A green roof on Reasor's would be a nice touch here. Even better if they grew something that could be sold in the store.

I feel like I am turning into a typical cynical millennial, but color me HIGHLY skeptical that Reasor's sees the light of day any time soon. Unless the city plans on subsidizing the snot of the this, there needs to be a minimum number of households in a certain area before a bank would even entertain the thought of funding a grocery store. Sorry guys, hate to be a negative nancy. If there aren't enough rooftops in DTOKC for a full service store, I seriously doubt there is in Tulsa. Especially considering Tulsa, unlike OKC, actually has decent intown grocery options just down the road in midtown.

Everything else looks awesome, though :-)

I feel like I am turning into a typical cynical millennial, but color me HIGHLY skeptical that Reasor's sees the light of day any time soon. Unless the city plans on subsidizing the snot of the this, there needs to be a minimum number of households in a certain area before a bank would even entertain the thought of funding a grocery store. Sorry guys, hate to be a negative nancy. If there aren't enough rooftops in DTOKC for a full service store, I seriously doubt there is in Tulsa. Especially considering Tulsa, unlike OKC, actually has decent intown grocery options just down the road in midtown.

Everything else looks awesome, though :-)

I tend to agree, though I personally don't think OKC's issue with attracting a grocery store downtown has as much to do with rooftops as it does with parking requirements and the fact that OKC doesn't have a strong grocery chain in expansion mode like Tulsa has with Reasor's.

Time will tell. I really hope something like what has been proposed in Tulsa happens in Midtown OKC within the next 5 years, perhaps with an Uptown Market instead of Reasor's.

I tend to agree, though I personally don't think OKC's issue with attracting a grocery store downtown has as much to do with rooftops as it does with parking requirements and the fact that OKC doesn't have a strong grocery chain in expansion mode like Tulsa has with Reasor's.

Time will tell. I really hope something like what has been proposed in Tulsa happens in Midtown OKC within the next 5 years, perhaps with an Uptown Market instead of Reasor's.

Downtown and several of the adjacent districts are exempt from the city's normal parking requirements.

Downtown and several of the adjacent districts are exempt from the city's normal parking requirements.

True, but eliminating parking would require a much higher number of rooftops within a much shorter distance from the store, which would make the "not enough rooftops" objection valid. Given the fact there are virtually no modern, quality grocery stores south of 50th St in the core, a Midtown grocery store with ample parking would be a draw for the entire core and there is definitely enough rooftops to support it. Not sure how much doing structured parking instead of surface would increase the cost of development but that could be one of the deterrents.

I'm making a development map for Tulsa like the one for OKC on Google Maps. I haven't added anything yet, but I'm working on it right now.

Here is the link: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zGZ6Q9vkBih0.kNqsit0-hKog&usp=sharing

East End Village comes together with a second phase - Tulsa World: Real Estate (http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/realestate/east-end-village-comes-together-with-a-second-phase/article_daf1a8ae-7304-596d-93b3-4b6b02819ebf.html)

Booker T. Washington grad wants to 'give back' with $21 million redevelopment of Moton site - Tulsa World: Homepagelatest (http://www.tulsaworld.com/homepagelatest/booker-t-washington-grad-wants-to-give-back-with-million/article_5c3cd556-b8c9-548a-a3ee-2529834a5354.html)

Next weekend I may be able to have some time to go get some pics of the Margartiaville hotel.
It's beautiful and sits really well right off the river. And you can see it from many vantage points in South and West Tulsa.


I'll try to get over there and keep everyone updated. It really deserves fresh updates so everyone can see what it's about.

Tulsa Chamber announces results for Tulsa's Future II economic development program - Tulsa World: Employment (http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/employment/tulsa-chamber-announces-results-for-tulsa-s-future-ii-economic/article_69a089e7-99df-5f3c-af57-b87de69b006c.html)

Once a retail albatross, PostRock Plaza is now 90 percent occupied - Tulsa World: Real Estate (http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/realestate/once-a-retail-albatross-postrock-plaza-is-now-percent-occupied/article_3bf6b72d-291d-577f-a323-42d3a94267b2.html)

Downtown Tulsa continued to build up in 2015 - Tulsa World: Real Estate (http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/realestate/downtown-tulsa-continued-to-build-up-in/article_b77c668a-04d6-596c-8091-6463183c2a54.html)

If anyone missed this slideshow, there really are a lot of great projects going on in downtown Tulsa: 19 downtown development projects you should know about (http://www.tulsaworld.com/photovideo/slideshows/downtown-development-projects-you-should-know-about/collection_2e50248b-80c7-57a5-aa0d-5668c2f1d07b.html)

Next weekend I may be able to have some time to go get some pics of the Margartiaville hotel.
It's beautiful and sits really well right off the river. And you can see it from many vantage points in South and West Tulsa.


I'll try to get over there and keep everyone updated. It really deserves fresh updates so everyone can see what it's about.

By the way, I haven't forgotten. I'm actually trying to plan some time to take a few other pics around town so the folks in OKC can see what's been going on up the turnpike. Tulsa certainly hasn't been as idle as some may think.

I was just there. The River Spirit hotel is really making a big visual impact in south Tulsa. Especially next to the river which has been way up with the recent rains.

Everything new downtown is certainly impressive but still so many holes to fill. Projects like the Santa Fe Square if it gets off the ground will improve that creating more of a cohesive district. Brady is probably the most complete urban district right now but the Blue Dome/East End could eventually surpass it.

Tulsa's strength has always been in its midtown neighborhoods and commercial districts like Brookside, Cherry St and Utica Square. These areas all seem to be doing well and continuing to develop with the exception of Utica Sq which is still very nice but is starting to appear outdated and in need of a makeover.

Riverside was shut down while they are working on the Gathering Place park. From everything I've seen that will be a very nice addition to midtown and the riverfront.

Not in downtown, but right across the IDL in the Pearl District:
New Housing Options Coming To Budding Tulsa District - NewsOn6.com - Tulsa, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports - KOTV.com | (http://www.newson6.com/story/30858051/new-housing-options-coming-to-budding-tulsa-district)

TULSA, Oklahoma - The latest phase of construction set to begin near downtown Tulsa will offer housing options that aren't “the norm" for the area.
The property sits just beyond the downtown Tulsa limits. It’s been a development project 15 years in the making, with 110 lots in total steadily developed since the early 2000s.

Some still sit empty, but the Village At Central Park is expanding to capacity - with 50 to 60 new condo and townhouse units slated for construction to begin in February, many of them are already purchased.

“With all the discussion of the resurgence of downtown we are now seeing that development happening, and it's happening beautifully and a way everyone wanted it to,” said Stephen Meltzer, with Village At Central Park.

But what makes these different is they aren't downtown; instead, they are just outside - near the Pearl District - for those who aren't ready to jump into downtown living just yet.

Meltzer said, “As those people feel more comfortable downtown they like it and they decide to buy, and right now there’s not a lot on the market at any price to purchase.”

The units will range from the high $100,000 to $400,000 apiece - gearing mainly towards empty nesters who don't want the size of a south Tulsa home but still that neighborhood feel.

“Beginning to realize they can live simply - lower maintenance, less taxes,” Meltzer said.

It also puts them just feet from one of the fastest growing districts in Tulsa. After all, there is only so much room inside the parameters of what is referred to as downtown, so, many developers predict new options like this will most likely be the next trend in housing.

“Every city is going to run out of room, it’s just new to Tulsa,” said Meltzer.

There are also a number of commercial lots for lease or sale in the area, providing the potential for commercial development in the area.

My parents have lived in the Village at Central Park for around a decade. It's a good development that only helps that area, but it is very similar to The Hill in that it feels like a suburban neighborhood in a sense. The streets certainly feel like they are in a private neighborhood. Also, the Pearl District has a neat start with The Phoenix, the art bar, the Mediterranean restaurant, and the boxing gym, but there doesn't seem to be much else happening there. The article seems to oversell it's development unless I just don't know about coming projects. I thought this district would take off quicker, but it has some nice potential.

Alright, at long last we have just a few updates to provide for Tulsa.
Couple disclaimers:

It was about 5 degrees outside with the wind chill factored in. My camera wasn't reacting well to this fact and was acting a little slow. So, I did not get an obscene amount of pictures, I pretty much got what I thought was necessary.

Also, I did not do any pre-homework before I went out, so there are several projects that I missed as I was pretty much just doing a little driving and if I could pull off to the side and get out, I would. The following pictures are by no means the entire scope of what's going on, only the projects I was able to get to today and felt needed a visual update.

The first four were at 3rd and Greenwood. These are the Urban8 or Hartford Commons, forgive me as I'm going off the top of my head. Please anyone correct me where I'm wrong. The fourth picture is to show the proximity and view of downtown Tulsa, for reference.

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Here we start a couple blocks North at 1st and Greenwood, with another skyline shot to show the view. This has been one of the earliest projects and will house an Engineering firm, if I recall. Hogan Assessments, I believe. This will be their $15 million HQ, and it's a very beautiful building.

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Here was one of the first projects in Greenwood. It hosts a couple bars/restaurants down on the bottom and the rest are apartments/condos, I believe. I didn't even get the name of this building and have long forgotten what it was called.

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Here I went to the BOK Center, took a quick picture just for kicks and it looked neat with the Sun shining on the glass. And immediately across the street is Tulsa's newest addition to the skyline, OnePlace. This is the building for those wondering that many locals believe was a missed opportunity design wise, height wise, etc. etc. It pretty much turned out to be a tan box more akin to a hospital. Attached is the five floor Northwestern Mutual building that has been trying to fill out with various retailers and eateries, but I think right now there's only the one in the bottom corner.
The two pictures following don't show much, as I said above, it was cold and starting to get a little busy so I took a couple shots from the distance. But this is literally in the lot right next to OnePlace and will be home to a new 10 story hotel being developed by the Patel brothers, if I'm not mistaken. It's going to be a nice dense block when it's done, but will block most of the views of the skyline if you're at the BOK, I think.

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Here is the Margaritaville Resort Hotel. I really wanted to get a couple shots from a couple vantage points around town to show the scale and it's impact, but I apologize as I could not find a safe enough place (traffic speaking) to do so. I'm not sure if this is topped out or not. I believe it's to be either 27 or 29 floors. In the pictures, I think I estimated it's at around 25~ floors right now, so I don't think it's topped out just yet.

Additionally, they are building a new concert venue which you can just see in front, but they are also building large corridors to connect the existing facility to this new resort on both sides. To show the exact scale would have required getting out and actually being able to get on the other side of the fences. Unfortunately, my pictures do not successfully showcase just how large this expansion is.

I really feel like this new resort is going to bring in lots of money to Tulsa. I can see many people from Kansas, Arkansas, and even SW Missouri staying at this place for a weekend once it's completed.

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And then of course the last few are of FlyingTee that's going to essentially be TopGolf Lite right across the river in Jenks at the RiverWalk. You can see the nets. The structure is already up and they're still in the process of putting up the facade and walls. But by this time my passenger and I were ready to go home, so I didn't get any better shots. I also threw in the Cityplex Towers that are right in the area as well to show the presence of height in South Tulsa.

Not a whole lot, but I tried to get some of the projects that needed a visual guide to go by.
Hope everyone enjoys for now!

Tulsa really needs to get a program like P180 for its downtown streets. I have caught myself running red lights there all the time because they are hard to see in a lot of cases.

They need to synchronize the lights downtown better also. I catch pretty much every single light when I drive there.

Great list! Thanks for taking the time to take all the photos! It's nice too see all the stuff happening in Downtown Tulsa right now. P.S. I think the apartments in Greenwood are called "GreenArch" but I could be wrong.

They need to synchronize the lights downtown better also. I catch pretty much every single light when I drive there.

Great list! Thanks for taking the time to take all the photos! It's nice too see all the stuff happening in Downtown Tulsa right now. P.S. I think the apartments in Greenwood are called "GreenArch" but I could be wrong.

The speed limit downtown is 20 mph. The lights are timed so that if you go between 20 and 22 mph you will never hit a red light. If you go 25 mph or faster, you will hit every light.

The speed limit downtown is 20 mph. The lights are timed so that if you go between 20 and 22 mph you will never hit a red light. If you go 25 mph or faster, you will hit every light.

no. way. in. hell. is this accurate. when i take boston, main, or any other street north as SOON as my light turns green the next light turns yellow. Happens quite often.

Growing up in Tulsa, I remember being told that if you drive 18 mph (I think) downtown that you'll make all the lights without stopping. Every time I've tried it over the years it has worked.

I think Swake is correct with little debate.
Let everyone else accelerate and waste their gas and by the time you catch up, they're coming to a stop and the light goes green. It's always worked best for me going under 25 mph I can say for certain.

Edit:
But, now that I think about it, sooner fan does bring something up that I've experienced as well, so maybe they were out of sync or something. But I can recall a few times when my light turns green and the next light immediately ahead is turning yellow.

I think Swake is correct with little debate.
Let everyone else accelerate and waste their gas and by the time you catch up, they're coming to a stop and the light goes green. It's always worked best for me going under 25 mph I can say for certain.

Edit:
But, now that I think about it, sooner fan does bring something up that I've experienced as well, so maybe they were out of sync or something. But I can recall a few times when my light turns green and the next light immediately ahead is turning yellow.

It worked for me last night when I was downtown to ice skate at Winterfest.

I also wanted to make note of the Brady District. Tulsa really has a gem with it. The Brady feels very organically fleshed out and everything is a compliment. It's definitely a district in it's own right and you can immediately feel it when you enter its borders. Everything about it feels natural and I hope it keeps filling out and expanding with more housing and apartment units at a decent pace in the future.

This was posted before, but there's a little bit of updated information and something that I think everyone will find interesting being in an Oil & Gas dominated state:



By Robert Evatt

If all goes to plan, The Gathering Place won’t be the only major new addition to Riverside Drive by the end of 2017.

The Cosmopolitan, a four-story, 262-unit luxury apartment complex, is scheduled to begin construction this summer at Denver Avenue and Riverside Drive, said John Gilbert, president of Houston, Texas-based Bomasada Group.

That would allow the first tenants to move in at roughly the same time the massive park development wraps up just a few blocks south.

Gilbert said the timing wasn’t something specifically planned, although he’s glad it worked out.

“It’s a good coincidence,” he said.

The Cosmopolitan will be the second Tulsa development for Bomasada. Their first was The Enclave at Brookside, a 240-unit, $33 million development along 41st Street just east of Peoria Avenue. Shortly after it was finished in 2014, it was sold to Seattle-based Weidner Apartment Homes for $42 million, a record-breaking per-unit price for a Tulsa-area apartment sale.

Gilbert said he couldn’t yet provide an estimated construction price for The Cosmopolitan, as architectural details are still being firmed up...

“The cherry on the sundae will be The Gathering Place nearby,” he said. “That’ll be a fabulous addition to the city of Tulsa.”

Glibert said he and his company are bullish on Tulsa development, even as energy prices look to remain low in the near future.

“Certainly, we are concerned about the current oil slump as it affects all aspects of the economy,” he said “However, we feel Tulsa’s economy is better balanced than most U.S. economies.

“As a matter of fact, 85 percent of the nearly 45,000 people employed in Tulsa’s largest employers within a five mile radius of The Cosmopolitan are in nonenergy-related industries.”


The Cosmopolitan poised to add luxury apartments to Riverside - Tulsa World: Real Estate (http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/realestate/the-cosmopolitan-poised-to-add-luxury-apartments-to-riverside/article_d73220f9-7440-5e7b-a23d-69ae26ba4712.html)

Rendering in the link.

I liked the original rendering better for that Riverside apartment development. I wish they could incorporate retail at that corner.

I preferred the original one as well.

This was posted before, but there's a little bit of updated information and something that I think everyone will find interesting being in an Oil & Gas dominated state:

The Cosmopolitan poised to add luxury apartments to Riverside - Tulsa World: Real Estate (http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/realestate/the-cosmopolitan-poised-to-add-luxury-apartments-to-riverside/article_d73220f9-7440-5e7b-a23d-69ae26ba4712.html)

Rendering in the link.

As has been noted by many, Tulsa’s energy sector has been shrinking for decades and the metro should be largely shielded from huge impacts by the collapse of oil prices. Anyway, much of Tulsa’s energy sector is more focused on pipelines and natural gas. Tulsa unemployment rate spiked a little bit early in 2015 but is now back down to 4.3% and falling.

The bigger danger to me economically is the crapstorm at the capital and the billion dollar deficit impacting schools and infrastructure. Mary Fallin has completely failed in her duties to the people and the impact of that on medium and long term on growth could be very bad. That's going to hurt both Tulsa and Oklahoma City. Oklahoma City could get a bad double whammy with what looks like will be serious state furloughs and layoffs next fiscal year.

I preferred the original one as well.

So did I. I'm not a fan of what they built in Brookside either.

Tulsa really needs to get a program like P180 for its downtown streets. I have caught myself running red lights there all the time because they are hard to see in a lot of cases.

I was thinking this too, but more so to convert all of the one way streets back to two way. DT Tulsa has way too many one way streets and really doesn't need any. It would help it feel much more pedestrian friendly.

I was thinking this too, but more so to convert all of the one way streets back to two way. DT Tulsa has way too many one way streets and really doesn't need any. It would help it feel much more pedestrian friendly.

Streets like Cincinnati/Detroit, 1st/2nd and 7th/8th will probably always be one way because of how they connect to the highways. But all other streets should be converted and many have been over the past 10 years. For the remaining ones instead reduce the width of the one-way streets with wide sidewalks, street trees and a dedicated bike lane.

Talks have been ongoing for the PAC parking re-development:

Development Plans Advance For Downtown Tulsa Parking Lot - NewsOn6.com - Tulsa, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports - KOTV.com | (http://www.newson6.com/story/31059564/development-plans-advance-for-downtown-tulsa-parking-lot)

Arguably the most forward thinking development proposed for downtown Tulsa right now. To me it showcases that the developers are looking strictly towards the future with this project and playing on the sentiment that downtown Tulsa is still a hot bed waiting to emerge.

As has been noted by many, Tulsa’s energy sector has been shrinking for decades and the metro should be largely shielded from huge impacts by the collapse of oil prices. Anyway, much of Tulsa’s energy sector is more focused on pipelines and natural gas. Tulsa unemployment rate spiked a little bit early in 2015 but is now back down to 4.3% and falling.

The bigger danger to me economically is the crapstorm at the capital and the billion dollar deficit impacting schools and infrastructure. Mary Fallin has completely failed in her duties to the people and the impact of that on medium and long term on growth could be very bad. That's going to hurt both Tulsa and Oklahoma City. Oklahoma City could get a bad double whammy with what looks like will be serious state furloughs and layoffs next fiscal year.

Fallin and her hillbilly FFF regime are going to be regarded as the worst bout of leadership since Alfalfa Bill Murray. Really wish Brad Henry or a Boren would find a middle of the road leader that can clean this up before the entire state is a broke-ass brownfield. There's the double whammy that you presuppose OKC will get, which I'd expect could be a triple whammy bc the State Govt hicks view OKC's success (byproducts of its own investments) as something they did. You have idiots like Hickman from Fairview who find ways to screw OKC bc they're angry that Canton Lake water is ours. State politics is such that our diverse inner cities like OKC and non-Midtown Tulsa have been rendered voiceless, not unlike Flint, MI.

that would be one hell of a downtown grocery store.

Talks have been ongoing for the PAC parking re-development:

Development Plans Advance For Downtown Tulsa Parking Lot - NewsOn6.com - Tulsa, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports - KOTV.com | (http://www.newson6.com/story/31059564/development-plans-advance-for-downtown-tulsa-parking-lot)

Arguably the most forward thinking development proposed for downtown Tulsa right now. To me it showcases that the developers are looking strictly towards the future with this project and playing on the sentiment that downtown Tulsa is still a hot bed waiting to emerge.

I think this is easily the biggest, most exciting urban development in the state right now. If Tulsa can support something like this, I wonder why something similar couldn't happen in OKC.

that would be one hell of a downtown grocery store.

I thought the same thing. The footprint will be roughly 3/4 the size of the store at 15th & Lewis.

I interned a summer in Manhattan. While i was there my co-workers would always ask how I liked the city and how I was getting along. At some point groceries came up and I mentioned that I had been going to this place called Food Emporium and that it was more than just a corner shop but close enough I didn't have to lug groceries more than 4 blocks. Their response was priceless. "Is that like the biggest grocery store you've ever been in?"

You decide.

https://goo.gl/maps/7nKHusgZa272

:D

It couldn't have been any larger than a Walgreens/CVS with twice as many isles (cause they were crammed in there). Unique at the time in my opinion was that it had a hot food bar (in addition to a salad bar). Convenient for people wanting to grab a quick lunch. Buffet's there were a huge thing, but always closed after lunch. Everybody is in such a dang hurry.

Perspective is everything isn't it.

I would love a Reasor's in downtown OKC. I would love a 12 story apartment/loft building. I would love for Fallin not to be in office. I know...I know...it'll never happen and its just a pipe dream. I still have wishes though!

Is CityPlex still pretty empty or has it filled in? I heard there were some major renovations going on in at least part of the campus to bring it out of the dumps.

Is CityPlex still pretty empty or has it filled in? I heard there were some major renovations going on in at least part of the campus to bring it out of the dumps.

I'm fairly certain they finished a couple years ago. It definitely looks cleaner up close (however you want to interpret that) and a touch more "modern" with the blue glass along the sides. I think I took a pic from a distance in one of the previous pages where I provided a few updates around town.

Is CityPlex still pretty empty or has it filled in? I heard there were some major renovations going on in at least part of the campus to bring it out of the dumps.

I don’t think it’s close to full but there are a lot of companies in there. Citiplex is huge, something like a million and a half square feet. It’s larger than Woodland Hills Mall. There’s a hospital in there, Sprint, CFS. There are apartments and an event space on the top floors of the tallest tower. I drive by it every day and there are always lots of cars in the lot.

My company looked at moving there last year, but even with the renovations it’s not as nice a space as we wanted. I haven’t been inside in several years so I don’t know what the interior is like now, but the exterior is better. The renovations aren't done either. They are still working on the exterior. It takes awhile to redo a 60, 30 and 20 story building complex.

The problem with CityPlex is that it was a 1980's era hospital. So the floor heights are ridiculously short for modern office space. They have made some nice recent improvements and the long range plan is replace all of the gold rainscreen panels and install new glazing to match what they have done to the corners. The same glazing contractor that is doing the River Spirit hotel told me they have priced a couple options but were unclear on the exact timeline. That would definitely be a big change.

My company looked at moving there last year, but even with the renovations it’s not as nice a space as we wanted. I haven’t been inside in several years so I don’t know what the interior is like now, but the exterior is better. The renovations aren't done either. They are still working on the exterior. It takes awhile to redo a 60, 30 and 20 story building complex.

Ah, ok. I thought they had completed the exterior but were working on the interior now, so it seems it's reverse from what I thought. Because last I heard they had completed or were close to completing one of the phases a year or two ago (I thought). Unless they're still working on some parts on the inside of the towers as well.

The problem with CityPlex is that it was a 1980's era hospital. So the floor heights are ridiculously short for modern office space. They have made some nice recent improvements and the long range plan is replace all of the gold rainscreen panels and install new glazing to match what they have done to the corners. The same glazing contractor that is doing the River Spirit hotel told me they have priced a couple options but were unclear on the exact timeline. That would definitely be a big change.

Only one of the towers was a hospital, I think it's the 20 story one. The main 60 story tower was meant to be a medical office building and the third was ORU's medical school. The ceilings are low that's how there are 60 floors in a building 60 feet shorter than the BOK Tower with 52 floors.

To me main problem with the complex is that it was built by ORU. It's gaudy and ugly and was built on the cheap. The elevators are an experience. They knock against the walls of the shaft if you are going to an upper floors. it's disconcerting to the point that the last time I was in there they had bolted notices to the walls of the elevators that they had been inspected and are safe and nothing is wrong with them. And I'm not talking about a city inspection notice, these were big permanent plastic signs. I used to work in the 41 story First Place Tower and my wife used to work in the BOK Tower and their elevators are nothing like what is in Citiplex.

These problems are fixable, replacing the glass is going to make a huge difference.

And of course now it appears that the Oklahoma legislature, in its infinite (or infantile, I can decide just yet) wisdom has decided to introduce a bill (SB977) to put a moratorium on historic tax credits. This will make some of these new developments moot as alot of the financing on these would have been contingent on the credits.

SMFH.

With Tax Credit In Jeopardy, So Are Oklahoma Historic Renovation - NewsOn6.com - Tulsa, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports - KOTV.com | (http://www.newson6.com/story/31162707/with-tax-credits-in-jeopardy-so-are-oklahoma-historic-renovations)

Downtown is getting a book store. Magic City Books is being opened as a non-profit book store run by the Tulsa Literary Coalition with the support of the Kaiser Foundation. The building is at Archer and Cincinnati in the Brady District and has 69,000 square feet of space and is a full block long. Renovation is starting soon and the store should open in late 2016 or early 2017.

https://scontent-dfw1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/1916091_926212794161547_4168915278466533526_n.png? oh=e5e73d5fe608b97d3b408acb2d87990c&oe=57714F1A

https://www.facebook.com/tulsalitco
http://tulsalitco.org/
http://www.tulsaworld.com/scene/artsandentertainment/new-coalition-to-open-brady-district-book-store/article_f4c3c5ff-ed42-5ea5-a632-c0a5570336f6.html

Downtown is getting a book store. Magic City Books is being opened as a non-profit book store run by the Tulsa Literary Coalition with the support of the Kaiser Foundation. The building is at Archer and Cincinnati in the Brady District and has 69,000 square feet of space and is a full block long. Renovation is starting soon and the store should open in late 2016 or early 2017.

https://scontent-dfw1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xap1/v/t1.0-9/1916091_926212794161547_4168915278466533526_n.png? oh=e5e73d5fe608b97d3b408acb2d87990c&oe=57714F1A

https://www.facebook.com/tulsalitco
Tulsa Literary Coalition | Welcome (http://tulsalitco.org/)
New coalition to open Brady district book store - Tulsa World: Arts And Entertainment (http://www.tulsaworld.com/scene/artsandentertainment/new-coalition-to-open-brady-district-book-store/article_f4c3c5ff-ed42-5ea5-a632-c0a5570336f6.html)

KOTV has more information on this project, it's a $30 million warehouse conversion to mixed use.
http://kotv.images.worldnow.com/images/9953493_G.jpg



TULSA, Oklahoma -
At almost 100 years young, another one of Tulsa’s historic buildings will get a new life thanks to a major renovation set to begin next month.
An old warehouse in the heart of the Brady Arts District has sat empty for years. The 72,000 square foot building might not look like much now, but the George Kaiser Family Foundation has big plans for the space.
One of the first tenants announced is a bookstore, but that is just the beginning.
Built in the 1920s, the Archer Building has strong bones, but is in need of a fix-up. The original tin tiles line the walls and the old warehouse doors help tell its story.
But in March, The George Kaiser Family Foundation will start writing the new chapter - a $30 million renovation that will include 35 artist studios and 14 apartments for those involved with the Tulsa Artist Fellowship.
On the bottom floor, up to ten new restaurants and businesses - one of which will be Magic City Books, supported by the Tulsa Literary Coalition.
Board President Jeff Martin gave News On 6 a tour and history lesson on the ‘Magic City’ term; apparently coined by President Teddy Roosevelt after you could get rich from oil here - like magic.
"We wanted to enforce that our magic time is not over, it is right now, and what is in the future," Martin said.
Novels will line the walls and there will be event space for things like book clubs.
Martin said, “It’s hard to imagine 'cause its raw right now, but when it comes together it will be beautiful, and special and super cozy like a favorite book store should be.”
And once you're done reading your books, maybe you'll be in the market for a unique vinyl. Holy Mountain records will be moving from 11th Street into the Brady District.
Owner Jay Hancock called the opportunity to pair with GKFF, mind blowing, and, at first, hard to believe.
"We're just little guys. There is no way this is going to come to fruition," he said.
But it is, and Hancock said not much will change as far as the shop is concerned - except the premiere location in the heart of the Brady Arts District.
Glacier Chocolates will also be opening a second location called the City of Chocolate. It will have everything from the bean to the final product and around 7000 square feet of an educational component.

Kaiser Foundation Plans $30M Renovation For Brady District Build - NewsOn6.com - Tulsa, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports - KOTV.com | (http://www.newson6.com/story/31298720/kaiser-foundation-plans-30m-renovation-for-brady-district-building)

Sounds like an amazing project and good for Tulsa! I wish like hell OKC had a George Kaiser.

The Meridia is now under construction. It's the conversion of the existing Enterprise Building into apartments. There will be 70 apartments and 9100 square feet of retail space. The apartments should start to be available this fall.
Existing Building:
http://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/tulsaworld.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/2f/32f53f5b-0bf1-5dd9-b37b-4504fd60f450/524cb2c0f39b1.image.jpg

Rendering of completed building:
http://tulsanow.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Meridia.jpg

That is f@cking awesome! How much money are they pouring into this?

That is f@cking awesome! How much money are they pouring into this?


It's a $14 million project that also was approved for state tax credits late last year.

Swake, or any other Tulsan on here, the Vision proposals will be broken up into three separate proposals that can be voted on from what I read yesterday. However, that doesn't explain why there's still the sentiment that the entire package needs to be tossed out.

Package 1 - Police/Fire
Package 2 - Infrastructure
Package 3 - River/Toys/Pet Projects

Looking to clear this up and help my understanding.

Swake, or any other Tulsan on here, the Vision proposals will be broken up into three separate proposals that can be voted on from what I read yesterday. However, that doesn't explain why there's still the sentiment that the entire package needs to be tossed out.

Package 1 - Police/Fire
Package 2 - Infrastructure
Package 3 - River/Toys/Pet Projects

Looking to clear this up and help my understanding.


Whose sentiment is that? My guess is this all passes pretty easily.

Whose sentiment is that? My guess is this all passes pretty easily.

While it perhaps isn't the best measuring stick, literally every news story I've gone to contains majority negative comments. By far most comments I've seen people are upset about the amount of money going towards the dams.

While it perhaps isn't the best measuring stick, literally every news story I've gone to contains majority negative comments. By far most comments I've seen people are upset about the amount of money going towards the dams.

So the Tulsa World comments section is what you are going by? That's a collection of a couple of dozen trolls most of whom don't even live in Tulsa.

But then neither do I, I don't get to vote on anything except the dams. From what I hear the one that may be in trouble is the Public Safety portion.

So the Tulsa World comments section is what you are going by? That's a collection of a couple of dozen trolls most of whom don't even live in Tulsa.

But then neither do I, I don't get to vote on anything except the dams. From what I hear the one that may be in trouble is the Public Safety portion.

TW, Newson6, and one or two others I've come across.
Again, not saying my terminology is correct but what I've read and heard is what I've read and heard.

But that's interesting, thanks for following up. I hadn't heard much else.

Well, the election is in two weeks, we will see what happens.

I was running through the Brady District today and the new Marshall's brewpub looks incredible. Its going to be an amazing space that'll be another really popular addition to the Brady District.

Promise Hotels has been working on a project to convert the Oil and Gas Journal building into a 100 room Hilton Garden Inn by adding several floors to the existing buildings seen here:
http://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/tulsaworld.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/f/09/f09d83c2-4d53-11e3-809d-0019bb30f31a/52850b5412a3d.image.jpg?resize=300%2C158

Here's the original project:
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1024x768q90/661/il2jfy.jpg

The project has grown and is adding in 50 residences. That takes the building from a proposed 7 stories to 15 and from 160,000 square feet to over 300,000. Now it really doesn't look like they are going to incorporate much (if any) of the Oil and Gas Journal building.
http://s7.postimg.org/gi0cuglkr/Screen_Shot_2016_03_22_at_6_01_10_PM.png

This is located one block east of the BOK Center at 2nd and Cheyenne. Promise Hotels is currently building a Hampton Inn right across the street from this project and is also working on a Holiday Inn Express in the Brady District.
http://www.tulsatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/HamptonInnBOKCenter.jpg
http://www.promisehotels.com/files/cache/7ffa6a9db9f75a13b1cca0e348ef260d_f103.jpg

The Meridia is now under construction. It's the conversion of the existing Enterprise Building into apartments. There will be 70 apartments and 9100 square feet of retail space. The apartments should start to be available this fall.
Existing Building:
http://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/tulsaworld.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/3/2f/32f53f5b-0bf1-5dd9-b37b-4504fd60f450/524cb2c0f39b1.image.jpg

Rendering of completed building:
http://tulsanow.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Meridia.jpg

Here's the website for this building and the facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/themeridia/?fref=ts
Meridia - Urban. Luxury. Living. Downtown Tulsa, Oklahoma (http://themeridia.com/)

They are now saying units will be available this summer

Tulsa World Article:
Long-underused Enterprise Building to become home to high-end apartments - Tulsa World: Real Estate (http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/realestate/long-underused-enterprise-building-to-become-home-to-high-end/article_1c7bb172-2daf-5391-be22-888a271f9b8d.html)



The Meridia: Apartments, retail open this summer
Long-underused Enterprise Building to become home to high-end apartments

The Enterprise Building, 522 S. Boston Ave., is tall, dark and far from handsome, according to Jim Hawkins.
“I call it the Darth Vader building,” said Hawkins, managing member of River City Development. “… You didn’t notice that building because it’s black. It goes away.”
Thanks to River City, it is coming back.
The company announced Tuesday that it is transforming the structure, which has sat virtually unoccupied for more than 20 years, into a residential destination in the Deco District.
The Meridia will include 93 primarily one- and two-bedroom apartments, 88 of which will include open-air balconies. On the first level of the nine-story building will be 9,750 square feet of retail space, Hawkins said.
First occupancy in the renovation, which is projected to cost $10 million, is scheduled this summer.
“We kind of think the Brady District’s in pretty good shape,” Hawkins, developer and general contractor for The Meridia LLC, said during a recent interview in his Philtower Building office. “There’s a guy named George Kaiser with $10 billion. He kind of brought that back. But if you’re interested in hearing church bells instead of train whistles, you might be more interested in coming here.”
The Enterprise Building was constructed in 1954 to help ease the shortage of multitenant office space in downtown Tulsa. An extra floor, the ninth, was added later because of strong demand for office space.
Redevelopment of the property has been difficult over the decades, Hawkins said, because a new exterior to the building was installed in the early 1980s, making it ineligible for historic preservation credits. Aesthetics also have played a role, Hawkins said.
“It is a derelict building that is in a great location,” he said. “… The reason nobody’s in it is that it’s black. It absorbs heat.”
That is why The Meridia will have a slew of patios, which will be five feet deep and about 100 square feet, he said.
“That’s big enough for a chair and a grill,” Hawkins said.
The one- and two-bedroom apartments (one three-bedroom will be available) will range from about 710 square feet to 1,555 square feet and start at $1,099 per month. Energy-efficient gas will power such appliances as stove tops, water heaters and clothes dryers.
In January, The Meridia was approved for six-year property-tax abatements under a state tax-incentive program.
The six-year abatements, which go into effect once the project is completed, would cover the added value of improvements to the property. Existing taxes continue to be paid during the abatement period, and the property goes on the tax rolls at the full amount when the abatement expires.

The Hilton Garden Inn about has me drooling. That is going to be a seriously cool project for downtown. And it will be adding additional height in that immediate cluster. So cool.