I love how some people here try and bully people into ignoring reality.

C.H. is a rough area. You do your, 'I'm not a scaredy cat and you are' dance all you want and you'll look like a fool doing it. The rough, poor, transient and criminal aspect is one reason it hasn't ever been successfully developed since its decline.

Do areas like the Plaza District, Midtown and Film Row give it hope? Sure. But obviously developers know the reality and that's why it continues to be ignored beyond wishful thinking.

Do I feel 'safe' in that area (I'm there daily)? I feel safe enough to know that if I keep aware of my surroundings and actions I'll probably be fine. Would I move there or recommend someone else with a wife and kids move there? No way on either account.

Would I invest money there (property) with the full knowledge the investment will not make a decent return for quite awhile? Sure, along the main corridors and to the furthest north towards the river.

Part of the problem too is what one person calls Capitol Hill is not what another considers C.H. - Are you people going off the original (much smaller boundaries) or the later much larger boundaries which apparently extended East all the way to I-35.

To me C.H. is as described online elsewhere; Walker to Santa Fe and 22nd to 29th with the prime area being Commerce and Robinson.

Lastly, to ignore race in this apparently PC discussion is absurd IMO. To develop C.H. and not spotlight the Hispanic culture which has been dominate there for some time now (post C.H. heyday) would be insulting. Race is iconic with C.H. in my opinion and I hope race plays a huge part in its resurgence.

But, you can't apply race in one aspect and then ignore it in another. IMO the Hispanic community needs to take ownership for the good and the bad in that area. Identify the bad and discourage it. Identify the good and expand upon it. Ownership goes both ways and when done right the Hispanic Community will have a shining sample of what they can do and do it every bit as good as the other areas that have experienced resurgence.

IMO the redevelopment of Deep Deuce was insulting to its heritage. Watch the PBS special on Deep Deuce and then ask yourself if any of its rich history within the black community was maintained or spotlighted. I say, no and its a terrible shame.

I don't think anyone is suggesting that we should ignore the Hispanic heritage in CH. I was just annoyed that when someone mentioned that they thought CH was dangerous, the first response basically tried to insinuate that he was racist and didn't like the area because it is primarily Hispanic. I think the area's hispanic background is what has the ability to make it cool and unique from other districts. It already has a good base of mexican restaurants. For CH to coexist and thrive among the other districts, it will have to provide something different and focusing on its Hispanic heritage will do that.

It was built in 1946 as an office building but I'm not sure of the original occupants.

Thanks... I could see that being an office building.... I wonder if those opaque bricks were original to the building or put in at a later time.

Thanks... I could see that being an office building.... I wonder if those opaque bricks were original to the building or put in at a later time.

I bet they are original.

I cut down SW 23rd from Walker to Shields every day on my way home and I've always wondered about the history of this building (https://www.google.com/maps/@35.4415275,-97.5184778,3a,75y,6.29h,86.48t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1snqARHguuNGbldSg1tyE2Bg!2e0?hl= en).

It has been for sale for a long time. Does anyone know anything about it? Is it just a house or was it a restaurant or club at one time..... Every day that I drive by it I think it would be a cool building to put an old Speakeasy type restaurant in.

Do you have a concept? The main problem is parking. It is currently zoned commercial and he is wanting $72,000. My guess is he would take around $68,000 if it came down to it. I think it could be a great long term investment, but it would be a poor choice to buy something and just let it sit until things "get better".

Do you have a concept? The main problem is parking. It is currently zoned commercial and he is wanting $72,000. My guess is he would take around $68,000 if it came down to it. I think it could be a great long term investment, but it would be a poor choice to buy something and just let it sit until things "get better".

I'm not going into the restaurant business myself. I just have always thought it was a neat looking building that has a lot of character and could see it being a dimly lit steakhouse or something like that.... I realize the location isn't really ideal for a high end restaurant like that but maybe some day.

From the Journal Record:

Doors of opportunity: City Council approves $3M for OCCC’s Capitol Hill center

By: Brian Brus The Journal Record November 18, 2014

OKLAHOMA CITY – The City Council has approved the allocation of $3 million in tax increment financing district funds toward the development of a classroom satellite center in Capitol Hill.

Councilman Pete White said the Oklahoma City Community College center at 325 SW 25th St. will prove to be an economic anchor for the area as it supports job growth and drives other nearby renovations.

“Hopefully it will trigger a lot more better improvements,” he said Tuesday. “The architectural structures there are probably better than most of the areas that have already been revived. It’s a really good project.”

Mayor Mick Cornett agreed that the center has great potential beyond education opportunities.

“I think this is an incredible investment being made,” he said.

The college obtained the former home of Katz Drug Store and Langston’s Western Wear six years ago with plans to redevelop the site as an adult education center that would also support the largely Hispanic community of the area with access to computer technology and bilingual services. The center’s programming now includes computer skills training, resume writing and job interview preparation in Spanish and Korean.

Shortly after the acquisition, OCCC officials asked for municipal assistance of $1 million in TIF funds within the other public development costs clause of the original TIF design. School officials then determined that total costs would be more than the $11 million originally projected, and they asked for a funding boost to a total of $3 million. The TIF review committee recommended that council members approve the amended allocation, which they did unanimously.

Councilman David Greenwell said the OCCC center is proof of how flexible a TIF district can be. A TIF levies an additional tax on businesses and other operations in the district to subsidize infrastructure improvements in advance of expected economic growth.

“This will help facilitate the reach of Oklahoma City Community College into the community,” Greenwell said. “This is going to help people with basic education issues as well as being the doorway into higher education. It is so important that whenever we can expend public funds to help improve citizens’ lives that we take a serious look at that and do as much as we can.”

The center’s renovation was designed by Frankfurt Short Bruza architecture firm of Oklahoma City, with Byron Morris as project architect and Jack Morgan as project designer. They were asked for a plan that would represent the influences of the Hispanic community, particularly the Calle dos Cinco in Historic Capitol Hill neighborhood.

The 47,000-square-foot center has three levels over two connected buildings, each of which has a basement. The job was challenging because the foundations did not align with each other, officials said; plans had to account for a 3-foot elevation difference. The east side was designed with two 24-seat classrooms, offices and faculty work space; the west side has two computer rooms for 30 students total.

[attach=config]10630[attach=config]10631

They have construction fence and are working on the inside. Pete have they filed any permits?

1063210633

Good to see!

Hopefully this will be successful and lead to more branch locations of the OCCC throughout the city, perhaps specializing in academia most useful for a local community and/or employer. Very telling that OKC only has one community college and it isn't even in the center of the city. Some may scream, 'we have MetroTech and Francis Tuttle' but those are vocational technology (job) schools not necessarily post-secondary academic.

I personally hope and expect the Capital Hill branch to focus on the local Hispanic community's needs and bridge Capital Hill HS to local, minority businesses and civic orgs. Would be very nice to see something similar in the Asian District and another branch of OCCC somewhere downtown. I think expanding community colleges is a great way for OKC to boost its academic profile while also feeding local universities. This is definitely something OKC can learn from Seattle where we have community colleges throughout the metro area (Seattle-Central, N Seattle, Highline, Edmonds, Everett, Bellevue, Cascadia, etc), each having a slightly different flavor/audience/focus but all serving the segment between H.S. and University that often lead students into the university programs. We also have the vo-tech (we call them Technical Colleges) that are more blue collar/skill focused. I'm sure this is a big reason why Seattle is considered an advanced academic metro; hopefully OKC can make some huge tracks on that regard with us as a model. :)

We have rose state too

New-ish rending of this cool project:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/occcnew.JPG

This looks fantastic! I am very hopeful that this will be the development to kickstart the Capitol Hill area!

Wow!

I knew this was a big deal for the area when it was announced, but what a catalyst!

This building could have just as easily been demo'd. HP is always a winner, every time.

What's the timeline for this project?

It's under construction.

I would guess about another year.

That is surprisingly cool

I love the rooftop space. As far as I know, that is totally new for Capitol Hill.

I really like it. Capitol Hill has so much potential.

A few questions I have about the area.

1) Why do they call it Capitol Hill being so far from the state Capitol?
2) What direction should the district eventually go?
3) How are the surrounding neighborhoods and how will they come into play when it comes to revitalizing the district?

^ Regarding question no. 1, I found this excerpt from a NewsOK article:

"In 1900, B.R. Harrington purchased 160 acres from a woman named Tryphosa Boyd, one of the first settlers to come to the Oklahoma City area in the 1889 Land Run. Harrington had plans for the land to be the home of the state Capitol. In 1904, Capitol Hill was incorporated as a town; six years later, it was annexed into Oklahoma City. The district joined with $12,000 and a population of 2,500. Across the North Canadian River from downtown, Capitol Hill was a successful commercial district for many years but had declined significantly by the 1960s and '70s. Over the last two decades, Capitol Hill received $14.8 million in public and private investment."

Oklahoma City neighborhoods: A brief history of ? Capitol Hill | News OK (http://newsok.com/oklahoma-city-neighborhoods-a-brief-history-of-capitol-hill/article/3868184)

I didn't know Capitol Hill was a separate town at one point, very interesting!

Capital Hill used to be a separate city. I believe it was established around 1900.

Someone far older and more informed than I will probably know but I believed it's named Capitol hill because as one of the highest areas in the city it is where many expected the Capitol to go once we stole it from Guthrie and it was in the naming and rouse that they put it east of downtown instead.

Took this Sunday:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/occc111515.jpg

bring on the students, life, to Capital Hill.

I'm glad to see OCCC growing. I've enjoyed this series on "The Takeaway" about community colleges: Community College Challenge (http://www.wnyc.org/takeawaycommunitycollege/)

Have I mentioned how much I love Capitol Hill?

That area from Western east until you get to the main business district and then over to Robinson -- including Mount Saint Mary -- has as much potential as any place in OKC.

With the Wheeler District getting fired up and the streetcar sure to come, that area is likely to see big change, but not for a while.

This really turned out super sharp and makes a world of difference in the old Capitol Hill commercial district.

Interior finish still on-going.



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/occc090516a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/occc090516b.jpg

hello.

I recently drove through the capitol hill area and saw some changes from a few months ago.
first off, there used to be a local super market called 'bravo ranch' on the corner of sw 25th and walker
that went out of business and remained closed for a while. recently a new sign has gone up and it looks
like work is being conducted in the interior. i've heard rumors it is close to re-opening again shortly.

i also saw construction activity on the yale theatre. i also spoke for a few minutes with a local resident and
heard rumors about several properties along sw 25th being sold recently to investment/development groups.

i wonder if there is any real strategy for the redevelopment of this district or is it just a bunch of individualistic
and scattered minor efforts here and there? i keep hearing about all the potential the area has and i believe it,
but if so then why are there still so many vacant properties? one would imagine everyone wants to hop on to
the next wave of development in the city core.

See the Yale thread: http://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=42952&highlight=yale

I don't know if Capitol Hill has an ED like the other districts, but if not, doing that would go a long way in helping with the vision of the area... IMO would have to be a local with a passion and vision for the area...

please excuse my ignorance, but what is ED?

please excuse my ignorance, but what is ED?

Executive Director.

Executive Director.

thank you.

for what i've read in the news there is a BID group making the effort to put capitol hill on the map.
according to sources the group is lead by a gentleman named randy king.
from what i've heard the two biggest stake holders in the area are UPTOWN DEVELOPMENT GROUP LLC and TRADESHARE LLC
who are both property owners, developers and are planning significant renovation efforts in the short term. according to a talk
i had recently with a local resident the properties along the sw 25th corridor are actually in demand and many people are buying
and selling. the actual investment and transformation part is still at an early stage and seeing very gradual, slow process.
OCCC is perhaps the biggest investor in the area to date and now that the yale theatre group has hopped on board perhaps others
will begin following suit. personally i think that with the new super market, the yale, occc and maybe four or five more significant
building renovations the area will move into a more dynamic stage of urban/commercial redevelopment.

This project looks amazing. Hopefully the building next door sees some new activity next.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/occc052817.jpg

That looks very nice.

is this already open and functioning? i read somewhere that it would open this past spring,
but then i heard this fall. I wonder exactly what classes you can take there.
i think i would enroll in one class just to try it out.

is this already open and functioning? i read somewhere that it would open this past spring,
but then i heard this fall. I wonder exactly what classes you can take there.
i think i would enroll in one class just to try it out.

Yes, they have been open and operating for a while.

Here is a link with all the info and course offerings:

http://www.occc.edu/capitolhill/index.html

i have not seen much movement of people around the area and i get the feeling there is still renovation work
being conducted. do you know if there is further development ahead for this site or surrounding buildings?



Yes, they have been open and operating for a while.

Here is a link with all the info and course offerings:

http://www.occc.edu/capitolhill/index.html