Some Quick Bricktown News
I’m working on a story for Tuesday about two potential developments in Bricktown. I say potential because after talking to involved parties, neither deal is ready to go. Gary Berlin has desired to convert the upper floors of his Oklahoma Hardware Building for a couple of years. Chris Johnson, who has gained control of the vacant land across from the JDM Building and along Mickey Mantle Drive (across the canal from each other), is looking at creating parking and retail – a proposal that may or may not encounter some difficulty at this week’s Bricktown Urban Design Committee. Anderson owned land in Bricktown before, even once spoke of going a canal side hotel or retail development, but never seemed to get beyond the business of doing paid surface parking.
Both projects are being proposed as a means to see whether they are financially feasible, and this step does not, by any means, guarantee that either will be done.
Count me as one who will be surprised if both plans proceed as fully envisioned at this moment, within the next year. Of course, I could be wrong.
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Comments
On these two projects, I’d say that’s a wise move. I won’t be shocked if a part of all this happens. But I will be somewhat surprised if all of it happens.
Steve, I’d say tons of people know EXACTLY how likely these developments are to happen. We’ve been following Bricktown right along with you.
Needless to say, they’re both very intersting. But I will say, that if the Chris Anderson proposal ever goes through, I will not be happy, unless altered for the better.
SO MUCH WASTED CANAL FRONTAGE.
Sam Gresham is the same architect that is destroying the Asain district. Chris Johnson’s development for Bricktown sounds extremely suburban. It shouldn’t be allowed to go forward.
Sam is NOT the architect working heavily in the Asian District. He may have done a project or two, but it’s not him.
Sam is the same architect who just did Tucker’s Onion Burger on NW 23rd.
Here’s a website for Sam’s work: http://www.samgreshamarchitect.com/
On the flip side, one of the more prevalent architects in the Asian District is Rob Elliott, who has had plans for some shopping centers in the area changed repeatedly… I’ll post some before and after bits tomorrow and let you judge them for yourself.
Apologies to Sam. I was misinformed. I should have done research before saying something like that. I guess you could say that I have learned a lesson.
I really like anything that will improve BT. But anymore, until doors actually open, I’ve become skeptical. I stay bummed that way, but I don’t get let down near as much.