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Bert Belanger kept to his word and bulldozed a series of flop houses on Broadway Drive that have been an annoyance to downtowners for the past 20 years. There is something seriously wrong with a property when the arrival of sex offenders is considered an improvement over the previous tenants. The sex offenders were forced to move out earlier this year after neighbors complained they were to close to the Oklahoma School and Science and Math. It was then that Bert bought the properties from Hand Up Ministries.

Bert is to appear at Downtown Design Review Committee this week on plans to tear down the neighboring former nursing home, which has been empty for several years and is also a less than flattering image for passersby driving into Automobile Alley.

Yet another building along Automobile Alley is about to go through an upgrade - this time it’s the former Ernest Istook headquarters, now home to Frontline Church, at 712 N Broadway. Years ago the second floor windows were bricked in and covered with stuco. Now that damage is about to be reversed if renovation plans are approved this week by the Downtown Design Review Committee.

We’ve seen a lot of this sort of work along Broadway, which is always overshadowed by Bricktown. And curiously, we see little or nothing of this sort of improvement by property owners in Bricktown. Automobile Alley had a lot more boarded-up buildings a decade ago - now they’ve all been improved one way or another (only exceptions are at the corner of NW 10 and Broadway, which are slated to be fixed up by Greg Banta).

So here I go again, asking difficult questions aimed at Bricktown: why can’t this district take the same sort of pride in their neighborhood that is demonstrated by the folks along Automobile Alley?

In case you missed it, I got to visit a pretty hip new downtown cafe last week (and by hip, I mean, can you dig it?). Read the story here.

I can’t remember a time when these duplexes along Broadway Drive at NW 11 were anything but trouble for downtown. Several years ago they were well known crack houses.  Hand Up Ministries bought them, fixed them up, and then turned them into halfway houses for sex offenders. The neighborhood didn’t like that either, and by last fall, authorities were responding to complaints that they were illegally within the prohibited range of a school (the Oklahoma School of Math and Sciences). Anyway, by winter, they were history.

They’ve quickly fallen into disrepair, extensively vandalized - likely by copper thieves. Anyway, Bert Belanger admits they are his now, and he is preparing to tear them down for an undisclosed future development.

Now, what would work well on this site (and realize his holdings will including the junk yard to the east on NW 11 and the boarded up nursing home across the street, which he also says will be cleared).

Read my story here.

UPDATE: Old Downtown Guy, a man definitely in the know about what’s happening in the city, comments on Bert’s past work and predicts that housing may be on the way for Broadway Drive. Read his comments here at www.okctalk.com.

Yeah sure, there’s plenty to see and take photos of in Bricktown at night, but what about the rest of downtown? Here’s some intesting angles taken tonight along an increasingly vibrant Automobile Alley and in Maywood Park, which is awaiting the last element needed to make a neighborhood complete - residents.

Steve Mason and architect Tony Blatt - one year ago - and now certified, battle tested preservationists and urban developers. Mason’s journey actually started even earlier - when he bought up the 1000 block of N Broadway, one of the last unimproved stretches of Automobile Alley.

1015 N Broadway is now fully rebuilt and home to Mason’s Cardinal Engineering, Bicycle Alley and Coffee Slingers. Yet another building on the block has been renovated and leased to Cricket Communications. Mason has accomplished much of what he set out to do - but we won’t be seeing the Iguana Mexican Grill at 1007 N Broadway as originally envisioned.

The question at www.okctalk.com is what happened?

There’s a reason this block took so long to develop. The buildings were in terrible shape. Habitat For Humanity’s Renovation Station occupied the first floor of 1015 N Broadway for a while, but the rest of the building was pretty much inhabitable because of structural problems. Mason’s costs were double the original estimates, and he had to gut the building to save it. But he was able to stay in the black thanks to historic tax credits. The building at 1007 N Broadway ended up being too big for the restaurant, and the structual problems there were even worse than at 1007 N Broadway. So Mason has moved the restaurant just one block east to NW 9 and Broadway (next to the new Oklahoma City Community Foundation headquarters) and as of last month the future remained murky for 1007 N Broadway.

Don’t assume the building will remain dark and empty forever. Mason indicated he’s continuing to look at how to make the project work with more tax credits, etc. It could be Mason is simply hoping to see increased demand for space on the block that might then make a renovation more feasible.

Sidenote: only three significant empty buildings remain on Automobile Alley - the old Marion Hotel, 1100 and 1101 N Broadway. All three are owned by Greg Banta and are part of his MidTown Renassaince development.

Flaming Lips lead singer Wayne Coyne, left, carries the Flaming Lips Alley sign while Michael Ivins follows behind as they make their way through the crowd of fans during the official dedication of the Flaming Lips Alley at the AT&T Bricktown Ballpark on Thursday, Oct. 25, 2007, in Oklahoma City. Photo by CHRIS LANDSBERGER 

At www.okc talk.com, the latest news is that Wayne Coyne, lead singer of the Flaming Lips, was seen enjoying coffee with his equally talented artist wife Michelle at Coffee Slingers, the new “fundamentalist” coffee shop at NW 10 and Broadway along Automobile Alley. Gee, if this were US Magazine, we could boast “he’s just like us!” (Groan).

But seriously, it should be no surprise when one sees Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips out and about. He’s a proud OKC resident, and part of his appeal is that he’s stayed pretty down to earth despite his band’s worldwide success and fairly new celebrity status here in his hometown.

I was first introduced to their music a couple years ago by Chad Huntington, operator of the Bricktown Water Taxis. I’m still not sure I can describe their music - I’m not religious about it like some fans, but I like it. It’s fun, uplifting and the fans are part of the entertainment. And hey, what other city can boast an appearance by Santa Claus and Martians at a street naming dedication?

Yeah, I’ll name drop now… yep, I’ve met Wayne Coyne - got introduced by Chad when they were all at LIT during one of those ice storms in early 2007. I ineptly asked how OKC might attract more folks like Wayne to stay in Oklahoma City. I wanted to know what kept a clearly creative class person like him to stay in what has traditionally been a conservative city. After all, Wayne Coyne didn’t just stay in OKC - to this day he lives in one of the most impoverished neighborhoods just west of downtown - Classen 10 Penn - and is helping stablize the area from deteriorating any further.

So how do I summarize Wayne’s response? Things are as they are ….

Oddly, looking back now, that actually makes sense.

- Steve

A couple of weeks ago I posted the following question at www.okctalk.com: what are the worst downtown eyesores?

Here’s the list they compiled:

———————————-

Stage Center

Old Downtown Library

DEQ Building

AT&T campus

Former Stewart Metal buildings

304 NE 3 (Deep Deuce)

City Detox

Former Fox Collission Building

Bob Howard Ford

Union Bus Station

First National Arcade

Trigen

Garage at Kerr and Harvey

Park Harvey Building

Former nightclub at Main and Walker

Goodyear Tire store

Browns bakery

Dowell Center

Bricktown Parking Garage

U-Haul building in Bricktown

Cotton Coop

Finley building

Bass Pro

Century Center

Harkins Theater

So, what’s next? I’ve got a camera, and I’m preparing to take some photos of these “eyesores.” Then I’ll provide details on some of these properties, followed by a poll here at www.okccentral.com. The more of you who vote in this poll, the more likely it is you might nudge someone to make some improvements. Now, quiz time friends… which one of these “eyesores” is the only Oklahoma City property to win one of the highest architectural honors possible? Which property was deemed one of the city’s most significant architectural landmarks by a panel of architects and preservationists? Which building is owned by dedicated urban pioneers who have led in their district’s revival? And which building is closest to becoming history?

That’s the question posed in today’s front page story by Bryan Dean. The Land Run Monument is one of the many projects launched by the Oklahoma Centennial Commission. At issue is whether the final count will be 45 or 38 pieces when the monument is completed.

In case you missed it, I had two stories Sunday. One examined the role Tulsa might play in Oklahoma City becoming a major league market. The other is a fun interview with Meg Salyer, who is widely hailed as a visionary who helped make Automobile Alley what it is today.

As a sidenote, an interesting story appears in today’s Tulsa World about a notable downtown landmark facing an uncertain future. Downtown Oklahoma City once had similar “challenges.” I do not know of any downtown Oklahoma City property owners who currently have left their buildings abandoned. Correct me if I’m wrong, but the worst case scenario for downtown Oklahoma City, especially in the central business district, is simply one of owners slow to do what is needed to make their properties viable again.

Saturday, enjoying the celebration of the Lunar New Year in the Asian District… 

Thanks to everybody for your comments and participation in OKC Central. As I wrap up the week, here are some random thoughts…

OK, do we really need any evidence that I’ve still got a lot to learn? Old Downtown Guy corrects me on what the IIDA is - it’s the International Interior Design Association. The group recently met at the Red Pin Bowling Lounge in Lower Bricktown.

Here’s what Old Downtown Guy had to say: “The space was a difficult fit for the bowling alley/restaurant tenant but the design team did an excellent job of shoe-horning in all of the mechanical and sprinkler systems. The interior design, finish and materials selections were done by Cynthia Harrison and Bethany Jackson of Tandem Design. David Wanzer and Ken Fitzsimmons also worked on the architectural portion of the project. Monty Jacobs was the general contractor.”

Wanzer and Fitzsimmons are part of the influx of new talent making their mark downtown. Wanzer and his partners at J3 Architecture currently office in Deep Deuce in the Littlepage Building, but will soon be moving to Film Row on W Sheridan where they are participating in the area’s redevelopment. Fitzsimmons and his brother Bryan, meanwhile, are involved in some exciting and challenging innercity projects including the Tower Theater on NW 23.

Old Downtown Guy added he saw Jeff Bezdeck with a group at Red Pin as well. Bezdek designed the dancing fountains in Lower Bricktown, brought Centennial Clocks to just about every town in the state, designed the bell tower along the Oklahoma River and the clock tower for the MidTown Plaza at NW 5 and Walker. Bezdek also happens to office next door to Wanzer.

And here is Old Downtown Guy’s review: “Red Pin is a fun spot . . . nice bar and a decent restaurant. I don’t bowl, but I think their lanes get plenty of use . . . six or seven of the ten were going strong this evening. The pin setting equipment is very interesting and requires a full time mechanic to keep it working properly.”Second item:  Harry Wilson rcorrectly reminds us that the old incarnation of the Urban Design Commission played a pivotal role in stopping demolition of the Gold Dome. The design commission, with more power to halt demolition of buildings deemed historic, created the delay needed for interested parties to attract a buyer like Dr. Irene Lam. Here’s what Wilson has to say:

How quickly we forget.  Re the Gold Dome, the Urban Design Commission “saved the landmark from demolition”.  If we had voted “yes” there wouldn’t have been a “landmark” for anyone to occupy.

The UDC has never received the credit it deserved for the behind the scenes leadership re Auto Alley, 23rd Street, The Plaza District, and more.  For some reason the Bricktown UDC gets the headlines.  I guess we were just too boring or maybe it was the professional approach of the UDC as opposed to the headline grabbing personalities of the Bricktown group.