Stadium District (formerly Producers Coop)

[jedicurt]

Too bad the new CC couldn't have been built on this COOP site.

no... i prefer it being next to the new park...

[dankrutka]

Nice pic Pete - man this really shows how underdeveloped the canal sides are in lower Bricktown. Wish we could start over.

While Lower Bricktown messed up, anywhere where there's a parking lot provides an opportunity to fix the mistakes... even if it requires some creativity. Filling all those parking lots with a mix of development could still result in something pretty special. If we must then you can just replace those surface level lots with structured parking somewhere in the area.

[jccouger]

While Lower Bricktown messed up, anywhere where there's a parking lot provides an opportunity to fix the mistakes... even if it requires some creativity. Filling all those parking lots with a mix of development could still result in something pretty special. If we must then you can just replace those surface level lots with structured parking somewhere in the area.

I blame the winding nature of the canal itself for the most part. Bad planning whoever came up with that.

[Plutonic Panda]

^^^^ they can still do a good job with the canal interaction regardless of whether or not it’s straight. Though I would prefer any extension not to have many curves unless necessary.

[Anonymous.]

I would like to see a 2 lane bridge over I-40 connecting to that land along the river which should eventually be redeveloped.

The 3 access roads however should be enough. Other options can and should include pedestrian and bike access, rail, and an extended canal can all help move people in and out of this area which should be more than sufficient.

What? For access to pull-a-part?

You can bet money the main entry into Lumberyard and Coop will be off of the Boulevard, as it is already designed to be.

[Plutonic Panda]

Maybe I wasn’t clear but I meant if/when that area gets redeveloped. ROW for such a bridge would need to be planned in advance. The pull apart yard and electrical substation should be moved someday to allow for redevelopment.

[stile99]

Rivers have curves? Who knew?

[Plutonic Panda]

No one is talking about rivers.

[sgt. pepper]

Lets get the guys who designed Penn Central to look at this area. I bet they could come up with something really nice.

[stile99]

No one is talking about rivers.

My mistake. Not sure how I could ever have thought anyone would mean the canal when they said riverwalk. Really whiffed it on this one.

[Plutonic Panda]

My mistake. Not sure how I could ever have thought anyone would mean the canal when they said riverwalk. Really whiffed it on this one.

It seems the term riverwalk is applied to canals in many cases. Unless I missed it, the only reference to a winding canal was the post #1228.

[stile99]

It seems the term riverwalk is applied to canals in many cases. Unless I missed it, the only reference to a winding canal was the post #1228.

Yes, the one that generated my post in response. I was being sarcastic, you see, because of someone expressing surprise/disappointment that it wasn't a straight canal. You know, like every other canal, especially San Antonio, generally accepted as the model for the Bricktown Canal. As you note, nobody else seems to expect it to be, and expecting it to be shows a lack of understanding of even the terrain of this one in particular, let alone others. Or maybe they just want it to be astoundingly short, I don't really know.

Regardless, I think nobody else is surprised that it curves.

[Plutonic Panda]

I honestly don’t mind the curves that much. It creates some diverse areas along the canal. I don’t like the buildings in lower bricktown which have almost zero interaction with the canal and resemble those found in suburban office parks.

[Pete]

This was in some old papers at the Gazette.

It was just a conceptual plan long before the convention center was even approved, but it's interesting (right-click and open in a new tab for the hi-res version).

[Laramie]

Thanks Pete,

Never knew the old plan went underneath the Shields Blvd., bypass bridge. The San Antonio Riverwalk winds like a snake; we could use a good 5 mile canal--it would attract development like residential & mixed use along with some smaller hotels in the 100-200 room range or would any hotels in that vicinity infringe on the agreement with the Omni?

[Rover]

Thanks Pete,

Never knew the old plan went underneath the Shields Blvd., bypass bridge. The San Antonio Riverwalk winds like a snake; we could use a good 5 mile canal--it would attract development like residential & mixed use along with some smaller hotels in the 100-200 room range or would any hotels in that vicinity infringe on the agreement with the Omni?

I tend to agree that we don't have enough of a critical mass on the canal. We have not insured that the core of it in Bricktown is actually developed as a vibrant activity center. Perhaps a private developer will see the value of doing so on this site. I don't even think lower Btown will hurt it if more is developed. San Antonio has a lot of the riverwalk that isn't faced by restaurants, bars and hotels. Some of it is even suburban feeling. But it is interesting because it changes as you go through it and there are centers of activity along the way. Our riverwalk doesn't really have anything to interest people to keep going. It needs more length and more interesting development.

[Bullbear]

I like that concept Pete. When the canal was built the majority of the development and interest was in Bricktown. we have grown so much since then that what once seemed like an attraction to an area now seems small in the grand scheme of development. Now we have boomed all over the CBD but yet this "attraction" seems short and under utilized and under appreciated just winding through one small area. if it connected through COOP and to the CC it would really make a huge difference in connection. would create a very walkable path from CC to Bricktown development and would just seem more complete in my opinion.

[josh]

I tend to agree that we don't have enough of a critical mass on the canal. We have not insured that the core of it in Bricktown is actually developed as a vibrant activity center. Perhaps a private developer will see the value of doing so on this site. I don't even think lower Btown will hurt it if more is developed. San Antonio has a lot of the riverwalk that isn't faced by restaurants, bars and hotels. Some of it is even suburban feeling. But it is interesting because it changes as you go through it and there are centers of activity along the way. Our riverwalk doesn't really have anything to interest people to keep going. It needs more length and more interesting development.

The original downtown segment of the San Antonio has no area that looks or feels suburban. I’m not sure what you mean by that comment. I have to assume you’re talking about the two mile Museum Reach segment/extension of the Riverwalk that opened ten years ago in 2009. That segment, was designed to be more park like and designed with locals/residents primarily in mind and tourists as secondary.

I honestly don’t think any part the museum reach looks suburban. Maybe you meant it seemed undeveloped along the route. If so, the.n that is understandable. When it opened in 2009, the two mile museum reach had very little development along it as it ran through the River North district and ended at the Pearl. The current museum reach before revitalization was an undeveloped overgrown section of the San Antonio River tgat was no bigger than a big creek. Homeless people camped out along side it. It ran through an area that was mostly industrial. Now, the area that was mostly industrial is called River North and has had five large residential developments built in the last 5 years with six either under construction or soon to break ground..

Here is a picture from last week showing some of River North and the development happening.



Even the Pearl back in 2009 was still in its infancy. The Pearl back then was literally just one renovated builder called the full goods building. Now, now the Pearl is a world renown district with a five diamond hotel and has helped spread development like wild fire in adjacent River North and Lower Broadway.

Here is a picture from last week showing a little of the Pearl. Two office buildings are under construction currently and soon right next to those buildings a mixed use office/hotel tower will begin construction right next to those two buildings currently under construction. W Hotel will be the flagship for that hotel.

[Rover]

Thanks for the update Josh. Haven't been down in about 5 years or so.

This may not be the right thread, but Pete, perhaps a real and critical look at the canal and why it hasn't been developed the way it should would be of interest. The property owners along it have seemingly never really invested to make it what it should be. Seems like they looked for the windfall from the beginning instead of understanding the city was just priming the pump. New signs in BT won't solve the real problems with the canal and owners sitting on it. A full, in depth, no holds barred expose in the Gazette would be a great start. Can we expect one that will pull back the curtain and name names? If the Oklahoman won't, then surely you will. It's time to poke the bear on this issue.

[josh]

Thanks for the update Josh. Haven't been down in about 5 years or so.

This may not be the right thread, but Pete, perhaps a real and critical look at the canal and why it hasn't been developed the way it should would be of interest. The property owners along it have seemingly never really invested to make it what it should be. Seems like they looked for the windfall from the beginning instead of understanding the city was just priming the pump. New signs in BT won't solve the real problems with the canal and owners sitting on it. A full, in depth, no holds barred expose in the Gazette would be a great start. Can we expect one that will pull back the curtain and name names? If the Oklahoman won't, then surely you will. It's time to poke the bear on this issue.

It’s my pleasure Rover.

If you’re interested, I made a somewhat recent post about the riverwalk and posted two videos showing the downtown section of the Riverwalk. The first one is a bardge ride time lapse that shows most (but not all) of the downtown segment.

The other is a family walking around and showing it off in that perspective. That video features the old bardges. The first video features the new bardges that have been in use on the Riverwalk for the last year and a half.

Here is the link.

http://www.okctalk.com/showthread.ph...27#post1063427

[HangryHippo]

It’s my pleasure Rover.

If you’re interested, I made a somewhat recent post about the riverwalk and posted two videos showing the downtown section of the Riverwalk. The first one is a bardge ride time lapse that shows most (but not all) of the downtown segment.

The other is a family walking around and showing it off in that perspective. That video features the old bardges. The first video features the new bardges that have been in use on the Riverwalk for the last year and a half.

Here is the link.

http://www.okctalk.com/showthread.ph...27#post1063427

Hey Josh - are you not doing your San Antonio development updates on here anymore? I haven't seen one in awhile.

[josh]

Hey Josh - are you not doing your San Antonio development updates on here anymore? I haven't seen one in awhile.

I haven’t done any in a good while because I’ve just been busy with work and life, but I’ll try and update and get consistent with posting there. A lot of happening a new things get announced weekly and I def wanted to get all that stuff posted.

[HangryHippo]

I haven’t done any in a good while because I’ve just been busy with work and life, but I’ll try and update and get consistent with posting there. A lot of happening a new things get announced weekly and I def wanted to get all that stuff posted.

Awesome! I always look forward to your updates.

[Plutonic Panda]

Thanks for the update Josh. Haven't been down in about 5 years or so.

This may not be the right thread, but Pete, perhaps a real and critical look at the canal and why it hasn't been developed the way it should would be of interest. The property owners along it have seemingly never really invested to make it what it should be. Seems like they looked for the windfall from the beginning instead of understanding the city was just priming the pump. New signs in BT won't solve the real problems with the canal and owners sitting on it. A full, in depth, no holds barred expose in the Gazette would be a great start. Can we expect one that will pull back the curtain and name names? If the Oklahoman won't, then surely you will. It's time to poke the bear on this issue.

Rover, we have a name. Randy Hogan.

[Rover]

Rover, we have a name. Randy Hogan.

I'm talking about the real story about upper canal, not just the lower. And, how did Mr. Hogan really get the deal done. Why is there no pressure to fully develop the parking lots along lower. Mr. Hogan is an obvious target, but can't do these things alone.