Bowling alley coming to Lower Bricktown; condos pre-sold

[floater]

I agree with BDP. In the long run, I don't think Lower Bricktown will mean as much to OKlahoma City in the future. I think the four most critical things that have come out of this phase of the city's development have been the Ford Center, Art Museum, canal, and river.

I know Lower Bricktown isn't as urban as we'd like it to be, but it could be worse. The landscaping and trees are nice in the summer and fall, and you have people going to downtown who probably wouldn't have. Teens without much money can go there and have a night on the town just as adults with real income can. They can afford Sonic and go to a movie. To them, this is an urban experience.

The tenants filled in some gaps. Earl's brought in a much-needed BBQ joint to Bricktown. We needed an ice cream shop as well. Toby Keith's is probably as Oklahoman as what we've been able to define what an Oklahoma food experience is. I don't care for how these look, but they're there.

[shane453]

Average people who don't think about OCURA and design aesthetic and Randy Hogan and urbanity don't think, notice, or care that Lower Bricktown is lower quality architecture and design than Bricktown. They simply see a movie theater, a restaurant owned by a music celebrity (whose name really transcends his country genre now, after the across-the-board popular Honky Tonk Budunkadunk), a nice plaza and fountain, a canal, cheaper places to eat, some with food options that weren't available before... We can still have fun and enjoy Lower Bricktown. It serves its purpose. It just seems terrible to people who actually think about what it should have looked like, or wish it would have looked different.

[jbrown84]

Actually, once the retail/condo building is done, the western end of Lower Bricktown will actually be pretty dense and nice. You'll have canal level retail, a building taller than the Harkins or Sonic (seems like it would make sense to design the new building as much like the Sonic building as possible), the fountain and plaza. And all this is what is closest to historic Bricktown.

[BDP]

That's a good point, jbrown. And it is a new development. No matter what kind of historic sheep's clothing they put on it, it will not be historic. And, in the end, all we can do is cross our fingers and hope that Hogan puts some thought into this one, which may actually be the focus of LB, achictectuarally, more so than anything else up to this point. And if retail does pan out, it could be the center of shopping for both districts.

Honestly, at this point, getting rid of black top instead of adding more brick should be our biggest concern. I don't think this one adds any more surface garbage. If he puts the parking underground, I'll have to at least give him a passing grade, even if it's a D.

[Pete]

At this point, I'd settle for more brick on the condo building.

Otherwise, I've more or less accepted the development for what it is and look forward to more visionary and innovative projects down the road.

[jbrown84]

I think it will be a major improvement to have a 5-story building there instead of a large, empty lot. Looks really out of place and it's right at the entryway to Bricktown and fronts the canal.

[shane453]

It's a nice development. I really like it, EIFS or no. The only thing I don't like is that it only has 30 units when it could double that and sell them just as quickly.

[John]

The only thing I don't like is that it only has 30 units when it could double that and sell them just as quickly.

It's clear to everyone that know Hogan has no concept of the potential of the lower canal area, as seen by the developments currently in place.

Future comments:
[Randy Hogan]Hey, why's everyone hanging out in the Arts Quarter, Automobile Alley, and MidTown?[/Randy Hogan]

[writerranger]

It's clear to everyone that know Hogan has no concept of the potential of the lower canal area, as seen by the developments currently in place.

Future comments:
[Randy Hogan]Hey, why's everyone hanging out in the Arts Quarter, Automobile Alley, and MidTown?[/Randy Hogan]

I hear what you're saying , John. I certainly don't want to appear as an apologist for Randy Hogan, but in all fairness, there's no lack of people in Lower Bricktown. I don't think that will change. It's more of a "family" destination and I don't see that changing. Most of the complaints about LB are people like us who pay attention to urban design. The truth is most people in OKC think it's fine.

[BDP]

but in all fairness, there's no lack of people in Lower Bricktown.

Which is very true. That's why we need to make sure we highlight the other successes that are more in tune with real urban design as much as we condemn people like Hogan. No one can say that a beter plan wouldn't have been even bigger and better drawing much more people. It almost makes you think "man, what if he'd actually done a nice development???"

I enjoy the people it brings and the subsequent energy it helps create, but I can't ever look at the Sonic parking lot which comes right up to within a few yards of the canal and think "is this really what we paid for?"

[writerranger]

Which is very true. That's why we need to make sure we highlight the other successes that are more in tune with real urban design as much as we condemn people like Hogan. No one can say that a beter plan wouldn't have been even bigger and better drawing much more people. It almost makes you think "man, what if he'd actually done a nice development???"

I enjoy the people it brings and the subsequent energy it helps create, but I can't ever look at the Sonic parking lot which comes right up to within a few yards of the canal and think "is this really what we paid for?"

So very true.

[HFK]

$305K for 1100 square feet? I'm shocked that they're so expensive, and even more shocked that so many are pre-sold. I've toyed with the idea of buying downtown, once supply began to ratchet up but, at these prices, that's one idea that has quickly fizzled away.

Any news on the amount of HOA dues?

[HFK]

Well, I've taken a closer look at the specs for the condos and, after looking at a map of the proposal, I realize they'll be right in the middle of things...

Wooden floors in the common rooms, 10' ceilings, granite countertops. Sounds nice, but not nearly spectacular (big crown and base, but painted=pine or synthetic, i.e. cheap). But nevermind that, it's location, location, location.

It's painful to admit, but $300K is beyond my reach. But wouldn't it be nice to walk next door to see a movie, and across the street to see a ballgame?

At the risk of repeating what's already been written here, if only there was a corner-deli/grocery... I suppose there will be, once the demand arises.

[BDP]

I'm shocked that they're so expensive, and even more shocked that so many are pre-sold.

Yeah, but we don't really know how much they've actually sold for. Oklahoma is a bid-down market and these asking prices may have the built into them. After the closing prices begin hitting the market, we'll know how much they're really worth. I suspect they'll come down a bit.

I wonder if some are going to be leased by the owners...

[John]

I wonder if some are going to be leased by the owners...

Whatever is worse for the city and Bricktown, I'm sure Hogan will be right on top of it!

[metro]

I have pics of the new signage for "THE CENTENNIAL" project up in my gallery. This signage is on the property until they break ground on next Monday, May 1st

[Pete]

Bowling ‘lounge’ set to strike Bricktown in October
by Kelley Chambers
The Journal Record July 18, 2007



OKLAHOMA CITY – Bricktown has entertainment, food, sports, shopping and soon, the district will add bowling to its list of attractions. But don’t call it a bowling alley.
This rendering shows the completed interior of RedPin Bowling Lounge, an “upscale” restaurant set for completion in Bricktown in October. (Courtesy rendering)

This rendering shows the completed interior of RedPin Bowling Lounge, an “upscale” restaurant set for completion in Bricktown in October. (Courtesy rendering)

Any association with a traditional bowling alley – complete with plastic chairs and the ubiquitous pitcher of beer – will have little to no place in what is being billed as an upscale bowling lounge and restaurant.

Construction on The RedPin Bowling Lounge, led by a group of local investors and managing partners Shawn and Erin Brewer, will begin next week.

David Wanzer, a design team member with J3 Architecture, which created the look of RedPin, said the developers wanted a chic, upscale bowling and dining area similar to some that have been popping up around the country.

“They don’t call them bowling alleys anymore,” Wanzer said. “They’re bowling lounges or boutique bowling, where the emphasis is on great food and an upscale social experience.”

The bowling lounge will be 12,000 square feet, offer 10 bowling lanes, a 60-foot video wall and will be able to hold about 220 people.
Work is set to begin next week by Jacobs Contracting with a targeted opening date in mid-October.

RedPin will also have a view of the Bricktown Canal from its space on the canal level of the $14.3 million Centennial on the Canal loft and retail project now under construction.

Wanzer said the project has been in the works for several years and ended up including a design team made up of J3, Fitzsimmons Architects and Tandem Design Studio. He said the investors and the designers wanted to create a cool evening spot as well as a place where families might stop by and bowl during the day and a spot desirable for corporate functions.

Some of the other features will include custom-designed bowling shoes available for rent and comfortable lounge furniture at the lanes.

[metro]

Thanks for the update Malibu. At least we know what date they're targeting now. I know it was originally set to open later this month. I imagine the Starbucks will be somewhere in the Oct./Nov. range as well.

[cityguy]

This will be VERY cool.

[Pete]

It really is a cool concept and similar places have become very popular here in L.A. and elsewhere.

It's something completely new for the area and there is nothing like it in OKC, so it will be a real asset to Bricktown/downtown.

[Oh GAWD the Smell!]

I love bowling...But I hate most bowling alleys....So I'll be all over this place.

[CuatrodeMayo]

Yea, Buddy...I hate those trashy "alleys" but I'm all about a "Boutique Bowling".

[Oh GAWD the Smell!]

Quiet you...I'm being elitist here. :P

[Pete]

Most the people that go to these places don't even bowl... It's more of a club/lounge than anything, especially later at night.

[Easy180]

Looks pretty darn classy...Very cool

Let's hope they keep the most classy aspects of traditional bowling alleys like

$5 pitchers