offer more types of things to do.

Still trying to figure out how one of these can be in the middle of Copenhagen Denmark and Vienna Austria and yet somehow OKC said no. Astonishing at the animosity toward things like this in the States these days and usually by a very vocal yet small minority. I would love to see one of these in Rick town overa ferris wheel just like I would love to see one on Mud Island in my Memphis.

Complete missed opportunity IMO as well as misplaced protectionism.

All this time later, the land sits there vacant.

The success of the mini golf on the canal demonstrates the value of activating a vacant lot with a temporary entertainment use.

There are plans being formulated for that land right now, and they will be 1000% better than the Starflyer. That said, I personally think it would have been a fine addition to the district.

There are plans being formulated for that land right now, and they will be 1000% better than the Starflyer. That said, I personally think it would have been a fine addition to the district.

Right, but those plans also include the building to west and they are in the process of doing a bunch of improvements themselves, which indicates the bigger project is nowhere near imminent.

Agreed, but if the Starflyer had ended up there, those plans would likely never, ever happen. I'm cool with waiting. That is a premium location.

Can you guys please explain what the heck you are talking about.....

Can you guys please explain what the heck you are talking about.....

The top of the page and the beginning of the thread both have details of this old proposal.

The top of the page and the beginning of the thread both have details of this old proposal.

I'm not asking about the StarFlyer. Read Urbanized & Pete's recent posts. They are talking about something that is in discussion to be built on this plot of land instead of the starflyer.

I'm not asking about the StarFlyer. Read Urbanized & Pete's recent posts. They are talking about something that is in discussion to be built on this plot of land instead of the starflyer.

I'm curious too. Pretty clear there's something new in the works.

I'm curious too. Pretty clear there's something new in the works.


I'm hoping for a 10-12 story hotel (bottom floor at canal level) with apartments/lofts/studios on the top 2-4 floors. Bottom level would house restaurant/conference and meeting space for the hotel. Would have patio and canal side entertainment opportunities.

Edit: I'm really hoping this would happen at the mini golf site.

I'm not asking about the StarFlyer. Read Urbanized & Pete's recent posts. They are talking about something that is in discussion to be built on this plot of land instead of the starflyer.

There is a longer-term hotel deal that would go on this vacant property where Starflyer was proposed and the soon-to-be-renovated building across the canal to the west.

That's a hell of a corner for a hotel. Hope the plans come to fruition.

The owners of the property and their development partner/partners understand that the corner in question is a very important space for Bricktown. They also are pretty inspired by what ended up on a similar lot in the form of Brickopolis. Regardless of the ultimate use, the Brickopolis building is an absolute win.

Especially with the owners' son Wade involved and heavily invested in OKC - and dreaming big - they really want to put something worthwhile and innovative there. Also, their development partner on recent projects, Richard McKown has demonstrated not only a knack for translating ideas to real life, he also is himself very creative. The idea is to someone reach across to the canal and involve the property that they own on the other side, which itself is going to be getting a temporary activation soon.

I think once their Plow venture is fully leased you'll see their sights turn to this property.

They need a nice hotel with a transparent (bottom) swimming pool that spans the canal to the other side. All lit up at night, now that would be something.

To bad there is no way to connect with the proprietor of the starflyer. I bet if that guy pitches this project at the design review committee today it would not be turned down just because it would now fit with Brickopolis family fun center next door, Ballpark across the street and the entertainment plaza (Harkins,Redpin, and numerous family style dining options) to the south of the development. The timing of his pitch was at the wrong time. I think now if he proposes his idea it would pass and Bricktown would have a visual marker that would draw in more tourist dollars to the Downtown area. To bad Pete you could not contact this guy.

Does anybody know how to connect to the person who proposed the Bricktown Flyer. I think if he brought his proposal now to the city he would not be turned down. The area it was projected to be has turned into a attraction based area. Look at all the stuff BrickOpolis added the past year. The new Hey Day is located in the same area. Harkins is about to go through renovations. Ball Park across the street. It wouldn't look out of place and and it would actually be a unique attraction for downtown. So is there a way too contact the person who proposed this downtown attraction. I mean Wheeler District has a Ferris Wheel. Why not you have the Adventure River district with White Water Rafting. It would all fit now not in 2014 when it was proposed to the Building committee.