Alley's End (4th & EK Gaylord)

[Pete]

I couldn't find the original thread... But does anyone know who to contact to get the cOKC ring across the street from this lit back up? It hasn't been lit up since Spring. I miss the memes.

Andy Burnett and Mark Beffort did that art installation as part of the renovation to the Pioneer Building.

The city probably maintains it now.

[soonerguru]

the venereal disease buildings

omg lol

[Pete]

OCURA will vote tomorrow to approve the final plans for this project.

Here are what should be the final renderings (all by FSB Architects) -- reminder that most these units will fall into the affordable category:

[king183]

Is that material on the top 80% of the building brick or EIFS? Or something else?

[Anonymous.]

No balconies (other than randomly a handful in the alley?) or rooftop utilization and lack of pool is all a major miss in my book.

[Plutonic Panda]

Looks good but IMO they should have have some apartments fronting the train tracks with balconies. It would be cool to live next to the tracks for some people who enjoy seeing trains go by.

[Pete]

Affordale. Housing.

You know, the thing people are always complaining about not having downtown?

If you want balconies and more amenities, there are plenty of other options -- all at significantly higher rents.

[Plutonic Panda]

Do balconies really add that much value? In LA there’s lots of of “lower priced” units that come with balconies.

[Pete]

Do balconies really add that much value? In LA there’s lots of of “lower priced” units that come with balconies.

"Lower priced" in L.A. is still 2-3X higher than anything remotely comparable here.

[Plutonic Panda]

Even if they can’t build balconies it would still be cool to see apartments fronting the rail line instead of the garage.

[Southsider2]

These are a W in my book. Far better than the other options that were submitted. You can tell they at least tried to make them aesthetically pleasing. This will add some good life to the area!

[David]

Assuming it goes up as rendered this is going to be some fantastic infill.

[Pete]

This project along with 700 West and Boulevard Place will bring a bunch of more affordable units downtown.

And all three should be underway soon.

[3nglnd]

really cannot wait for this to happen. Any chance the city might synchronize some planned updates to 4th street while construction will already be in the area? That segment of road under the viaduct is very rough and I'd love to see the dedicated bike lane headed east

[dankrutka]

This is a great project and will be good infill, but the balconies are too expensive argument doesn’t make sense to me. I travel to a lot of cities where balconies are the norm across income levels. Almost every apartment I saw in Milwaukee had them when I visited a few years ago. Just from my observations, OKC seems exceptional for its lack of balconies. Also, that parking garage will be a pretty visible eyesore from Deep Deuce. Again, a very good project, but I’d love to have seen a bit better on those two fronts.

[khook]

For argument sake.... Do people really use the balconies in okc? .... From what I observe- some will put furniture out re "the edge" but most of the others downtown end up being a place to stash something.... not for really using for living space.

[Oski]

I traveled to several places: Kansas City, Nashville, Denver, Minneapolis, etc., apartments in OKC are probably the most boring ones, including this one. Hopefully, the architects in those cities will move to or open their offices in OKC someday.

[BoulderSooner]

no pool in this development is a bigger lacking then the balconies ..

[khook]

but it's across the street form the YMCA Maybe some sort of membership agreement will be worked out between the development and the Y

[baralheia]

Honestly, I liked last year's renderings better... each building had a different exterior finish, which made this project look really interesting. This new update is just gray, bland, boring... I'm SUPER excited for more residential downtown to bring more life to the area 24x7, but affordable doesn't mean you can't have some character, especially on one of the most important parcels of land in downtown OKC.

That parking garage though.... Hideous. Why is it just... totally open on the east side? I'm sure that'll look real great from Deep Deuce...

I sincerely hope this project turns out looking better than the renderings, because in all other respects, I really think this will be a winner... but I just don't like the exterior finishes at all.

[Sooner.Arch]

Does anyone know how the sidewalks will be? Will there be trees closer to the road ( like Project 180)? The lack of greenery in the renders does make me sad.

[Pete]

Any new downtown development has to adhere to the P180 standards for pavers, landscaping and lighting.

[Sooner.Arch]

I will say it is a bit more bland in comparison to the last renders. Like where did all the color go?

[soonerguru]

Am I alone here in thinking that these are somewhat hideously ugly?

[chssooner]

Am I alone here in thinking that these are somewhat hideously ugly?

I like it. But I don't have a tendency to hate on everything OKC does. I tend to not let great be the enemy of good. They will be a welcome addition to the CBD, in my opinion.