Ideas for south downtown

[Patrick]

What ideas do you guys have for development of south downtown once the Crosstown is moved?

[JOHNINSOKC]

New Gleaming Skyscrapers!!!!

[jbrown84]

Lot's of greenspace and fountains. The whole area should have a master plan. TAP would be a good candidate to make one.

[Uptown]

There will be a new boulevard in place of the Crosstown. I only hope it won't become a NW Expressway, lined with fast food restaurants.

[BG918]

TAP has already created a plan and hopefully it is implemented. A mixed-use district like what the Hill was to become (another TAP proposal) would fit in well here as the area is cleaned up and revitalized. Does anyone know if a master plan exists for the blvd. replacing I-40 through downtown?

[BDP]

I'm with you guys. There needs to be a plan. That itself would be a step up.

[Pete]

Lots of great ideas here and I'm very please to see there is serious thought being given to an over-all plan.



Transforming the I-40 corridor

Compiled by Steve Lackmeyer
The Oklahoman

Planners propose a new gateway

A 590-acre area between the Oklahoma River and downtown could be transformed into a new gateway under a plan discussed Wednesday by architects, engineers and civic leaders involved in construction of the new Interstate 40 Crosstown Expressway.

The presentation, hosted by Leadership Oklahoma City, included an update on the planned highway, which is to partially open in late 2008, and a challenge to develop land previously ignored.

Among the ideas were drawings and proposals by students at the University of Oklahoma College of Architecture, led by architecture professor Hans Butzer.

"It seems as if we're always focusing on one piece, and not giving the impression that it's related. We have all this great stuff going on in the city. We just don't allow people ways to get there from here," Butzer said.

Here's a look at the plans.

River link: Downtown would be linked to the river with a green path from Myriad Gardens across a boulevard on I-40's current route.

The path would continue past the current U.S. Post Office and the Union Train Station, and across the new highway. It would end at the north shore of the Oklahoma River.

Senior options: The proposals suggest seniors could enjoy museums, ball games, parks and movies all within a short walk or ride on a downtown Oklahoma Spirit trolley.

Mercado district: The Harvey Avenue pathway would include a "mercado" Hispanic marketplace as it passes through the Riverside neighborhood. Development could include new housing and retail.

Other proposals

Linking downtown to the river. That would involve aligning a green path along Harvey from the Myriad Gardens, across a new boulevard that will be built along the current highway route. The path would continue past the current U.S. Post Office and the Union Train Station, and across the new highway. It would end at the north shore of the Oklahoma River.

"Why can't this be the Guggenheim of the Midwest?" That's what students asked as they considered what to do with the 200,000-square-foot postal distribution center that will be abandoned when operations are moved to west Oklahoma City. Plans suggest the building could be a museum.

Create new assisted living centers. Seniors could enjoy museums, ball games, parks and movies.

Investment
City planner Russell Claus estimated public and private investment downtown, estimated at $2.4 billion, could double if the city succeeds at promoting development in the 590 acres. OU architecture professor Hans Butzer said, "If we think about this carefully, and work together, we can do great things with this new front door and lay the groundwork for new investment."

[floater]

There needs to be a plan.

that we will follow and not ditch once a developer comes in and wants it a cheaper way

On the photo in the Oklahoman, the green link from the Myriad Gardens to the river, seems to be just a row of trees on either side of a street. I would like to see instead is a green mall stretching from I-40 to the river. It would have athletic fields, public art, gardens, and maybe a performing arts shell. Retail, institutional, and residential uses would surround it.

[autoMATTic]

We should relocate the horse industry to the Remington Park area to consolidate and dubb it the Equestrian sector. Then we should move the Fair Grounds to the south of downtown surrounded by lush green fairways and fountains.... then take the old fair grounds and either build a NASCAR track or a football bowl!!!!!!!!! That should be cheap, right?

[Pete]

I really like the idea of moving the fairgrounds to the river area, as it would help to get more conventions and hotels for downtown.

However, I'm afraid we've already spent a bunch of money there and I think most citizens would have a hard time throwing that away.

Still, our present fairgrounds is a long way from being anything to get excited about and it might be time to sell off the present location for another use and just start over.

[floater]

The thing is, I don't really like the notion of a lot of blacktop anywhere near the river. Wherever the fairgrounds are, you'd need a lot of parking space. I think we need to have a dense neighborhood of uses to complement the greenspaces. Another option would be: if there's an event on the fairgrounds/river park, then run a shuttle service from downtown and have them park there.

[hipsterdoofus]

I just hope that the new "boulevard" does not have a stoplight every block, otherwise it will be pointless

[mranderson]

I would like to see an eight lane street with a wide median full of trees and flowers complimented with turn of the 19th century lighting. The street signs could be a decorative type to reflect the period, and all buildings would be required to be victorian or other period archetecture, filled with antique stores, ventage clothing and other specialty stores with cobblestone walkways.

Tne name... Patience Latting Blvd.

[Midtowner]

A casino on the river linked by riverboat to Bricktown would be an ideal gateway to South OKC. And with indian trust land or a move by the legislature, it could happen.

[Pete]

Floater, that's a good point about all the parking that would be needed.

Perhaps the new fairgrounds could be built on the south side of the river, with parking further south of that so it wouldn't take up space that would be used in other ways.


There is certainly nothing special about the current location of the fairgrounds... It's kind of out there on it's own and not near enough the river to connect it that way.

I'd really like to see the group of planners come up with some ideas around this and include it in MAPS III.

[metro]

I would like to see an eight lane street with a wide median full of trees and flowers complimented with turn of the 19th century lighting. The street signs could be a decorative type to reflect the period, and all buildings would be required to be victorian or other period archetecture, filled with antique stores, ventage clothing and other specialty stores with cobblestone walkways.

Tne name... Patience Latting Blvd.

There already is a Patience Latting Blvd. it runs in front of city hall downtown.

[metro]

Sounds like you all should of been at the COPTA and the other planning meetings. Some of your points have already been addressed, others have not. I encourage you all to attend the next round of meetings.

[mranderson]

There already is a Patience Latting Blvd. it runs in front of city hall downtown.

I forgot about that one. change the existing one and name the new one in honor of Mayor Latting. A tiny one block street is not good enough.

[floater]

Floater, that's a good point about all the parking that would be needed.

Perhaps the new fairgrounds could be built on the south side of the river, with parking further south of that so it wouldn't take up space that would be used in other ways.


There is certainly nothing special about the current location of the fairgrounds... It's kind of out there on it's own and not near enough the river to connect it that way.

I'd really like to see the group of planners come up with some ideas around this and include it in MAPS III.

On the southside would be much better. That way, you can see it from the parks on the northside; imagine seeing the midway from there (and if it was permanent like Coney Island)! I just wish it was on the original river masterplan; I'd prefer we not deviate too much from it, although it's not enforceable.

[okcpulse]

I still would like to see Frontier City moved to the south riverbank on the Oklahoma River next to I-35. Relocate White Water Bay to the same spot.

As of the 590 acres, I have lots of ideas, including midrise residential and a new office tower, although I'd still like to see that office tower by the Galleria parking garage. In any case, this opens up downtown for at least four new office towers, although the demand isn't yet there.

[jbrown84]

I still would like to see Frontier City moved to the south riverbank on the Oklahoma River next to I-35. Relocate White Water Bay to the same spot.

As nice as that might be, it's not practical. Maybe White Water. But Frontier City has lots of relatively cheap land all around it for expansion (not to mention rotting motels that could be bulldozed for new rides, parking, etc.) and already has a nice park developed with mature trees and lots of buildings and rides. To move and/or recreate this would be beyond cost prohibitive.

And I completely disagree with anyone who says that Frontier City is an eyesore. Perhaps if you go into the park and start looking real close at some of the buildings you might see some flaky paint, but from the interstate it looks fine and is a fairly impressive sight to travelers. Whoever buys it needs to concentrate on expanding and updating in that location.

[Uptown]

As nice as that might be, it's not practical. Maybe White Water. But Frontier City has lots of relatively cheap land all around it for expansion (not to mention rotting motels that could be bulldozed for new rides, parking, etc.) and already has a nice park developed with mature trees and lots of buildings and rides. To move and/or recreate this would be beyond cost prohibitive.

And I completely disagree with anyone who says that Frontier City is an eyesore. Perhaps if you go into the park and start looking real close at some of the buildings you might see some flaky paint, but from the interstate it looks fine and is a fairly impressive sight to travelers. Whoever buys it needs to concentrate on expanding and updating in that location.

I agree completely. Frontier City isn't in bad shape. It simply needs some renovations. It's much better than Belle's up in Tulsa.

Six Flags owns much of the land to the west of the park. The new owner has plenty of land there to work with.

[Uptown]

We really have too much invested in the current Fairgrounds. Like it or not, the buildings there are worth a lot (especially the arena), and moving the fairgrounds wouldn't make sense at this point. I'd rather spend the money updating the current location of the state fair grounds.

Concerning the green belt, my main concern is that grass is never green in Oklahoma. How about expanding more park towards the river? Make the green belt have lighted trails surrounded by lush gardens and fountains that connects nicely into the Myriad Gardens. Or how about a nice reflecting pool down the center of the belt, similar to that at the National Memorial. Have it spill a nice water fall down into the Oklahoma River.

[shane453]

It will stay green with some sprinklers.

There's no way we're going to move the OKC fairgrounds. It's in a perfect location, and there's nothing wrong with it where it is. But if we don't do more to improve it and bring it up to par, Tulsa's Expo Square (which is being beautifuly and fully renovated) will start to take a lot of business from the Horse Show Capitol of the world.

[Uptown]

It will stay green with some sprinklers.

There's no way we're going to move the OKC fairgrounds. It's in a perfect location, and there's nothing wrong with it where it is. But if we don't do more to improve it and bring it up to par, Tulsa's Expo Square (which is being beautifuly and fully renovated) will start to take a lot of business from the Horse Show Capitol of the world.

They've already started working on our barns. I went down there yesterday and noticed they completely stripped the largest barn down to the metal beams. Not sure if they're going to dismantle it and build another building, or what.