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.

Rick Dowell (yes, that Rick Dowell) bought it a few months ago.

No permits of any sort have been issued.

Just my opinion but there are a couple of other projects he needs to start and finish before tackling ANYTHING ELSE.

Rick Dowell (yes, that Rick Dowell) bought it a few months ago.

No permits of any sort have been issued.

nooooooooooooooooooooooo

One would assume that everything he buys takes capital away from renovation projects. It seems obvious he is trying to create value by waiting for others to make his property more valuable and not by actually creating value himself. These are poor corporate citizens that do that. They just try to surf in the wake of others.

The city just gave Dowell an incredible gift in totally reworking Western Ave. between his parking lots and the office buildings at 2000 Classen.

Now, it's only 2 lanes instead of 4, has landscaped medians, dedicated and well-marked ped crossings and even flashing lights so office workers can easily move between the buildings and all that surface parking.

I wish they would have withheld it until he reopened the Dowell Center downtown.

Pete, why do you think the city is so tolerant of Dowell and this kind of property hoarders?

There needs to be a way to impose some sort of escalating property tax on vacant properties with no plans to make improvements or no activity within ____ days/month/years.

Pete, why do you think the city is so tolerant of Dowell and this kind of property hoarders?

There needs to be a way to impose some sort of escalating property tax on vacant properties with no plans to make improvements or no activity within ____ days/month/years.

You think a state as economically conservative would force a property owner to do something under threat of more taxes? It is hard enough to get teachers paid with new taxes. It would be nice to have, but doesn't seem feasible, to me.

Rick Dowell (yes, that Rick Dowell) bought it a few months ago.

No permits of any sort have been issued.

Can you give us an update on this property in about 30 years? Mark it on your calendar...

Can you give us an update on this property in about 30 years? Mark it on your calendar...

I'll write it in my will.

Any update on this project?

Any update on this project?

They should be starting sometime soon.

I understand the Pivot Project took on another investor for this project and this is once again moving forward.

Construction fence around the perimeter of this site going up today.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/classen16120418a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/classen16120418b.jpg

This is an amazing, much needed development for Classen south of 23rd. I’m a fan of the design, the height, and the potential interaction with the street. Home run for me

This is an amazing, much needed development for Classen south of 23rd. I’m a fan of the design, the height, and the potential interaction with the street. Home run for me
But is that still the design? I thought this project had undergone multiple redesigns since those original renderings were posted...?

But is that still the design? I thought this project had undergone multiple redesigns since those original renderings were posted...?

That is the final design.


Will make a huge difference, especially due to the way Classen makes a curve at that spot.

I have really been looking forward to this one. a great gateway into the Plaza and will look great there on Classen. pair that with the new Homeland remodel and that area looks so much better. I also noticed that gas station behind Homeland was razed.

That is the final design.


Will make a huge difference, especially due to the way Classen makes a curve at that spot.

My bad. That’s going to look great.

Wow, this is going to be excellent.

Work on this has started in earnest, saw a construction trailer and bulldozer on site today.

Work on this has started in earnest, saw a construction trailer and bulldozer on site today.
Site work started today.

Wood construction to the south is a large private home for Jeff Struble, one of the main players in the Plaza renaissance.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/classen16011319a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/classen16011319b.jpg

15176

still just moving dirt

They had 16th between Classen and Klein closed off today (and I imagine for longer than that). Looked like they were going hard in the paint on the utilities.

Was supposed to be closed 3/13-3/23 according to the sign posted before they started but we'll see how that holds up.

This morning from the bus...

http://nitnoi.io/classen16

Thank you Shawn!

Forgive me for being a smart-ass, but I don't think this is a thousand word picture. Can someone tell me why the jog off Classen being open is important?

The video is of the status of the Classen16 construction, you can see it starting to come together

Lack of tech savvy on my part. I just saw the beginning still image and thought that was all. Went back this morning and figured out how to play the 15 second video. Good video. Thank you.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/classen16051919a.jpg

Model of this project:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/classen16052019a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/classen16052019b.jpg

A+. Great addition to that corner. When is this supposed to be completed?

Should be complete in early 2020.

Steel and framing going up.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/classen16062019a.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/classen16062019b.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/classen16071419a.jpg

Is it unusual for a new multi-story commercial building to be wood framed?

Is it unusual for a new multi-story commercial building to be wood framed?

No, almost all are.

Flying on this now. Second floor of the apartments going up now.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/classen16072119a.jpg

Looking at that photo I can't help but think Braum's is wasting a lot of space. It seems ridiculous.

^

Braum's owns that empty lot to the west as well.

^

Braum's owns that empty lot to the west as well.

Braum's needs to develop a more urban layout with a slightly expanded grocery store. I think they could make it in some areas more traditional grocery stores struggle in. It could help address some of the issues with "food deserts."

Braum's needs to develop a more urban layout with a slightly expanded grocery store. I think they could make it in some areas more traditional grocery stores struggle in. It could help address some of the issues with "food deserts."

They need to do a lot of things.

I would settle for them cleaning up the inside and outside of their stores.

They need to do a lot of things.

I would settle for them cleaning up the inside and outside of their stores.

:lol2:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/classen16080419a.jpg

Did they close 16th street for this project?

Did they close 16th street for this project?

Not completely.

At least from now, you can't go west from Classen.

This morning they were pouring concrete onto 16th so the bus couldn't turn there from Classen going westbound, but sounds like that might be fixed already.

Not completely.

At least from now, you can't go west from Classen.

A worker told that there was a sink hole from the water leak. I am uncertain where it is or if it is related to be 16th being closed.

It was closed on the way home yesterday

That fresh asphalt in the foreground of that photo is about 8" high where it is warped from heat and trucks. I swear my car got airtime after hitting it and I thought it had damaged my vehicle.

This area has been a sh!tshow with roadwork.

From today:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/classen16101519a.jpg

Still baffled by the lack of progress on the first building, height wise. You can see that they are doing the studs on the first floor, but nothing happening with upper floors, it's weird.

Still baffled by the lack of progress on the first building, height wise. You can see that they are doing the studs on the first floor, but nothing happening with upper floors, it's weird.

I was told there was a foundation/steel issue but it will be constructed as planned, which means the east end will be 4 floors vs. the rest of the complex having 3.

Anyone else spotted the aluminum shingles going up on the west corner?

Anyone else spotted the aluminum shingles going up on the west corner?

I was just getting ready to post about that. I know that's not the finished product, curious what it is...

I retract my previous statement:

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

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

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/classen16102019a.jpg

this is going to look amazing in my opinion. looks great on that corner