Comments on: Will the Skyline Continue to Rise?

By: slackmeyer

slackmeyer — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 20:06:12 +0000

The closing of Main Street was done after much debate and disagreement. To this day Anthony McDermid, who prepared a master plan for the old Galleria block before the garages were built, regrets the city didn’t pursue a different footprint that would have allowed the streets to be reopened.
But there were other complications, including the IRS being deadset against reopening Main Street immediately north of its building post-April 19th.
Harvey still had, and one could say, still has a shot at being reopened. While the project has a green light from Urban Renewal, who is to say the Harvey Avenue issue won’t be brought up at Downtown Urban Design Committee? The trick, from my experience, is to somehow communicate with the architects these concerns early on (NOW) if they truly deserve some consideration. Is there a way to keep pedestrian access open along Harvey Avenue while staying with the spriit of the project? I don’t know – but I’ve seen a lot of briliant surprises in my time from the design community and these guys are clearly major league hitters.

By: Michael Bates

Michael Bates — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 19:41:28 +0000

“There aren’t limits on where these buildings can be constructed and, they can be large enough to create their own synergy.”

I can’t think of a recent example of a modern skyscraper creating synergy at street level. The BOK Tower in Tulsa certainly didn’t, even when downtown was at its late ’70s peak.

By: travis

travis — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 19:04:15 +0000

Found it:
Proposition 1/ section-reconstruction, item #10
“Harvey Avenue, Park Avenue to Sheridan Avenue” $2,000,000 .

I admit to being somewhat ignorant of the whole bond process, but it is there. I’m just wondering if this was taken in to consideration by the city, OCURA, and Devon. I suppose they could have meant from Park to Main, but that was recently done.
BTW, Main street reconstruction was another missed oppurtunity. It looks kind of bad when a city’s Main Street ends at a one-way street and a parking lot. I know that the IRS building was against it, but they could have run it to Harvey, and allow room to extend to Robinson should the IRS ever vacate. Oh, well.

By: Michael H

Michael H — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 17:31:43 +0000

I just hope they don’t overbuild…One bite at a time would be preferable. There is so much class C office space that should be renovated; though, I really like the idea of a small high rise condo near the new Devon building – I bet there would be good demand…

It’s good to see all the public/private partnership and energy that is being devoted to our city’s growth – this is all really, really positive.

By: tt

tt — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:01:45 +0000

“Downtown” has unlimited areas it can expand to. Highrises can infill north along Broadway, Harvey, Hudson, Walker. West along Sheridan and Main. There aren’t limits on where these buildings can be constructed and, they can be large enough to create their own synergy.

Travis, I don’t believe you’re correct in saying a Harvey reopening was included in the recent city bond. You prob know, but the bond issues are listed specifically and a reopening of Harvey from Sheridan north to the new parking garages was not a part of the list.

By: travis

travis — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 12:52:40 +0000

Excellent comments, Michael Bates. I have been thinking along those same lines, but you’ve said it better than me; here and your blog. I’m pretty mixed on this, I do think that it’s a good thing that Devon is spending the money downtown. However, I’m a little dissapointed in the design the more I study it. I think it will look real out of place in our current skyline, and as for it encouraging other new buildings to go higher, it took nearly 40 years for the current highest to do this. It also would have helped downtown circulation and conectivity to area to the north if Harvey had been reopened, . The city allocated bond money in the last election to do this, what’s going to happen to it?

By: Jess M.

Jess M. — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 04:22:10 +0000

Where downtown is currently, there is still room to grow, however, with the I40 relo and the opening of all that land could start to see a bigger expansion from it’s current point. Bricktown has lead the way with great development and residential, good to see the business side taking strides. I’ve always felt that OKC would look better with an updated skyline.

By: Brian

Brian — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 01:17:49 +0000

Steve, you’re a big tease! I’m looking forward to your story tomorrow.

By: Trey

Trey — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 01:04:11 +0000

Michael Bates I’m seeing you all over the place…

But I do agree yet again with your point. It is important that OKC make downtown a true downtown which includes livable space, nice livable space, some retail and a good balance of office towers. There is quite a lot of room in the downtown OKC area for expansion and with a fair number of 4 to 6 story condo’s being built and now the Devon tower. I would think that perhaps a larger 10 to 15 story Condo may come to fruition over the next couple of years. I would also like to see a large mixed use building. Of course I don’t know if such a building could be “too big” but something in the 25 to 35 story range as I mentioned on OKC talk would be quite nice.

By: Reggie Jet

Reggie Jet — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 22:53:49 +0000

Dang, Steve! You are such a tease!

But what a great way to make sure we pick up a copy of The Oklahoman, tomorrow.