A neighborhood emerges… so what’s next?
This flat iron style building at NE 5 and Harrison has stood empty for years, and not too long ago it was threatened with demolition as developers sought to replace it with a truck stop. Now we know what’s about to happen next…
You may have read last week’s story about Grant Humphreys moving ahead with plans to renovate the old flat iron building and build an adjoining five-story retail, office and housing complex. The design changes, which included a glass elevator rising up to a rooftop garden, was approved by the Oklahoma City urban Renewal Authority.
The above view is what one will see from Interstate 235, which makes me wonder how this project might change the downtown skyline. We’ve already seen how Humphreys’ Block 42 changes the view from southbound I-235. The design is certainly unique - I can’t think of anything like it downtown or elsewhere in this city.
Grant says he has the financing to get this done. He’s overcome the obstacles and is ready to move forward this spring. And observers are intrigued by his reports of promising discussions with a potential grocery. So … what will this all mean for the emerging Flat Iron and Deep Deuce neighborhoods?
-Steve
February 25th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Whoa… I’m assuming those are the new renderings. Also, love the pic of the neighborhood. Hopefully Block 42 sales continue to go well, as this could be directly affected.
Great post.
February 25th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
Yes, these are new renderings.
February 25th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
That’s beautiful! Thanks Steve.
Maywood Park/The Triangle is going to be a very dense, very cool place- very soon. I can’t wait to see all of these projects come together as a whole.
February 27th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
The area is definitely starting to look like a neighborhood. The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) is doing a showhouse in one of the Maywood Townhomes that opens in late March and will be a good draw for people to go have a closer look at the development.
Steve, Too bad your semi-arial photo doesn’t show Stan Caroll’s fabulous . . . fabulous . . . fabulous sculpture at First and Oklahoma. The finest piece of outdoor sculpture in Oklahoma IMO . . . a must see for all urbanites and art huggers.
Lastly, when is someone going to buy those butt-ugly metal buildings north of Calvery Church from Jim Fentris and get something going on that site. A prime example of what poorly thought out and administered zoning regs can allow someone with no architectural sensabilities or regard for civic appearance to build in order to make a few bucks. Fentris also thought that rebuilding the Walnut Avenue bridge was a bad idea. The big metal looser in your photo is/was a roofing supply business and is another example of what can happen when The City Planning Department is asleep at the zoning rebulations switch. Hopefully we have turned that corner.
February 27th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
Old Downtown Guy, somebody did get the metal buildings from Jim Fentris. Here’s the inside scoop (at least what I can share): a prominent developer with a project underway within 100 feet of the corner tried to buy the corner and had some ambitious plans. But Smith-Roberts got it first, added parking just to the north of the metal building and as they say, that is that. As for the roofing business, I hear that may be soon be history.
July 16th, 2008 at 11:51 pm
[…] be the exemplar urban mixed-use development in Oklahoma City (you can check out some renderings at OKC Central). That said, it is always fun to see another person’s vision for the city and what Specketer […]