Belle Isle Library

[Pete]

They had the official groundbreaking today.

Should start to see some construction soon.

[Pete]

[Pete]

[shawnw]

I don't think I realized they were completely gutting it INSIDE as well as out...

https://twitter.com/cityofokc/status...42425147682824

[Pete]

[lady_o]

Wow, these photos are great, thanks Pete! You can really get a sense for how the new wings will be oriented on the plot. I've tried to scope out progress while driving NW Expy, but the mounds of dirt usually block the view.

I agree wholeheartedly that Villa desperately needs ped/bike accessibility, especially with the Belle Isle Library getting these improvements; the fact that there's no sidewalks between the middle school and public library is astonishing. I live nearby and have gone on runs in this neighborhood, and it's really not possible to run/walk safely on Villa. You see some desire paths in the grass.

An early MAPS3 asset from 2015 showed the segment of Villa between NW Expy and 63rd as a proposed sidewalk, to meet up with sidewalks on 63rd. https://i.imgur.com/Nxi4xAt.jpg

The ones on 63rd show up on the Better Streets Safer City project list and are indeed coming to fruition now (under construction). But Villa didn't seem to make the cut from what I can tell. Interestingly, under planned projects on the Better Streets website I found "Bike Lanes: Along the N. Villa Ave., N. Youngs Blvd., and N. Venice Blvd. alignments between NW 62nd St. and NW 10th St.", but no mention of sidewalks. It seems odd that they would be planning bike lanes here and not have a plan for pedestrian access as well. There are still unallocated funds, though, so maybe it's just not in this round. At any rate, this area has been on their radar.

[Pete]

[lady_o]

This project's going quickly. Any idea when the library is supposed to re-open?

[AnguisHerba]

This project's going quickly. Any idea when the library is supposed to re-open?

"Early 2022" is the latest I could find. Seems on track for that.

https://kfor.com/news/local/renovati...ibrary-begins/

[Pete]

[Bowser214]

Great Photos!

[TheTravellers]

Nice pics, especially the last one, thanks! Hope they have enough parking, looks like it's all going to be along NW Expwy and next to the office building?

[shawnw]

Like everything that's happening but it's such a severe gutting that I'm wondering if this could have been an opportunity to add a floor.

[Irishman23]

The only thing wrong with those recent pics is not seeing Charcoal Oven on the other side of the tower.

[shawnw]

From city council today:

https://twitter.com/OKC_SPAN/status/1427648699224793093

Now Eric Wenger of Public Works brings a change order for some of the interior work on the Belle Isle library. They’re adding 11,000 square feet to the library. Due for completion in December. Exciting.

[lady_o]

https://twitter.com/TylerBHolmes/sta...081299973?s=20

[Pete]

From this morning (Saturday):

[5alive]

A wonderful melding of the new and the old...

[HFAA Alum]

From this morning (Saturday):

I like it. The shape has me personally calling this place the Millennium Falcon.

On a side note, it's interesting how this one portion of the city actually has it's own skyline. If the other buildings were to update their appearances, it would pop out a lot more at night. From this perspective, it's like a drastically reduced variation of the Vegas Strip.

[David]

Those windows make a nice statement facing NW Expressway.

[HFAA Alum]

Any updates on this one?

[Pete]

They are supposed to be done by the end of the year.

I'll take some new drone photos this week.

[Pete]

[MagzOK]

This is really awesome. When we lived down there, my wife would take my kids there often for open reading with animals. What a wonderful library. I think this is an awesome investment by the city is great for the area.

[Pete]

It's cool how they've kept the stone on some of the now interior columns which were once the outside walls.

There is still the original flagstone flooring inside the entrance as well.

And those big window bays provide great views out to the surrounding neighborhood.

Such a great project.