This looks magnificent. Added height is a huge win.

Five floors increased up to six is a nice change.

the old design was 6 floors also

the old design was 6 floors also
Not according to Pete.

Not according to Pete.

Look at the post quoted at the top.of this page, and count how many floors there are. I'll give you a hint, it's one more than 5 and one less than 7.

Not according to Pete.

Actually, the 5-story setup had been changed to 6-story in the iteration before this last version.

It's changed so many times I lost count.

Disapprove.

The building isn't nicer, the renderings are. The surface lot is a joke. Basically turning that entire grass field into surface parking.

To me, when it comes to the style - this is just a taller version of Level Apartments down the street:

https://images1.apartments.com/i2/Nb2kIynLGHDlbEYPJqYhBcbMYeFOnfW6XG-SXz_hhD8/111/level-urban-apartments-oklahoma-city-ok-exterior.jpg

Disapprove.

The building isn't nicer, the renderings are. The surface lot is a joke. Basically turning that entire grass field into surface parking.

To me, when it comes to the style - this is just a taller version of Level Apartments down the street

And these aren't even going to have balconies, apparently.

Did someone tell them to try and keep the buildings similar to those across from them? Robinson Park has a similar look. I agree that this is better than before and I like the frontage having some patio and retail space, but no balconies and parking that far away from your apartment with nothing covering it seems like a major fail! At least add some adornments or cool gargoyles or something!

They have submitted new plans for design review.

Most everything has changed, most significantly the deletion of the east building and parking structure in favor of surface parking. They may plan to build on that lot in the future.

The buildings in the new plan are 6 floors vs. 5 in the previous version.

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/alleysend101723a.jpg


HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/alleysend101723b.jpg


HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/alleysend101723c.jpg


HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/alleysend101723d.jpg

This looks SO MUCH BETTER. Much more sophisticated and elegant -- and much less grey, Thank God.

The simplicity of it is much more appealing to the eye. To be clear, I'm talking about the buildings themselves, not the parking situation.

This looks SO MUCH BETTER. Much more sophisticated and elegant -- and much less grey, Thank God.

The simplicity of it is much more appealing to the eye. To be clear, I'm talking about the buildings themselves, not the parking situation.
That parking lot will inevitably be developed just a matter of time, so I’m not worried about that. Why no balconies though?

That parking lot will inevitably be developed just a matter of time, so I’m not worried about that. Why no balconies though?

Cost? It's my understanding that these are supposed to be affordable rate apartments. Regardless, if these get built and look like this it's a win for the city. I disagree with the poster above comparing them to Level. Looks nothing like Level. Even the materials are different -- and better.

It's my understanding that these are supposed to be affordable rate apartments.

where have you seen this??

Cost? It's my understanding that these are supposed to be affordable rate apartments. Regardless, if these get built and look like this it's a win for the city. I disagree with the poster above comparing them to Level. Looks nothing like Level. Even the materials are different -- and better.

Wasn’t that Boulevard Place?

Agree…much better than level. Would like more brick up top as was shown in the first renderings but this looks nice regardless.

One thing I thought about that I wanted to ask the board: There are supposed to be over 300 apartments in this development. The parking lot shows just over 200 spots. IF they decide to do a phase 2 to build a parking garage on the surface lot, where will all the people who currently live there park in the interim? Would they try to get some spots in a close by parking garage for the time being?

With a new plan submitted to design review, how close are they to actually getting started on this?

One thing I thought about that I wanted to ask the board: There are supposed to be over 300 apartments in this development. The parking lot shows just over 200 spots. IF they decide to do a phase 2 to build a parking garage on the surface lot, where will all the people who currently live there park in the interim? Would they try to get some spots in a close by parking garage for the time being?

Spoiler alert, there is no phase 2. I bet money that will be a parking lot forever if this gets approval.

Spoiler alert, there is no phase 2. I bet money that will be a parking lot forever if this gets approval.

lol i'm sure you were one of those that said this about the surface parking that was put in where the citizen building is now being built ..

lol i'm sure you were one of those that said this about the surface parking that was put in where the citizen building is now being built ..

I mean I definitely want to be proven wrong. I also wanted these neighboring projects with "phase" construction to materialize. Hill, Level, Steelyard, Flatiron...

L2/Lift is one of the few I can think of in the downtown area that had a successful Phase 2 start after 8 years.

Update:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/alleysend081523a.jpg

Attention: BoulderSooner. I saw it here. On this thread. Posted by Pete. All of these apartments are going to be affordable rate, and they are getting state and federal money to do it.

Spoiler alert, there is no phase 2. I bet money that will be a parking lot forever if this gets approval.

If there isn’t demand for more apartments downtown, you are probably right. If someone will pay for it, it will be built.

Attention: BoulderSooner. I saw it here. On this thread. Posted by Pete. All of these apartments are going to be affordable rate, and they are getting state and federal money to do it.

appreciate it i somehow missed that ..

https://access.okc.gov/aca/Cap/CapDetail.aspx?Module=Permits&TabName=Permits&capID1=23BRE&capID2=00000&capID3=08290&agencyCode=OKC&IsToShowInspection=

Apparently building permits were filed today for this! Progress!

They are doing core samples today on the west side of this site near EK Gaylord Blvd. Modest progress but progress nonetheless. Will be fun to see this project get going, as it has to be one of the largest mostly grass properties left in Downtown. And another parking lot will be eliminated.

They are doing core samples today on the west side of this site near EK Gaylord Blvd. Modest progress but progress nonetheless. Will be fun to see this project get going, as it has to be one of the largest mostly grass properties left in Downtown. And another parking lot will be eliminated.

Not sure if this is sarcasm or not, but 50% of this property will be surface parking.

Not sure if this is sarcasm or not, but 50% of this property will be surface parking.

With the current intention to further develop the lot into another building and structured parking. Let's hope the demand is strong enough and the economics good enough to get the second phase done.

Not sure if this is sarcasm or not, but 50% of this property will be surface parking.

Haha to be honest, I totally forgot about that part. My brain was stuck on the old site plan.

There was a presentation on this in today's City Council meeting according to Marty Peercy, starting from here (https://twitter.com/OKC_SPAN/status/1777702013863661578) and going for about ten posts.

Today, the developers presented some slight design modifications which passed design review.

They said they wanted to break ground in a month.

Today, the developers presented some slight design modifications which passed design review.

They said they wanted to break ground in a month.

Great news. I had been wondering about this one.

Does it have to go back through City Council approval, or is it good to go now that the design committee approved the change?

Does it have to go back through City Council approval, or is it good to go now that the design committee approved the change?

Other than getting a building permit, they are good to go.

Other than getting a building permit, they are good to go.

I wonder what those mods are?

I wonder what those mods are?

It concerned the material covering the outside, which is almost white.

They said they wanted to break ground in a month.
Can't wait to get in there and squeeze Alley's End.

Fantastic infill project

Can't wait to get in there and squeeze Alley's End.

Should be easy enough to find. Just make a slight right at the cock ring and you’ll ram right into it.

Should be easy enough to find. Just make a slight right at the cock ring and you’ll ram right into it.

Just on the other side of Gaylord. Or is it considered Broadway there?

Should be easy enough to find. Just make a slight right at the cock ring and you’ll ram right into it.

:cool:

Just on the other side of Gaylord. Or is it considered Broadway there?

Still Gaylord there...but just barely.

Today, the developers presented some slight design modifications which passed design review.

They said they wanted to break ground in a month.

I just noticed the YMCA that’s across the street from this development has posted a notice that the parking lot on 4th street will close on July 1 due to the beginning of construction on Alley’s End.

^

Thanks for that.

Also today I noticed they had marked some utilities in this area.

Some drainage and what looks like initial site work got underway here this week

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/alleysend092924a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/alleysend092924b.jpg

This email was just sent to Downtown YMCA members - I'm assuming that means that construction should begin.

"Effective this evening (11/12) - the 4th Street parking lot across from the Downtown YMCA will be closed permanently. Please utilize the 5th Street parking garage moving forward."

I'm assuming that means that construction should begin.[/I]

That is correct.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/alleysend112324a.jpg

They had the ground breaking ceremony today.
Here’s a link to the Downtown OKC instagram post.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DDIznB7Re84/?igsh=MXAwdnYzMmFydDdrbg==

it's disheartening that one of the first things they did was rip out the sidewalk on the north of this property without an alternative walking path. There's not a good way to travel by foot on the other side of 4th st east of the YMCA with that three way intersection.

They made the sidewalk bordering EK Gaylord unavailable as well

This is nice, but I mean, what about Boulevard Place?

This is nice, but I mean, what about Boulevard Place?

It is dead without officially being dead. Lol

it's disheartening that one of the first things they did was rip out the sidewalk on the north of this property without an alternative walking path. There's not a good way to travel by foot on the other side of 4th st east of the YMCA with that three way intersection.

They made the sidewalk bordering EK Gaylord unavailable as well

Cities with good urbanism always create pathways for walkers and rollers; Cities with bad urbanism treat sidewalks as optional. Disappointing.

Cities with good urbanism always create pathways for walkers and rollers; Cities with bad urbanism treat sidewalks as optional. Disappointing.

Maybe I am missing something, but the phots I see appear to show the ability to walk safely. Even more, I wonder how many people are regularly walking in the areas in question? Having to walk on the other side of the street in a construction zone might be an annoyance, but is it a serious threat to the safety of a large group of pedestrians?

Maybe I am missing something, but the phots I see appear to show the ability to walk safely. Even more, I wonder how many people are regularly walking in the areas in question? Having to walk on the other side of the street in a construction zone might be an annoyance, but is it a serious threat to the safety of a large group of pedestrians?

Forcing you to multiple extra streets to get where you are going has got to statistically make your trip more risky.

Forcing you to multiple extra streets to get where you are going has got to statistically make your trip more risky.

lol making you cross the street is not doing that ..

lol making you cross the street is not doing that ..

Oh come on, think a little. Walking out into lanes of traffic is absolutely a safety risk, regardless of whether it's at a protected intersection with a crosswalk or not.

It was trivial to find supporting stats, even. From the National Society of Professional Engineers. (https://www.nspe.org/resources/pe-magazine/january-2020/danger-the-streets#:~:text=More%20than%2090%25%20of%20pedestr ian,crossing%20the%20street%20or%20road.):


More than 90% of pedestrian injuries and deaths occur when they are crossing the street or road. VDOT’s study showed that in 90% of these cases, there wasn’t a marked crosswalk or pedestrian infrastructure available to help show the best places to cross, or alert motorists that there may be a crossing there.

Sure, it's safer if you have a protected intersection to use, but 10% of 90% of pedestrian injuries and deaths happening in one shows that it is a real concern.

I’ve seen in LA where they will shut down a lane of traffic and put up a plastic divider to substitute a sidewalk closure.

Forcing you to multiple extra streets to get where you are going has got to statistically make your trip more risky.

It’s lame but it will be okay.

I’ve seen in LA where they will shut down a lane of traffic and put up a plastic divider to substitute a sidewalk closure.

I think it is common in high density areas. I just don't think this area has much foot traffic. Yet.

It’s lame but it will be okay.

Hopefully! The chances of someone getting hit by a car because of the additional street crossings these sidewalk closures will cause is probably quite low though not zero.

I think it is common in high density areas. I just don't think this area has much foot traffic. Yet.

Yes, but this area also has way more room than most urban construction sites. It would be super easy to create a clear pathway. They just need to move those construction fences back 2 feet. It's completely unnecessary to have them over the sidewalk.