Yep and I think it may be a brewery in that space.

Another brewery? That'd be awesome!

Can't wait to see the renderings. Drove up Classen this weekend and saw the Catholic Charities building and boy does it look great. Finally good to see some new construction, and can't wait to see what happens on this corner.

Agree with AP, a brewery would be awesome.

Rendering of this project; shows how close it will be built to both Classen and 16th:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/16classen102816.jpg

Perfect!

Fantastic. Total home run. Imagine Classen in 5 or 6 years time in this area.

Game changer for the look of that intersection and a much better gateway to 16th.

Wow.

So many good things to say about this. Love the tall windows at the street level. Hard to see if any doors open out to Classen. I hope so, but even if not the height of the windows is enough to suffice.

And am I dreaming or is/are those open air terraces at the top of the building at the corner? Cause if so, YYYEEEESSSSS!!!!!!

Parking stalls zoning decision
By: Molly M. Fleming The Journal Record October 27, 2016

OKLAHOMA CITY – Architect Adam Lanman thought he had enough parking for the NW 16th Street and Classen Boulevard mixed-use development. Planning Commissioner J. Michael Hensley didn’t.

The commission moved the specific planned unit development application to the Nov. 10 meeting. During Lanman’s presentation, several questions arose about parking, building materials and zoning guidelines.

Pivot Project developers David Wanzer, Jonathan Dodson, and Ben Sellers own the 1.1-acre site. The eclectic, colorful building that once sat there was demolished in August. Herman’s Seafood, Triple’s, and Marco’s Mexican restaurant once called the building home.

The Pivot Project’s SPUD would permit a 55,683-square-foot multifamily building with first-floor retail and restaurant spaces. There are 48 residential units planned. The units are mostly one-bedroom with 10 two-bedroom places.

Hensley said two-bedroom units require 1.5 parking spaces. He said there should be 77 parking spots. Lanman said in his experience with the Level and Mosaic mixed-use projects, not all the parking spaces are used. There are street parking spaces available as well for the retailers.

“We also have a certain kind of user group that will rent these units,” Lanman said. “We think (those users) will be more bike-friendly.”

Wheeler District Developer Blair Humphreys attested to Lanman’s claim that the parking spaces often go unused. He said a downtown parking study showed space occupancy reached 85 percent during busy nights. He said retail and residential use rarely overlap.

Humphreys lives on NW 19th Street and gave his support to the project. He said he realizes it’s in the Gatewood Urban Conservation District, but that overlay was created 40 years ago. The area has changed, with the Plaza District’s popularity creating a need for more rental housing.

Gatewood resident Charles Cheatham said the proposed four-story building exceeds the overlay’s 35-foot maximum building height.

“This raises the permissible height by 20 feet,” he said. “I would be OK with three floors. But four floors is too dangerous a precedent to set.”

Planning Commissioner Janis Powers said she’s concerned with how the proposal does not consider the Gatewood UCD.

The commission’s other concern was about the materials. The staff report gave a six-item list of possibilities, but commissioner John Yoeckel asked to see something more definite.

Wanzer said the budget is still being finalized, so specific materials haven’t been set yet.

But the commission’s main concern seemed with the parking spaces. Dodson said some trees could be removed and then there would be 56 spaces. He said the developers have spent the last two months visiting neighborhood associations so residents could voice their concern on the project.

“We’ve worked hard not to impact an area we care about,” Dodson said.

Parking stalls zoning decision
By: Molly M. Fleming The Journal Record October 27, 2016

OKLAHOMA CITY – Architect Adam Lanman thought he had enough parking for the NW 16th Street and Classen Boulevard mixed-use development. Planning Commissioner J. Michael Hensley didn’t.

The commission moved the specific planned unit development application to the Nov. 10 meeting. During Lanman’s presentation, several questions arose about parking, building materials and zoning guidelines.

Pivot Project developers David Wanzer, Jonathan Dodson, and Ben Sellers own the 1.1-acre site. The eclectic, colorful building that once sat there was demolished in August. Herman’s Seafood, Triple’s, and Marco’s Mexican restaurant once called the building home.

The Pivot Project’s SPUD would permit a 55,683-square-foot multifamily building with first-floor retail and restaurant spaces. There are 48 residential units planned. The units are mostly one-bedroom with 10 two-bedroom places.

Hensley said two-bedroom units require 1.5 parking spaces. He said there should be 77 parking spots. Lanman said in his experience with the Level and Mosaic mixed-use projects, not all the parking spaces are used. There are street parking spaces available as well for the retailers.

“We also have a certain kind of user group that will rent these units,” Lanman said. “We think (those users) will be more bike-friendly.”

Wheeler District Developer Blair Humphreys attested to Lanman’s claim that the parking spaces often go unused. He said a downtown parking study showed space occupancy reached 85 percent during busy nights. He said retail and residential use rarely overlap.

Humphreys lives on NW 19th Street and gave his support to the project. He said he realizes it’s in the Gatewood Urban Conservation District, but that overlay was created 40 years ago. The area has changed, with the Plaza District’s popularity creating a need for more rental housing.

Gatewood resident Charles Cheatham said the proposed four-story building exceeds the overlay’s 35-foot maximum building height.

“This raises the permissible height by 20 feet,” he said. “I would be OK with three floors. But four floors is too dangerous a precedent to set.”

Planning Commissioner Janis Powers said she’s concerned with how the proposal does not consider the Gatewood UCD.

The commission’s other concern was about the materials. The staff report gave a six-item list of possibilities, but commissioner John Yoeckel asked to see something more definite.

Wanzer said the budget is still being finalized, so specific materials haven’t been set yet.

But the commission’s main concern seemed with the parking spaces. Dodson said some trees could be removed and then there would be 56 spaces. He said the developers have spent the last two months visiting neighborhood associations so residents could voice their concern on the project.

“We’ve worked hard not to impact an area we care about,” Dodson said.

this is why we can't have nice things.

correction... parking... parking is why we can't have nice things...



Imagine the comparison... a 3-story building with the footprint reduced to accommodate 20+ more spaces... is it even still economical at that point with the reduced units due to height and footprint reduction?

WTF - “I would be OK with three floors. But four floors is too dangerous a precedent to set.”

I understand that it doesn't work like this, but realistically, Classen should be it's own overlay. Nothing that fronts Classen should be subject to overlays on one side of the boulevard or the other. If we want to cap Classen (or Classen between 23rd and 13th) at 4 stories, that's one thing...but to force Classen design standards to that of the surrounding areas is dangerous to the health of what could become the most important artery in Urban OKC.

And if I'm interpreting the rendering correctly: you're okay with 3 stories, yea? Guess what's 3 stories...the 70% of the building that leads into the neighborhood. The only area that is 4 stories is what touches Classen.

And parking being an issue is just ridiculous. Force the development to rent parking spaces if that's the issue and don't allow them to rent more than 50 to the apartments. If the developers then say "no no no, can't do that" then tell them they have a parking problem. But if the developers are planning on attracting non-car-owning tenants, then let them do that.

Some problems easily solve themselves with just a very little bit of thinking.

What a depressing set of suburban complaints for an incredible urban project.

Here is another image from the presentation at yesterday's planning commission meeting.

It shows the building is only 4 stories at the east end near Classen, as the property has a substantial slope.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/16classen102816b.jpg

Nevermind, upon looking at these renderings, that fourth floor does look dangerous. What is to stop it from toppling into traffic or the owners converting into some kind of sex shop?!? ;)

Yes, the 4th floor sex shops are the most dangerous! :-)

Can the economy support two sex shops so close together? I mean, the one predicted for the Edge is only a few blocks away. It could be a disaster! :evilsmile

Good thing the HH residents are a sultry lot, which it sounds like Gatgewood residents want in on.

The older ones are like that... Gatewood does have some pretty bad apartments that were put up before these standards.

Still there must be a better way to go about solving this issue. I like Teo's idea.

Pete (or anyone really), do you know if Pivot is planning to create a grand entrance to the Plaza District with this development? Right now it is just a sign on some bricks about three feet high. Not looking for anything like the Stockyards, but curious if something more grand could be created here.

How much retail space (sq ft) is included in the current renderings? I'm so excited to see this go in! Do we have a realistic timeline for completion? Is summer of 2018 possible?

They have made some revisions then this will go back for review. If approved, I believe they would start relatively soon and construction would take 1 to 1.5 years.

As far as I know, the only commercial space will be for a restaurant / brewery along Classen.

This project was approved without opposition today at the Planning Commission.

Can the economy support two sex shops so close together? I mean, the one predicted for the Edge is only a few blocks away. It could be a disaster! :evilsmile

Sex Shop District

Did they allow three floors at the corner?

Yes, just some minor changes to the parking.

Speaking of this site, there was a big film crew (multiple trailers; tons of cars) set up here when I drove in to work this morning. Anybody know what they're filming?

Speaking of this site, there was a big film crew (multiple trailers; tons of cars) set up here when I drove in to work this morning. Anybody know what they're filming?

HBO's Real Sex

This project was approved without opposition today at the Planning Commission.

When will construction start?

Speaking of this site, there was a big film crew (multiple trailers; tons of cars) set up here when I drove in to work this morning. Anybody know what they're filming?

There are several current projects but It may have very well been "I Can Only Imagine". They are currently filming and I have been assisting in bringing most of the talent into OKC. The most prominent has been Oscar winner, Cloris Leachman.

https://www.ok.gov/oklahomafilm/FILMING_IN_OKLAHOMA/index.html

When will construction start?

They haven't even filed their building permits and those usually take several months to be approved.

Multi-use project near Plaza District gets go-ahead

By: Molly M. Fleming The Journal Record December 8, 2016

OKLAHOMA CITY – Planning Commissioner Bob Bright said during Thursday’s meeting that he regretted approving a multifamily complex under construction on NW 16th Street. He apologized during the meeting for giving the project approval because it doesn’t fit the Plaza District neighborhood.

But David Wanzer’s multifamily project at NW 16th Street and Classen Boulevard does fit the area, Bright said, especially since it sits closer to Classen. The commission approved the zoning request after granting it a continuance in November.

“You made some wonderful changes to the application,” said Janis Powers on the Planning Commission.

Wanzer presented the zoning change and multi-use building on behalf of The Pivot Project team. Jonathan Dodson and Ben Sellers are also with The Pivot Project. The team’s SPUD would permit a 55,683-square-foot multifamily building with first-floor retail and restaurant spaces.

There are 48 residential units planned. There will be 38 one-bedroom units and 10 two-bedroom units.

The 1.1-acre site was previously home to an eclectic, colorful building. It was demolished in August. Herman’s Seafood, Triple’s, and Marco’s Mexican restaurant once called the building home.

Wanzer said there were several adjustments made to the application, including limiting the retail uses. The simplified planned unit development will not allow for a primary parking lot, laundry services, or indoor recreation.

The building height has been reduced from 55 feet to 50 feet. The percentage of each exterior finish material has been specified. The retail portion was decreased to about 4,000 square feet.

One of the commission’s most discussed items during the November meeting was the number of parking spaces. Planning Commissioner J. Michael Hensley said in November that two-bedroom units require 1.5 parking spaces. He said there should be 77 parking spots. Architect Adam Lanman argued at the time that other multifamily complexes in downtown rarely use all their parking, especially during the day.

Wanzer said during Thursday’s meeting that the parking space total is now 58 spots, which is one per bedroom.

“We’ve adjusted the widths and removed some trees,” he said.

Wanzer, Dodson, and Sellers were much more jovial after Thursday’s meeting than when they presented the project in November. Wanzer said construction will start in 2017’s second quarter.

They dropped a $5 million building permit application this morning.

Can't wait to see this project underway... Will completely change that section of Classen and create a great gateway to the Plaza.

This is the kind of project that can revolutionize the way we think about Classen...I'm glad that it is coming in 2017 and not 2025.

This is the kind of development I'd love to see all the way from NW Expressway down to the Wheeler District. That's decades away, but if the city could catch a vision of a true Boulevard that could change the scope of the city, OKC would eventually be world class.

Classen Blvd. could become every bit as important as downtown OKC.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C2vKg44UsAA5hCE.jpg

Has their building permit been approved yet?

Some new renderings of this project, now formally known as Classen16.

The exterior material will be somewhat reflective.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/classen16a.png


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/classen16b.png


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/classen16c.png


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/classen16d.png

I don't see the current bus stop in this rendering. Hopefully that doesn't go away.

I hope they get out ahead of the walkability/safety issue with that channeled right turn (I forget the name of those things). Especially with the brewery being right there, you never know when people are going to want to come from the south-side of the street and cross there, or more dangerously, cross from Classen16 to the south side of 16th.

What is the building facade material?

What is the building facade material?

Not sure. Something we have yet to see in OKC, that's for sure.

In the rendering it looks really good, so I'll be curious if real life turns out that way. We know what happened with LEVEL...

Love the rendering of this.

Any update on this project? Really looking forward to this one. Great gateway to the Plaza.

They are trying to get financing nailed down.

Update on this?

Is this still happening??

They are still trying to get financing.

Thank you for the update. Are you confident this will happen?

Probably not the easiest to get financing for multifamily housing right now with the softening of the market. Several of the new smaller housing projects that have recently been finished look empty.

Probably not the easiest to get financing for multifamily housing right now with the softening of the market. Several of the new smaller housing projects that have recently been finished look empty.

Which?

Which?
The Old Town House Motel, the one east of the Plaza, and the Flamingo all appear to be empty. This is just based on driving by, so I could be wrong.

I would like to know the occupancy of the lift too. I do see many more of the balconies with stuff but it does seem pretty quiet for over 300 units. Then again, in the article about the lift sale, it said it was 95% full. So I may not know what I'm talking about.

^

The 3 you mentioned will fill up; give them time.

Overall the occupancy rate of newish downtown / urban housing is still very high.

The Old Town House Motel, the one east of the Plaza, and the Flamingo all appear to be empty. This is just based on driving by, so I could be wrong.

I would like to know the occupancy of the lift too. I do see many more of the balconies with stuff but it does seem pretty quiet for over 300 units. Then again, in the article about the lift sale, it said it was 95% full. So I may not know what I'm talking about.

The one east of the Plaza is absurdly expensive and weirdly sterile.

Any news on this?

They are close to finalizing financing and should be starting soon.

They are close to finalizing financing and should be starting soon.

Cool cool. Thanks!

IMO this is one the most important developments in the entire core. Can’t wait to see this one get started.

From Steve's chat this week...


Q: Pivot Project: What is the latest on your 16th and Classen proposal?

Ben Sellers, Pivot Project: I am happy to announce that equity and debt have been secured and we will be breaking ground within 75 days — as designed. It will be 48 units, 3,800-square-foot restaurant. We have an LOI (letter of intent) with an undisclosed operator.

Does anyone know what is going on with the gas station across the street from here? It's been closed for several months (at least) and has broken windows, but the sign out front says opening soon. They were also messing around with a billboard yesterday. It is right behind homeland.