I too drove by just to see what all the talk was about. It looked pretty nice to me also.

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.

I hope it succeeds and this isn't the case, but we can likely expect sporadic and light foot traffic between 8am and 5pm on weekdays and a complete deadzone otherwise. Being in the parking lot district, there's not much of a need to walk too much in the area.

Down the street from West Village though. And although you bring up a good point with how many garages are in that area I like to see what kind of retail goes in there and also what hours of operation too.....the guys at West Village have thoroughly encouraged me with the notion/desire to inspire OKC's first 24/7 district. If we get some retail in this BOK project that fosters a 24/7 lively central business district than I be extremely happy.

https://i.imgur.com/c9BEwlm.jpg

^

Just seems like it's going to confuse people to me.

^

Just seems like it's going to confuse people to me.

And for anyone who cared about the bus station, just a reminder of what was there before this monolithic beige box.

Do you think the neon on the sign will be illuminated or will the whole case be lighted at night?

And for anyone who cared about the bus station, just a reminder of what was there before this monolithic beige box.

It does come off as more of a middle finger than a tribute.

This would be so much easier to swallow if the two parking garages weren't so blandly hideous.

This would have been really cool in The History Center where it could have some context around it. Does anyone know if there will be a plaque or something similar nearby to explain what's going on?

^

Just seems like it's going to confuse people to me.

Exactly. How long before someone walks around there trying to find the bus station?

Exactly. How long before someone walks around there trying to find the bus station?

Well, I don't expect anyone to buy a Greyhound ticket and then randomly wander around Oklahoma City hoping to just stumble across the Greyhound station. So that shouldn't be a problem.

As for Embark, the N. Walker & W. Sheridan stop is actually on that corner AFAIK. So the sign actually manages to serve some purpose there.

It would make more sense to have it a bus station as opposed to a bus stop, but I understand why its here. It was a lame attempt at respecting the history of the site.

I wont' disagree there. It's nice that the sign was saved, but it could have been used in better ways.

The crown was illuminated tonight when I saw it around 9:30, but it was turned off when I saw it again 30 minutes later. I couldn't get a decent picture but it looked great!

Fox news had it on their tower cam last night. Looked great.

That parking garage looks good in person and dreadful in pictures. It's like anti-photogenic. It actually just looks like an average building with retail at the bottom.

That parking garage looks good in person and dreadful in pictures. It's like anti-photogenic. It actually just looks like an average building with retail at the bottom.

It's a two face.

https://i.imgur.com/dHs9WCp.jpg

It has been said on here by quite a few that the main thing about the urban buildings is their appeal and interaction at the street level. How does everyone feel the street level of the garages is turning out? If there is proper retail in the spaces provided, will that mitigate what some think is unattractive structure above?

It has been said on here by quite a few that the main thing about the urban buildings is their appeal and interaction at the street level. How does everyone feel the street level of the garages is turning out? If there is proper retail in the spaces provided, will that mitigate what some think is unattractive structure above?

I would say so.

But I'd like to point out that there does not seem to be one lease signed for any of that space, based on the complete lack of building permit applications.

And the Devon garage has all that empty retail space directly across Hudson that has been sitting there for years.


Hopefully the space will fill up over time.

That parking garage looks good in person and dreadful in pictures. It's like anti-photogenic. It actually just looks like an average building with retail at the bottom.

^^^^I agree sir. I just left "Clarity Coffee" and these garages actually look nice to me. I get it, to each their own, but it doesn't look like any other garage in the area (immediate vicinity) and I have this crazy feeling that once the retail fills in we shall see the dawn of a new day in OUr central business district; more foot traffic and the flow between this and the library, OKCMOA, Civic Center, and west village should make for a much more vibrant district.

I would say so.

But I'd like to point out that there does not seem to be one lease signed for any of that space, based on the complete lack of building permit applications.

And the Devon garage has all that empty retail space directly across Hudson that has been sitting there for years.


Hopefully the space will fill up over time.

When Aubrey was developing the area around 63rd and Western, he subsidized business around there in an attempt to make the area a more attractive place for employees to help recruit the best to his company. Likewise, it would be good if BOA and Devon subsidized the retail areas with rent concessions, business loans, partnerships, etc. to prime the pump and create a more dynamic environment for current and future employees.

I would say so.

But I'd like to point out that there does not seem to be one lease signed for any of that space, based on the complete lack of building permit applications.

And the Devon garage has all that empty retail space directly across Hudson that has been sitting there for years.


Hopefully the space will fill up over time.

As has been stated many times there are no retail spaces in the Devon Garage across Hudson. So there is nothing to lease

As has been stated many times there are no retail spaces in the Devon Garage across Hudson. So there is nothing to lease

They could lease that space if they wanted to, as it was set up to allow for that.

They could lease that space if they wanted to, as it was set up to allow for that.

They would have to remove parking and build space to lease. The space currently doesn’t exist

They could lease that space if they wanted to, as it was set up to allow for that.

Was it? I thought those bays were maybe 2' deep? I thought the intention was to showcase art...

^^^^I agree sir. I just left "Clarity Coffee" and these garages actually look nice to me. I get it, to each their own, but it doesn't look like any other garage in the area (immediate vicinity) and I have this crazy feeling that once the retail fills in we shall see the dawn of a new day in OUr central business district; more foot traffic and the flow between this and the library, OKCMOA, Civic Center, and west village should make for a much more vibrant district.

This building, being developed through OCURA and OKC, had the intention of including ground floor space from day one. The other garages were simply built to serve nearby towers, so their charge was not to be inclusive... if you start with the intention, you can make it work better, as it shows.

Was it? I thought those bays were maybe 2' deep? I thought the intention was to showcase art...

Correct on the size. They were installed at the request of ddrc so Devon could create retail spaces in the future if the so wanted

Correct on the size. They were installed at the request of ddrc so Devon could create retail spaces in the future if the so wanted

And there has been no demand, thus no retail tenants.

And there has been no demand, thus no retail tenants.
Because a their are no leasable spaces and b Devon has now desire to remove any of their parking garage

Realtors I talk to downtown don’t seem to be indicating that there is pent up demand for downtown retail spaces at this time. Are you saying that if Devon builds the bays out they will fill, and the only reason they don’t is that they need the parking worse than income from finished out space?

Realtors I talk to downtown don’t seem to be indicating that there is pent up demand for downtown retail spaces at this time. Are you saying that if Devon builds the bays out they will fill, and the only reason they don’t is that they need the parking worse than income from finished out space?

I’m saying Devon never had a want or desire to have retail spaces there (which is why the retail spaces don’t exist)

So there is nothing to lease at all.

Can’t remember... were they REQUIRED to add the retail portion?

Can’t remember... were they REQUIRED to add the retail portion?

Strongly encouraged to add the window boxes (for possible future retail). By ddrc. Likey would have passed either way As said earlier they didn’t actually build retail space. Behind those window boxes are the wall and then parking.

Strongly encouraged to add the window boxes (for possible future retail). By ddrc. Likey would have passed either way As said earlier they didn’t actually build retail space. Behind those window boxes are the wall and then parking.
So they were not required?

So they were not required?

We don’t really know. Ddrc wanted them. They were relative low cost adds. So Devon added them before the vote Would the app have passed with out them? I think so but we don’t know

This building, being developed through OCURA and OKC, had the intention of including ground floor space from day one. The other garages were simply built to serve nearby towers, so their charge was not to be inclusive... if you start with the intention, you can make it work better, as it shows.

Yezzir. #progress

It’d look better at the train station or on mlk if greyhound stays there

The crown is lit up blue for the game tonight.14193

So it is. Ima fan.

That. Is. Awesome!

14194

14194

Did you go to the game also?

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bok101917a.jpg

Was gonna post the same thing.. Walked out of the game last night and was like OH!.. the crown is lit!

Glass casket going up over the bus sign.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/bok101917.jpg

Glass casket going up over the bus sign.

Glass casket... Love it.

Am I the only one worried people will walk by and think that is the actual bus station? Think they will put signs up saying, "This is not an actual bus station. The bus station is located at 420 Nw 5th Street."?

Yep lol

Glass casket... Love it.

Am I the only one worried people will walk by and think that is the actual bus station? Think they will put signs up saying, "This is not an actual bus station. The bus station is located at 420 Nw 5th Street."?

I've already had to explain it to several coworkers who thought there was a new bus station going here.

The whole thing is just bizarre.

Why did the developers think this would make people feel better about them demolishing a beloved building?

It's just a very visible way of keeping the wounds fresh.

I think the glass casket is cool looking. But I agree the bus sign inside is a sad attempt @ paying homage.

I do like the sign and the glass casket that goes over it.

I think, like other OKIEs have mentioned as well, the next step for us is to focus on connecting all the unique and vibrant districts around our city with emphasis on: streetscape/landscaping (out-door room concept), information kiosks and signage, functionality through transit and spokies/bikeshare, and finally catering to the needs of 24/7 community living (venues, restaurants, bookstores/cafes, and green spaces).

I absolutely LOVE and adore the progress we have made and look forward to a more stronger grasp on urban living!

I'm just frustrated that the identity of the parking garage district is being ruined by a sign that signifies public transit as a transportation option. ;)

I'm just frustrated that the identity of the parking garage district is being ruined by a sign that signifies public transit as a transportation option. ;)

Good point. An oxymoron.

Duplicate.

Did everybody complain that keeping the old building was stupid because people were going to wait on a bus instead of ordering food from whatever new concept was recommended for that building? Or were we wanting to keep the building and demolish the sign? And there is actually a bus stop there, so the sign is actually more relevant now than it would have been before.

Either the sign is so damn confusing that it was a good thing it was taken down to begin with, or it's a nonsensical argument considering that everybody was pushing to keep the exact same sign up on a building that was just as much an active bus station as the parking garage. There are plenty of reasons to be made at the sign being there without this particular argument.

Hey, we have to have something to argue over and be upset. May as well be a bus station sign.

And to be fair, I don't have an issue with the basic premise of being pissed off that a great building got leveled and the feeling that using it as a decoration for a parking garage is a joke.

And to be fair, I don't have an issue with the basic premise of being pissed off that a great building got leveled and the feeling that using it as a decoration for a parking garage is a joke.
“Great” is a bit overstating it. A bit of our history...maybe. A period piece that is short of supply here...yes. Nostalgic...of course. But it wasn’t a great building.

“Great” is a bit overstating it. A bit of our history...maybe. A period piece that is short of supply here...yes. Nostalgic...of course. But it wasn’t a great building.

I agree. It's the fact that OKC has so little of its history and original character left that it's important to do everything possible to save what little is left. Great cities are defined not just by what amenities they offer but by their character and what makes them unique. This is an area where OKC fares uniquely poor due to how much of the original downtown and urban core was torn down. It's why a lot of the country has the perception of OKC that they do. It does a lot for the city to invest in preserving its heritage and its unfortunate this block, one of the last remaining blocks of the original downtown, was allowed to be torn down.

I can agree that they aren't particularly good buildings. For the era in which they were constructed, they were quite cookie cutter.