Clearing The Block
Bob Meinders, owner of all the land that was once home to Stewart Metal Fabricators, is asking permission from the Bricktown Urban Design Committee this week to tear down this series of steel buildings at 600 E Sheridan. I can’t recall anyone saying the buildings are historically significant, though I’ve heard quite a few people say it’s a bad eyesore for those entering Bricktown from the east.
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Tear them down Bob! And then get to work on your SteelYard proposal!
Michael – yes he had renderings drawn up a few years ago for the “Steel Yard” proposal. Google it, pretty nice development actually if he follows through with it. I’m sure the bad economy and tough financing is holding it up, but glad to see him actually wanting to do something with the property finally.
Property owners (no matter who they are in the community or how independently wealthy) should be required to show stable financing and development plans before they tear anything down. I’m not saying they shouldn’t be torn down, but they should only be torn down if the right development is going to replace them.
Showing that it is possible to NOT tear them down and still change the use of the land, adaptive reuse designs have been drawn up (in 2003) for these industrial buildings to be converted into 100 loft units:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4182/is_20030501/ai_n10157907/
“Under the redevelopment concept, the building’s exterior would be left largely intact with some new brickwork to accent the property. The interior of the buildings would be converted to space for up to 100 multifamily units.
The concept also calls for some space to be reserved for retail use, such as a dry cleaning business, a barber shop, a pharmacy or a possible retail store. Additional space would be available for a business center or board room that could cater to business owners.
Architects said the 30-foot clear height ceilings and the large open spaces of the manufacturing building would provide ample room for two-story housing.
‘We’re going to maintain part of the existing character,’ Lazaridis said. ‘However, we would enhance it with special brick work and brick arches that would relate to Bricktown. It would complement the architecture of Bricktown.’”
Although the buildings are an eyesore, is that his only reason for wanting to tear them down? Even if redevelopment of that space would work, is Meinders interested in redeveloping them and, if not, would he sell for a price that would make redevelopment feasible? It is possible that with the land open, it would be easier to visualize how the space could be utilized. I have mixed feelings, as I’m all for using existing buildings, but the owner has to be willing to use them.
Shane, about article you linked…
Is anyone surprised to see that the “100 multifamily units” that were proposed to be built here have the word, “luxury” to describe them?
“Maintain part of the existing character,” Are you serious? Please look at the picture again – There is no character. These are vintage WWII surplus buildings that sprouted up all over the country because people couldn’t get structures up fast enough to handle the increased economy from everyone returning home. There is absolutely no value to keeping them, not to mention the fact that they are a horrible eyesore coming into Bricktown from the east. I’m with Ryan. A lot full of prairie grass is an improvement over these loser structures.
That’s an old plan that pre-dates Meinders. Further, this block is not connected to the Stewart Metal properties.
Think he has anything significant to Bricktown’s urban fabric planned? Maybe I’m just being hopeful.