OKLAHOMA CITY | Projects & Construction

[Peerson]

Here's a bit of recent history.

Just a couple of years ago, OKC tore down some historic buildings to make room for the BOK tower.
This included the old Hotel Black, the Motor Hotel (30's era parking garage), Union Bus Station, and several others.

While preservationists decried the loss, at least we got a shiny new downtown tower in return.


https://bokparkplaza.com/toc.cfm

And some great views for the upper floor offices.


original: https://bokparkplaza.com/images/portfolio/gallery8.jpg
source: https://bokparkplaza.com/toc.cfm

But what of the demolished buildings?
Do they deserve any kind of commemoration on the part of the new development?

In the case of the Union Bus Station, the answer was yes, apparently.
The bus station, built in 1940, was something of a downtown icon.


https://brettdeering.wordpress.com/2...n-bus-station/

It was getting a bit crusty and run down, though.


https://weburbanist.com/2015/03/08/t...-bus-stations/

The bus station was slated for demolition, not for the BOK tower itself, but for an adjacent parking garage that was needed.
The outcry on the part of some was not enough to save the building, but BOK decided to throw a bone to the preservationists.

The old bus sign was saved, cleaned up, and fully restored.
It was then placed into a hexagonal glass case and installed at the corner of the new parking garage.


https://www.instagram.com/p/Bww9BXdhgW2/

Some folks (in a satiric fashion) referred to it as a sarcophagus.

It's possibly a bit confusing to visitors to the city to see that bus sign and figure out the purpose.
I've heard mention that some tourists thought it was an actual bus station and wondered where the entrance was.

But it does light up at night.





http://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=39700&page=127

It's always a sticky subject when older, historic structures are taken down for the sake of new stuff.
And to what extent the new site owes to the memory of what was taken away.

[Peerson]

The Boulevard


https://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=45033&page=2

Villa Teresa


https://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=29042&page=11

[Peerson]

Gold Dome

The owner of the Gold Dome applied for a permit to demolish the attached drive thru structure.





https://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=33509&page=21

The drive thru is not original.
The demo is likely to be approved.

The owner has recently spent some money on the roof, making repairs.
We still don't know what re-use will be found for this iconic building.


https://twitter.com/stevejkfor/statu...43486316105729

[Peerson]

Canvas Bistro

A new restaurant, presumably called Canvas Bistro, is going to open in a renovated building on Broadway.


https://deskgram.net/p/2115396132367966157_3300853275


https://deskgram.net/p/2072680656450058059_3300853275

This is the brainchild and passion of Larry Dean Pickering.


https://www.instagram.com/p/B0JESERh6gR/

Pickering is an interesting character.
He is already known about town for his work on many local restaurants, designing kitchens.
Recently, for example, he worked on Nonesuch.

After all the contributions he has made to other people's restaurants, he decided to start his own.

On Friday, Pickering signed a lease to take over a space at 611 N. Broadway where he'll open his own restaurant called Canvas.

Canvas will include a full bar at the front of the space, an open kitchen and tables that easily convert into a single communal table. But before any of that is accomplished, Pickering will participate in Thirst for a Cause.

Once the restaurant and bar open later this year, Pickering promises a place that serves proper iterations of classic cocktails without calling it craft and a simple, seasonal menu to support an inclusive, creative environment.

https://oklahoman.com/article/560395...ational-notice

The old building being renovated, at 611 N. Broadway, is directly across the street from the Heartland HQ under construction.




https://deskgram.net/p/2074130310765210430_3300853275

It will have some nice views along Broadway.


https://www.instagram.com/p/B0igXzfh7-D/

While no website has been set up yet, Pickering has created several social media accounts for Canvas Bistro.
For example: https://www.instagram.com/canvasbistrookc/

And made quite a few posts on the work and its progress.
Here's some samples:


https://www.instagram.com/p/BqgMI3chPDP/


https://www.instagram.com/p/BrOwTybB__Q/


https://www.instagram.com/p/By-Y37mBPHV/


https://www.instagram.com/p/BtR20XTh0o8/


https://www.instagram.com/p/BwKBqIaB79J/

This will be a nice spot for Broadway.
And a great location for Heartland employees to grab a bite, if the bistro serves lunch.
Good luck to Mr. Pickering on this.


https://www.gofundme.com/f/canvas-bistro-okc

[Peerson]

Downtown Aquarium

The Oklahoma City Zoo has made a proposal for a downtown aquarium as part of MAPS4.



While the notion of an aquarium has been kicked around for awhile, this is the first formal proposal that I've seen.

The cost of the project is estimated at $100-150 million.
The idea is to create a "world class destination" for the city.

What is even more interesting is that, rather than being a stand alone development, it would be integrated into an extension of the Bricktown canal.




comments from Don Hayes , one of the presenters of the package:

The canal would be extended westbound, and the aquarium would be constructed adjacent to Summit Gyms at OKC Silos.

Hayes envisions a wall of glass within the aquarium where you could see aquatic animals.

He said the city could even continue extending the canal to Scissortail Park in the future.

more comments from Hayes:

... the canal doesn’t go anywhere. It just goes down and turns around,” Hayes said.

“So we said, ‘What if we gave the canal a destination?’ so that when people are coming into Bricktown and they want to know what’s in the canal taxi,
well, it goes all the way over to the Oklahoma City aquarium; inside the aquarium, as a matter of fact.

We can make it a Disney-type affair.”

https://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=45286

Note that there is no guarantee of the proposal's inclusion into MAPS4.
Even if it is, the renderings are very speculative and the designs may change considerably.

But it is a bold and innovative idea.
I love it!
I truly hope this, or something like it, comes to pass.

Edit:

The wall facing the interstate would actually be a video wall.

Here are a couple of simulations showing how it might look:

• Video Link


• Video Link

[colemonkee]

I think OKC got the better end of the deal with the BOK tower. The only thing worth saving from the old bus depot would have been the sign (which, in retrospect - pun fully intended) could have been added to the corner of the parking structure. The rest of the building didn't have anything architecturally significant.

[Peerson]

Originally Posted by colemonkee

I think OKC got the better end of the deal with the BOK tower. The only thing worth saving from the old bus depot would have been the sign (which, in retrospect - pun fully intended) could have been added to the corner of the parking structure. The rest of the building didn't have anything architecturally significant.

Yes, but the bus station was not removed to build the BOK tower.
It was demolished to make room for an adjacent parking garage.

The parking garage could have been made taller and less long, leaving room to save the bus station.
There were several ideas about re-using the old station as a diner or cafe. There were options.

But it's not that big of a deal to me. We've lost much nicer and more significant buildings.

To me, the weird thing was the "tribute" paid by placing the old sign into the corner of the replacement garage.
I couldn't decide at the time if it was cool... or just strange.
And I still haven't decided (because it's a bit of both).

[DetroitSky]

Thank you for all these updates! There's something so satisfying about seeing a city fill up their vacant lots.

[jtown,man]

The narrative of every project really draws me in. I feel like I know OKC quite well now...and want that little bistro to do well lol

Good job Peerson!

[patriotizzy]

Originally Posted by Peerson

Yes, but the bus station was not removed to build the BOK tower.
It was demolished to make room for an adjacent parking garage.

The parking garage could have been made taller and less long, leaving room to save the bus station.
There were several ideas about re-using the old station as a diner or cafe. There were options.

But it's not that big of a deal to me. We've lost much nicer and more significant buildings.

To me, the weird thing was the "tribute" paid by placing the old sign into the corner of the replacement garage.
I couldn't decide at the time if it was cool... or just strange.
And I still haven't decided (because it's a bit of both).

Personally, I dislike the way they went about preserving the sign. The sign is meant to be present and neon-lit. The way they preserved it, behind glass, flood-lit bright white, destroys the character neon-lights give to an art piece. The fin is supposed to stick out of the building, showcasing its beautiful signage. However, it's enclosed, with little of its character left. Can't fault them for trying, but that beautiful piece needs to come out of that horrendous glass shell and let it shine the way it should be. (Why does everything have to be enclosed in glass ffs. Glass is what destroys street character to begin with).

[Peerson]

Left Frame Lofts

In addition to glass railings, living room walls are now being installed.


https://deskgram.net/p/2111932808414341694_5867904356



https://deskgram.net/p/2116289149333312801_5867904356



https://deskgram.net/p/2116787728749510745_11130663314

[Peerson]

Monarch Building






https://www.instagram.com/p/B1g79ADhWr9/



New OU Medical Center Patient Tower


https://www.earthcam.net/projects/tu...umedicalcenter

[Peerson]

Mexican Radio

This new new Tex-mex restaurant is set to open in the Plaza District on Monday.


original: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EASJIrcWsAE2vHw.jpg
source: https://twitter.com/stevejkfor/statu...98195901276160

OKC Gazette got some preview photos yesterday.









https://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=44901&page=2

The rainbow arch makes for such a cool looking covered patio.

[Peerson]

Wilshire Point is nearly finished with one of the residences.
















Aerial shots:





https://www.facebook.com/pages/categ...7216749451522/

An open house event will be held in a few weeks to display the entire development.

[Peerson]

Riversport OKC held the BoaterX (and other) kayaking events this weekend.


https://twitter.com/RiversportOKC/st...85241117917184

That's a really great shot... but...
Riversport is caught doing some tomfoolery with the image there.

They have altered the color of the water to look a beautiful blue hue.
But anyone who sees it in person knows the water is generally a muddy brown.
Tsk, tsk, tsk.

They do this all the time with their images of kayaking & rapids promos.
You just can't trust marketing...

Andrew Penney was at the event and took a ton of great photos.
Here's a sample:



https://www.flickr.com/photos/182843...15436/sizes/h/


https://www.flickr.com/photos/182843...56067/sizes/l/



https://www.flickr.com/photos/182843...79093/sizes/l/



https://www.flickr.com/photos/182843...87697/sizes/l/


https://www.flickr.com/photos/182843...05067/sizes/l/


https://www.flickr.com/photos/182843...06487/sizes/l/


https://www.flickr.com/photos/182843...11533/sizes/l/


https://www.flickr.com/photos/182843...23262/sizes/l/


https://www.flickr.com/photos/182843...29353/sizes/l/


https://www.flickr.com/photos/182843...82036/sizes/l/


https://www.flickr.com/photos/182843...84046/sizes/l/


https://www.flickr.com/photos/182843...34338/sizes/l/

I'll include a couple more shots, though they're not in great focus.
Night views from the Riversport area parking lot:


https://www.flickr.com/photos/182843...68308/sizes/l/


https://www.flickr.com/photos/182843...67823/sizes/h/

The object in the foreground is the Compass Rose sculpture.

The new Omni Hotel under construction (and nicely lit up) is easily visible in the background.
Really looking forward to shots from this vantage point once the hotel is complete.

[Peerson]

400 N. Walnut


https://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=38624&page=7

This is the 100 year old building (built in 1919) that is being renovated by a law firm.
The renovation will included a new rooftop patio/deck.

[Peerson]

Pioneer Building

This 7 story structure is one of the oldest buildings in downtown.



After a long period of vacancy, it is about to receive some modern tenants.


It was built in 1907, originally for Pioneer Telephone Company.





Constructed of limestone, it was designed by William A. Wells, who also designed the Colcord Building.

It changed hands a few times, but has been dormant for decades.
It was placed on the National Register in 1980.





http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/W...lahoma_City_OK


It received a thorough cleaning in 2012:






In 2017, it was purchased by local developers.
Their plan is to place a restaurant and/or retail on the first floor.
The remaining six floors above that to be re-adapted as office space.

Renovation began in 2018.
The surrounding sidewalks were redone for ADA compliance.

During the renovation, an adjacent mini park by E.K. Gaylord was reworked.



A new circular monument - with the letters "OKC" embossed all over - was installed.




Practically the minute it was in place, people started calling it the "cock ring".


https://imgur.com/r/funny/1Ki5unN

Well.... what can you say?
(I mean, it does look like that's what it spells)


The finished park looks fine, though.



Anyway, back to the Pioneer building...

Pete from OKCTalk reported today (8-26-2019) that building permits have been issued for floors 2, 3, and 4.

His understanding is that Lagoon Water Solutions, a local company, will be moving into that space.
This would be the first tenants to occupy the historic old building for many, many years.

https://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=30446


It's great to see this grand old building come back to life.









https://robinson-park.com/properties/pioneer-building

[Peerson]

Crane raising at the Omni Hotel:


https://www.flickr.com/photos/radarg...92367/sizes/h/

Photo taken 8-24-2019.

Might be the last raising needed.

[Peerson]

ULI (Urban Land Institute) of Oklahoma is hosting a site tour of the Central Exchange development tomorrow (8-27-2019).


https://oklahoma.uli.org/events/deta...-F4A89E48122F/

The announcement for this event states there will be "a preview of one of the restaurant concepts opening this summer. "

Well, Downtown OKC just posted on their twitter page some interesting news:

Eôté Coffee is now open in the basement of Central Exchange:





https://twitter.com/DowntownOKC/stat...62368918528000

That was quick... and a little bit unexpected, since I thought this kind of thing was still weeks away.
But great news.


Addendum:

While Eôté Coffee is getting settled into the Central Exchange building, next door Parlor OKC is racing towards a soft opening.

Uncovering Oklahoma has done a nice feature on the ongoing work at Parlor.







https://twitter.com/uncoveringok/sta...81900440686592


They've also posted a video of general manager Mark Burckel giving a tour of the food hall:

• Video Link

Burckel states that they're still shooting for a soft opening at the end of August.
This seems a bit ambitious as it looks like a lot of interior details still need to be hammered out.
We'll see.

But it's looking great.
You can easily see from the video just how large of an area the interior of Parlor OKC will be.
Burckel states that the place has been designed to handle a large flow of people moving in an out, and it appears to be so.

The rooftop area is going to be absolutely awesome.
Great views up there.
The retractable roof will also be a wonderful feature, but work hasn't even started on that yet.

Really looking impressive overall.

[Peerson]

Parlor OKC has announced they're opening on Sept. 6, 2019.
Which is only 9 days away.
Hope they make it.

Meanwhile, ULI Oklahoma has posted a few pics of their site tour yesterday.


https://twitter.com/PreservationOK/s...76519230885889









https://twitter.com/ULIoklahoma/stat...44740126474240