Stockyards City

[Platemaker]

The new Stockyards City Arch is nearly complete... this comes just in time for the 100 year anniversary of the district. The span was erected over the last few days. The area is also being showcased in the National Trust's the 2010 National Main Street Conference in Oklahoma City, May 2-5.

I'm happy to see this being done... and hopefully showcasing one of OKC most unique and authentic districts. I've always thought a new arch was a great idea (with the the historic arch sort of tucked away)... I always pictured it at Exchange and Penn... this is on Agnew directly on the south bank of the Oklahoma River. I still say a second (matching?) one at Exchange and Penn would be a wonderful added bookend to the district. Picture it...

Although, I didn't snap a shot... the arch is quite substantial compared to the historic arch... or the stockyards arches of Fort Worth or Chicago.... it is easily visable from the heart of the Stockyards at Exchange and Agnew.

Go Southside!

Now if we can only get funding for the triumphant arch originally planned on Lincoln near the Capitol!!!

Some pics taken tonight:







Our historic arch on Exchange... embrace the REAL culture of OKC some of you!



Fort Worth's historic arch:



and Chicago's... basically the arch only remains here... the stockyards are long gone:

[gen70]

There needs to be a serious doc. on the OKC stockyards in my "O".

[metro]

Nice. I wonder if they are going to put signage on the arch. Surely they will. Glad to see our City and private investors finally putting the emphasis into our districts they deserve.

[Doug Loudenback]

Thanks, and very nicely done, Platemaker. I've not been in the Stockyards area lately and what you're documenting is very nice, indeed.

[okclee]

To bad the MAPS 3 couldn't do some more improvements in this area.

The Ft. Worth stockyards is very nice and makes the Okc stockyards look average.

[Midtowner]

Well, the stockyards ain't what they used to be. There are quite a few rural sale barns out there now stealing from its market share and since the slaughterhouse closed, I think business isn't what it used to be.

[Architect2010]

The Stockyards is just so small. If you drive through it and blink, then you've missed it. IMO, development should take place from the existing built up area to the river to make it more cohesive to the waterfront. As it is now, it literally could be mistaken as a town in the middle of nowhere with all of the large lots around it.

[Platemaker]

The Stockyards is just so small. If you drive through it and blink, then you've missed it.

The 'urban' parts of Stockyards City (historic buildings, etc on Agnew and Exchange... not the actual stock exchange or plants) measure 56 acres. The original parts of Bricktown (not including Lower Bricktown) cover about 57 acres (but that includes the large area covered by the ballpark).

You said 'if you drive through it and blink, then you've missed it'... I think that tells me you might want to get out and walk around.

IMO, development should take place from the existing built up area to the river to make it more cohesive to the waterfront. As it is now, it literally could be mistaken as a town in the middle of nowhere with all of the large lots around it.

Next time you go you might notice it really already is built to the river. The only thing between is a park... River Park.

The key that would give the urban feel is Exchange Ave. between Penn and Western linking it to downtown (specifically Film Row). It's already built up... an attractive streetscape alone along the full length of Exchange would do wonders to gentrify the area. Incidentally, that streetscape would probably kickstart the Farmer's Market as well.

After that, the NEW development should be mainly urban residental in the northeast and southeast areas of the district. That would require razing several blocks of run down houses (being carefull to save a few of them that are worth it obviously). Now the area is LARGER than Bricktown including Lower Bricktown.

[kd5ili]

Maybe develop a small entertainment district similar to this:



-Chris-

[Architect2010]

Platemaker. No need to be a smart ass. I have walked around it. I said you can drive through it and miss it because about the only part that you can tell that you're actually in the Stockyards and is actually interesting and makes you want to get out is from about 13th to 10th. That area, the shops, arch, the actual stockyards is what I am talking about. The rest of it is just kinda ehh. It needs to be built up. Infill, more shops, maybe a residential, and a mixed use project like the one above but western themed. You can take my opinion as just hatin' on the Stockyards, or you can realize that not everyone in this city is a OKC-promoter, and that they won't know every little cool tidbit about the Stockyards like you. That is what I see and that's what they see.

[Doug Loudenback]

Disagree, Architect. If one drives past Agnew on Exchange and they drive around the crappy roads that circumvent the place, and then consider the Armour and Wilson plants that gave OKC an early-day shot in the arm (as well as smell in the nose), it ain't so shabby:



For more, see Doug Dawgz Blog: Stockyards City

[okclee]

Either way, it would be nice to see this area come up a bit. I think Bass Pro and Toby Keith should have been located in the Stockyards. More of natural fit in my opinion.

[kd5ili]

IMO, the Stockyards area is a sleeping giant...so much potential, but there needs to be some serious investment and growth, and one heck of a PR job.

-Chris-

[Architect2010]

Doug. Your map just solidifies my point. Look at all the empty space inside that black bordered square of yours. While the actual stockyards and those two plants or whatever are cool, they aren't exactly what will make or break a historic district. Actually, they aren't very worthwile to me at all when it comes to entertainment and viability. They're just very large cool places to look at. Which isn't bad, but the Stockyards need some urban growth.

[Shipwreck]

IMO, the Stockyards area is a sleeping giant...so much potential, but there needs to be some serious investment and growth, and one heck of a PR job.

-Chris-

I've often wondered, after seeing so many semis sitting around down there throughout the week and especially on Mondays, if a small hotel with some great conference space would be viable? The conference space could be used for a lot of things and the hotel could take some tired drivers off their feet, start building up the area as a destination point (and it is right off the interstate for those weary travelers), and help keep people in the area more - CAN WE SAY SALES TAX REVENUE? I love the idea of what was pictured in one of these posts photos of shops and more. There area some great things there now. There is also a lot of unique history in the area. I wouldn't want to see that detracted from, but rather incorporated into the overall feel. The core of the district is no doubt Exchange and Agnew. There seems to be a bit of activity just south and there have been some new businesses open up this past year.

If someone with some serious money and the willingness to have patience while investing it were to come along - the potential for some serious money making would be had - not to mention that whole destination point aspect again.

I love the stockyards - well, except on those days when you can smell it more than see it. A friend once told me that the smell was the smell of money. LOL!

- Bradley Wynn
Oklahoma City Film Exchange District

[Doug Loudenback]

I love the stockyards - well, except on those days when you can smell it more than see it. A friend once told me that the smell was the smell of money. LOL!

- Bradley Wynn
Oklahoma City Film Exchange District

Bradley, if you were around before the packing houses closed, you know that it was not money you were smelling! Ooh-eeh! The smell ranked in my top 3 worst city-smells when growing up. In order of worstness, they were:

1. Camden, Arkansas, when I worked in that area one summer while in college: Source of worst smell: Paper plant
   
2. Cyril, Oklahoma, when driving to Okc from Lawton as a kid: Source of smell: Oil refinery
   
3. Oklahoma City, ditto the above time: Source of smell: Wilson & Company and Morris & Company (later Armour).

The smell from the area today is nothing compared to what it was. Of course, the businesses are also gone, along with the smell. I did an article on Stockyards City a couple of years ago ... Doug Dawgz Blog: Stockyards City ... and am tinkering with another now, the rail and businesses in the vicinity.

[kevinpate]

Having spent an occasional night or four in Guymon, I canna see any appeal in the thought of living, overnighting or or parking relatives for an overnight, let alone a multi-day, stay near the stockyards. Well, one brother excluded.
I could park him there and forget where I left him.

Visit, shop, eat, sure. Stay? Haven't ever seen an air filter that great.

[kd5ili]

I will have to say that the photos of the Fort Worth Stockyards vs the OKC Stockyards did give me a bit of a laugh...in the Fort Worth photo there is actually a district in the background vs one small building and a bunch of telephone poles in ours.

-Chris-

[kevinpate]

Not my cup of murky liquid, but is there a mass of people, anywhere, who are truly clamoring to:
live next to,
dine outdoors nearby to,
shop and cart purchases around and through open air lifestyle centers near

functional and active stockyards?

[Larry OKC]

Not my cup of murky liquid, but is there a mass of people, anywhere, who are truly clamoring to:
live next to,
dine outdoors nearby to,
shop and cart purchases around and through open air lifestyle centers near

functional and active stockyards?

The Fort Worth one comes to mind. Haven't been down there in a couple of years (since gas went over $2, $3 and approached $4), but there are several restaurants, shops (don't know about residential). There is the unmistakable aroma from the stockyards as well. Depending on which way the wind is blowing... It is a compact area but packed with people.

[jbrown84]

I will have to say that the photos of the Fort Worth Stockyards vs the OKC Stockyards did give me a bit of a laugh...in the Fort Worth photo there is actually a district in the background vs one small building and a bunch of telephone poles in ours.

I noticed that too. In our defense, that photo faces into the actual stockyards. Taken from behind the arch, you'd see we have historic buildings like what you seen in that Ft. Worth pic.

I've never been to the Ft. Worth stockyards, so I don't know how they compare. Is it really a residential district like Plate is proposing? I think I'm with Kevin on this one, especially given how many other areas we still need to bring to full potential (that are closer to downtown, no less).

You can only have so many western-themed restaurants and shops.

[Steve]

Story in Sunday Oklahoman.

[Steve]

The Fort Worth Stockyards is a tourist district.

[jbrown84]

Well this much I know. I know the Cowgirl Hall of Fame is there. What else? What makes it more lively than OKC's Stockyards City? Nearer to downtown? More western-themed restaurants? What?

[lasomeday]

A western themed hotel that rises up next to the street, Club Rodeo, and maybe a place where local country western singers could play at could be located in Stockyard City. It would be awesome to have some of these places in that district.