Monte Turrentine, owner of Legacy Cleaners, is proposing a large mixed-use project on the site of the cleaners and surrounding properties.

Dubbed Helm on Western, the project would feature retail / restaurant space along Western Avenue with apartments above, parking behind and five single-family residences to the west.

Turrentine has been assembling properties in the area for several years and the new development would require demolition of a few small houses along NW 48th and 49th along with the cleaners property itself.

Western Avenue continues to boom with a recent streetscape project nearing completion and the addition and/or renovation of several bars, restaurants and retail businesses.

Architect is Smith Design Company of Oklahoma City.



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Looks like a fantastic project. It's nice to see Western get some new urban development. There's great potential in that area and I feel like it has kind of flown under the radar in recent years.

I particularly love how it brings buildings out to the street. That'll help to extend walkability to the north edges of the district.

Really liked the angled parking on Western as well.

And one of the rare instances of residential above retail in OKC, as opposed to large complexes integrated some retail / service.

I love this and it's so close to my house!

This is actually pretty impressive. It would be awesome to live in one of those apartments above the retail. This is me dreaming, but another awesome place for a development like this would be across from the Tower Theater.

I'm looking forward to seeing what becomes of Western Ave in the coming years thanks to the updated streetscape.

Looks good! I like it.


I love this and it's so close to my house!

Did you buy a house or are you renting? Didn't know you moved from DD.

Monte is a good guy. This is a downright impressive project. I hope we can do whatever it takes to make this a success. I think in a way we already have with the public investment in Western.

I love the strong 40s art moderne nod. This mid century stuff is becoming OKC's unique identity.

Did you buy a house or are you renting? Didn't know you moved from DD.

Bought a house in August, just north of Putnam Heights.

And one of the rare instances of residential above retail in OKC, as opposed to large complexes integrated some retail / service.
While it's certainly not urban in design, the Lightening Creek Apts. on S. Western just north of 81st street are like that.

12134

!!!!

Awesome!!!!

This passed the Planning Commission without any protest from neighbors.

Now, just needs final blessing from City Council which is typically a formality.

This, with the new streetscape project that will create more curbside patios and walkability, will really change Western Ave.

Glad to hear no protest. I wonder if folks along Western Avenue have given up protesting any and all development?

Or perhaps they all agree it's great, responsible development that will benefit the area.

What is the word on this? Has anything moved?

What is the word on this? Has anything moved?

Not yet.

Is this still going to happen or has it stalled?

Pete, is this project dead?

Don't think it's dead. They own the land and have approvals.

Sometimes projects just take time.

Good this isn't dead. This, 701 Hudson, Spring Creek expansion, and Glimcher are my favorite projects in OKC right now.

First National is going to be hard to beat.

I knew there was one I was forgetting. FNC and Pioneer Building renovation and conversion. I don't know why I'm so anxious to see the Pioneer building come back to life but I am.

Once this batch of developments is underway even without some of the large ones like say for example Glimcher, Strawberry Fields, and Lincoln and I-44 development all don't happen, the current crop of development will really improve the city and prepare it for a new level.

I only hope we get some new exciting announcements, seems it's slowed a bit. The 2017 GoBond will be exciting to see with specific projects listed and approved to be voted on. Wheeler Distict, AICC, Glimcher, Strawberry Fields, and COOP site might have some announcements for 2017 I'm hoping. 2017 could shape up to be an exciting year.

Is this happening?

Not anytime soon.

Not anytime soon.

Are they holding off due to the shaky local economy or is there some other reason?

Are they holding off due to the shaky local economy or is there some other reason?

The local economy isn't really shaky at this point.

I don't know the reason but there has been zero movement on this since they submitted their plans quite a while ago.

Maybe once the local economy improves this will come back to life. This project would have been transformative and probably launched this district into another level.

What is this talk about the local economy?

It's about as good as it's going to get. It would be better with $100/barrel oil but that isn't happening any time soon and we are way more diversified than in the past.

This location should be very good. From it is easy to get anywhere in north OKC quickly and easily, and is 10 min from anything downtown. It is close to a lot of shopping, food stores, etc. Near a good private high school, post office, etc. Right up the street from a nice area on Western with restaurants, etc. Now with Hideaway's new development I was hoping this would take off.

What is this talk about the local economy?

It's about as good as it's going to get. It would be better with $100/barrel oil but that isn't happening any time soon and we are way more diversified than in the past.

Are you saying the economy in Oklahoma and OKC is doing good? Did you see the latest population numbers?

Are you saying the economy in Oklahoma and OKC is doing good? Did you see the latest population numbers?

Yes, I'm saying it's very good.

Lots of businesses expanding, people out spending money, unemployment rate very low, home sales strong, etc.

Everyone I talk to says their business is good.

I don't worry much about year-to-year population fluctuation; the trend is strongly upwards.

Yes, I'm saying it's very good.

Lots of businesses expanding, people out spending money, unemployment rate very low, home sales strong, etc.

Everyone I talk to says their business is good.

I don't worry much about year-to-year population fluctuation; the trend is strongly upwards.

That's good to hear. I thought the situation was worse. So not sure why this stalled. I don't like hearing this might not happen. This is a cool project.

Anyone can put together renderings so you never know how real something is until they actually break ground.

What is this talk about the local economy?

It's about as good as it's going to get. It would be better with $100/barrel oil but that isn't happening any time soon and we are way more diversified than in the past.

You've made these points many times before. They refuse to listen.

Nobody seems to want to listen to anything on these boards that isn't about the sky falling. The general feeling of the majority of posters on here is that our economy sucks, our schools suck, our quality of life sucks, our government sucks, our businesses suck, our people suck, our choices of places to go and things to do suck, our workforce sucks, and everyone but me is stupid. Couple that with the posts of "Why can't we have what that city has?" or "Why can't we be like this city?" and it's a wonder anyone ever wants to live in Oklahoma.

This board started out as a place to get news about developments in OKC and to cheer on the projects and changes being made. But it's become a board of all the things to hate about OK and why. I'm not saying we should blindly cheer on projects that aren't up to snuff because it's better than nothing, but the pessimism has gotten horrible. I left this board for several years but eventually came back because I wanted to know info about projects and construction but I may have to step away from here again.

<rant over>

Sorry for off topic.

You aren't wrong though.

^

It's the nature of discussion forums and the internet in general. People criticize and the positive stuff is generally assumed.

You've made these points many times before. They refuse to listen.

Nobody seems to want to listen to anything on these boards that isn't about the sky falling. The general feeling of the majority of posters on here is that our economy sucks, our schools suck, our quality of life sucks, our government sucks, our businesses suck, our people suck, our choices of places to go and things to do suck, our workforce sucks, and everyone but me is stupid. Couple that with the posts of "Why can't we have what that city has?" or "Why can't we be like this city?" and it's a wonder anyone ever wants to live in Oklahoma.

This board started out as a place to get news about developments in OKC and to cheer on the projects and changes being made. But it's become a board of all the things to hate about OK and why. I'm not saying we should blindly cheer on projects that aren't up to snuff because it's better than nothing, but the pessimism has gotten horrible. I left this board for several years but eventually came back because I wanted to know info about projects and construction but I may have to step away from here again.

<rant over>

Sorry for off topic.

Are you complaining that the culture of the forum has changed over the 11 years you've been a member? Were you expecting it to stay the same?

Are you complaining that the culture of the forum has changed over the 11 years you've been a member? Were you expecting it to stay the same?

I just get tired of all the negativity.