This is a good start for the district! The streetscape looks great however, it needs more street interaction with new businesses! As mentioned a good coffee shop and even a bakery along with a few retail store fronts. This is the time for the gay community to step up and show even more pride!

agree on all accounts. I hope that the changes will bring some new life to the area and some diverse business.

on that note Stars pizza has closed shop next to the Phoenix. I heard the owners of the building did not renew their lease. they actually had good food and the best wings in the city but the place looks a mess. I am hoping there are plans for the space and maybe a new place to eat that is more inviting.

Oh no! We really liked that place. It was good to eat there when out on the strip. We have actually ordered from there a few times and they delivered over by Baptist area. If they open up elsewhere i would be willing to support them.

I was thinking the same thing Progressive. It's time for the OKC LGBT community to step up. The city is investing (finally) in your community - now do something with it.

I say the same thing for the Hispanic Community with Capital HIll, the Asian Community with the Asian District, and the Black Community with NE 23rd/MLK and Lincoln. Do something, don't just sit by and pocket the marginal gains. Make this a true city, where individual downtown pockets are lively with local investment (and some national where appropriate).

IMO all ethnic districts in OKC (in this case including LGBT/39th) seem to be lacking or just wanting the city to do something; well OKC has done for each but the city CANT be the only one. Love that Capital Hill is building the fiesta plaza, what's the status on that and where are the additional businesses, food trucks, buskers, and so on? Love that Asian District has it's pagodas and revised Military Park, where are we with the new residential dev, what about the redevelopment of Golden Phoenix. Are there any more markets in play beside Super Cao and Chinatown Market? Any more apartments (retail storefront) in play? Love that the Eastside has a new supermarket on Lincoln and the stuff going into MLK/23rd. What is the Black Community doing to ADD to that to enhance the areas? 23rd has seen some investment, where are the modern apartments to tie everything together? It doesn't have to be gentrification for these ideas, could be Black owned/operated regardless whose living there.

And finally, the LGBT district. IMO it's the worst of the ethnic/enclaves in OKC. Yes, great investment by the city but it is super lacking and doesn't appear to have any master plan. As others have said, there needs to be more focus on daytime/mornings like cafes, coffee bars, perhaps a gay library, maybe a gay community center, so on. Things all communities should have. What about a midrise office building, where LGBT orgs could reside with great ground floor storefronts? What about a couple of Edge like apartment midrises, retail on the bottom?

Implement some of this for all districts, but esp 39th and I think OKC shines more than just on potential.

One final thing I'll mention for all of the districts, don't forget about transit and placemaking. 39th has made some improvements with the murals, but what about a rainbow crosswalk on 39th at Penn? What about placards in rainbow? Bus shelters in rainbow. .. Add in some security or sheriff emphasis if folks feel targeted.

OKC needs to get on the ball, would have been great to have some of this PRIOR to the WCWS and other major events taking place; with lots of folks coming into town. As for Pride Inc. vs Pride Alliance, I think both can exist but play off each other. No reason for a competition, I like that Pride Inc has the gayborhood focus and Pride Alliance is more city encompassing - IMO I think both are needed in OKC. As was discussed, other cities have gone through this and matured. Work together or at least in common goal awareness to promote a better OKC. That's what's most important, not which parade is bigger/better.

I was thinking the same thing Progressive. It's time for the OKC LGBT community to step up. The city is investing (finally) in your community - now do something with it.

I say the same thing for the Hispanic Community with Capital HIll, the Asian Community with the Asian District, and the Black Community with NE 23rd/MLK and Lincoln. Do something, don't just sit by and pocket the marginal gains. Make this a true city, where individual downtown pockets are lively with local investment (and some national where appropriate).

IMO all ethnic districts in OKC (in this case including LGBT/39th) seem to be lacking or just wanting the city to do something; well OKC has done for each but the city CANT be the only one. Love that Capital Hill is building the fiesta plaza, what's the status on that and where are the additional businesses, food trucks, buskers, and so on? Love that Asian District has it's pagodas and revised Military Park, where are we with the new residential dev, what about the redevelopment of Golden Phoenix. Are there any more markets in play beside Super Cao and Chinatown Market? Any more apartments (retail storefront) in play? Love that the Eastside has a new supermarket on Lincoln and the stuff going into MLK/23rd. What is the Black Community doing to ADD to that to enhance the areas? 23rd has seen some investment, where are the modern apartments to tie everything together? It doesn't have to be gentrification for these ideas, could be Black owned/operated regardless whose living there.

And finally, the LGBT district. IMO it's the worst of the ethnic/enclaves in OKC. Yes, great investment by the city but it is super lacking and doesn't appear to have any master plan. As others have said, there needs to be more focus on daytime/mornings like cafes, coffee bars, perhaps a gay library, maybe a gay community center, so on. Things all communities should have. What about a midrise office building, where LGBT orgs could reside with great ground floor storefronts? What about a couple of Edge like apartment midrises, retail on the bottom?

Implement some of this for all districts, but esp 39th and I think OKC shines more than just on potential.

One final thing I'll mention for all of the districts, don't forget about transit and placemaking. 39th has made some improvements with the murals, but what about a rainbow crosswalk on 39th at Penn? What about placards in rainbow? Bus shelters in rainbow. .. Add in some security or sheriff emphasis if folks feel targeted.

OKC needs to get on the ball, would have been great to have some of this PRIOR to the WCWS and other major events taking place; with lots of folks coming into town. As for Pride Inc. vs Pride Alliance, I think both can exist but play off each other. No reason for a competition, I like that Pride Inc has the gayborhood focus and Pride Alliance is more city encompassing - IMO I think both are needed in OKC. As was discussed, other cities have gone through this and matured. Work together or at least in common goal awareness to promote a better OKC. That's what's most important, not which parade is bigger/better.

All those areas you talking about are doing something with their communities,

All those areas you talking about are doing something with their communities,

Right. And while I'd love to see more mixed-used developments and investment in these areas, it's not as though these enclaves are full of folks with the means to do investment on that scale who are lazy or refusing to do so. Developers on some level are always going to be concerned about their bottom line -- I imagine most aren't going to take on what they perceive as risky investments. Blaming the folks within these communities for the lack of investment in their areas seems a little misguided to me and ignores what has been done by the few who can.

All those areas you talking about are doing something with their communities,

Agree. The 39th Street District is one of the only ones that is doing very little despite new public investment. No idea why.

Im not blaming anyone, I'm saying OKC needs to step it up. We always say OKC has lots of potential, but sitting on it while time goes by is just that.

Coop even admitted they missed out on WCWS. Yes it happens every year but this year was special with OUs back-to-back.

That's all I'm saying. And yes, while enclaves themselves may not have folks with the means - there surely exists plenty of $$ in OKC that do and are representative of our ethnic enclave communities. Eastside is notorious for using the race card (rightfully so in some cases) to get city funding - yet once the funding comes NOTHING gets done beyond whatever the city funded. Eastpoint is a good change of direction - I hope it continues, and would with a few new high quality residential additions.

OKC should do better, and none more than 39th.

A" big" part of LGBT individuals tends to have deep disposable incomes and be somewhat affluent. They tend to eat at good restaurants, shop at high end places, travel frequently support the arts, sports and support many things monetarily! They have great pride! So I am sure that the gay community in OKC will step up to the plate and make this a more safe, clean, desirable district with more private investment.

progressive, I hope you're right. ...

A" big" part of LGBT individuals tends to have deep disposable incomes and be somewhat affluent. They tend to eat at good restaurants, shop at high end places, travel frequently support the arts, sports and support many things monetarily! They have great pride! So I am sure that the gay community in OKC will step up to the plate and make this a more safe, clean, desirable district with more private investment.
That’s a pretty broad brush caricature. More likely they follow normal demographics of the community as a whole.

A" big" part of LGBT individuals tends to have deep disposable incomes and be somewhat affluent. They tend to eat at good restaurants, shop at high end places, travel frequently support the arts, sports and support many things monetarily! They have great pride! So I am sure that the gay community in OKC will step up to the plate and make this a more safe, clean, desirable district with more private investment.

That’s crazy you say “a big part”, majority of the lgbtq are just like everyone else in the majority of american citizens living paycheck to paycheck

To the post above, the folks who own the majority of properties on 39th have deep pockets, so any lack of improvement or renovation is unrelated to financial ability.

To the post above, the folks who own the majority of properties on 39th have deep pockets, so any lack of improvement or renovation is unrelated to financial ability.

That was not said in the post that I replied to

No need for semantics as you could apply that to any district in any city as there is always people with deep pockets but unfortunately those people usually don’t give a f’ck beyond the “what’s in it for me”

That’s why programs like MAPS are so important, let the people vote on where our tax dollars get invested instead of the Uber wealthy always looking to turn a profit for their personal gains

I wasn’t referring to your post. Chill.

Agree. The 39th Street District is one of the only ones that is doing very little despite new public investment. No idea why.
Think its a bit early to say they are doing very little.. I mean the Public investment is very new.. so new in fact its not completed. I think we will see some progress or at least I am hopeful.

The District Hotel has done some remodeling.

The owners of The Boom bought and renovated that old car wash and it looks a hundred times better.

Angles reopened.

Indigo Lounge is brand new and yet to open.

There have been some new murals.


Things are in motion, just need more.

The owners of The Boom bought and renovated that old car wash and it looks a hundred times better..

The one that's on 40th and Penn right up against the interchange? It's certainly much nicer looking.

Think its a bit early to say they are doing very little.. I mean the Public investment is very new.. so new in fact its not completed. I think we will see some progress or at least I am hopeful.

I am hopeful, too, and don't mean to seem negative.

The District Hotel has done some remodeling.

The owners of The Boom bought and renovated that old car wash and it looks a hundred times better.

Angles reopened.

Indigo Lounge is brand new and yet to open.

There have been some new murals.


Things are in motion, just need more.

Stopped by and visited the District Hotel area over the weekend. Looks as if they removed all of the trees and plants out around the pool and added concrete. Yikes! Where there used to be a lot of shade out there now there is none and it appears way hotter with the added concrete.

Overall the improvements are impressive, though the parking angle seems strange off of 39th street.

Here are some pictures of the inside of Indigo
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Here are some pictures of the inside of Indigo
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This place looks great

That looks amazing. we have been waiting so long for it to open. any word on when? we desperately need a new cocktail lounge to hang at. with apothecary now only open Friday and Saturday it leaves a void in our happy hour.

I am hearing within the month, but i am trying to get a more firm date. As soon as I do i will post it on here. I think this place looks great and will have a different vibe then some of the other bars around. Its always great to have something new!

Agreed.. Apothecary has potential to be a similar vibe of more lounge and comfortable but inconsistency has not helped there. we love Phoenix but its not really a Happy hour vibe . look forward to hearing about the opening date for Indigo and giving them some love.

There's a Price Edward's for lease sign in front of Indigo. I'm sure it's for the empty building attached to Indigo. Hope someone lease it.

From their Instagram page. Indigo opening Friday.17630

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Another few months, the reverse angle parking is still not going so hot.

Probably a lot of people aren't confident of backing into a parking slot without hitting a neighboring car. But it might be easier to do than parallel parking.

Found this online under OKC real estate transactions: The Rainbow Cafe leased 877 sq ft of retail space at 2215 NW 39th. Chris Roberts and Ernst handled the transaction.
There's been some activity this week at a space next door to the Indigo. Hope this turns out to be a really cool cafe! Here's a pic of that property. The space with the big store front windows is the space that I've seen the activity in.
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http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/rainbowbistro1.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/rainbowbistro3.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/rainbowbistro4.jpg

Thanks Pete!! How Cool!!

A new bar with a small kitchen is being planned for a former auto repair building directly west of The Boom.

Don't yet know the name or operator.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/2232nw39b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/2232nw39c.jpg

From the plans....looks like the garage doors stay. That will be cool.

Hopefully they do a big patio out front.

They don't need that small parking lot - tons of street parking nearby.

Hopefully they do a big patio out front.

They don't need that small parking lot - tons of street parking nearby.

If they did a patio similar to The Pump I think they would have very similar success.

So glad they added a 4 way stop at the end of this block. With 2 new venues the foot traffic will definitely pick up.

This will be great for the area. Oklahoma City's diversity to include and welcome people of all races, colors, creeds and sexual orientation exhibits the growth of our city with many distinct neighbors and districts:


Adventure District District, Asian District, Automobile Alley District
Boathouse District, Bricktown District
Capitol Hill, Crown Heights
Deep Deuce, Downtown - City Center District
Eastside, Gaillardia, Heritage Hills, LGBTQ - 39th Street
Midtown District, Nichols Hills, OakCliff, OU Health Sciences Center (HSC)
Park Estates, Paseo Arts District, Plaza District
Stockyards City District,
Uptown 23rd District
Western Avenue District, West Village District, Wildwood

Please feel free to include any neighborhood or district you feel noteworthy of mentioning.

love the GROWING list of urban neighborhoods and enclaves of OKC! Forgot Britton District and Mesta Park :).

very much love this new development and hope it shows many others who will also open in the district. Love this organic urban infill!! I think some residential density would really kick start 39th Street and Asian District as bustling neighborhoods!

Is this dead already? New For Rent signs on the building.

Is this dead already? New For Rent signs on the building.

They usually leave those up until construction starts just in case.

Only way to know for sure is to see work happening. Lots of times people file plans then never follow through.

Lots of activity there at noon and when I drove by on my way home after work.

Lots of activity there at noon and when I drove by on my way home after work.

I live nearby and will be checking on it.

Also, Rainbow Bistro is getting close.

A new bar with a small kitchen is being planned for a former auto repair building directly west of The Boom.

Don't yet know the name or operator.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/2232nw39b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/2232nw39c.jpg

I know they guy that ran that Diesel repair shop. I asked him once why he had his shop there and he said it was because the rent was so cheap. I know they will have a lot of cleaning to do inside there before it can serve food. The place was a mess inside working on Diesel trucks you can imagine.

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Awesome!

I just closed a house off Flynn and was really impressed with how nice everything looks and is coming over there. I used to live just east in Putnam Heights and recall when this area & just west of Penn was a totally different story. Excited for the neighborhood to continue to develop as more folks sell and homes are rehabbed, there's a lot happening.

^

Yes that neighborhood just south of 39th is starting to see some renovation and flips.

A pretty mixed bag but some very reasonable homes.

An unsung hero of the area south of 39th and other older neighborhoods in the core is the residential street resurfacing that's occurred or will occur as a result of the bond packages. The streets in the neighborhood to the south of 39th are really nice now, and it spruces up the entire area. I'm looking forward to the resurfacing that's scheduled for the residential area bound by Penn, Classen, Expressway, and 39th.

A new restaurant has opened in the 39th Street District: Rainbow Bistro.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/rainbow040923a.jpg


The City recently funded a massive street and streetscape renovation to the district, which is just west of Penn and home to many LGBTQ-friendly businesses.

Rainbow features appetizers, sandwiches, sides, beer, wine and mimosas at 2215 NW 39th.

Hours are Monday, Thursday, and Friday 3 PM to midnight; Saturday 10-2 and 4-midnight; Sunday 10-6; closed Tuesday and Wednesday.



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/rainbow040923b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/rainbow040923c.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/rainbow040923d.jpg


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http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/rainbow040923f.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/rainbow040923g.jpg

The sandwich names are funny and creative. Are they connected in any way to the old Ingrid's? Seems to have a german bent to the offerings.

It's great to see some life in this area.

Rainbow was busy but so was the patio at The Boom right across the street.

Hopefully we'll start to see more places opening up.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/rainbow040923f.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/rainbow040923g.jpg


It's not the point of these pictures but the continued failed usage of the reverse angle parking makes me laugh.

It's not the point of these pictures but the continued failed usage of the reverse angle parking makes me laugh.

Just today, almost all the businesses along 39th have petitioned the city to covert the reverse-angle parking to traditional head-in parking all along 39th.

They note that the current parking method is not enforced and generally not used, creating traffic hazards by head-in parkers having to back out at difficult angles.

Half of that parking isn’t used. Why not do what the businesses want but convert one side of the street to two way cycleway? Buy land and build a parking garage when demand warrants? When the hell are we going to get out of this “I need to park right in front of the door I am going into” mentality. OKC is one of the only cities I’ve ever seen where I’ve been with someone in a car who will circle a parking for 10 minutes trying to find a space right up to the building instead of parking just 100 feet further away where that part of parking lot is virtually empty.

What was the prevailing school of thought pushing for reverse angle parking and why did anyone believe that would work here? lol

What was the prevailing school of thought pushing for reverse angle parking and why did anyone believe that would work here? lol

It works in Austin, but those people are pretty smart and actually know how to drive.

It works in Austin, but those people are pretty smart and actually know how to drive.

Touché

I've parked there a few times and that back-in method isn't very easy unless you have a really good backup camera.

Since 75% of the people aren't using the spaces as intended, it seems like a simple solution just to restripe everything.

Half of that parking isn’t used. Why not do what the businesses want but convert one side of the street to two way cycleway? Buy land and build a parking garage when demand warrants? When the hell are we going to get out of this “I need to park right in front of the door I am going into” mentality. OKC is one of the only cities I’ve ever seen where I’ve been with someone in a car who will circle a parking for 10 minutes trying to find a space right up to the building instead of parking just 100 feet further away where that part of parking lot is virtually empty.

Since I'm not a very physically active person, I would welcome a chance for a little exercise by having to walk 100 ft. or ever further when all front spaces are taken. But I guess in this lazy, car loving society, a lot of people would disagree with that.

So glad they added a 4 way stop at the end of this block. With 2 new venues the foot traffic will definitely pick up.

I hate 4 way stops. I think they should all be converted to roundabouts.