Norman planning is horrible. I'm surprised they haven't approved yet another car lot for the lot adjacent to IBC.
Norman planning is horrible. I'm surprised they haven't approved yet another car lot for the lot adjacent to IBC.
(emphasis added)The theater is out and a cluster of hotels and a grocery store are in, reported University North Park Developer Bob Stearns of Sooner Investments.
(emphasis added)Stearns and architect Frank Goppold reported to city council members on the changing vision for the TIF District development on 24th Avenue Northwest. Discussion revolved around plans for a town center, a concept which replaces plans for a lifestyle center originally proposed for the project.
“We’re excited about this cluster of hotels to anchor the village center,” Goppold said. He described the “streetscape” of the proposed village center as reminiscent of a boulevard in Paris with a wide median containing a double row of trees. ...
Rest is at:
http://normantranscript.com/headline...learer-for-TIF
Read that in the paper this morning...looks like the buyout amount Hollywood wanted for the theater was insane. Which stinks because that place is a dump and they haven't done much to it for years. So a negative for Norman since tax dollars are going to Moore anyway and it likely won't stop. I guess the best hope for a new theater would be a tornado, fire, or Hollywood going bankrupt. LOL
Here is the development they are wanting to model the town center section after: http://www.birkdalevillage.net/
Which if we get something that looks like that, I'm perfectly good with.
http://maps.google.com/maps?um=1&ie=...e&ved=0CAUQ_BI
It still has a lifestyle center feel to it, based on the ones I've been to. The store front/street parking that stores want can work like they have there. It is basically a typical downtown/uptown area with parallel parking in front of the stores with the main parking lots set off behind the stores. So I'm not entirely upset at all using Birkdale Village as a model.
At the end of the day though, if they follow through with that they are going to cause a lot of competition with General Growth's Sooner Mall. If they were smart, I would be talking with GGP about some joint working in developing UNP - moving stores over - and then redevelop Sooner Mall's area as a business park.
That development is okay, but it isn't great. It does offer the chance to park once and walk from store to store, but no one is going to walk to the shopping center except for those that live on-site. Now if they built 10 of those side by side they might have something.
I doubt it will be like Birkdale Village, Frank Goppold's work in centered around a more suburban, not urban feel, http://goppoldarchitecture.com/. He said it will be have a "village" feel, and as high as two stories on each side.
See: http://goppoldarchitecture.com/project-03.html#
Nonetheless, its a good addition to the area, and that its finally moving forward.
Oh well, at least they'll be doing something.
The office park and the HI Express were known, but yeah, it's good to see these moving forward.
Crest, another grocery store in a sea of food stores. But at least it is a different one and not branch X of what Norman already has. Game on long-timers! Another matt store and another supplement hut in town ... oh be still my heart.
The park .. will believe it when I see frisbees fly and couples stroll. Still a skeptic I guess.
The new exit stuff .. would like to see drawings because at first blush I'm not yet a fan.
Oh, for those who don't know .. the folks at IBC are some of the nicest folk in Norman. If you're hunting a bank, drop by and say hiya to them.
You know G.Walker, I am amazed at how developers try to portray the image of traditional neighborhood development with the project names they select and how they market the project, but then build auto-dependent suburban style projects. Is there any larger an oxymoron than calling something a Town Center when 90% of the land is dedicated to parking and the only jobs are retail and hospitality. What a joke.
Norman should have focused all this effort on downtown Norman where they didn't need to build all the infrastructre, had existing businesses ready to move in, and lots of people near by who could get there without having to drive a car. With the money saved they could have put in a starter streetcar system. Opportunity missed.
The UNP "town center" appears to be mostly national chains some of which may relocate from Sooner Mall. It wpn't be a high end shopping center, and has been majorly scaled back from what was originally proposed. Still potential for an even better development in downtown Norman/Campus Corner with high end national anchors and lots of local stores which is better anyway. Main from Flood to University is absolutely ripe for such a mixed-use development.
Campus Corner absolutely. There are already several higher end boutiques there and would be a destination. Mix a few chains like Banana Republic and Pottery Barn with local places. Add a small movie theater, boutique hotel and loft apartments. Along University Blvd is the perfect place for such development.
Downtown is better for local but not necessarily higher end stores. As Campus Corner continues to revitalize it won't be as local as it once was (already happening) and downtown will benefit as it will primarily be local stores and restaurants.
5 guys is now open
Now just need to find a developer, with money, who actually sees it the same way. Unfortunately they don't exist yet.
Does anybody know what is going in the lot being cleared by target?
also is the new grocery store ever going to open?
The land being cleared near the Target is for Mathis Brothers' Mattress Store.
Also, where is the Crest Food store going in the UNP? I have not heard anything about Cheesecake Factory. What is your source and where would it be going in the UNP?
A mattress store there with all those restaurants seems terrible. Another place to eat would seem to make alot more sense but i guess they are taking what they can get. I sure wish they would bring that Discount Tire store back.
I have heard about Crest being built near Target, I was also told or its rumored that Cabelas will be built there on UNP as well. But I will always wonder how Dollar Tree is high end retail?
I feel this whole UNP is a failure and a waste of moeny or least tax dollars by having it as a TIF, since us the employees are being told that we won't hire anymore, still have merit freezes, residents have to feel the crunch as well, but will still keep giving millions to bring in supposed high end retail for UNP.
Never Trust Anybody Until You Know Who They Are!!!
I don't see acadamy being very happy with a cabelas going there.
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