King's Crossing

[AP]

Demanding urban standards in a part of the city that is not urban is a losing battle, especially here. All I am saying is that urbanists need to pick their fights.

Like Spartan just said, it's not as auto-centric as you're making it out to be and is very transit dependent. This is a fight worth picking.

[Spartan]

I doubt that bchris has ever been to this site before or maybe even anywhere in NE OKC. It is a very urban quadrant with great neighborhoods.

[betts]

Like Spartan just said, it's not as auto-centric as you're making it out to be and is very transit dependent. This is a fight worth picking.

So write John Pettis to discuss it. He is phenomenally involved with his ward, which is hard to do, considering how far-flung it is. When we were fighting against the poor design of the Deep Deuce Springhill Suites, he was there to support us. If anything of even minor significance is happening in our ward he is there. If a problem with the bus stop is pointed out to him, he'll try to work out a solution. Yes, he is mayor material when he has a bit more experience. His father was mayor of one of our suburbs at one point in time and I think gave him guidance when he was starting out as Councilman. He's a wise and thoughtful resource for John, I suspect, but not a puppet-master.

[kevinpate]

Again, what's with the parking? ....

A large grocer, plus residential near/over a commuter education center, a medical complex, and national chain retail. That sounds like a fair bit of anticipated daily vehicle traffic. Ergo, a lot of parking unless someone is going to build a multi-level garage for the project.

[Spartan]

It's a lot of parking that doesn't have to obscure the building from a street presence and from alternative mode access.

NE 23rd needs some quality street presence. There are good bones along that corridor that would lend well toward revitalization if it were to be activated.

NE OKC has needs and this project can meet more than just filling the food desert.

[lasomeday]

Did you not read my comments in the GPHG Law Offices thread?

Demanding urban standards in a part of the city that is not urban is a losing battle, especially here. All I am saying is that urbanists need to pick their fights.

It's not urbanists. Its just good long term design. Having good design in these areas allows for them to be relivant in 20 years. Look at the suburban design of NW Expressway. Many are struggling because of the bad setbacks and poor planning.

[betts]

Just saw an outline of the whole King's Crossing development. Incredibly exciting multi-use project. Town homes, a park, live-work retail, medical office complex, school that teaches skills that can be used at an upscale market: meat cutting, flower arranging, baking. And, of course, the Uptown Market.

[HangryHippo]

I'm a little surprised at the arrangement of all the parking considering who was involved in the project. Thought it would be arranged better than that.

But in the interest of not letting perfect be the enemy of good, this is a great project for that area and I hope it does well.

[Spartan]

So let's have a public process and make this happen.

[bchris02]

I completely agree with Hemingstein. Lets not let perfect be the enemy of good.

[boitoirich]

Just saw an outline of the whole King's Crossing development. Incredibly exciting multi-use project. Town homes, a park, live-work retail, medical office complex, school that teaches skills that can be used at an upscale market: meat cutting, flower arranging, baking. And, of course, the Uptown Market.

Yes, the mix of uses is exciting. It's one of the best autocentric mixed-use projects in the city, and the only one that incorporates residential. That alone makes this project worthwhile.

It's a lot of parking that doesn't have to obscure the building from a street presence and from alternative mode access.

NE 23rd needs some quality street presence. There are good bones along that corridor that would lend well toward revitalization if it were to be activated.

NE OKC has needs and this project can meet more than just filling the food desert.

Bingo.

The Eastside is my ancestral home. When I drive along the NE 23rd corridor, I see all of the potential the area has for a revitalization between I-35 and the I-235 -- one that would connect the area with several important centers such as the Health Sciences Center, the Capitol Complex, and Uptown. Not to mention, 23rd is the spine that already connects the Eastside's historic neighborhoods. A concentration of businesses, services, and transit-oriented development would make the corridor active, convenient, and walkable. There are several uses along the corridor already in place practicallly begging for complementary neighbors. For example, there are popular barber shops and salons, as well as locally owned clothing boutiques. These are, unfortunately, separated by suburban big boxes that destroy the natural urban fabric. Other uses such as popular bars (Woody's, Plumtree) might benefit from a move to the corridor. With the proximity to both the Capitol and the OUHSC, lunch and dinner venues should thrive (countless bbq and soul food restaurants are flung throughout the Eastside).

The King's Crossing project for better or worse will set the tone for happens to NE 23rd. If the B4L group/Pettit can be convinced to at least front the street, it will provide a tremendous signal of the vitality and viability of 23rd. It would also welcome bus users in a big way. That would be easy to do anyway because the new store is set to be built in an empty lot, and the new store will be demolished after completion of the greenfield project.

As for bchris02, I know you have the best intentions at heart and you'd like to be pragmatic about things. There's nothing wrong with that at all. But at some point, someone in Charlotte, or Seattle, or Denver said, "Enough! This is the quality of life that I want for my community." We cannot allow private interests to trump public interests at every turn just because they own land. In this case our job is to say, "The plan you have is good, but we could easily make it better by X Y and Z."

[Spartan]

I completely agree with Hemingstein. Lets not let perfect be the enemy of good.

So are you saying that this project should not be subjected to a public process through which minor improvements may or may not happen?

[Dubya61]

Short of purchasing a subscription, is there a way to see the graphics for this article?

[Plutonic Panda]

That area is pretty urban if I know where we're talking about here. I'll get some pictures later...

[HangryHippo]

Wasn't Blair Humphreys consulted for this project? I was surprised that none of this appears pushed to the street. That's probably the biggest change I'd like to see for this development.

[soonerguru]

It's a lot of parking that doesn't have to obscure the building from a street presence and from alternative mode access.

NE 23rd needs some quality street presence. There are good bones along that corridor that would lend well toward revitalization if it were to be activated.

NE OKC has needs and this project can meet more than just filling the food desert.

I think you should share your concerns with John Pettis.

[okcustu]

Urbanists need to pick their battles. NE 23rd and MLK is very auto-centric and is nowhere close to being an urban district and won't be in the next 30 years. The suburban office complex going up in Core2Shore is a battle worth fighting. This grocery store isn't.

Well I'm already overweight so I shouldn't change my diet... See that logic. No one is saying there should be no parking, but this development belongs in Edmond, not on OKC's soon to be premier commercial strip. If we want NE 23rd to look like NW 23rd you can't have buildings interact with the street like that. Rear parking would allow the building to be accessible and more attractive to the many pedestrians and transit users on this corridor. Also if OKC gets their act together in the transit department unused spots can be converted to greenspace and more commercial development. Hard to do that if the sea of parking is in front.

[Spartan]

We really do need to start looking at 23rd as the Main Street of OKC.

I think you should share your concerns with John Pettis.

I will, I appreciate what I have heard so far of him.

[ljbab728]

The city is moving forward to facilitate this development as per Steve.

http://www.oklahoman.com/article/5102325?embargo=1

A large portion of northeast Oklahoma City centered at NE 23 and Martin Luther King Avenue was declared “blighted” Tuesday by the Oklahoma City Council after the panel received a new study showing the area is struggling with high unemployment and crime, plummeting home ownership, unsafe conditions and crumbling buildings and infrastructure.
The blight declaration allows the Urban Renewal Authority to pursue a redevelopment plan for an area bounded by Phillips Avenue, Sooner Road, NE 36 and NE 20.

[Tigerguy]

"after the panel received a new study showing the area is struggling with high unemployment and crime, plummeting home ownership, unsafe conditions and crumbling buildings and infrastructure"...they needed a study to figure that out?

[RadicalModerate]

"after the panel received a new study showing the area is struggling with high unemployment and crime, plummeting home ownership, unsafe conditions and crumbling buildings and infrastructure"...they needed a study to figure that out?

Of course they needed a study . . .
To verify what everyone already knew and give some folks the opportunity to earn a couple of bucks.

[ljbab728]

People are ignoring the reality that studies are required before taking action. They can't just designate an area as blighted by saying "hey I already knew that" without documentation. Things just don't work that way.

[Pete]

I've heard this proposed development has hit a rough spot and has stalled at least for the time being.

Lots of incentives involved and pretty ambitious to start.

Hope they get back on track but wouldn't be surprised if this ended up with a pretty significant revision.

[HOT ROD]

as in pushed to the street with parking behind; revision?

[ljbab728]

I've heard this proposed development has hit a rough spot and has stalled at least for the time being.

Lots of incentives involved and pretty ambitious to start.

Hope they get back on track but wouldn't be surprised if this ended up with a pretty significant revision.

Here is Steve's update. It is a rough spot but there is no indication of any significant revision.

Dump discovery delays northeast OKC development | NewsOK.com