Asian District streetscaping?

[Platemaker]

Okay, I finally got my hands on the 2000 and the 2005 Asian District master plans from the city planning dept. today. I will try to scan them into my computer next week.

That was in May metro... don't keep us waiting!!!

[metro]

Sorry, I don't have a scanner, but if someone wants to donate one......... I'll see if I can get access to one shortly. In the meantime, I did notice yesterday and early this morning crews finally got some of the landscaping plants and were planting them. It already looks much nicer.

[jstanthrnme]

I'm glad they're finnaly wrapping it all up. I travel that stretch of Classen multiple times a day, and I'm tired of the orange cones and lane closures. Though I look forward to the end result.
I hope it accomplishes more than the 23rd streetscaping between Shartel and Broadway. They did all that work and it still looks like a slum.

[foodiefan]

I was on Classen this afternoon. . .lots of planting going in between NW 27th and 30th. It's really going to look nice!! The selection of plants look to be hardy (variagated liarope/monkey grass, junipers, and boxwood??--lot's of traffic, just got a quick look). Hopefully after they are established, they won't require a lot of hands on maintenance.

[edcrunk]

i saw the plans a few days ago and james vu was wrong about the gate / arch goin over the road way at 25th & classen. it is gonna be a gate, similar but not as ornate as the gates that PLATEMAKER posted earlier. i took a pic, which is way fuzzy. however, my cat knocked over my plate of steak and worchestershire sauce on my laptop.... so i'm waiting to see if it works when it's dry. if so, i'll post it tonight when i get home.

[metro]

Drove by this morning and two pallets of grey concrete tiles were laying by the what I'm assuming will be a miniture "gateway" sign. I'm assuming they will go on the sign. Also more trees and plants were planted and delivered. This is really shaping up these last few days. As soon as the foo dogs and such get in, this will be really an improvement. I wish we would have done this years ago. I think the end result will help unify the district and bring some much needed tourism to the area (but locals who don't know or visit and out of towners). I hear a lot of problems in the district because the interested parties don't agree or get along. I think the potential this project has to drive new money into the district will hopefully help unify them so we'll throw more money at the district in the near future. Maybe one day we will get that large gateway spanning all of Classen at NW 23rd!

[amaesquire]

The streetscape will look nice but so many of the buildings just look terrible and rundown...

[jbrown84]

I'd like to see Military Park converted to an Asian Garden.

[dalelakin]

I'd like to see Military Park converted to an Asian Garden.

Now that is a great idea and really add a nice touch to the area.

[FritterGirl]

It's already planned (not a true Asian "garden" per se, but at an Asian-inspired park with significant landscaping), just a few years out. Not sure if it was from the 2000 or 2007 bond issue.

[jbrown84]

[edcrunk]

The streetscape will look nice but so many of the buildings just look terrible and rundown...

has anyone ever noticed the barn that's on the west side of the street around 27th or 28th? now that's classy.
you gotta admit that the asians have pumped a lot of money into this area.

[metro]

yes, although the streetscaping is done by bonds from the city, not business owners.

[metro]

I'd like to see Military Park converted to an Asian Garden.

Actually this has been discussed and in preliminary plans. I'm not sure how close to reality it is though. One of these days I'll get the city's official plan scanned into my computer and upload it to OKCTalk.

[metro]

I drove by last night and noticed tiling had begun on the gateway sign, hopefully we'll see something soon. I'll try and take some updated pics in the next day or two once more progress has been made.

[edcrunk]

yes, although the streetscaping is done by bonds from the city, not business owners.

yes, you are correct in saying that, metro. however, the discussion was revolving around the run down buildings. i was speaking in regard to the many renovations or new buildings that have been built in that area.

[metro]

drove by again yesterday afternoon, no additional progress on the sign. I still haven't figured the city out on this one. it seems they halfway do something (say landscaping) and then the next day the guys put pavers down halfway and then the next day they put a few tiles on the sign, the next day they are digging a hole, the next they are putting some of the new park benches out............why don't they finish one project at a time I say...

[HOT ROD]

pics?

[metro]

I'm going to wait another day or two until more progress has been made.

[jstanthrnme]

Not to pick apart a great thing, but I wonder if the vegetation they've planted will grow much higher when it matures. It certainly could affect sightlines if it grows like most ornamental grasses.
It looks really nice thus far, and I'm anxious for the project to be completed.
Metro, you've seen the plan, as far as percentages, how close is it to completion?

[betts]

I think what's done looks great. But, why jump around like they seem to be? Finish one median completely, then move on to the next. This way, the whole project seems like it's being done in a completely disorganized fashion.

[Platemaker]

Not to pick apart a great thing, but I wonder if the vegetation they've planted will grow much higher when it matures. It certainly could affect sightlines if it grows like most ornamental grasses.

I wouldn't worry about that. The grasses they planted are a perfect choice. I think it's Pennisetum alopecuroides which won't get any higher than about 3'.

[jbrown84]

Do you work at a nursery, Platemaker?

[Platemaker]

No... I just play a nursery man on OKCTalk.

[jbrown84]

Well I've been invited to a private presentation of Robert Benedetti's The Laramie Project. I'll try to get some pics with my iPhone.