OCCC Capitol Hill Center

[Zuplar]

What exactly does "gang like" looking crowd mean? Was Trayvon Martin rightfully murdered because he was wearing a hoodie & was in a rough part of town? I guess Zimmerman "perceived" him to be a threat & therefore it was justified. Right.

Oklahoma City crime rates and statistics - NeighborhoodScout

If you look at this map, you will see the Capital Hill district is one of the safest districts in its vicinity. So you are gonna tell me you don't feel safe in OKC, unless its the very outskirts? This whole "perceiving" an area not being safe is based on racial stereotypes & sensationalized media by shows like Gang lands in order to garner viewership. You have nothing to base this area being any less safe than many other parts of OKC, except what cars people drive & what clothes they are wearing or how the area makes you feel.

Yeah you lost me. I'm still trying to figure out where race came into any of this. Again crime does not equal black, brown, yellow, green, red, it equals bad guys doing bad things.

[ljbab728]

Yeah you lost me. I'm still trying to figure out where race came into any of this. Again crime does not equal black, brown, yellow, green, red, it equals bad guys doing bad things.

This doesn't have anything to do with race. Why do you say that the last time you were there in that area at night you were afraid of being shot? Did someone threaten you or did you just see someone that you thought looked scary? I see people who look scary at night in all areas of OKC. (I might look scary at night to some people. LOL)

[Rover]

To ignore that there are threatening parts of most cities is just as ignorant as racial, age or other profiling. There are lots of threatening signals. And sometimes behavior that is foreign to us and our norms is threatening because we don't know what to make of it ...loud and erratic behavior that may be normal rambunctious activity among a small group of inner city kids can be totally misunderstood and threatening if it isn't normal behavior for you. Some people on here think drivers and cars are threatening and dangerous. There are all sorts of signals. You can't just scold people out of being cautious or fearful.

There are plenty of places I've been where I would challenge certain self proclaimed unaffected people on here to go and not feel fearful or cautious....and yet they could go and most likely be safe enough ...at least if they knew how to behave.

I also think lighting affects people greatly. The more they can actually see what is going on, the better they can sense what is happening.

[foodiefan]

let the market place determine. . .if it scares you, don't go. . . leaves plenty of room for the rest of us who aren't fearful !!

[bombermwc]

So can all three of you name a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood that you feel safer in?

Yup, walker/western...think U.S. Grant/Santa Fe South area. That area is also a largely Hispanic area with an ever increasing Hispanic population. Lets try not to discount opinions just because they differ, and lets also try to not create a racial issue where there isn't one.

CH is a rough area, there is no doubting that. It has nothing to do with a particular racial mix. It's a simple socio-economical thing. It could be all white people and it wouldn't make it any more/less safe...the race card simply has nothing to do with it. CH is economically depressed and is pretty much the lowest income in the city....been that way for decades. There are people working to help this community survive and there have been some small successes over the years. It's often ignored by commercial development because of those tough economics. That's why things like this are so important to the area because a more "public" development (opposed to totally private) can help anchor more things to come. Look at what 23rd was able to do and what the city has planned for the east corridor of 23rd. It's a far cry from what it was when I started at OCU in '00.

[Pete]

FWIW, my family owned a rental house in that area in the early 80's, before the Hispanic community started to move in.

And back then, things were still plenty rough.

The area has actually improved since the Hispanic community has largely taken over but it still has a long way to go.

[Roger S]

I cut down SW 23rd from Walker to Shields every day on my way home and I've always wondered about the history of this building.

It has been for sale for a long time. Does anyone know anything about it? Is it just a house or was it a restaurant or club at one time..... Every day that I drive by it I think it would be a cool building to put an old Speakeasy type restaurant in.

[turnpup]

I cut down SW 23rd from Walker to Shields every day on my way home and I've always wondered about the history of this building.

It has been for sale for a long time. Does anyone know anything about it? Is it just a house or was it a restaurant or club at one time..... Every day that I drive by it I think it would be a cool building to put an old Speakeasy type restaurant in.

What a coincidence! My husband and I were down there just a couple of months ago. We had parked the car and were admiring the AMAZING view of downtown from that spot. We, too, were wondering about that building. Maybe it was a restaurant? A beauty shop? But yes, it does have an interesting appeal to it. If you do the restaurant, make sure you do your bbq concept that you always talk about. Yum!

[BBatesokc]

I love how some people here try and bully people into ignoring reality.

C.H. is a rough area. You do your, 'I'm not a scaredy cat and you are' dance all you want and you'll look like a fool doing it. The rough, poor, transient and criminal aspect is one reason it hasn't ever been successfully developed since its decline.

Do areas like the Plaza District, Midtown and Film Row give it hope? Sure. But obviously developers know the reality and that's why it continues to be ignored beyond wishful thinking.

Do I feel 'safe' in that area (I'm there daily)? I feel safe enough to know that if I keep aware of my surroundings and actions I'll probably be fine. Would I move there or recommend someone else with a wife and kids move there? No way on either account.

Would I invest money there (property) with the full knowledge the investment will not make a decent return for quite awhile? Sure, along the main corridors and to the furthest north towards the river.

Part of the problem too is what one person calls Capitol Hill is not what another considers C.H. - Are you people going off the original (much smaller boundaries) or the later much larger boundaries which apparently extended East all the way to I-35.

To me C.H. is as described online elsewhere; Walker to Santa Fe and 22nd to 29th with the prime area being Commerce and Robinson.

Lastly, to ignore race in this apparently PC discussion is absurd IMO. To develop C.H. and not spotlight the Hispanic culture which has been dominate there for some time now (post C.H. heyday) would be insulting. Race is iconic with C.H. in my opinion and I hope race plays a huge part in its resurgence.

But, you can't apply race in one aspect and then ignore it in another. IMO the Hispanic community needs to take ownership for the good and the bad in that area. Identify the bad and discourage it. Identify the good and expand upon it. Ownership goes both ways and when done right the Hispanic Community will have a shining example of what they can do and do it every bit as good as the other areas that have experienced resurgence.

IMO the redevelopment of Deep Deuce was insulting to its heritage. Watch the PBS special on Deep Deuce and then ask yourself if any of its rich history within the black community was maintained or spotlighted. I say, no and its a terrible shame.

[Pete]

I cut down SW 23rd from Walker to Shields every day on my way home and I've always wondered about the history of this building.

It has been for sale for a long time. Does anyone know anything about it? Is it just a house or was it a restaurant or club at one time..... Every day that I drive by it I think it would be a cool building to put an old Speakeasy type restaurant in.

It was built in 1946 as an office building but I'm not sure of the original occupants.

[PhiAlpha]

I love how some people here try and bully people into ignoring reality.

C.H. is a rough area. You do your, 'I'm not a scaredy cat and you are' dance all you want and you'll look like a fool doing it. The rough, poor, transient and criminal aspect is one reason it hasn't ever been successfully developed since its decline.

Do areas like the Plaza District, Midtown and Film Row give it hope? Sure. But obviously developers know the reality and that's why it continues to be ignored beyond wishful thinking.

Do I feel 'safe' in that area (I'm there daily)? I feel safe enough to know that if I keep aware of my surroundings and actions I'll probably be fine. Would I move there or recommend someone else with a wife and kids move there? No way on either account.

Would I invest money there (property) with the full knowledge the investment will not make a decent return for quite awhile? Sure, along the main corridors and to the furthest north towards the river.

Part of the problem too is what one person calls Capitol Hill is not what another considers C.H. - Are you people going off the original (much smaller boundaries) or the later much larger boundaries which apparently extended East all the way to I-35.

To me C.H. is as described online elsewhere; Walker to Santa Fe and 22nd to 29th with the prime area being Commerce and Robinson.

Lastly, to ignore race in this apparently PC discussion is absurd IMO. To develop C.H. and not spotlight the Hispanic culture which has been dominate there for some time now (post C.H. heyday) would be insulting. Race is iconic with C.H. in my opinion and I hope race plays a huge part in its resurgence.

But, you can't apply race in one aspect and then ignore it in another. IMO the Hispanic community needs to take ownership for the good and the bad in that area. Identify the bad and discourage it. Identify the good and expand upon it. Ownership goes both ways and when done right the Hispanic Community will have a shining sample of what they can do and do it every bit as good as the other areas that have experienced resurgence.

IMO the redevelopment of Deep Deuce was insulting to its heritage. Watch the PBS special on Deep Deuce and then ask yourself if any of its rich history within the black community was maintained or spotlighted. I say, no and its a terrible shame.

I don't think anyone is suggesting that we should ignore the Hispanic heritage in CH. I was just annoyed that when someone mentioned that they thought CH was dangerous, the first response basically tried to insinuate that he was racist and didn't like the area because it is primarily Hispanic. I think the area's hispanic background is what has the ability to make it cool and unique from other districts. It already has a good base of mexican restaurants. For CH to coexist and thrive among the other districts, it will have to provide something different and focusing on its Hispanic heritage will do that.

[Roger S]

It was built in 1946 as an office building but I'm not sure of the original occupants.

Thanks... I could see that being an office building.... I wonder if those opaque bricks were original to the building or put in at a later time.

[Pete]

Thanks... I could see that being an office building.... I wonder if those opaque bricks were original to the building or put in at a later time.

I bet they are original.

[Canoe]

I cut down SW 23rd from Walker to Shields every day on my way home and I've always wondered about the history of this building.

It has been for sale for a long time. Does anyone know anything about it? Is it just a house or was it a restaurant or club at one time..... Every day that I drive by it I think it would be a cool building to put an old Speakeasy type restaurant in.

Do you have a concept? The main problem is parking. It is currently zoned commercial and he is wanting $72,000. My guess is he would take around $68,000 if it came down to it. I think it could be a great long term investment, but it would be a poor choice to buy something and just let it sit until things "get better".

[Roger S]

Do you have a concept? The main problem is parking. It is currently zoned commercial and he is wanting $72,000. My guess is he would take around $68,000 if it came down to it. I think it could be a great long term investment, but it would be a poor choice to buy something and just let it sit until things "get better".

I'm not going into the restaurant business myself. I just have always thought it was a neat looking building that has a lot of character and could see it being a dimly lit steakhouse or something like that.... I realize the location isn't really ideal for a high end restaurant like that but maybe some day.

[warreng88]

From the Journal Record:

Doors of opportunity: City Council approves $3M for OCCC’s Capitol Hill center

By: Brian Brus The Journal Record November 18, 2014

OKLAHOMA CITY – The City Council has approved the allocation of $3 million in tax increment financing district funds toward the development of a classroom satellite center in Capitol Hill.

Councilman Pete White said the Oklahoma City Community College center at 325 SW 25th St. will prove to be an economic anchor for the area as it supports job growth and drives other nearby renovations.

“Hopefully it will trigger a lot more better improvements,” he said Tuesday. “The architectural structures there are probably better than most of the areas that have already been revived. It’s a really good project.”

Mayor Mick Cornett agreed that the center has great potential beyond education opportunities.

“I think this is an incredible investment being made,” he said.

The college obtained the former home of Katz Drug Store and Langston’s Western Wear six years ago with plans to redevelop the site as an adult education center that would also support the largely Hispanic community of the area with access to computer technology and bilingual services. The center’s programming now includes computer skills training, resume writing and job interview preparation in Spanish and Korean.

Shortly after the acquisition, OCCC officials asked for municipal assistance of $1 million in TIF funds within the other public development costs clause of the original TIF design. School officials then determined that total costs would be more than the $11 million originally projected, and they asked for a funding boost to a total of $3 million. The TIF review committee recommended that council members approve the amended allocation, which they did unanimously.

Councilman David Greenwell said the OCCC center is proof of how flexible a TIF district can be. A TIF levies an additional tax on businesses and other operations in the district to subsidize infrastructure improvements in advance of expected economic growth.

“This will help facilitate the reach of Oklahoma City Community College into the community,” Greenwell said. “This is going to help people with basic education issues as well as being the doorway into higher education. It is so important that whenever we can expend public funds to help improve citizens’ lives that we take a serious look at that and do as much as we can.”

The center’s renovation was designed by Frankfurt Short Bruza architecture firm of Oklahoma City, with Byron Morris as project architect and Jack Morgan as project designer. They were asked for a plan that would represent the influences of the Hispanic community, particularly the Calle dos Cinco in Historic Capitol Hill neighborhood.

The 47,000-square-foot center has three levels over two connected buildings, each of which has a basement. The job was challenging because the foundations did not align with each other, officials said; plans had to account for a 3-foot elevation difference. The east side was designed with two 24-seat classrooms, offices and faculty work space; the west side has two computer rooms for 30 students total.

[mrokc777]

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[mrokc777]

They have construction fence and are working on the inside. Pete have they filed any permits?

[mrokc777]

[Spartan]

Good to see!

[HOT ROD]

Hopefully this will be successful and lead to more branch locations of the OCCC throughout the city, perhaps specializing in academia most useful for a local community and/or employer. Very telling that OKC only has one community college and it isn't even in the center of the city. Some may scream, 'we have MetroTech and Francis Tuttle' but those are vocational technology (job) schools not necessarily post-secondary academic.

I personally hope and expect the Capital Hill branch to focus on the local Hispanic community's needs and bridge Capital Hill HS to local, minority businesses and civic orgs. Would be very nice to see something similar in the Asian District and another branch of OCCC somewhere downtown. I think expanding community colleges is a great way for OKC to boost its academic profile while also feeding local universities. This is definitely something OKC can learn from Seattle where we have community colleges throughout the metro area (Seattle-Central, N Seattle, Highline, Edmonds, Everett, Bellevue, Cascadia, etc), each having a slightly different flavor/audience/focus but all serving the segment between H.S. and University that often lead students into the university programs. We also have the vo-tech (we call them Technical Colleges) that are more blue collar/skill focused. I'm sure this is a big reason why Seattle is considered an advanced academic metro; hopefully OKC can make some huge tracks on that regard with us as a model.

[jccouger]

We have rose state too

[Pete]

New-ish rending of this cool project:

[baralheia]

This looks fantastic! I am very hopeful that this will be the development to kickstart the Capitol Hill area!

[jccouger]

Wow!

I knew this was a big deal for the area when it was announced, but what a catalyst!