OAK (formerly Penn Central)

[Pete]

Unpopular opinion. OKANA will be built to spec. I’d be surprised if convergence comes out half as glorious as it was pitched. OAK I think will be nice development. I’d rather okc compete with cities that are not our size.

This is a great example of how a negative mind works: 1) Everything here is crap. 2) Very cool things start work. 3) It won't end up being as good as claimed. 4) Things turn out great. 5) Well, we don't have as much as Austin, Dallas or some other cities several multiples of our size. Repeat steps 1-5.

[G.Walker]

Wichita, Little Rock, Memphis, Louisville, New Orleans, Des Moines, Birmingham nor Tulsa has not seen the half of downtown development that OKC has in the last 20 years. Omaha is just now coming around, and Boise is a dark horse no one is talking about.

[Mississippi Blues]

Nope, just my personal opinion, which is different than yours. I've lived in several cities, including San Fran, LA, and NYC, and that's what I think, not saying it just to make me feel good about this city. I'm not from OKC originally either. Ironically, vacant urban lots are what I like about OKC, the city has pretty good core, hopefully those lots will be developed by the right people in the near future. Many other cities are filled with expensive eyesores that are impossible to knock them down for something better.

When I get to feeling overly pessimistic about Oklahoma City, this is exactly what brings me back down. The city has a respectable core but is also empty enough to not be tied to the mistakes of the 20th century, meaning with the right planning and development, it could really grow at a human level that brings life to a city and lead the way in a new type of urban renewal, ironically.

[chssooner]

Unpopular opinion. OKANA will be built to spec. I’d be surprised if convergence comes out half as glorious as it was pitched. OAK I think will be nice development. I’d rather okc compete with cities that are not our size.

Not sure you can at unpopular opinion when you look at this thread. As Pete said, most on here are of the same negative mindset you are (I am guilty of it, at times).

OAK is hitting out of its league right now, and will only get better as more is announced.

[Oski]

When I get to feeling overly pessimistic about Oklahoma City, this is exactly what brings me back down. The city has a respectable core but is also empty enough to not be tied to the mistakes of the 20th century, meaning with the right planning and development, it could really grow at a human level that brings life to a city and lead the way in a new type of urban renewal, ironically.

YES, "human level" is the key term for a welcoming city/neighborhood, we don't want a downtown full of skyscrapers but is pretty much dead at night and on the weekend. Many people want to see the magnificent skyline comparable to those in Denver, Seattle, Austin, but they don't actually live in OKC, or even in downtown OKC.

[Just the facts]

Unpopular opinion. OKANA will be built to spec.

[More unpopular opinion]
And it will still be disappointing because it is in the wrong place.

[Laramie]

I think I see how the City is going come up with money for a new arena.

Give us your take on this Just the facts, because I'm all for the new arena.

[dankrutka]

Look at Wichita. It sucks so bad. No one wanted to be there 30 years ago. No one wants to be there now. In 30 years guess what?. If youÂ’re remotely interested in these forums youre reading you should want okc to be as different from Wichita as possible. On different planets. Even I really can’t overstate how much Wichita sucks sorry but not really
Skyscrapers get torn down and rebuilt all the time.

I lived in downtown Wichita for two years and loved it. I walked everywhere and there was a charm to the small downtown area. We had favorite restaurants, local pubs, and a great downtown YMCA. Good trails along the Arkansas River. Maybe everyone doesn't have to speak in with such sprawling generalities about how everyone else feels about urban development.

Someone had to stand up to the Wichita slander here! haha

[dankrutka]

I lived in downtown Wichita for two years and loved it. I walked everywhere and there was a charm to the small downtown area. We had favorite restaurants, local pubs, and a great downtown YMCA. Good trails along the Arkansas River. Maybe everyone doesn't have to speak in with such sprawling generalities about how everyone else feels about urban development.

Someone had to stand up to the Wichita slander here! haha

Wichita, Little Rock, Memphis, Louisville, New Orleans, Des Moines, Birmingham nor Tulsa has not seen the half of downtown development that OKC has in the last 20 years. Omaha is just now coming around, and Boise is a dark horse no one is talking about.

I've visited all these cities except Des Moines and Birmingham recently and I'd say Louisville is the underrated city. Boise was cute, but still very car-centric. Louisville has walkable urban districts that stretch for miles. If you want an under the radar city I'd offer Greenville, South Carolina. Their walkable downtown is impressive. I'd take it over any area in DFW, for example.

[BoulderSooner]

[More unpopular opinion]
And it will still be disappointing because it is in the wrong place.

lol

[David]

https://twitter.com/oak_okc/status/1630585441232510982

Who's excited about @Arhaus coming to OAK?

[Bowser214]

Me!!!

[onthestrip]

This is probably a hard pill to swallow. Inflation here is tame. Like a cuddly golden retriever that warms your feet by the fire. Certainly not the “vicious mongrel that was too violent for michalel Vick” that it is in other cities especially Europe that are still growing their CBD’s

Huh? OKC had some of the highest rent growth in the country last year. Home values went up strongly too. And when it comes to materials costs for new projects, a large HVAC is just as expensive here as it is anywhere else.

[chssooner]

This is probably a hard pill to swallow. Inflation here is tame. Like a cuddly golden retriever that warms your feet by the fire. Certainly not the “vicious mongrel that was too violent for michalel Vick” that it is in other cities especially Europe that are still growing their CBD’s

Just because you use graphic imagery and metaphors in your post doesn't make it right...

[Ryan]

Just because you use graphic imagery and metaphors in your post doesn't make it right...

Appreciated. But in this case the fact that it is true makes it right. The metaphor just adds pizazz. Inflation is stupid tame .

[Ryan]

Huh? OKC had some of the highest rent growth in the country last year. Home values went up strongly too. And when it comes to materials costs for new projects, a large HVAC is just as expensive here as it is anywhere else.

That’s one of those shiny on the outside but contain no substance statistics. Our rents are so so so very much lower than the next city (Pittsburgh) on that list. And I’m not gonna look it up but I’d be willing to die on this hill a downtown apartment in Louisville (another city on that list)) vs similar accomadations here? I say Louisville is several hundred more/monthly. And if you compare us with oh I don’t know “anywhere in Europe” your entire argument falls apart.

[chssooner]

That’s one of those shiny on the outside but contain no substance statistics. Our rents are so so so very much lower than the next city (Pittsburgh) on that list. And I’m not gonna look it up but I’d be willing to die on this hill a downtown apartment in Louisville (another city on that list)) vs similar accomadations here? I say Louisville is several hundred more/monthly. And if you compare us with oh I don’t know “anywhere in Europe” your entire argument falls apart.

Why would we compare OKC to say, Brussels, Belgium? That is stupid, and not even a point in your favor. Just proves you like to move goalposts. Comparing OKC to Europe isn't doing anything.

As for downtowns, have a look:

Louisville - https://www.apartments.com/downtown-...g4I1_03xN&so=1

OKC - https://www.apartments.com/apartment...-city-ok/?so=1

[HOT ROD]

OKC looks quite well in this comparison, esp our being the larger of the two cities and quite a bit more compact area.

[Ryan]

Why would we compare OKC to say, Brussels, Belgium? That is stupid, and not even a point in your favor. Just proves you like to move goalposts. Comparing OKC to Europe isn't doing anything.

As for downtowns, have a look:

Louisville - https://www.apartments.com/downtown-...g4I1_03xN&so=1

OKC - https://www.apartments.com/apartment...-city-ok/?so=1

Actually say that to yourself.it was my initial comment. ItÂ’s true. Moving goalposts comes later. The observation is true. Inflation is a global problem and is much worse everywhere else. the truth remains okc is very very affordable compared to everywhere. Since itÂ’s a global issue it would be correct to include cities outside of US. Being the us economy is directly and inextricably related to the world economy. IÂ’m guessing you really donÂ’t want inflation to be a global issue so you can excise a political statement. IÂ’m sort of sure thatÂ’s what youÂ’re doing. But you havenÂ’t mentioned a politician. So maybe not I guess.

[Ryan]

Okc is more compact than louisville?

[Rover]

Actually say that to yourself.it was my initial comment. ItÂ’s true. Moving goalposts comes later. The observation is true. Inflation is a global problem and is much worse everywhere else. the truth remains okc is very very affordable compared to everywhere. Since itÂ’s a global issue it would be correct to include cities outside of US. Being the us economy is directly and inextricably related to the world economy. IÂ’m guessing you really donÂ’t want inflation to be a global issue so you can excise a political statement. IÂ’m sort of sure thatÂ’s what youÂ’re doing. But you havenÂ’t mentioned a politician. So maybe not I guess.

Actually, I just got back from Italy. Prices in Rome and Florence were generally better than here. I

[caaokc]

Okc is more compact than louisville?

Don’t know much about Louisville but their arena is better than Paycom

[chssooner]

Don’t know much about Louisville but their arena is better than Paycom

It's also way newer. Hence needing a new arena.

[Ryan]

Actually, I just got back from Italy. Prices in Rome and Florence were generally better than here. I

On Italian food maybe. They’re paying under $2.80 gallon? $1100 a month in rent?

[Ryan]

Clothes in Florence undercutting us here at Walmart or gap?I mean really maybe for noodles or tobacco but I doubt Rome is cheaper than okc