MidTown – Thriving, But Trouble Ahead?
Quick comments about catching dinner last night at 1492 New World Cuisine in MidTown:
- The restaurant was doing great business. Bar had patrons, about half to two-thirds of the dining room stayed full from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m.
- I observed similar business at nearby Irma’s and Cafe do’ Brasil.
- With all the old trees and shrubs removed around the old Osler Building, it’s even more stunning to look at. I was surprised to see a corner front balcony I had never noticed before, and the architecture, well, it’s stunning. Greg Banta has said he wants to convert the building into housing.
- James E. McNelly’s Irish Pub is getting very close to opening. I’ll visit there today and report back.
- Parking, parking, parking. Nobody is charging $5 or $10 to park as they are in Bricktown. But spaces are getting hard to find. Can MidTown learn from what many say is Bricktown’s greatest weakness?
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Comments
There are garages in the area, around St. Anthony- could they spare space in the evenings for overflow Midtown parking? Will one of the developers invest in a parking structure?
I was in Midtown at the Grateful Bean today, the area really is impressive… It seems very authentic and even though it’s not as established as Bricktown, it feels much more like a neighborhood.
There are some significant differences between MidTown and Bricktown – primarilly how developers and property owners in MidTown approach their area’s longterm interests versus the approach taken in Bricktown. MidTown’s leading property owners and developers seem to realize the importance of redeveloping old buildings, getting good tenants and bringing life back to the area. They don’t seem hung up on making parking revenues their main source of revenue. Can and could the same have been said the past 15 years in Bricktown?
I like Midtown alot, but I’d like to see more retail there. Actually, I do not think there is any retail in Midtown other than a bridal store.
It does look better down there, but still a lot of work to do. Just as Bricktown, there are still several eye sore spots with buildings boarded up and weeds grown up around them. Retail, retail… all of downtown needs to invest in retail. I think OKC should invest more into sidewalks downtown and mid-town, make them more attractive looking with landscaping and benches. Seems like the city will only invest in parts and leaves the rest.
Mid town kind of sounds like Bricktown in the early days, several restaurants, no charge for parking. BUT what will happen as demand for parking increases faster than the supply of parking spaces?