Century Center

[Just the facts]

From the plan in post #411 that corner where the grocery sign is has an interior depiction resembling that of a small grocery store. Next door across the walkway is an area of 12,420 sq feet labeled "market". If you zoom into 400% you can read it.

[Praedura]

Those are old images from before OPUBCO was named as the main tenant.

See the article for most recent rendering.


The only other thing likely to go it will be a Mahogany Steakhouse and other office tenants.

Oops. Got excited over nothing.

[catch22]

Is anything happening with this??

[Pete]

They are still trying to work out some issues with supporting the foundation so they can add the parking levels to the top.

They're working on it but it's going slowly.

[soonerguru]

Those are old images from before OPUBCO was named as the main tenant.

See the article for most recent rendering.


The only other thing likely to go it will be a Mahogany Steakhouse and other office tenants.

Oh well.

[NWOKCGuy]

Might we actually get something like Reading Terminal Market, Grand Central Market in NYC, Covenant Garden Market, or The English Market? I doubt but it would be a tourist attraction all on its own.

I've always thought the Fred Jones Building would be awesome as something like RTM.

[AP]

Might we actually get something like Reading Terminal Market, Grand Central Market in NYC, Covenant Garden Market, or The English Market? I doubt but it would be a tourist attraction all on its own.

I feel like you are being a little facetious, but I'm really wondering what it would take for something like this to happen?

[Spartan]

Probably the city stepping in. Only works in historic spaces though, like the West Side Market


Maybe our original Farmer's Market would be a better space for something like that...

[AP]

I just REALLY wish something like that was in OKC.

[OKCisOK4me]

Probably the city stepping in. Only works in historic spaces though, like the West Side Market

Maybe our original Farmer's Market would be a better space for something like that...

What about Union Station on the south end of the Central Park? Don't get me wrong...definitely a possibility when housing is built on both sides and a residential status is established...

[Pete]

I posted about this some time ago, specifically about Milwaukee's Public Market which is awesome in a similar-sized city.

However, it took years and years of work on the part of private citizens and tons of grants and help from the City. And even then, for the first several years it really struggled. Not sure how it's doing now but last time I was there (about 2 years ago) it was at least full of vendors.

And then you get into an issue of a heavily -subsidized facility competing directly with grocers already downtown or who look to locate there.

[Teo9969]

OKC is not nearly dense enough nor will it be for quite some time to support that kind of market.

It could have a chance in the future if the market sat right outside a stop on the N/S line between Edmond/Norman that was still relatively close to downtown. So either somewhere on Broadway south of NW 23rd or around the Oklahoma River.

[HangryHippo]

OKC is not nearly dense enough nor will it be for quite some time to support that kind of market.

It could have a chance in the future if the market sat right outside a stop on the N/S line between Edmond/Norman that was still relatively close to downtown. So either somewhere on Broadway south of NW 23rd or around the Oklahoma River.

I don't agree with this. I think OKC could absolutely support a market like that, it would just have to be in the right location as visitors (for the time being) would have to drive to such a market instead of being able to walk to it like in Philly or Boston.

[Teo9969]

I don't agree with this. I think OKC could absolutely support a market like that, it would just have to be in the right location as visitors (for the time being) would have to drive to such a market instead of being able to walk to it like in Philly or Boston.

If you feel confident that you could frequently push 25k to 75k people through that market in a day, then sure.

[LakeEffect]

I posted about this some time ago, specifically about Milwaukee's Public Market which is awesome in a similar-sized city.

However, it took years and years of work on the part of private citizens and tons of grants and help from the City. And even then, for the first several years it really struggled. Not sure how it's doing now but last time I was there (about 2 years ago) it was at least full of vendors.

And then you get into an issue of a heavily -subsidized facility competing directly with grocers already downtown or who look to locate there.

Grand Rapids, MI (population 188,000, metro population 1M) just opened something like this: Grand Rapids Downtown Market

[warreng88]

You know the Film Exchange buildings would be a great place for a central market like what is being discussed above. The building itself is 16,740 square feet and the other smaller building north of it is 6,116 square feet. This is according to the county assessor. It could be worked into the park plans and on days that there are no park events going on, the market could extend out into the grand lawn. All they would really have to do is do away with the trees that line Robinson and maybe adjust where the stage for concerts would go.

[AP]

Grand Rapids, MI (population 188,000, metro population 1M) just opened something like this: Grand Rapids Downtown Market

That's brilliant, and exactly like what I was thinking for OKC.

[Just the facts]

A public market like this would have to be located very close to office users and tourist attractions.

[Urbanized]

Agree completely. And would be best ALSO being located walkable to as many downtown residents as possible. There is a butter zone there. In a different life I wanted to help drive an effort to locate something similar in the Sherman Iron Works. I think currently the right location if you are going to just push a pin into a map of downtown (though no building exists to facilitate this) is the massive Main Street Parking lot. Any other potential spots would need to be graded by proximity to that location.

[Just the facts]

I think the best sport would be the parking lot at Sheridan and Oklahoma, or maybe even the north parking lot at Santa Fe Station (especially after the Cox is gone).

[Urbanized]

Conceptuals for the transit center show a building extended onto that north lot at Santa Fe.

[Spartan]

A public market like this would have to be located very close to office users and tourist attractions.

It's already very difficult to get office workers to walk down to the farmer's market... every downtown in the country has struggled with this and over time learned that even a smaller residential population is a lot likelier to show up and support something.

[Just the facts]

In okc if it is very close to office worker and downtown tourist attractions isn't it by default also close to people living in downtown adjacent neighborhoods?

[Pete]

Steve said in his chat today there is a construction fence around this building and that interior demolition has begun.

[Praedura]

Steve said in his chat today there is a construction fence around this building and that interior demolition has begun.

Now if they'd only demolish the exterior as well, while they're at it.

Just kidding. Sort of.