Non-Tower Development Rumors( speculation, news and ideas) post here!

[NWOKCGuy]

Some comment he made in the chat makes me think its going to be in the big surface parking lot for lower bricktown.

[warreng88]

Some comment he made in the chat makes me think its going to be in the big surface parking lot for lower bricktown.

Which one?

[Plutonic Panda]

Some comment he made in the chat makes me think its going to be in the big surface parking lot for lower bricktown.

Something about Randy Hogan?

[bchris02]

That would be great if some of the surface parking could be developed. It is easily one of the biggest eyesores downtown and a tremendous waste of prime space. However, they would definitely need to build structured parking and quick because a lot of people who visit Bricktown from the burbs rely on the surface parking in Randy Hogan's section of the district.

[Laramie]

This appears to be quite a game of speculation about what would make Dallas & Kansas City jealous. You lost me when it was said to be entertainment.

What is it that Dallas wants that the Big D and we have not got?

We'll find out in time...

"Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.

[NWOKCGuy]

Which one?

Trying to find the chat transcript. Is it posted?

[hoya]

I'm not worried about the thing that would make other cities jealous. Honestly some of the things people get excited about do not interest me at all. There are a lot of times on this site when someone will say "holy cow, a blah blah blah in coming to OKC, that's amazing!" It will usually be something I've never heard of and have no interest in. That's fine, not everything has to be targeted at hoya, and in those situations I just say "that's nice" and go on to the next thread.

Non-tower developments in OKC that I would like to see by 2020:

The parking lot in front of Bass Pro, and the parking lot in front of the Bricktown Events Center, both need substantial development. On the Bricktown Events lot, you could fit an apartment complex the size of LEVEL, plus a structured parking garage that would hold the same amount of vehicles that park there now. You could put a parking garage in front of Bass Pro that has street level retail and restaurants. The apartment complex would give more life to the area during Bricktown's normal down times. This would help it develop as a real neighborhood, not just a tourist destination. You'd also gain overall parking capacity.

I'd like to see the U-Haul building restored to its original state.

I'd like to see Bricktown, Deep Deuce, Automobile Alley, and Midtown all grow together so that no gap exists between them. That's going to require coordination with the city and the railroad to connect BT and DD, but it needs to happen. There should be a lot of places to cross between them. Once they're connected, they'll all be more vibrant communities. The streetcar will also help with this. But you shouldn't have to cross 500 or 1000 feet of empty field or sheet metal warehouse when you go from one urban neighborhood to the next.

[ShadowStrings]

A little word association triggered an idea. The mention of West End in Dallas reminded me of West End in London since I was just there (West End is London's version of Broadway). It would be cool if we had a few Broadway-style theaters with permanent plays. I don't know if Bricktown is the most appropriate place for this this type of development, but it is fun to think about. I just made this up, so obviously I'm not suggesting that this might actually be what is in the works, but would this be something that would make Dallas and Kansas City jealous? Is such a development even feasible in OKC?

[hoya]

I was thinking a development like that would be cool over in the Stockyards City area. I first proposed it last year, I think, and said it could be a Branson-style part of town. I had suggested this without ever having been to Branson. Sadly I was dragged along as part of a family reunion thing earlier this year. Branson sucks. But I think it would be neat to have several theaters with plays going.

[ShadowStrings]

Yes, I was in Branson again this summer for probably the fourth time. It was fun as a kid, but not as much as an adult. I love my Broadway plays though.

[bchris02]

I was thinking a development like that would be cool over in the Stockyards City area. I first proposed it last year, I think, and said it could be a Branson-style part of town. I had suggested this without ever having been to Branson. Sadly I was dragged along as part of a family reunion thing earlier this year. Branson sucks. But I think it would be neat to have several theaters with plays going.

Branson used to be a lot better than it is now. It's target demographic is rapidly aging and dying off and as that happens it will continue to decline. They made a grave mistake in not adjusting their approach to be cross-generational.

[hoya]

I'd envision maybe half a dozen theaters in the Stockyards City area. If every place built an old fashioned storefront, in keeping with the existing buildings in the area, you could create a very walkable tourist area. People who were in town visiting from other cities would want to see the cowboy side of OKC, buy some boots and a hat, eat at Cattlemen's, and see some kind of "authentic" country show. If you ran the streetcar over to this area connecting it to downtown, you'd have a big hit. Given its proximity to the fairgrounds, you'd also be able to tap the people who go to the big horse and cattle shows they have there.

Given the development of the Wheeler District and Capitol Hill in that general area, you're going to see a lot of money invested around here in the next 10-20 years. Cleaning up Exchange and Agnew and turning that into a bigger revenue generating area will help a renewal of the South side of the city.

It appears to be about half a mile from the Stockyards City sign down to Exchange, and about another half mile from Agnew over to Penn. You could put in (eventually) about 5-6 theaters, 2-3 big hotels, a half dozen restaurants, and a variety of smaller stores and businesses. Everything 1-2 stories tall, with the general western look. All parking would be off the street, behind the businesses. Two or three parking garages would handle the increased visitors to the area.

I think that's a realistic goal here in the next 20 years. The city needs to spend some money on its "country" side of life, as that can bring in a lot of money. We have the reputation anyway, might as well profit off of it.

[lasomeday]

I'd envision maybe half a dozen theaters in the Stockyards City area. If every place built an old fashioned storefront, in keeping with the existing buildings in the area, you could create a very walkable tourist area. People who were in town visiting from other cities would want to see the cowboy side of OKC, buy some boots and a hat, eat at Cattlemen's, and see some kind of "authentic" country show. If you ran the streetcar over to this area connecting it to downtown, you'd have a big hit. Given its proximity to the fairgrounds, you'd also be able to tap the people who go to the big horse and cattle shows they have there.

Given the development of the Wheeler District and Capitol Hill in that general area, you're going to see a lot of money invested around here in the next 10-20 years. Cleaning up Exchange and Agnew and turning that into a bigger revenue generating area will help a renewal of the South side of the city.

It appears to be about half a mile from the Stockyards City sign down to Exchange, and about another half mile from Agnew over to Penn. You could put in (eventually) about 5-6 theaters, 2-3 big hotels, a half dozen restaurants, and a variety of smaller stores and businesses. Everything 1-2 stories tall, with the general western look. All parking would be off the street, behind the businesses. Two or three parking garages would handle the increased visitors to the area.

I think that's a realistic goal here in the next 20 years. The city needs to spend some money on its "country" side of life, as that can bring in a lot of money. We have the reputation anyway, might as well profit off of it.

Actually the Oklahoma Opry Moved there a few years ago and is now called the Rodeo Opry. They are at 2221 Exchange Avenue. Here is the website. They are also looking to build an amphitheater along the Oklahoma River and play there during the year as well.

Rodeo Opry

[bchris02]

I think that's a realistic goal here in the next 20 years. The city needs to spend some money on its "country" side of life, as that can bring in a lot of money. We have the reputation anyway, might as well profit off of it.

I can see extending the streetcar to the stockyards, but for the most part country entertainment has thrived in OKC even when nothing else did. I don't know what kind of investment needs to be made that the free market hasn't already taken care of. If there is one type of entertainment that is in no short supply in OKC its country-oriented entertainment. OKC should definitely promote its heritage, but not in a way that re-enforces a stereotype that to many people is considered negative. I am not saying country is a bad thing at all, it just doesn't appeal to younger generations (which is a huge problem right now for Branson). If anything, the city could invest in making the streetscape in the Stockyards area more attractive as part of a broader beautification plan.

[LocoAko]

I can see extending the streetcar to the stockyards, but for the most part country entertainment has thrived in OKC even when nothing else did. I don't know what kind of investment needs to be made that the free market hasn't already taken care of. If there is one type of entertainment that is in no short supply in OKC its country-oriented entertainment. OKC should definitely promote its heritage, but not in a way that re-enforces a stereotype that to many people is considered negative. I am not saying country is a bad thing at all, it just doesn't appeal to younger generations (which is a huge problem right now for Branson). If anything, the city could invest in making the streetscape in the Stockyards area more attractive as part of a broader beautification plan.

I know plenty of young people in the area who love country, and I'm not even in a particularly country-filled scene in my life here. Sure there should be diversity, but to say that country doesn't appeal to the younger generation here is totally, utterly wrong.

[Bellaboo]

I know plenty of young people in the area who love country, and I'm not even in a particularly country-filled scene in my life here. Sure there should be diversity, but to say that country doesn't appeal to the younger generation here is totally, utterly wrong.

Actually, a lot of the younger women prefer country music over anything else.

[bchris02]

I know a lot of young people who like country music and 2-stepping at Cowboys. I don't know very many at all who like Branson and the entertainment it provides or who wish OKC was more like it. The possible exception is Silver Dollar City, which isn't six flags but is a decent smaller amusement park.

[hoya]

And see, my Branson suggestion was really before I knew what Branson was. I had one thing in my head, the real thing is quite a bit different.

[LocoAko]

I know a lot of young people who like country music and 2-stepping at Cowboys. I don't know very many at all who like Branson and the entertainment it provides or who wish OKC was more like it. The possible exception is Silver Dollar City, which isn't six flags but is a decent smaller amusement park.

Well, you mentioned the lack of interest in country from young people in the context of OKC's future development, not Branson's, so that was how I took it.

[bchris02]

Well, you mentioned the lack of interest in country from young people in the context of OKC's future development, not Branson's, so that was how I took it.

We were discussing the city attempting to attract more country-oriented entertainment, something a lot of people have suggested over the years using Branson as an example. Former mayor Kirk Humphreys really liked that idea. My point was that the market is pretty well already saturated with country entertainment in OKC. I don't believe that is an area where the city needs to focus; the free market has done a very good job there. If anything, the stockyard district should be improved as part of a citywide beautification plan. It might be kind of cool to relocate the Cowboy Hall of Fame as well as the honky-tonk nightlife on Meridian/I-40 to the stockyard district to have it all in one area, but that is unrealistic

[BDP]

And see, my Branson suggestion was really before I knew what Branson was. I had one thing in my head, the real thing is quite a bit different.

The Stockyards in Ft Worth is a much more relevant and probably more sustainable model. A couple of cool old hotels (not of the flop house variety), western themed shopping, and a nice selection of western and red dirt themed bars. Of course, something like it's anchor venue, Billy Bob's, is probably out of reach at this point, but Stockyards City could use some added nightlife. Parking could be an issue, but I think much of the daytime retail parking could turn over for clubs at night. However, I think if the city wanted to encourage growth in the stockyards, it could help with a few of the run down properties surrounding the districts hub.

It probably should be noted that the Stockyards was really one of the first successful Main Street programs in the state. It could maybe use some more development, but what's there is pretty full and is actually one of the most dense shopping districts in an urban format in the city. Granted, that's not saying much, but before the Plaza District was revitalized, Stockyards was one of the only places in the city where you could park and walk to 6-7 shops that wasn't in a mall or strip mall setting.

I do think it has been overlooked lately with all the other urban revitalization going on around the city. I'd like to see the district do more events to promote itself. It could use something like First Fridays, Live on the Plaza, or H&8Th, but with a country or red dirt focus.

[5alive]

I have not been to The Stockyards in Ft Worth. How is the parking handled there?

[BDP]

I have not been to The Stockyards in Ft Worth. How is the parking handled there?

I really don't know. I valeted at my hotel. Here's there's parking info, though:

Fort Worth Stockyards

[Geographer]

I really don't know. I valeted at my hotel. Here's there's parking info, though:

Fort Worth Stockyards

There's lots of street parking and some lots that are hidden behind the buildings along the main drag of the stock yards....there are also some empty lots to the north that are used for parking....there's definitely a surplus of parking there.

[Laramie]

As our city grows, we do need to accentuate what we do have with more emphasis on development of the Stockyards District (Agnew-Exchange) , Asian District (Classen) and Capitol Hill District (S. W. 25th/Commerce) which diversify as well as brand our city. These areas give us more options. There have been some improvements over the years.

Oklahoma City Stockyards District


Oklahoma City Asian District



Oklahoma City Capitol Hill District

The are other unique districts like OKC's Paseo District which could benefit from more development.

"Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.