Auto Alley warehouses to be transformed to restaurant and rooftop bar (http://www.okctalk.com/content.php?r=544-Automobile-Alley-warehouses-to-be-transformed-to-restaurant-and-bar)

Work has started on yet another ambitious renovation project in Automobile Alley.


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Twin warehouse buildings at 19 and 23 NE 6th will be converted to restaurant and other lease space by an LLC headed by local developer Basil Rayan.

The design calls for a large restaurant for the west building, with an indoor/outdoor space in an added 2nd level which will offer panoramic views of the skyline.

Rayan isn't ready to reveal the restaurant and bar operator but a lease has been signed and plans show a large bar area which will open to a new back patio, a formal dining section in the front with second floor casual dining and a rooftop patio featuring a pergola structure.


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The group owns vacant lots to the north which will serve as parking with ingress and egress from NE 7th.

The 7,000 square foot east building will also see a thorough renovation with tall ceilings and an industrial vibe. Rayan said businesses are being sought that fit comfortably within the overall development of the area and offers something that compliments the other tenants.

The entire project is directly east of Central Exchange (http://www.okctalk.com/content.php?r=468-Local-group-to-renovate-abandoned-phone-buildings), and construction there is well underway to convert two former telephone company buildings into an elaborate mixed-use project. The two developments are working together to make improvements to NE 6th and 7th streets around and between the properties to encourage walkability and create a more pedestrian-friendly area.


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Further to the west, Heartland Payment Systems is is planning a 7-story building (http://www.okctalk.com/content.php?r=503-We-reveal-mystery-company-planning-new-HQ-near-downtown) for their new headquarters.

Once neglected, the area between the railroad tracks and I-235 is now full of activity, with Prairie Artisan Ales opening last year on NE 8th as a part of another warehouse renovation project. At 330 units, the Metropolitan Apartments at 800 N. Oklahoma Avenue is one of the largest housing complexes in the central core and has seen high occupancy rates since opening in 2016. The Metropolitan recently changed hands for a breathtaking $63.7 million.

Of the overall development, Rayan told OKCTalk, “I feel like it's location is a very integral part of Oklahoma City. It is strategically placed off one of the first entrances and exits of the intersection of two major interstates. I want it to stand out and give a strong first impression and/or leave a lasting one wanting people to come back for more.”

Rayan also said of the restaurant and bar, “The concept is a modern American restaurant with contemporary renditions of classic dishes that will offer unique dining options. The atmosphere has been inspired by many restaurants from around the world, and will boast an open kitchen, private and communal dining areas, outdoor patio seating, and the focal point, a rooftop patio with an exquisite view of downtown.”

Citadel Construction is performing the renovation and improvements and the architect is James Boswell of Tulsa who has been involved in several distinctive projects, including the widely renowned Jones Assembly in Film Row.


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This looks like a great project! Any word on when construction will start?

^

Work has already commenced.

If you look at the drone photo you can see the roof of the east building is already off and there is construction equipment on site.

Man, what a hot spot 6th has become.

Really excited for this! Filling in these gaps can really connect all of these areas together.

Metropolitan Apartments has done much to drive the development east of the RR tracks.

And there is more coming.

Man, this looks awesome!

The restaurant and bar will be huge.

Like close to 10,000 square feet.

Pete, is there anything pending for the vacant lot on the corner of 6th and Oklahoma directly East of this? Drove by there today - its right across from the Metropolitan and a nice size lot.

Pete, is there anything pending for the vacant lot on the corner of 6th and Oklahoma directly East of this? Drove by there today - its right across from the Metropolitan and a nice size lot.

It may be under contract but I'm not sure of the potential buyer.

DD/AA infill is going to be amazing with stuff like this continuing. I wish we could fast forward 15 years and see what we have in this area.

This is exciting! The more infill in this area, the better - and these renderings look great! My only criticism - and it's a relatively minor one - is that both this project and the Central Exchange project will have parking lots behind them that back up to 7th street. 7th, 8th, and 9th, in the sandwich between Automobile Alley and the Metropolitan, have an opportunity to become very neat areas with a whole lot of character; basically, spillover areas from Automobile Alley as the district expands. I would hope that the south side of 7th doesn't just become a sea of parking. Parking lots are pretty easy to pull up for a higher and better use, though, so it's not really *that* big of a deal. I'm super interested to see how this area continues to grow and evolve!

With more retail and restaurants moving into this area, more housing would make sense too.

Any idea what the restaurant is?

Awesome + + +

I've always thought this was a vastly underutilized part of DT and love to see these old buildings coming back to life. It is on my way to and from work every day so I can take pics whenever.

I met someone Saturday night at the Vanessa House soft opening that said they heard a brewery has signed a lease here. This person did not know the brewery and asked me if I knew. I don't know anything about this so I could not help. Can anyone confirm/deny this?

Steel starting to go up.

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The restaurant and bar will be huge.

Like close to 10,000 square feet.

I don't mind a big restaurant by any means, but at some point, developers need to begin developing significantly smaller. We need more spaces that are the ≤175% the size of Urbun.

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There is so much happening around this city, I regularly forget about projects. That never happened when I first started lurking back in 2012.

^

There are about a dozen projects underway in Auto Alley alone.

What happened to this project? Did the existing building collapse while they were putting up the steel?

What happened to this project? Did the existing building collapse while they were putting up the steel?

Something like that.

They tried to keep the brick shell, started to put up the steel, then had to take it down and next thing you know the entire shell is gone.

is there some kind of fine or issue with (effectively) demolishing a building without a permit?

Hopefully they can at least use the same brick on the outside...

is there some kind of fine or issue with (effectively) demolishing a building without a permit?

Hopefully they can at least use the same brick on the outside...

Yes, because the building is in a design review district and the original plan was to restore what was there.

Not sure if they went back through the process for the change, but I assume they did otherwise there could be big trouble, like the demolition of the stairs at 400 N. Walnut.

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definitely not the original brick

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Thanks Pete for the update photos...looks to be a nicely done project so far.

Really hoping Parlor can stay afloat for this development to finish. This area has been a blackhole of activity that the Pandemic really threw a wrench into. Love vibes here when it is nice out.

Now if we can get 6th street fully P180'd, then we will be cooking.

Really hoping Parlor can stay afloat for this development to finish. This area has been a blackhole of activity that the Pandemic really threw a wrench into. Love vibes here when it is nice out.

Now if we can get 6th street fully P180'd, then we will be cooking.
This, but especially the second part. 6th needs some TLC.

Pete, it looks like Skydance Brewery may have started work on their new facility on 7th street, based on the last picture. Can you confirm this?

Pete, it looks like Skydance Brewery may have started work on their new facility on 7th street, based on the last picture. Can you confirm this?

Yes, work has started.

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This little block looks so good.

Yes, will be a nice little concentration with The Parlor, this large restaurant and bar and a new brewery just to the north (in the background of the 2nd photo above).

I'm sure The Yard will reopen at some point, which is just to the west, as is Magnolia.

Will be very easy to walk between them all and all of them will have nice, large outdoor space.

Yes, will be a nice little concentration with The Parlor, this large restaurant and bar and a new brewery just to the north (in the background of the 2nd photo above).

I'm sure The Yard will reopen at some point, which is just to the west, as is Magnolia.

Will be very easy to walk between them all and all of them will have nice, large outdoor space.

Do we know what the new restaurant is or who is behind it?

Do we know what the new restaurant is or who is behind it?

It's called City + State.

I think the development owners hired an experienced GM.

They have been moving very slow lately; hopefully things will start to speed up again.

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I know they meant well, but that hodgepodge of brick...

I know they meant well, but that hodgepodge of brick...

Maybe it's just me, but I think that's what gives it a nice street appeal as multiple buildings vs a monochromatic single facade.

^^^^^^^
Based on the original rendering it looks like the easternmost building might still be waiting for a coat of paint to unify the brick types. For the record I'm no fan of painting unpainted brick, which is discouraged by the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Historic Preservation because it creates a longterm maintenance issue that never existed, and can create catastrophic spalling issues with (generally softer) historic brick and mortars. That said, I get the appeal when you are having to rebuild certain portions of a façade.

Also, I'm pretty sure than in the photos to date the masonry has yet to be acid washed, which will remove a bunch of the extra grout from repointing and new bricklaying.

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Pretty hilarious how we think OKC is "becoming more dense," and then you see a pic like this and realize actual serious density is at least a decade away.

No judgment, just an observation.

but you must agree that this is the densest OKC has been since probably 1970 and definitely going in the right direction. ..

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This looks so good in person, but the city HAS to do something about 6th St. It's ridiculous.

Nice recovery from the middle building collapse (assuming I have that right, I was never entirely sure what happened).

This looks so good in person, but the city HAS to do something about 6th St. It's ridiculous.

Can you please elaborate? I mean, I know the issues I have with 6th, but curious what your issues are...

The last two are inside City & State:

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So when do they open? It looks really nice. I can see it being a venue to host live bands.

After many delays, they are getting close.

My best guess is they'll be opening in about a month. I'll check in with the owners to see if I can pin them down.

It's really nice to see some walkability along 6th street with the sidewalks, buffers (trees, concrete) and the buildings facing out. 6th street has been such an afterthought for pedestrians. How was the traffic when a lane of 6th was closed for construction on this project? If it wasn't bad, it would be great to see one lane converted into parking and/or a protected bike lane to continue growth along 6th.

It's really nice to see some walkability along 6th street with the sidewalks, buffers (trees, concrete) and the buildings facing out. 6th street has been such an afterthought for pedestrians. How was the traffic when a lane of 6th was closed for construction on this project? If it wasn't bad, it would be great to see one lane converted into parking and/or a protected bike lane to continue growth along 6th.

I drive this about every day as I work close to OUHSC. It wasn’t bad at all in the morning or on the way home, but I don’t usually get over there until 8:45 or so. Interested to see what 7-8am and 5-6 pm was like. I feel like with the redevelopment of the furniture store to the west of the train tracks, this road could really use a road diet.