BOK Park Plaza

[Urbanized]

Oh, good grief. It is perfectly fine to disagree with elements of a proposed development (I surely do in this case), or even the development as a whole, but the personal shots at and vilification of Larry Nichols around here of late is over-the-top. Seriously.

[Tigerguy]

Oh, good grief. It is perfectly fine to disagree with elements of a proposed development (I surely do in this case), or even the development as a whole, but the personal shots at and vilification of Larry Nichols around here of late is over-the-top. Seriously.

I try to keep this in mind before diving too deeply into any online discussion:

My name is Internet, king of kings:
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!

[Rover]

This is about ego - they want to sit right on top of all sides of the Myriad Gardens. There can be nothing in their way.

And I just praised you on another thread for your sense of being non-devisive....

[Spartan]

Do we presume that the executives working in 499 would be okay with a brick building in the way if their park view? Especially when they have the resources to reshape downtown to literally suit their whims.

Lets be realistic. What's ironic is that the diagonal slant, while creating a minimal plaza space, is actually an effective way of maximizing lot coverage on the block with what they DO want to exist there.

I am just looking at the reality of what OKC is and how it now functions. It's the Wild West.

[Plutonic Panda]

These buildings are usable and functional. The problem is that our definitions change for the worse with every new look we take at preservation.

499 is a bad bad bad project the more that I stew over it.

Agreed!

[soonerwilliam]

It's been 30 years! I disagree........

[ljbab728]

A very interesting new development as per Steve.

Oklahoma City planning panel recommends sparing Union Bus Station from demolition | News OK

The Oklahoma City Planning Department is recommending denial of an application to tear down the Union Bus Station as part of development of a 27-story tower and two new garages, concluding the bus station is “without question one of the most endearing legacy resources of downtown.”
A staff report by Assistant City Planner Lisa Chronister suggests the bus station can be retained without compromising the 499 W Sheridan development.
“At its December 18 meeting, the (Downtown Design Review) Committee strongly urged the applicant to create a stronger architectural statement at the southwest corner of the property than what was shown in the preliminary presentation … Staff suggests that the exterior facade of the Union Bus Station could be retained, refurbished and integrated into the new development, accommodating both desired leaseable space and distinctive architectural character.”

[HOT ROD]

now, they need to recommend saving the Hotel Black AND the Auto Hotel.

Then, we'd be all set; Pichard Chilton can INFILL along Sheridan AND put the tower at Main and Hudson on top of another garage if they really desire two of them.

this is not rocket science. ...

[CuatrodeMayo]

A very interesting new development as per Steve.

Oklahoma City planning panel recommends sparing Union Bus Station from demolition | News OK

So this is hill they choose to die on? Interesting...

[rtz]

Can't they relocate the bus station?

[David]

Depends if they use that construction company that is building Maywood phase II.

[Urbanized]

So this is hill they choose to die on? Interesting...

Yeah, no kidding.

[Urbanized]

Depends if they use that construction company that is building Maywood phase II.

Well played.

[David]

You know, in some respects it might be a fair bit easier to negotiate with Devon on this. Considering their giant jewel of a building a block over, any bluff to move out of downtown ala Sandridge would be pretty laughable.

[bchris02]

Personally, I hope the bus station is what gets saved. It is such a great opportunity to be a unique restaurant that will stand out. Imagining it in the shadow of 499 Sheridan and the four Clayco towers is a pretty awesome thought.

[bombermwc]

The bus station is one place I'd let go. It's a pile of crap. There really isn't much to it that's "historic" other than the fact of when it was built. Point me at some elements that make it qualify for me to want to save it. Compare that to Hotel Black and the Auto Hotel.....not even close. But if they're throwing a broad blanket to plan on losing some, ok I get it.

[bchris02]

The bus station is one place I'd let go. It's a pile of crap. There really isn't much to it that's "historic" other than the fact of when it was built. Point me at some elements that make it qualify for me to want to save it. Compare that to Hotel Black and the Auto Hotel.....not even close. But if they're throwing a broad blanket to plan on losing some, ok I get it.

I disagree. With the right amount of investment and rehabilitation it could be a real jewel. Hotel Black and Motor Hotel are generic buildings that could be in any city. They add density but they don't stand out much and aren't something that people really notice. In fact there are people who live here that didn't even notice them until this story broke about tearing them down. The Bus Station on the other hand has potential to be something truly unique and memorable. Imagine it as a 24-hour diner or upscale restaurant, decked out in neon.

[TU 'cane]

Very interesting.
I see this playing one of two ways: the department/committee is either throwing us a bone and making it appear that they tried to do something, or... this is less likely, this is a direct response to Hines when they came back with "increased retail space" in one of their parking garages, which was a major slap in our faces.

Not sure how to take this, I hope the bus station ends up being saved just on a matter of principle at this point.
I'm still trying to figure out why there can't be parking underneath this tower? It's not as if the size would be an issue.
OnePlace succeeded, the one thing I'll applaud on this building:

[TU 'cane]

That is becoming the de facto way to build in urban cores. Except in OKC. And I'm just not sure if it is because no one in the City of Oklahoma City knows that or what.

Someone better figure it out quick. For smaller buildings like OnePlace and even mid-sized ones like this proposal (Chicago has some notable buildings that do this as well, larger than both OnePlace and 499 Sheridan), I would think it's more than feasible and everyone wins. City saves space, leaves room for more development. Company still gets their parking garage. And the building gains a little bit of height.

[Bellaboo]

The bus station is one place I'd let go. It's a pile of crap. There really isn't much to it that's "historic" other than the fact of when it was built. Point me at some elements that make it qualify for me to want to save it. Compare that to Hotel Black and the Auto Hotel.....not even close. But if they're throwing a broad blanket to plan on losing some, ok I get it.

Can you imagine what another Republic Gastropub would be like in this building ?

[sooner88]

Can you imagine what another Republic Gastropub would be like in this building ?

I think that would be awesome. The ability to have a relatively nice meal and then stick around and watch the game should have a lot of appeal to people working in downtown. Reminds of Chicago where the busiest place in the business district after work hours was a restaurant/bar that was pretty similiar to Republic.

[NWOKCGuy]

I just don't think there's anything special about the bus station. Sure it would be an awesome venue for a restaurant. They could also tear it down and put in restaurant space in the parking garage and it would do just as well.

[Pete]

Remember, this is just the recommendation of City Staff. They also recommended Stage Center not be demolished and I believe that was the case for some or all of the SandRidge buildings. In all those cases, the Downtown Design Review Committee voted to approve demolitions and the Board of Adjustment denied the appeal of preservationists.

If anything, I'm a bit shocked they are only recommending saving the one building. In effect, they are green-lighting the demolition of 8 historic buildings. That's completely unprecedented since the crazy clearings of the 60's and 70's.

Not trying to save the old Hotel Black is particularly puzzling. It was in active and pretty full use before the current owners bought it and systematically drove out tenants. How on earth then is it 'functionally obsolete', which is a weak argument to begin with?

[kevinpate]

functionally obsolete - I have people who want to go into what I plan to build, not what is already there.

[BDP]

There's a cool work of the bus station on display in the myriad gardens lobby right now. It's my favorite building on the block. Nothing else like it in the city: