Quality urban planning doesn't have to be more expensive. The garages are both ugly and poorly designed... unless you want an area of downtown devoid of people... in that case, they'll be a booming part of the parking garage district.

You are right. I just wish we could get one or two garages that look something like the one shown below. Surely it can't be that hard.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/34/46/75/344675d09bda77f7f2e8d7ae261df6cf.jpg

Via WestParkOKC Facebook

https://i.imgur.com/s5toUisl.jpg

Wil, that is one magnificent photo. Well done.

Or something like these:
https://www.masoncontractors.org/images/projects/10076/1.jpg

https://www.law-co.com/media/project/101/government01.jpg

These are parking garages. We get it that it's nice to dress them up to look otherwise. It's not that much more of an expense to dress the garages; the private garage developments have their bottom line in mind, not your vision of a sparking venue. IMO it's not that big of an issue because the interior of many garages feel drafty.

Think about the next time you use a parking garage; are you looking at the exterior facade and/or the interior decor?

You would think convenience, price & the proximity to the workplace are what concerns patrons the most.

These are parking garages. We get it that it's nice to dress them up to look otherwise. It's not that much more of an expense to dress the garages; the private garage developments have their bottom line in mind, not your vision of a sparking venue. IMO it's not that big of an issue because the interior of many garages feel drafty.

Think about the next time you use a parking garage; are you looking at the exterior facade and/or the interior decor?

You would think convenience, price & the proximity to the workplace are what concerns patrons the most.

As someone who patronizes businesses in all the districts in which these garages are going up, I am definitely concerned with what the exteriors look like.

Certainly businesses have their bottom line to worry about. I understand and respect that. But residential and commercial projects in our design review districts are (or ought to be) held to certain standards of appeal and appropriateness. I don't personally believe that structures built to hold cars should have special rules apply.

And if it isn't cost-effective to make the project (i.e. garages) somewhat attractive, maybe that project simply doesn't belong in an attractive, urban environment. There's plenty of land available elsewhere in the city with tons of space for surface parking. And as a frequenter of downtown and city taxpayer, I'm happy to wait for a project to come along which is both cost-effective and adheres to basic standards of urban design.

Just my two cents, obviously I have great appreciation for your opinions, Laramie, and for your optimism regarding OKC.

These are parking garages. We get it that it's nice to dress them up to look otherwise. It's not that much more of an expense to dress the garages; the private garage developments have their bottom line in mind, not your vision of a sparking venue. IMO it's not that big of an issue because the interior of many garages feel drafty.

Think about the next time you use a parking garage; are you looking at the exterior facade and/or the interior decor?

You would think convenience, price & the proximity to the workplace are what concerns patrons the most.

I know I'm a bit idealistic (and apparently an anti-car nutjob), but architecture is a huge legacy we leave to future generations. It reflects our identity and makes us feel something; it can remind us who we are. A well designed building feels fantastic to be in and around compared to something that is lacking in character or quality. Garages already add little value to the urban landscape as it is, it's important to at least make them look pleasant. Go to santa fe nm for example. They have a massive parking structure right in the middle of their historic downtown but if you don't park there, you wouldn't know it. They understood that having something ugly and out of place would distract people from the joys of that town and made sure to hide it well in a nice facade. It blows my mind that folks go for a purely "bottom line" approach when, if we spent a bit more money up front making things look and feel nice, over time we'd all (including those developers) be better off for it. The little details, when added up, can have a profound impact on how we perceive our surroundings and how we are perceived by outsiders. I'd argue that spending a little more up front to hide parking or at the very least create attractive parking structures we are proud of, over time those developers would see a greater ROI as more people want to spend time in a pleasant, attractive place rather than spaces dominated by big ugly boxes that don't have any active uses.

It's also not just about the purpose of an individual parking garage or preferences of individual consumers... ugly parking garages can suck the life out of an entire block, this negatively effecting neighboring businesses, residents, and in this case, school children who now would have to walk past hazardous garages to get anywhere to the north. Parking garages can damage the urban fabric, vitality, and street level commerce. At least disguising them can offset some of the visual negatives.

Good grief. Damn near everything that is done in OKC gets nitpicked and criticized to death. Is anyone ever happy with anything that happens here? Sheeeesh.

Amen

Good grief. Damn near everything that is done in OKC gets nitpicked and criticized to death. Is anyone ever happy with anything that happens here? Sheeeesh.

Sure. When it's not detrimental to the progress we're trying to achieve (or hideous).

As long as the garage does its damn job, I couldn't give 2 craps what it looks like, and neither do people who matter. The only people who care are message board "everything about OKC sucks" people. Literally, I have not heard 1 person complain about how a parking garage looks in this city (and I travel to clients all over the city area). Don't let great be the enemy of good!

As long as the garage does its damn job, I couldn't give 2 craps what it looks like, and neither do people who matter. The only people who care are message board "everything about OKC sucks" people. Literally, I have not heard 1 person complain about how a parking garage looks in this city (and I travel to clients all over the city area). Don't let great be the enemy of good!

lol, this is exactly what Devon and BOK want you to think. God forbid that we hold our fortune 500 companies to a higher standard.

For what it's worth, I know a lot of people who matter - quite a bit, actually - who aren't too crazy about those garages. And I'm not talking about message board posters.

Its simply an issue of people who want downtown OKC to have a certain look and urban feel to it and others who don't recognize or understand the walkability concept. There are plenty of parking garages here in Denver that are similar to the ones i question. Where Den er is quite walkable downtown, these garages do often present quite a different atmosphere as you walk by.

As long as the garage does its damn job, I couldn't give 2 craps what it looks like, and neither do people who matter.

Which are the people who matter and which ones are the ones that don't?

Lol. How boring would these threads be if we had 119 pages of praise for a parking garage? And, good developments get tons of love. Go check out the 21C, Jones Assembly, Stonecloud building refurbishing, Ambassador remodel, and many other threads of well executed projects... surprise, surprise, you'll find an overflow of positive comments.

I absolutely hate this project. This building could have been much taller if they'd build the parking and offices in one structure. As someone who loves tall buildings, this building is a boring glass box. Then they could have renovated the existing structures and activated the street life. The old buildings could have been lofts and a hotel with a restaurant at the bus station. Instead this area is even worse now due to another failed project right across the street.

There is so much surface parking around but they had to build this where the few historic buildings were left standing were. I will always view this project as a huge step back and the sort of people like the poster who said "I don't care what it looks like" as the reasons OKC is like it is. This could have been so much more. Damn shame.

I don't have an issue with parking garages going up, but I wish more of them were like the Arts District garage with ground level retail - something to engage the ground level besides a blank wall.

As long as the garage does its damn job, I couldn't give 2 craps what it looks like, and neither do people who matter. The only people who care are message board "everything about OKC sucks" people. Literally, I have not heard 1 person complain about how a parking garage looks in this city (and I travel to clients all over the city area). Don't let great be the enemy of good!

Have you ever seen the Santa Fe Garage? That monstrosity is not only taking up a huge amount of valuable land, but it is the main eye-draw for pretty much any vantage point east of the railroad in upper Bricktown and Deep Deuce.

Think of how awesome these photos would be if the Santa Fe Garage was either 1) not there or 2) didn't look like complete trash.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8468/8346721831_c887a04cfa_b.jpg

Have you ever seen the Santa Fe Garage? That monstrosity is not only taking up a huge amount of valuable land, but it is the main eye-draw for pretty much any vantage point east of the railroad in upper Bricktown and Deep Deuce.

Think of how awesome these photos would be if the Santa Fe Garage was either 1) not there or 2) didn't look like complete trash.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8468/8346721831_c887a04cfa_b.jpg

i'm probably in the minority here, but i actually like the Sante Fe Garage..specifically at night when it's all lit up.

Great Pic!

except when you want to get to the other side of it and it's a monstrous barrier....

in the grand scheme, small touches like a pedestrian thoroughfare, bike racks, public art panels on the facade... go a long way toward better stewardship of those spaces for not much more cost (when building/designing new), even if you don't go full urbanist with ground floor retail and such (which would be ideal of course).

Have you ever seen the Santa Fe Garage? That monstrosity is not only taking up a huge amount of valuable land, but it is the main eye-draw for pretty much any vantage point east of the railroad in upper Bricktown and Deep Deuce.

Think of how awesome these photos would be if the Santa Fe Garage was either 1) not there or 2) didn't look like complete trash.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8468/8346721831_c887a04cfa_b.jpg

I honestly looked at the picture before I read what you wrote & never noticed the garage. I think it looks a lot worse while you are walking close by to it or driving by it. It kind of just acts like the cox block where it creates such a walkable barrier that its more of a hindrance then it is ugly, and it is REALLY ugly.

except when you want to get to the other side of it and it's a monstrous barrier....

Or walk alongside it, between it and a six-lane speedway.

Or walk alongside it, between it and a six-lane speedway.
A speedway? lol I rarely see people go above 30 on that road and 30 is pushing it.

A speedway? lol I rarely see people go above 30 on that road and 30 is pushing it.

Well now you don't, been torn up too long

Good grief. Damn near everything that is done in OKC gets nitpicked and criticized to death. Is anyone ever happy with anything that happens here? Sheeeesh.



Was going to say the same thing lol. I love my city and although I want to see things done right im also pulling for and encouraging continued growth. They are using materials from the old greyhound station in these garages. So when you look at these at least we can share with a friend that interesting tidbit. IMHO they look much better at night when the lights shine through them.

I don't have an issue with parking garages going up, but I wish more of them were like the Arts District garage with ground level retail - something to engage the ground level besides a blank wall.

I absolutely LOVE the arts district garage and the landscaping surrounding it. This project isn't finished yet so we wont know which restaurants are going in or what the landscape looks like yet but I don't mind this project at all at this point. If they come through with retail on the first floor for both of these buildings then im more than satisfied with them.

Besides, we (me included) keep clamoring for retail but I am under the impression that there seems to be a reluctance to invest/plan for retail in physical locations due to the wave of online shopping for this generation. We millenials are to blame for that I guess Lol


Womp womp womp ������

Can you guess where this was taken from?14109

Can you guess where this was taken from?14109

Will Rogers Tennis Center?

One of the best views you will find. Atop the parking garage at Integris Baptist hospital.

Was going to say the same thing lol. I love my city and although I want to see things done right im also pulling for and encouraging continued growth. They are using materials from the old greyhound station in these garages. So when you look at these at least we can share with a friend that interesting tidbit. IMHO they look much better at night when the lights shine through them.

Sorry, but that has the value of a bucket of warm spit.

That's your opinion soonerguru. I disagree. Now don't get me wrong I think ed shadid made a good point concerning the renovation and restoration of the old greyhound station and some of the concepts drawn up in how to keep it and build on top of it. But I'm still very satisfied with this and retail below.

My concern is actually in another arena; it seems brick and mortar retail is taking a hit from online shopping. Hopefully it forces retailers to innovate and streamline processes and ideas to revamp the retail industry.

But using materials from the old station ? Great idea imho. But we're both entitled to OUr opinions and that doesn't make either of us wrong :)

Tried to capture the store fronts on the Main Street garage as well as the lobby build-out for BOK.

You can see bits of tile from the old building that was demolished above the glass.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bok091017a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bok091017b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bok091017c.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bok091017d.jpg

Here is all the retail space:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bok091117a2.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bok091117b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bok091117c.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bok091117d.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bok091117e.jpg

Not bad if they can make them work, size wise, I remember that being a complaint

Nice! I hope they get all the spaces filled up!

What kind of retail can succeed in these spaces? While I'm always glad to see mixed use and ground level retail, I'm just not sure the area will have many pedestrians, especially past 5pm, as it is so car-oriented. Thoughts?

If I'm being honest, I personally wish they would have dumped the 27-or-so extra spaces in the west garage to allow for more ground-level retail space fronting Walker... but what space they did offer isn't bad. It just could have been better. Maybe the design of this garage will allow that in the future if demand for it is strong enough.

What kind of retail can succeed in these spaces? While I'm always glad to see mixed use and ground level retail, I'm just not sure the area will have many pedestrians, especially past 5pm, as it is so car-oriented. Thoughts?

All the space in the Main Street Parking garage directly across the street filled, and quickly.

Most is office space but there is a medical clinic and Clarity Coffee as well.

I wouldn't mind if some small office users went in... Would be better than the dead storefronts in the Devon garage along Hudson.

I think we might see more office type stuff at first, but better retail could be attracted once the connection between the cbd and film row/west downtown is made and if something is built on former stage center.

If I'm being honest, I personally wish they would have dumped the 27-or-so extra spaces in the west garage to allow for more ground-level retail space fronting Walker... but what space they did offer isn't bad. It just could have been better. Maybe the design of this garage will allow that in the future if demand for it is strong enough.

What if you're not being honest? What if you're lying to us?

What if you're not being honest? What if you're lying to us?

haha

I wish they would throw some awnings up along the retail spaces but otherwise they ended up looking nicer than I expected.

What if you're not being honest? What if you're lying to us?

If I'm lying, I'd say screw all the retail and push those garages all the way to the curb. Who needs public space and street life anyway?

:Smiley127
(why is there no throwup emoji? Oh well, this will have to do)

Bus sign being installed today:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bok092117.jpg

Oof.

Also, better get some air in that tire.

As others have said, the sign will be going into a glass casket.

This is sickening to me.... It's better to just start over with a fresh design rather than paying homage to unnecessary demolition of historical structures.

This thread is about to get real entertaining

I assume that's not the complete sign that will be installed. I'm still really not happy about losing the bus station or putting the sign in a glass casket... but at least the restoration of the sign itself looks good so far.

https://twitter.com/filmbaker/status/910882782611755008

Bus sign being installed today:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bok092117.jpg

Cool beans

Harshest take yet: Someone said on Twitter that this project is cloaking itself in the skin of its victims ala Silence of the Lambs.

Harshest take yet: Someone said on Twitter that this project is cloaking itself in the skin of its victims ala Silence of the Lambs.

Sums up my feelings on it pretty well.

Harshest take yet: Someone said on Twitter that this project is cloaking itself in the skin of its victims ala Silence of the Lambs.

Someone else mentioned something similar upthread or in a related thread a few weeks ago and I've personally retold that analogy dozens of times based on that post. It's spot-on.

Changing the subject, any thoughts when the crown might be be lit?

Changing the subject, any thoughts when the crown might be be lit?

When oil hits $100 / Bbl.

https://twitter.com/jeninthe405/status/911371782350938117

https://twitter.com/stevelackmeyer/status/911383915906179074

Harshest take yet: Someone said on Twitter that this project is cloaking itself in the skin of its victims ala Silence of the Lambs.

https://twitter.com/shanehamp/status/910968222022856704

It puts the bus sign on its skin or else it gets demo'd again.

Went to myriad gardens earlier tonight.....the old greyhound bus sign is up now. Looks nice. Loving the new BOK tower. Can't wait to see foot traffic around this with retail.