Midtown

[Plutonic Panda]

Anytime! I enjoyed walking around. Ate at Kaisers for the first time which was pretty good.

[bchris02]

I was in Midtown yesterday. It was pretty crowded and active. One thing I couldn't help but notice though is how the district still has a long, long way to go from an urban perspective. While its impressive knowing the area's history and how far it declined, the fact that there are several blocks of gravel (really?) parking and so much open space kind of kills any kind of urban vibe the area could have. I am usually there at night so I don't notice it as much. I kind of wish LIFT was going at 10th and Hudson rather than on the other side of St Anthony. The area needs infill, bad.

[Pete]

The good news is that almost all those lots are in the hands of those who plan to develop them in the next few years.

[Architect2010]

I was in Midtown yesterday. It was pretty crowded and active. One thing I couldn't help but notice though is how the district still has a long, long way to go from an urban perspective. While its impressive knowing the area's history and how far it declined, the fact that there are several blocks of gravel (really?) parking and so much open space kind of kills any kind of urban vibe the area could have. I am usually there at night so I don't notice it as much. I kind of wish LIFT was going at 10th and Hudson rather than on the other side of St Anthony. The area needs infill, bad.

Agreed. But I think it's important to realize that before you can really expect infill, existing vacant buildings needed to be repurposed and brought back to life. Good thing is that most properties have already been revived and we're starting to see infill take place. The Edge, LIFT, Lisbon, Catholic Charities, Walker Building, St. Anthony's expansion, Fassler Hall, etc. We're well on our way.

[Teo9969]

I was in Midtown yesterday. It was pretty crowded and active. One thing I couldn't help but notice though is how the district still has a long, long way to go from an urban perspective. While its impressive knowing the area's history and how far it declined, the fact that there are several blocks of gravel (really?) parking and so much open space kind of kills any kind of urban vibe the area could have. I am usually there at night so I don't notice it as much. I kind of wish LIFT was going at 10th and Hudson rather than on the other side of St Anthony. The area needs infill, bad.

It will go quickly.

The good thing is that there is a very distinct spine of activity that has developed. It's the L from 13th and Walker over to 10th/Broadway via the 10th/Walker roundabout, and it will hopefully be a complete street wall before the Street Car is running. Turnaround time for FH/DB was about 15 months from Design review to completion. Hopefully though there are more projects announced that take about 21 months to complete because they're 5 to 8 stories (pushing it, I know). I especially hope that there is a push toward lot development rather than block development in Midtown. FH/DB was excellent mid-block development, but there's no reason that there couldn't have been 2 or even 3 developments in that amount of space.

[Spartan]

Thanks indeed Plupan! These pics are amazing - you're really developing an eye for how to frame your vantage points (with pictures that is :P )

Midtown's density is starting to really show.

[Spartan]

It will go quickly.

The good thing is that there is a very distinct spine of activity that has developed. It's the L from 13th and Walker over to 10th/Broadway via the 10th/Walker roundabout, and it will hopefully be a complete street wall before the Street Car is running. Turnaround time for FH/DB was about 15 months from Design review to completion. Hopefully though there are more projects announced that take about 21 months to complete because they're 5 to 8 stories (pushing it, I know). I especially hope that there is a push toward lot development rather than block development in Midtown. FH/DB was excellent mid-block development, but there's no reason that there couldn't have been 2 or even 3 developments in that amount of space.

Could you imagine if the Classen diagonal extension had been built as originally promised to voters? Midtown would be by far our best district. Way more advanced placemaking opportunities than even Deep Deuce.

[Teo9969]

Could you imagine if the Classen diagonal extension had been built as originally promised to voters? Midtown would be by far our best district. Way more advanced placemaking opportunities than even Deep Deuce.

No need for the diagonal extension to be built by the city…the property owners, if they were intelligent, would create the diagonal extension in the form of a pedestrian walk way… Nobody says you have to build a square building with parking…The great thing about development in an area like Midtown, is you know the people will be there, and you have a relatively blank slate to build something that can't help but be successful.

In fact, better that the city didn't do it, so there's at least the CHANCE that it becomes a pedestrian only avenue.

And then can you imagine if OCU put a park on the westside of the old HS building…the block to the south of OCU would become some of the most prime Real Estate in downtown because it could be the connection between the Memorial and 10th/Walker retail/restaurant hub.

[bchris02]

The important thing now is good quality development along 10th between Walker and Harvey on both sides. The neighborhood is really coming together closer to Broadway with some of the best placemaking in the city along the corridor from Parkards to Broadway 10. West of there is pretty much a clean slate but whatever gets built will make or break the district. I almost think it would be cool to have smaller developments on the southside of 10th, similar to campus corner in Norman. The Downtown Auto Repair building and the boarded up building next to it could be integrated in somehow. It would be also great for development to somehow connect down to Midtown Plaza, which in my opinion is pretty cool. I think 10th should be a priority though with infill and placemaking starting there and then spreading out.

Realistically, how soon can we expect the district to reach critical mass? After that, how long until it is built out? 5 years? 10 years? 20?

[CuatrodeMayo]

no need for the diagonal extension to be built by the city…the property owners, if they were intelligent, would create the diagonal extension in the form of a pedestrian walk way… nobody says you have to build a square building with parking…the great thing about development in an area like midtown, is you know the people will be there, and you have a relatively blank slate to build something that can't help but be successful.

In fact, better that the city didn't do it, so there's at least the chance that it becomes a pedestrian only avenue.

And then can you imagine if ocu put a park on the westside of the old hs building…the block to the south of ocu would become some of the most prime real estate in downtown because it could be the connection between the memorial and 10th/walker retail/restaurant hub.

"like!"

[city]

It will go quickly.
I especially hope that there is a push toward lot development rather than block development in Midtown. FH/DB was excellent mid-block development, but there's no reason that there couldn't have been 2 or even 3 developments in that amount of space.

I completely agree with the idea of lot development in the place of block developments. Future block single developments should not be encourage and hopefully not allowed in Midtown. It is evident that The Edge is way out of scale to the Midtown area.

[Architect2010]

I completely agree with the idea of lot development in the place of block developments. Future block single developments should not be encourage and hopefully not allowed in Midtown. It is evident that The Edge is way out of scale to the Midtown area.

I think it appears out of scale BECAUSE of the vacancy present in Midtown. Once the area has reached full density, I would bet that Edge and Lift will fit in much more appropriately. As long as they aren't the status-quo for new development in the area, that is. For example, you've got both the smaller Classen Commons and The Walker Building being built next to the Edge, so I would think they"ll help break up the massive scale that The Edge imposes onto the neighborhood.

I totally agree though that 1- 3 of these style of developments is all Midtown should want or need. The rest could be brought down to a more human scale through said "lot development".

[bchris02]

Oklahoma City flea market launch to coincide with H&8th festivals | News OK

[UnFrSaKn]

2/8/2015
Not sure why this has not been renovated with the church.

I helped Frontline moved into the old First Christian Church building 3-4 years ago and documented everything I saw, inside and out. I walked all through that building which is the educational building. It's so far gone and they didn't have the money when they bought the main building. They were saving it for a future project. Copper thieves had long since broken into that building to access the main sanctuary to strip it of any original materials. The educational building has pigeon droppings on every square inch of the floor on every level and had most of the windows broken or missing. There were also dead ones and evidence that a hawk had been feeding on them. Just a total mess. There are several basketball courts on different floors and plenty of graffiti. Check out this album:

Frontline Downtown-FCC Photos by UnFrSaKn | Photobucket

[Plutonic Panda]

I helped Frontline moved into the old First Christian Church building 3-4 years ago and documented everything I saw, inside and out. I walked all through that building which is the educational building. It's so far gone and they didn't have the money when they bought the main building. They were saving it for a future project. Copper thieves had long since broken into that building to access the main sanctuary to strip it of any original materials. The educational building has pigeon droppings on every square inch of the floor on every level and had most of the windows broken or missing. There were also dead ones and evidence that a hawk had been feeding on them. Just a total mess. There are several basketball courts on different floors and plenty of graffiti. Check out this album:

Frontline Downtown-FCC Photos by UnFrSaKn | Photobucket

thank you. Great album and sad to see it in such disrepair like that. Hopefully they can get the funds together one day. Heck, if I had the money, I'd give them what it took to renovate it.

[Spartan]

No need for the diagonal extension to be built by the city…the property owners, if they were intelligent, would create the diagonal extension in the form of a pedestrian walk way… Nobody says you have to build a square building with parking…The great thing about development in an area like Midtown, is you know the people will be there, and you have a relatively blank slate to build something that can't help but be successful.

In fact, better that the city didn't do it, so there's at least the CHANCE that it becomes a pedestrian only avenue.

And then can you imagine if OCU put a park on the westside of the old HS building…the block to the south of OCU would become some of the most prime Real Estate in downtown because it could be the connection between the Memorial and 10th/Walker retail/restaurant hub.

Wow, cool idea. How do we make this happen?

[Teo9969]

Can anybody attest to the ownership of the lots? Is it all Midtown Renaissance? Is there a way to talk to the owners and present the basic idea?

[shawnw]

I like this idea but how would we make it happen with it going through the industrial property?

[Teo9969]

Buy the industrial property and raze it. There's a nice looking brick building on Harvey that probably ought to be salvaged, but everything else is not development you want in your potentially premiere urban district.

The shopping and restaurant potential is insanely high

[Teo9969]

[shawnw]

Buy the industrial property and raze it. There's a nice looking brick building on Harvey that probably ought to be salvaged, but everything else is not development you want in your potentially premiere urban district.

The shopping and restaurant potential is insanely high

Well... I agree about the potential and love the idea in general. But the industrial company is the one that owns the Tamashi Ramen building (and maybe jerky.com?) as well, so they are also positively contributing to the community. Hate to just kick them out. Although if we did it as a slow progression over the next decade starting at the circle and moving SE, maybe by the time we reached the industrial site they'd see the market value opportunity of the property and move it themselves and everybody wins...

[Teo9969]

No reason they couldn't work with Midtown Renaissance (who I believe owns - via St. Anthony - the block that GoGo Sushi sits on) on a plan for the next 3 years. Construction on that block would come first and they would have a space for any current business on the other block.

Also, the path doesn't have to be a straight line…it can curve a bit to accommodate existing structures (if those structures are truly worth saving). But you can believe that it's a well defined pedestrian walk way, people will walk it.

[shawnw]

Agreed. I know I would (walk it).

[CuatrodeMayo]

At the bare minimum, do the first section, then let the market dictate when it's worthwhile to extend it.

[Plutonic Panda]

Midtown in the distance

2/12/2015