Asian District streetscaping?

[Nawfside OKC]

i heard that taco mayo was adding "asian landscaping" and silk screen windows to mask the out of place vibe...j/k

[warreng88]

citizenkane, I think you're dead on witht the tree trimming. I looked very carefully last night and it appears that was so. These are very old mature trees, you can clearly see the pruned branches, etc. They shaped them more like a bonzai even though they might be an elm or something. I do know the streetscaping plan originally calls for asian inspired trees and new plantings, but I have not seen any new plantings yet. This thing is really going slow, but looks like it finally might be picking up some speed.

I went down to the city planning dept. a few weeks back and got a color copy of the 2000 and 2005 Asian District Plans. They are kind of weak and seemed more lofty and "dreams" and not necessarily reality; and no one at the city planning really seems to know exactly what work is being done. I'm just glad finally some work/money is being poured into our Asian District. The city should have done this decades ago, we're losing tourist dollars over not having it branded better.

I ate at Lido last night, the concrete cinder block fence behind them they are putting up new columns and have "asian style" lanterns on top of them. On about 26th or 27th street, just one property behind Classen a new industrial building of some sorts is going up. On Classen and about 28th or so, that strip center with ZAX club or whatever, the new building on the corner has now received some Asian inspired awnings, etc. It's still under construction though so I look forward to the final product. There are plans for an Asian pagoda/plaza in Military Park across from Lido and Super Cao Nguyen. There are also plans on the drawing board for an asian archway over the street by Super Cao Nguyen. Not sure about the Sun Moon Plaza on NW 23rd that Steve reported on a year or so ago. If all this pans out, we'll have a pretty cool Asian District.

Hey Metro, what is the latest on the landscaping here? also, I drove by several days ago and noticed that they were tearing down one of the older dilapitated buidlings on the east side of the street. Any idea what they are going to put there?

[metro]

warreng, unfortunately not much has changed. You can definitely tell this is a city staff project and not a private landscaper. A private landscaper would have had this done in a few weeks to a month, where the city has been working on this for 6 months or more, and not much to show for it yet. They have almost all the "hardscaping" done, paver stones, small boulders, etc. And pruned a few trees, really that is about all they've done. It boggles my mind what they do all day and where our bond money is going to. They have fairly large crews out there working all day, but what the heck they are doing and why it's taking so long for just a few blocks of minor landscaping is astounding to me. I know we are supposed to be getting a few pagodas, asian style light posts, a sign, etc. but so far none of that has come in yet. Maybe in another 6-12 months, they'll start getting to it? Us taxpayers got bamboozled on this one. It's sad because the Asian district has sooooo much tourist potential and we don't take advantage of it. The old building your talking about that got torn down, I personally think it was a nice building that had lots of character and could have been restored fairly easily. If you look slightly behind it, you will see they are building an asian style strip center with 2-3 tenant spaces. Personally, I liked the street front urban building they tore down, instead of this building, set way back from the street that will have a big parking lot. They are ruining the urban-ness of the area with more and more new developments with larger parking lots.

[warreng88]

Personally, I liked the street front urban building they tore down, instead of this building, set way back from the street that will have a big parking lot. They are ruining the urban-ness of the area with more and more new developments with larger parking lots.

I thought they were going to build something in its place, not turn it into a parking lot. Something street side would have been a lot bette looking than a parking lot, I can agree with that. Thanks for the update.

[metro]

well finally this afternoon I noticed some dramatic improvements. they just put most of this stuff out this afternoon. On the street corners that have the asian design of brickwork, they have put two red benches on each street corner, also you can see the new "panda plaza" recently built and the awnings and pandas just went up today. there are a few panda's outside the plaza but it's hard to tell from the pic, I'll try to get better pics soon. also the one picture on NW 25th and Classen looks like they are fixing to put a quality sign up for the district. I read the city council minutes from last minute and they put re-bids for proposal (apparently they didn't budget enough the first time) out for asian style street lighting, so hopefully that will come through quickly. They are from my iPhone so not the best quality. Enjoy!

[edcrunk]

i saw that today on 25th n classen and i figured it had to do with the gateway that is to be built right there.

[Architect2010]

I'm going to assume that building shown is the "Panda Plaza".

Where is that located? Is it off of Classen? I prefer most of the new developments be built along Classen which seems like the main street for me. Then after they get it good-looking again, they can go ahead and start expanding it outwards and infilling along side other current asian places outlying Classen.

[edcrunk]

the panda plaza is on the NW corner of classen and 28th or 29th.

[Platemaker]

This first thing I pictured when I saw those four poles was something like the following only smaller to fit in the median. All the way down the median you can see where "foundations" of different sizes where I think there will be the other Asian things (pagodas, etc.) at 30th and Classen there are two side by side... I'm guessing the is where the foo dogs will go? Ya think?

[metro]

They started putting down sod rolls in the medians yesterday and today. The new sprinkler system was also on watering the new sod. Hopefully we'll see some pagodas, foo dogs, signage and theme lighting soon.

[HOT ROD]

hmm, platemaker - your pics don't show up.

[jbrown84]

They do for me.

[HOT ROD]

still none for me. Maybe it's a Seattle thing? lol.

could you provide the direct links?

[yukong]

hmm, platemaker - your pics don't show up.

I can't see them either. Just placeholders that say "Photobucket" and "image has been moved or deleted"

[metro]

yeah, I can't see them either, they used to show up. I'm wondering if he edited his photobucket account and added or deleted pictures and the url's to the individual pictures have changed.

[Platemaker]

Sorry, Guys... I never noticed that the edit button goes away after awhile... that's weird.

Anyway...I mucked up my photobucket... here are three of the images... you get the idea:

Something lit up like this would be rad!

[jstanthrnme]

They started putting down sod rolls in the medians yesterday and today. The new sprinkler system was also on watering the new sod. Hopefully we'll see some pagodas, foo dogs, signage and theme lighting soon.

When I've driven by the past few days, the sprinklers are getting more water on Classen than the median. Sucks because I drive w/ my windows down and have gotten splashed twice already.

[metro]

I drove by earlier and it appears they may be doing a more detailed streetscaping in front of Grand House than I originally thought. It first looked like they were doing the same sort of brick walkway/sidewalk they've been doing (similar to a greek key pattern in tan and black bricks) but they've gone further up into the Grand House lawn and created a "wall". Hard to explain, will take pics soon.

[edcrunk]

i saw that this morning, looks really good. i am making it my mission to get pics of the arch/gate that is planned over classen. my friend says his mom has the plans up at kamp's and she gets back in town tomorrow.

[metro]

To my knowledge, there isn't going to be an arch over classen, although I could be wrong. I think just that gateway in the median at about NW 27th or whatever that is. I have the official plan from the city's planning dept. One of these days I'll get to scanning it in and posting it.

[edcrunk]

that's why i want to see what they have cuz james vu has told me it goes over the street (and that's what was posted by someone on okmet as well). however, the placement of the poles leads mr to believe what you are saying, metro.

[Platemaker]

To my knowledge, there isn't going to be an arch over classen, although I could be wrong. I think just that gateway in the median at about NW 27th or whatever that is. I have the official plan from the city's planning dept. One of these days I'll get to scanning it in and posting it.

It's supposed to be over the intersection of 25th and Military... though I don't know which direction.

[jbrown84]

This is true. It may not be part of the city-funded streetscape project, metro.

[CrimsonOberon]

I'm looking forward to seeing how this area gradually shapes up (I drive by it a few times a week), though I wish I could find a link to some renderings of what exactly the city has planned for the Asian District. Waiting for substantial progress to be made as far as construction goes could kill me.

[angel27]

grass has been planted and looks good, interesting garden structures are in place and plantings were beginning as I drove by this afternoon. No pagodas, foo dogs or lighting yet.