I just learned that Mark Ruffin (partner with Nick Preftakes in Precor Ruffin) is a partner in this project and he will be building a mid-rise office tower and that Land Run will be handling the retail portion.

They have already developed conceptual plans and seem to be pushing hard towards getting them finalized so they can move this project forward.

I just learned that Mark Ruffin (partner with Nick Preftakes in Precor Ruffin) is a partner in this project and he will be building a mid-rise office tower and that Land Run will be handling the retail portion.

They have already developed conceptual plans and seem to be pushing hard towards getting them finalized so they can move this project forward.

Awesome! By mid-rise, how tall are we talking? 20 stories or so?

I just learned that Mark Ruffin (partner with Nick Preftakes in Precor Ruffin) is a partner in this project and he will be building a mid-rise office tower and that Land Run will be handling the retail portion.

They have already developed conceptual plans and seem to be pushing hard towards getting them finalized so they can move this project forward.

This may be a nice Christmas present for us, hope we hear something that soon.

Really would like residential incorporated into this. It would be a nice neighborhood link for DD into CBD and AA (despite Carnegie existing).

Really would like residential incorporated into this. It would be a nice neighborhood link for DD into CBD and AA (despite Carnegie existing).

Agreed.

Awesome! By mid-rise, how tall are we talking? 20 stories or so?

I'd guess more like 8 to 12.

Just gotta say again, it sure would be nice if one of these benevolent owners would gift the land to the city under agreement that it would be a greenspace. All that housing development east of the tracks and the urban living conversions like Carnegie center would really benefit from something just as simple as a patch of grass. What successful urban community exists without greenspace?

Just gotta say again, it sure would be nice if one of these benevolent owners would gift the land to the city under agreement that it would be a greenspace. All that housing development east of the tracks and the urban living conversions like Carnegie center would really benefit from something just as simple as a patch of grass. What successful urban community exists without greenspace?

I think the MAPS 3 Park and Oklahoma River cover downtown greenspace in spades.

I think the MAPS 3 Park and Oklahoma River cover downtown greenspace in spades.

Not if you live in Deep Deuce, where spots to take your dog to pee are dwindling.

Not if you live in Deep Deuce, where spots to take your dog to pee are dwindling.

There's a dog park being built I think

Just gotta say again, it sure would be nice if one of these benevolent owners would gift the land to the city under agreement that it would be a greenspace. All that housing development east of the tracks and the urban living conversions like Carnegie center would really benefit from something just as simple as a patch of grass. What successful urban community exists without greenspace?

In full disclosure, are you worried this impacts your dads building directly across the street?

In full disclosure, are you worried this impacts your dads building directly across the street?
Full disclosure: I've been looking out those windows since 2000. Before deep duece phase 2, or level, maywood, 42, etc.

In all that time I've seen events from deadCENTER, concerts, deadman's ball, MLK parade all the way to fitcamps, lunchtime yoga, dogs on leashes, pick nickers, and sunbathers use that space.

Dad lives in the immediate area although his dogs prefer the abandoned Chase bank branch.

My perspective just comes from a lot of time spent on that corner and a noted benefit of public space. I can't imagine A thriving DD neighborhood without an area to play. And the tenants on the west side of the tracks like Carnegie, parkharvey, citiplace, etc. If they didn't already have homes in edmond and Norman with huge yards. They would agree with me.

I'm not a real estate guy, but I don't see how a mini-tower could devalue 415, a 1.5 story 100% leased building. I just want to see a viable sustainable mix use urban neighborhood. You can't even begin to talk about it being a true community without a place for children to play.

There are certainly better locations than that for a new park/play, dog area, if it is needed. That space is much too valuable for other uses.

Just gotta say again, it sure would be nice if one of these benevolent owners would gift the land to the city under agreement that it would be a greenspace. All that housing development east of the tracks and the urban living conversions like Carnegie center would really benefit from something just as simple as a patch of grass. What successful urban community exists without greenspace?
Don't Carnegie residents have this green space with the large park across Sandridge by the Parkside building?

Just gotta say again, it sure would be nice if one of these benevolent owners would gift the land to the city under agreement that it would be a greenspace. All that housing development east of the tracks and the urban living conversions like Carnegie center would really benefit from something just as simple as a patch of grass. What successful urban community exists without greenspace?

Someone could have bought it and given it to the city. I think anyone who owns downtown property is on in it for the green space. The new park will take care of that.

There's a dog park being built I think

Maybe. It's been promised for years. And it will be about the size of a garage - not exactly a "park".

Maybe. It's been promised for years. And it will be about the size of a garage - not exactly a "park".

I though the OKSEA shipping container project was going to include a dog park? Are we talking about the same one?

MBG has a dog park. Most downtowns have structured public amenities. Not everything will be right outside your door.

While I agree DD needs a park or two, 4th and Broadway triangle is NOT deep deuce and that land is far too valuable for a dog park (which could be being used as a dog park NOW if it was that much of a demand, right?).

How about the I-235 area? There's plenty of grass there and right next to the neighbourhood. I'm being serious actually, we should utilize land available before we go insisting on CBD land for immaterial uses.

How long has Landrun had the Office/Retail/Living NowPre-leasing sign up on this site? I don't remember seeing it discussed or what they proposed.

It's been up a while now. There is a picture somewhere on here from when it went up. I remember discussing them wanting to do a midrise building.

The ownership group (primarily Jonathan Russel and Mark Ruffin) continue to work deals at this site.

I know they having been talking with Walgreens and Bomasada (The Metropolitan) about housing.

Seems like they are getting closer to having a development plan put together.

Is that the parcel across from the old OPUBCO Bldg., & the downtown YMCA? That's where many of us who use that branch park...

Is that the parcel across from the old OPUBCO Bldg., & the downtown YMCA? That's where many of us who use that branch park...

Maybe they'll put a garage up as part of the development. Hopefully Bomasada insists on something with some height as that parcel would be great for highrise housing.

Hopefully Bomasada insists on something with some height as that parcel would be great for highrise housing.

Has he done high rises?

Has he done high rises?

Unfortunately, I don't see any on their website. I see one project in South Carolina that looks like it may be midrise...

Bomasada is progressively getting more urban, it appears.

Changing lanes: E.K. Gaylord transformation set to start later this year | News OK (http://newsok.com/changing-lanes-e.k.-gaylord-transformation-set-to-start-later-this-year/article/5436788)

What does that have to do with this thread?

I'm not a mind reader, but the address of the street work would be the obvious guess.


A consultant recommends narrowing E.K. Gaylord Boulevard between Reno Avenue and NW 4 in downtown Oklahoma City and adding sidewalks, landscaping and more.

Changes to E.K. Gaylord along this stretch would probably have some sort of impact on the development of the parcel in question.

Changing lanes: E.K. Gaylord transformation set to start later this year | News OK (http://newsok.com/changing-lanes-e.k.-gaylord-transformation-set-to-start-later-this-year/article/5436788)

Sidewalks on the east side and a pedestrian crossing where the BT parking lot has a tunnel across from Santa Fe Garage would be nice. I can't tell from the images if those are in the plans or not and the rest of the article is unavailable to me.

They are actually considering 4 options which you can see here:

Project 180 - OKCTalk (http://www.okctalk.com/showwiki.php?title=Project%20180&page=43#post901578)

I'm not a mind reader, but the address of the street work would be the obvious guess.



Changes to E.K. Gaylord along this stretch would probably have some sort of impact on the development of the parcel in question.

This project is from main St south.

This project is from main St south.

The restriping is from main st to 4th.

Sidewalks on the east side and a pedestrian crossing where the BT parking lot has a tunnel across from Santa Fe Garage would be nice. I can't tell from the images if those are in the plans or not and the rest of the article is unavailable to me.

Honestly l would like to see that opening in the rail wall sealed shut (unless a proper crosswalk is input). It currently encourages dangerous jaywalking.

I don't understand why we couldn't have a dignified pedestrian crossing there. The free market seems to be calling for it, the people are speaking with their feet.

What people don't realize is the visibility issue as EKG bends around the parking garages, right where drivers pick up speed. The whole 4th / 3rd / Broadway / EKG intersection doesn't work and needs to be straightened out.

This city's public works department seems to think they can just turn the stop lights around the curve to not have a visibility issue. It really exemplifies the fundamental belief that streets are linear infrastructure in a vacuum.

Honestly l would like to see that opening in the rail wall sealed shut (unless a proper crosswalk is input). It currently encourages dangerous jaywalking.

Why not just make it safe for crossing instead?

There is a sign up for pre-leasing. It says Residential, Office, and Retail. If they are pre-leasing does that mean they have concrete plans?

I'm pretty sure that's been there a while, correct?

It has. Almost a year, I think.

I'm pretty sure that's been there a while, correct?

Correct. It's been up for some time.

My bad. I was walking by last night and have never noticed it before.

To answer your question it doesn't mean there are firm plans. They are basically "saying" they are pre-leasing just to see who calls and what they want. Then they can formulate a business plan based upon the interest shown.

It's almost like a de facto market survey.

OCURA will soon put out an RFP for the land the City owns as shown below.

I'm sure the Landrun people have already talked to them about acquiring this, but an RFP is required.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/4thekgrfp.jpg

It's just such an odd piece of land. However, has great exposure to drivers. Could be interesting..

Great site for a 40+ story building. Also a great site for a pharmacy of some kind at the bottom. Would prefer to see a local guy set up shop, but I wouldn't be upset with a CVS or Walgreens. There is a Walgreens underneath my apartment in Hollywood that has a full on sushi bar and everything really cool.

Great site for a 40+ story building. Also a great site for a pharmacy of some kind at the bottom. Would prefer to see a local guy set up shop, but I wouldn't be upset with a CVS or Walgreens. There is a Walgreens underneath my apartment in Hollywood that has a full on sushi bar and everything really cool.

No way we are going to see a 40 story building right there and I think it would stick out too much anyways. 10-15 would be about right, but I suspect we will see more along the lines of 3-5...

Great spot for residential.

No way we are going to see a 40 story building right there and I think it would stick out too much anyways. 10-15 would be about right, but I suspect we will see more along the lines of 3-5...
I don't think 40 stories in the CBD is too ambitious. Then again, this is Oklahoma City. OKC seems to have abnormally low standards so I'm not holding my breath.

It would be a cool place for a park. Considering the city owns (or at one point owned) most of it. Like a real park, with a couple basketball courts, cross-fit weirdness, swings, and a water feature. For all the people who are going to move into PluPan's eventual 40 story tower.

Sandridge just sold all it's surface parking in the vicinity including 4th&Broadway and the lots to the north. How about that for the 600 unit condo?

No way we are going to see a 40 story building right there and I think it would stick out too much anyways. 10-15 would be about right, but I suspect we will see more along the lines of 3-5...

15-20 is about right. Little Rock had three of them built in the 2000s so there is no reason OKC couldn't support something on that scale.

I don't think 40 stories in the CBD is too ambitious. Then again, this is Oklahoma City. OKC seems to have abnormally low standards so I'm not holding my breath.

I don't think so either, but the way the land is laid out, I don't see it happening. I would like to see it, but I think the land to the east would have to be obtained for a parking garage and amenities. Not sure who that is owned by right now. Probably the YMCA for across the street.

I don't think 40 stories in the CBD is too ambitious. Then again, this is Oklahoma City. OKC seems to have abnormally low standards so I'm not holding my breath.

Height has nothing to do with standards...only your personal expectation.

Ironically, the Land Run "available" sign is actually on the OKC property.

Height has nothing to do with standards...only your personal expectation.

Bingo. Can we get over the idea that taller is better? It's rather ignorant of good urbanism to say that if its not tall then that means OKC has low expectations. I actually think a mixed use residential development that's 6-8 stories would be great for that site.

Just took a double take of the map Pete posted for this site; that includes the parking lot for the downtown YMCA (1 NW 4th St,).

Height has nothing to do with standards...only your personal expectation.I disagree.

I don't think so either, but the way the land is laid out, I don't see it happening. I would like to see it, but I think the land to the east would have to be obtained for a parking garage and amenities. Not sure who that is owned by right now. Probably the YMCA for across the street.Yeah a parking garage would be tricky to get here.

I disagree.

That's obvious....but he's right. Standards do not equate to height. Especially when demand and available land (density) does not necessitate height.

I agree that height and good standards aren't always the same thing. However, I can really understand the desire for a high-rise residential tower in OKC. It would offer a type of living that currently isn't available here yet is in most of OKC's peer cities as well as smaller cities. If the Metropolitan is able to charge nearly $2000/mo in rent overlooking a junkyard, imagine what could be done with a 25 floor tower overlooking Bricktown and/or the CBD. Hopefully once the uncertainty surrounding the oil market decreases, a developer attempts to take on something of this scale.

That's obvious....but he's right. Standards do not equate to height. Especially when demand and available land (density) does not necessitate height.

I'm not trying to say a building isn't a good building if it isn't tall, just that OKC never seems to get any nice tall buildings. Nashville just had a new 40 something story proposed on top of everything else they have going. Even the Devon Tower was scaled back. It never seems to fail. Sorry, if OKC can't support a 40 story tower in the CBD, then this city isn't as hot as some are making it out to be.

Anyways, I didn't mean to sidetrack this thread. Hopefully something nice will be built there, even if it isn't tall, I'm betting it will be something cool.