Harding and Shelton's "Phase Two"
Sorry for the delay, but I have a steep learning curve on this blogging business, and I had to figure out on my own how best to convert a pdf to jpg. And here it is, Harding and Shelton’s “pipe dream” – a project they would love to see happen if the right partners could come to the table.
To the right, we still see a renovated Red Ball Building with retail built out along the canal level. And yes, we still see the canal extension being contemplated by the city. To the left we see a renovated Rock Island Plow Building. OK, all is well and good – these are improvements that are going to happen as part of the pair’s “phase one.”
But then things change … a lot. High rise buildings are built over the underground parking just south of the Red Ball Building. They are envisioned as either condo towers or a hotel. But wait – where’s the building that is home to Zio’s? Yep – this concept (and please realize, it’s just a concept) would raze the Zio’s building, create a courtyard facing the canal that would be backed by an entirely new building that the oilmen envision as a great spot for new retail.
This “phase two” is an idea – it is not financed, it is not designed, it has no committed parties. Ted Keeny, CFO of the pair’s Diversified Historic Properties, gave me permission to share these ideas in hopes that maybe it might draw some interested parties to the table.
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Comments
Raze another building in downtown/bricktown? You’d think people here wouldve learned not to be so short-sighted by now!? I know its just a concept, but why would destroying a quality constructed, timeless looking building to put up another that will be dated in 20 years even cross anyones mind? All you have to do is look around okc and compare to pictures of what used to be here to realize that. Lets just turn bricktown into a stripmall I guess.
The demolition of the Zios building would never fly with Bricktown Urban Design if you ask me.
I’m glad they’ve got pipe dreams though!
why couldn’t they leave the zios building and still do what they have in site? it seems like there is plenty of room there. it’s a nice looking idea tho, i like it, as long as the new buildings are all brick!
really wish this was more than a pipe dream
Their architect, Martin Goldstein, says the canal on that end is too dense and needs to be opened up, and that could be addressed by replacing the Zio’s building with a different configuration that would allow for a courtyard. I’m not sure they encountered any hint that this might not sit well with everybody until I suggested it could run into some opposition. Remember, this is just a concept, and in talking with them it seemed as if they are not married to the idea of tearing down the Zio’s building.
Sounds like they have the wrong architect. The entire concept of Bricktown is to build density. Also, how is it the architect/owners would be suprised they might encounter some opposition….where have they been??
Hopefully Phase 2, as currently envisioned, gets a major overhaul.
Yea….somebody needs an architect who doesn’t design in suburbia…seriously…too dense? I wish anywhere in OKC was too dense.
And really…”renderings”?
Doesn’t look like they have done much work of this nature: http://www.venturearchitecture.com/Projects.html
I wish them the best, but as the proposal currently stands, there is no way they should be allowed to tear down that building. The architect is wrong about the need for less density; in fact, the opposite is probably true.
Also, it is a bit ironic that the developer’s name is “Diversified Historic Properties”. What type of diversity are they going for? Some historic buildings standing, some torn down?
The name of the company is actually one of Jim Brewer’s earliest Bricktown ventures. Instead of selling the property in question, he sold the company that owned the property.
I really hope all this comes to reality and some new major development forms. This will spur more development as people try to keep up. I like the idea of more housing and possibly hotel. Both will continue the drive for retail.