Dowell NW 17 & Classen

[Pete]

This parcel is not in a design district

You are right. It falls in a very small little area that doesn't have to conform. That is very concerning given the faux Venice design Dowell is proposing.

However, he submitted a building permit application last July that requires a bunch of corrections and there has been no follow-up on Dowell's part at all.

If that thing does get built as he's proposing, the people in Mesta Park are going to have a complete fit.

[Ross MacLochness]

^^at least they will be able to tell the time

[LakeEffect]

^^at least they will be able to tell the time

I believe HP Commission has the authority to weigh in on items that are immediately adjacent to HP districts, but it might be non-binding at best.

Classen really needs more design controls, not necessarily a design review board, but some minimum urban design layout standards (Form Based Code).

[Ross MacLochness]

^^To add on to that a bit, I see classen from downtown to NWE as one of OKC premier streets in the future. Lots of housing all along with decent building stock and a wide enough street to support streetcars/brt and protected bicycle amenities. If a form based code were to require a certain level of density and we move toward incorporating a wide variety of transport modes, I think classen could be an extension of Downtown.

[Pete]

Classen is basically a collector for a ton of great neighborhoods on the near NW side, including the one I inhabit.

It's perfect for mass transit and dedicated bike lanes / paths.

[Canoe]

And now a special message from Dowell Properties.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xqQhoZgFZgk

[chuck5815]

And now a special message from Dowell Properties.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xqQhoZgFZgk

i mean, sure, but most real estate investors actually like their properties to create spendable cash flow, and it's very difficult to get financing for vacant land.

[Ross MacLochness]

nm

[Pete]

[Richard at Remax]

That guy is a consistent April fools joke

[SagerMichael]

Thinking about ideas... what is a structure that could actually go here and work? Maybe something like the flatiron on Harrison and NE 5th?

[SEMIweather]

Thinking about ideas... what is a structure that could actually go here and work? Maybe something like the flatiron on Harrison and NE 5th?

I feel like this footprint sets up nicely for some type of drive-thru convenience store, but between the failure of Cube in Norman and OnCue going in down the street, I doubt it'll happen.

[Pete]

Behold! (And no, this is not an April's Fool joke)

[hoya]

Behold! (And no, this is not an April's Fool joke)

Found one from another angle:

[Isaac C. Parker]

Behold! (And no, this is not an April's Fool joke)

[citywokchinesefood]

Did he make this building on the newest Sims game? This is hideous.

[SagerMichael]

I love it

[warreng88]

Behold! (And no, this is not an April's Fool joke)

What... in the actual f&*k is that...

[Pete]

What... in the actual f&*k is that...

It's Venice!

[warreng88]

It's Venice!

Narrator: it wasn’t Venice...

[Canoe]

What... in the actual f&*k is that...

So... My main complaint is the 90 degree parking on Western is dangerous, because of the speed people drive up Western from NW 16th and Western.

[Harbinger]

Really hoping Alley Cafe expands to this location.

[TheTravellers]

Really hoping Alley Cafe expands to this location.

I wish they'd just *move* there instead and let a real restaurant/cafe/anything take their space.

[chuck5815]

Anything we can do to make this less of an eyesore until Dowell's son kicks off construction in 2030?

[Pete]

We can only pray it stays a weedy, muddy lot vs. him building what he wants to build there.