Chris Johnson, Bricktown, Part Four

Posted by Steve Lackmeyer

on October 8, 2012M at 10:31 pm

Over the past dozen years we’ve seen Chris Johnson proposals for Bricktown come and go, including the most recent controversial effort to build parking and a couple of retail buildings along the Bricktown Canal. To date, we’ve seen nothing but parking.
Now we’ve got another rendering coming to this week’s Bricktown Urban Design Committee. The property, 229 E Sheridan, once home to Joker’s Comedy Club, has been vacant for the past decade. Word on the street has it that it was previously either owned or leased by individuals who thought they could find a way to get around the district’s zoning against strip clubs (I was never able to verify or disprove this story).
Johnson quietly bought the building this past year, and what he’s attempting is a fairly extensive makeover. The former warehouse, built in 1952, is not generally regarded as one of Bricktown’s more remarkable structures, and I’m not sure anyone will really object to the design.
Over at www.okctalk.com, some are questioning why Johnson’s application shows no urgency for parking, referencing the heart of the dispute over his planned canal project that is now on hold.
Looking at Johnson’s track records, others ask whether they can even believe if this project will ever take place….

Categorized under:

Bricktown, urban design

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