So I WAS right.

Wow. Poking some fun and some of you can't see I. Got to quit taking yourself so seriously. I WAS being sarcastic.

Nope. Lies and conspiracies. He meant it everyone. ;-)

Nope. Lies and conspiracies. He meant it everyone. ;-)

No worries. If Rover says he was being sarcastic then so be it. I am just glad he found an aspect of New Urbanism he likes. Everyone has to start somewhere.

Wow. Poking some fun and some of you can't see I. Got to quit taking yourself so seriously. I WAS being sarcastic.

Sorry, Rover. I've just gotten so used to your preposterous invectives and black / white bromides I can no longer detect when you're doing a funny.

Sorry, Rover. I've just gotten so used to your preposterous invectives and black / white bromides I can no longer detect when you're doing a funny.

I don't know why it bothers some to have different opinions....."preposterous invectives and black/white bromides". I know what those words mean but I am not sure what you mean. I offer a different view of urban development based on my own experiences with it. If anything, my views are more grey than strict black and white as I tend to believe that most cities develop their own identity over the course of a long time and with a lot of organic growth...that we don't have to follow a textbook or another city's strict teachings to create a wonderful urban identity. I actually live a pretty urban lifestyle for much of the year and think I understand some (not all, by any means) of the issues and have commented according to my own experience and knowledge.

I didn't mean to derail the topic...I was just winking at JTF and tugging his strings. I actually anticipated he would come back with an instructive post and smiled when he did. He's a serious fellow who I hope gets to live his urban dream in OKC some day.

Now, what were we saying about Midtown Update?

A couple updates. The parking lot is now paved at the cline.

The new cool looking parking structure is going up behind the guardian

Good news for Midtown. Collaborative is on it's way now.

http://newsok.com/oklahoma-city-co-working-collaborative-raises-needed-funds-to-reopen-in-new-location/article/3645411

Good news for Midtown. Collaborative is on it's way now.

http://newsok.com/oklahoma-city-co-working-collaborative-raises-needed-funds-to-reopen-in-new-location/article/3645411

Not gonna lie, did not think they were going to make it.

Glad to be proven wrong.

Not gonna lie, did not think they were going to make it.

Glad to be proven wrong.

Same here.

Does anyone know if they bought this building. My office looks out on the back of this building and the for sale sign is still there. It was Home Care Medical which moved out recently and it appears they are still cleaning out the space but I am not sure what the arrangement is for the collaborative.

I really do have a great view of a lot of great projects going on right now at this corner. The Packard building is coming along nicely.

This is the building at 220 NW 10th. It has not changed ownership recently, so I'm sure they are just renting.

http://www.oklahomacounty.org/assessor/Searches/sketches/picfile/2729/R011283925001rA.jpg

I really do have a great view of a lot of great projects going on right now at this corner. The Packard building is coming along nicely.


Photos please! You can always email them to me and I'll gladly post.

That is what I surmised.

Can anyone get pics of 1212? Shouldn't it be getting close now?

I posted pics last week, it hasn't changed much. Still has quite a ways to go.

Maybe it's just me but the word sushi and grill just don't seem to meld.

Great renderings, thanks for posting!

http://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=9320&p=498859#post498859

here is the floor plan as well

Window frames are going in at 1212 Walker on the ground level

I took pics in Midtown today, will post soon.

So I noticed the sort of vacant lot on Walker just north of Louie's has turned into a spillover impromptu grass parking lot on weekend nights. Someone's gonna need to build a for profit parking garage soon in this area especially with the big apartment building on deck.

I usually walk the four blocks to this area for lunch because parking is impossible even during the day. Yesterday seemed to be even worse than ever and I noticed there were quite a few cars parked there. I also know that the Unitarian church uses the north side of that lot for their parking as well.

Nice problem to have.

There are still tons of grass lots in the area that could easily be paved.

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

There's so much empty land and parking lots around this area.

I know what you mean. I would love to see some new residential infill in this area. I would love to be able to walk to work but am not sure I want to live in a one or two bedroom apartment.

I took pics in Midtown today, will post soon.

And...

Tha lot on 10th and Hudson would make a great large hotel site, like the Aloft in DD.

Tha lot on 10th and Hudson would make a great large hotel site, like the Aloft in DD.

It would make a better mid-rise apartment/condo building. What I don't fully understand is why 6 different developers would bid on the Mercy site and the 5 'losers' just throw their plans in the trash when they don't win. OKC has no shortage of buildable space. Is land assembly really that hard to do? (That is a serious question btw). If so, what can be done to help assemble land for large scale development?

Maybe instead of having a low base tax level and then assessing a higher value for developed lots (which discourages development), we do the exact opposite and start with a high base level and offer credits to developed lots (which would encourage owners to build something).

just a note ... the balconies will be installed at 1212 N walker .. in about 2 weeks

Thanks for helping me post them Pete. If you notice, the brackets are now in place for the balconies.

Those brackets have been there since construction started. The recent developments are the black metal trim between the windows on the east and west sides of the building and the ground floor windows.

No, the brackets are new, the window trim has been there 2-3 weeks. You can see my pics a few posts back of when they were installed. I've been driving by almost daily.

I know it isn't complete but the 1212 exterior looks really boring.

Well, the defining architectural element will definitely be the balconies, for what it's worth.

No, the brackets are new, the window trim has been there 2-3 weeks. You can see my pics a few posts back of when they were installed. I've been driving by almost daily.

Look at post 1313 on page 53. The rust metal colored things sticking out of the front? They had to wrap them around the concrete pillars before the siding went on.

Look at post 1313 on page 53. The rust metal colored things sticking out of the front? They had to wrap them around the concrete pillars before the siding went on.

For what it's worth, I agree with you. I saw them a long time ago.

I guess it's what will go on the balconies that will add a little visual impact to the building. Because otherwise, I agree. It's pretty boring. On the other hand, those are nice windows (although they will be a pain in the summertime since they face west) and will be good-sized balconies.

For what it's worth, I agree with you. I saw them a long time ago.

I guess it's what will go on the balconies that will add a little visual impact to the building. Because otherwise, I agree. It's pretty boring. On the other hand, those are nice windows (although they will be a pain in the summertime since they face west) and will be good-sized balconies.
Thanks! I bike past there twice a day. You miss a lot of stuff by driving.

Nutritional Food Center at 10th and Classen.

This business has made major improvements to the exterior and really looks great. At first I thought it was a new business, but the Nutritional Center has been there for many years.

Maybe one of the Okctalk staff photographers can snap a few pics. Although the before and after would really tell the story.

Yeah, the remodel was MUCH needed to say the least. It was done last year. I will try to snap a pic next time.

Villa Teresa school closing. I wonder what will become of their campus.

http://newsok.com/villa-teresa-catholic-school-in-oklahoma-city-will-close-in-july/article/3656384

Sad news and a HUGE loss to Midtown. Hopefully some donors will step up.

The loss of Villa is very sad. From my understanding, the school will close but I think the Nuns are staying in the convent for the time being. I don't think the Archdiocese has any plans of stepping in and stoping it from closing. The other Catholic schools in the area St. Francis and John Carroll will pick up where Villa Theresa is leaving - but that still doesn't account for the loss that is going to hid Midtown.

I had someone tell me about a wine bar opening soon in Midtown.

Didn't give specific location or the actual name, so consider this more a a rumor until hearing more details.

Could be the space at 1212

I office on the same street as Villa Teresa. Ironically, there is now a big fence around a field across the street that was previously overflow parking for the school, complete with construction warning signs. This has all gone up since the school announced it was closed. I can't find a permit for the technical address of the field.

Anyone have any ideas? Everyone in my office is curious.

That vacant lot across from Villa Teresa is part of this development:

http://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=28892&page=1

Don't know if this is officially in Midtown, but the Classen Terrace building is finally coming down. Years ago it used to be the headquarters for HTB, an Architect / Engineering firm. Sunbeam Family Services purchased it at auction from the state last year. NW of NW 13th and Classen Blvd.

Buffalo Bill, please see this thread on Classen Terrace:

http://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=29085

Saturn Grill coming to Midtown?

"Midtowners, your view of Saturn is getting ready to become very clear. Chef Joseph Royer is ready to open a third location, and Midtown is the choice — details to come soon."

Read more: http://newsok.com/end-of-trattoria-il-centro-sure-to-be-a-new-beginning-for-owners/article/3661514#ixzz1qQupZEDh

Ahhhhh! Happiness. I adore Saturn Grill, and Midtown is a perfect new location.

Ahhhhh! Happiness. I adore Saturn Grill, and Midtown is a perfect new location.

i wonder where this is going ... maybe 1212 n walker

1212 N Walker is a good thought. I'd like to see it go in one of the buildings at 10-11th and Robinson, but that's probably premature.

Plenty of space in the building being readied for Go Go Sushi.

Or maybe the Packard / Guardian development?

Plenty of space in the building being readied for Go Go Sushi.

Or maybe the Packard / Guardian development?

the packard with the outdoor patio ..would be great

I was hoping the Packard myself but 1212 probably makes more sense since it is closer to the other restaurants. Although the parking will probably be better at the Packard for now.

I just back from lunch and walked by both the 1212 and the Packard spaces and the Packard is much further along. There is some interior framing going on in there in both of the spaces that I think will be retail. I know one of the spaces has already been publicly spoken for. Also the parking lot on the west side of the building is coming along nicely.

1212 N Walker is a good thought. I'd like to see it go in one of the buildings at 10-11th and Robinson, but that's probably premature.

Could you imagine the synergy (not to mention solar things) that would be created if Full Circle located right next to Saturn Grill?

according to steve today .. saturn grill will be going in next to GOGO sushi at the 10th and Walker traffic circle
http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/2012/04/05/midtown-and-bricktown-updates/

With all the new restaurants, this area of Midtown needs more parking.

With all the new restaurants, this area of Midtown needs more parking.

Or maybe a streetcar?