Midtown

[dankrutka]

Why does it take up so much sidewalk? People in this area will be walking in the street.

I would assume that they're turning that entrance for cars into a sidewalk for pedestrians with a curb.

[Urbanized]

Once again, there should be parallel pedestrian access provided, with barricades protecting. The center turn could be easily sacrificed, with southbound traffic routed down it. We have GOT to stop allowing these constant sidewalk closures when they can be easily avoided.

[OkiePoke]

Once again, there should be parallel pedestrian access provided, with barricades protecting. The center turn could be easily sacrificed, with southbound traffic routed down it. We have GOT to stop allowing these constant sidewalk closures when they can be easily avoided.

Are you talking about during construction? Because they are taking out the road and installing a building with sidewalk. The sidewalk size won't change. The drawings can be a little deceiving.

[dankrutka]

Yes... I think Urbanized is arguing that there should be barricades on Walker that create a walkway for pedestrians while the sidewalk is being built. As it is currently, most pedestrians on that side of the street will likely just (dangerously) walk into the street once they get to this barrier.

[catcherinthewry]

Once again, there should be parallel pedestrian access provided, with barricades protecting. The center turn could be easily sacrificed, with southbound traffic routed down it. We have GOT to stop allowing these constant sidewalk closures when they can be easily avoided.

If only there were sidewalks on the other side of the street.....

[dankrutka]

If only there were sidewalks on the other side of the street.....

So, if someone is walking from The Edge to Louie's they should have to cross the street twice within a block? So... in short, they'd walk up to this this construction barrier, cross the street, walk 5 feet, and cross the street back. Of course, the reality is that no one is doing that. Pedestrians would likely just walk in the street, which can lead to accidents.

How about OKC just creates a pedestrian walkway? It's really not very hard. It's actually really easy.

[catcherinthewry]

It's not like it is an eight lane boulevard one has to cross or a months long project. It's really not very hard. It's actually really easy. It's just a minor inconvenience that won't last long.

[hoya]

It's not like it is an eight lane boulevard one has to cross or a months long project. It's really not very hard. It's actually really easy. It's just a minor inconvenience that won't last long.

Not if you're like, in a wheelchair or something.

[Pete]

Ugh. That reminds me...

Not for the first time but the most recent time, I saw a poor guy in a motorized chair making his way in the right lane of Classen near the Catholic Charities HQ because the sidewalk there is obliterated for construction. Traffic in that area is heavy and moves fast. Incredibly dangerous situation.

I really need to start taking photos of these things otherwise the absurdness of it all is lost in words. In fact, on Sunday I saw a family with a couple of small kids walking in EKG because the Santa Fe Station has that sidewalk blocked, even though they are not even working on the outside right now.

By far the worst and an image that will haunt me for quite a while... I saw a blind teenager with a backpack walking on Western north of 23rd and using his cane all the way because the sidewalk in that area is unpassable. Then, right after that, I saw a woman with two young kids having to walk in Western as well.


I've said this before but sidewalks and crosswalks aren't just for hipsters on their fixies and downtown workers out for a coffee. There are lots of people who have to walk as real transportation; or at least to a bus stop (which odds are does not provide any shelter whatsoever).

[shawnw]

Before construction started there the sidewalk was obliterated from years of neglect. When I lived at the Classen and went up Classen Blvd to go home I saw someone in the street there due to lack of sidewalks almost daily, and frequently it was a motorized scooter.

[baralheia]

While that may be true, there was still a path that someone could conceivably taken that was not on the street. With construction fences erected, it gives pedestrians no choice and forces them into the street. Other cities, large AND small, provide a protected walkway when the sidewalk is closed; it's neither difficult nor expensive to set up a few K-rails. This really is a big issue that will only continue to get bigger as downtown (and the city as a whole) grows and becomes more dense.

[Spartan]

Ugh. That reminds me...

Not for the first time but the most recent time, I saw a poor guy in a motorized chair making his way in the right lane of Classen near the Catholic Charities HQ because the sidewalk there is obliterated for construction. Traffic in that area is heavy and moves fast. Incredibly dangerous situation.

I really need to start taking photos of these things otherwise the absurdness of it all is lost in words. In fact, on Sunday I saw a family with a couple of small kids walking in EKG because the Santa Fe Station has that sidewalk blocked, even though they are not even working on the outside right now.

By far the worst and an image that will haunt me for quite a while... I saw a blind teenager with a backpack walking on Western north of 23rd and using his cane all the way because the sidewalk in that area is unpassable. Then, right after that, I saw a woman with two young kids having to walk in Western as well.


I've said this before but sidewalks and crosswalks aren't just for hipsters on their fixies and downtown workers out for a coffee. There are lots of people who have to walk as real transportation; or at least to a bus stop (which odds are does not provide any shelter whatsoever).

I've seen a lot of those motorized chairs around the Palo Duro apts, as well as the general area of Saints. They could almost use a Hoveround Lane there. These are all north side examples, but I assure you the pedestrian indignities are a LOT heavier on the south side. I was driving down South Walker and a senile old man was causing a traffic bottle-neck biking down the middle of the road. They are almost finished with the sidewalk on South Western, but that's only on ONE side. Absurd for basically the southside's main artery. Traffic on South Western is awful, especially at 5 when it's bumper-to-bumper all the way to 240. It escapes me as to why anyone would take that way as opposed to the freeways that at least move (better than most cities). Western at 44th and 59th are two of the highest-collision spots in the metro. For one, OKC is unique in having virtually zero medians anyway, and secondly, we are uniquely sidewalk-poor. MAPS' Sidewalk component, which we cut to pay for the Fairgrounds Expo and CC megaproject, was a joke. We really need to double-down on this, stat. Start from the middle and work out, focusing on poor/diverse neighborhoods.

[Pete]

^

That's all very true, it's just I'm not on the southside nearly as often. I do, however, go to the Target at 44th & Western quite a bit because it's actually the closest one to downtown.

And of course, there are many working class people in those near southside neighborhoods who really do rely on the bus or even a bike to get to and from their jobs, and you and certainly see many families walking to and from the store.

[Spartan]

I could go on a huge angry southsider rant about the lack of a solid community development approach down there, but we'll keep this thread about Midtown! lol

[Urbanized]

Not if you're like, in a wheelchair or something.

And/or if construction starts on the planned project across Walker with the same (lack of) sidewalk provisions made. At the current rate of new projects popping up all over downtown, parallel pedestrian access will continue to be a need for years to come; decades if we're lucky. There are plenty of reasons hundreds of cities around the country require PPA during construction; not the least of which being that NOT doing so probably violates ADA.

[ljbab728]

Steve's more detailed explanation about what will be happening here along with an interview with Chris Fleming from Midtown Renaissance.

http://www.oklahoman.com/article/547...rlyAccess=true

Walker Avenue in the heart of Midtown is getting a makeover as driveways are converted into retail spaces and plazas and large trash bins are being moved to less visible locations.

[Pete]

Gap between Louie's and old Meg Guess space already filled in and this stretch is looking more and more urban all the time.

[dcsooner]

That does look very urban, wait until spring that outdoor area will be awesome.

[John]

Fit Circle will be a nice addition to the Midtown mix of shops.

[OKCisOK4me]

Took my mom down to The Garage tonight and she absolutely loved it. We usually eat at the location on Rockwell & 122nd but the Midtown location is sooooo much better and she agreed. It was nice to see so many people out and about on a night of nothing. Did some night driving afterward in the area and noticed that Bleu Garten was absolutely packed. Nothing like taking advantage of an amazing February night.

[dankrutka]

From Saturday.

[zookeeper]

There are so many success stories in central Oklahoma City, but Midtown is my favorite. It's just amazing really. I was there on Friday afternoon and stood in a kind of awe thinking what it was like just a few years ago, and here were the sounds and bustle of a real urban district. It's just another amazing example of the things happening, but I realized Friday that Midtown really is my favorite. The activity is just incredibly exciting to see (and hear!).

[Pete]

[Pete]

OKCTalk - More retail coming to Midtown

[PhiAlpha]

OKCTalk - More retail coming to Midtown

Looks like they're also opening a coffee shop in this development right where I thought we needed one. I'm a fan.