NW Expressway & Classen

[warreng88]

I received an email from DeShawn Heusel, who works for ULI Oklahoma, with an invite to an event at 50 Penn Place.

The event is titled "Envisioning Development at Transit Stations". Those present will hear from national experts and be asked to provide input on what they would like future development to be or look like at various locations along NW Expressway and Classen. The workshop is a next step in the NW Corridor planning that began in 2015.

Not sure exactly what it entails, but could be an interesting discussion. I would assume Pete and Urbanized will be there.

[progressiveboy]

Maybe they will tear down the glass shop directly across Blackwelder, along with the rest of those homes directly east. A little of an eyesore if you ask me.

[Teo9969]

I think the transit station would honestly be better placed on the north side of Expressway and finding a way to tie in all the development in Belle Isle.

And of course, creating an intersection at Expressway and Classen that is walkable.

A lot of thought really needs to given by city leaders toward the half-mile radius centered at Expressway and Classen because it's going to become the key to whether there's true connectivity between the NW quadrant and the rest of the core. Biking specifically needs to be factored in because this is one of the few places that you can effectively ignore I-44.

[warreng88]

It looks like the workshop has more to do with EMBARK and not so much this area. See the article below:

Embark to get strategic help

By: Dale Denwalt The Journal Record August 29, 2016

OKLAHOMA CITY – Metro officials will get help from a national nonprofit to plan land use near transit stops.

Smart Growth America picked Oklahoma City’s public transportation agency, Embark, as one of nine entities to receive technical assistance. Experts will visit Oklahoma City to help plan and manage transit projects using zoning, land use, low-cost housing and commercial development.

Some of those experts will meet with the public Tuesday in northwest Oklahoma City.

Embark has said there are places in the city that could be explored in the project, linking transit stops with mixed-use or other kinds of development that could encourage more use of the transit service.

A press release from the agency identified examples like 23rd and Classen Boulevard, Pennsylvania Avenue and NW 50th, and two other stops along Northwest Expressway.

Cathy O’Connor, president of the Alliance for Economic Development, said those areas have tremendous potential.

“One of the things that is challenging is we don’t have a lot of very dense development,” O’Connor said. “Even though in an area like Northwest 23rd and Classen, there’s development there but it’s not very dense.”

She said there are different ways planners might direct development.

“There’s the carrot and the stick,” O’Connor said. “Sometimes through the city’s development guidelines they can encourage a certain development. Then other times, we can proactively seek out developers for certain kinds of development.”

The meeting Tuesday will be at 6:30 p.m. on the third floor of 50 Penn Place.

Embark spokesman Michael Scroggins said the planning will focus on both future and existing stops.

“What it’s really aiming to do is further develop a corridor,” Scroggins said.

In the future, Embark could operate a transit service that looks like a bus but operates like a rail car with fewer stops and, possibly, dedicated lanes.

“Maybe there’s a pharmacy” at the stop, Scroggins said. “It could be that there’s an eatery nearby or a small grocer. Those things are all built and planned with transit at the forefront.”

[Teo9969]

I was surprised to see this thread hadn't been commented on since 2016!

Anyway, does anyone know if land assembly is still going on in this area? With the success we're sure to see at Oak, the many empty lots north of 46th, and the big lot on Classes between 47th and 48th, it feel like something could still be brewing here.

[Pete]

Yes, Zerby continues to slowly add properties in this area, but there are several other unrelated property owners who also have multiple properties.

I'll map it all out at some point.

[Pete]

Took these yesterday.

The area outlined in red is where a ton of acquisitions have taken place over the last decade. However, there are 3-4 different groups with blocks of properties, including the recently-demolished office building along Classen, so I wouldn't expect substantial redevelopment any time soon.

[W8N2SKI]

Took these yesterday.

The area outlined in red is where a ton of acquisitions have taken place over the last decade. However, there are 3-4 different groups with blocks of properties, including the recently-demolished office building along Classen, so I wouldn't expect substantial redevelopment any time soon.

Pete, if you were to guess, would you bet more on residential development like apartments/condos, or do you think it will be something along the lines of a mixed-development like Oak? I know there is no chatter at all; I'm just wondering what your educated guess would be for a property like this.

[Pete]

Pete, if you were to guess, would you bet more on residential development like apartments/condos, or do you think it will be something along the lines of a mixed-development like Oak? I know there is no chatter at all; I'm just wondering what your educated guess would be for a property like this.

The primary land owner is Teryl Zerby who tends to do big box and fast food; no residential that I'm aware of.

[Plutonic Panda]

Speaking on the intersection, this would be a great place for a multi lane roundabout.

[MagzOK]

Speaking on the intersection, this would be a great place for a multi lane roundabout.

I've thought they should go back to a roundabout for a while now!

[Plutonic Panda]

I've thought they should go back to a roundabout for a while now!

It would be the perfect place for one. There’s enough room. They could build a big water feature or a statue in the middle of it. And in my perfect world, they would build a flyover just for buses.

[TheTravellers]

It would be the perfect place for one. There’s enough room. They could build a big water feature or a statue in the middle of it. And in my perfect world, they would build a flyover just for buses.

Never gonna happen, be nice if it did, though. You do know it used to be one (can't remember if it was a full one or not), right?

[Plutonic Panda]

Never gonna happen, be nice if it did, though. You do know it used to be one (can't remember if it was a full one or not), right?

Yeah, I think sometime ago I remember someone showing a picture of it being a traffic circle. I don’t know why people would be so opposed to building a roundabout, but they’ll build one out in the middle of nowhere in Northwest OKC..

[TheTravellers]

Yeah, I think sometime ago I remember someone showing a picture of it being a traffic circle. I don’t know why people would be so opposed to building a roundabout, but they’ll build one out in the middle of nowhere in Northwest OKC..

So much would have to be torn up to put a roundabout in, massive disruption, and also they'd have to admit that they were wrong in taking it out and replacing it with the cluster**** it is now. That's why there would be opposition.

[Plutonic Panda]

So much would have to be torn up to put a roundabout in, massive disruption, and also they'd have to admit that they were wrong in taking it out and replacing it with the cluster**** it is now. That's why there would be opposition.

Yeah, I can see that. Then again I think the city should basically tear up the entire new boulevard that ODOT built and rebuild it to be more pedestrian friendly.

[TheTravellers]

Yeah, I can see that. Then again I think the city should basically tear up the entire new boulevard that ODOT built and rebuild it to be more pedestrian friendly.

[foodiefan]

Never gonna happen, be nice if it did, though. You do know it used to be one (can't remember if it was a full one or not), right?

It was a full one. . . great sporting goods store on the NE side . . . . Andy Anderson's (?)

[April in the Plaza]

So much would have to be torn up to put a roundabout in, massive disruption, and also they'd have to admit that they were wrong in taking it out and replacing it with the cluster**** it is now. That's why there would be opposition.

there should really be a concerted effort, at all governmental levels, to build roundabouts wherever it is feasible. the proliferation of traffic lights, curb cuts, etc. has become absurd and absolutely needs to be reined in by thoughtful policy changes.

[rte66man]

From 1954:


I can see problems with the way the roads approach the circle. Not much room in the circle to cross over. The entry/exit roads should always be together.

[Pete]

Here is an image from 1969.

[Plutonic Panda]

^^^^ see that would be pretty cool if they did something like that again and modernized it and added a big water feature or a statue in the middle of it. Was the Bell aisle freeway built at that time? It looks like Classen Boulevard ended.

[Urbanized]

Yes, the reconfiguration happened in conjunction with the freeway build.

[Plutonic Panda]

Whenever ODOT reconstruct this section of I 44 that would be a good time for the city to rethink this intersection. I don’t think that’s happening until the 2030s though.

[davidreavis]

Redesign really might change things, especially if they go for something visible like a water feature or statue. It's true, though, probably not till the 2030s.