Downtown Update II

After reading the KRMG interview of Sager, with him once again proclaiming that his project is moving forward, I thought about what that project could mean for the area if it was ever completed. The article also talked about several other developments that are either nearly completed or close to breaking ground. I thought about now great downtown is going to be when all these projects are completed. And when those are completed, how many more projects will be planned or under construction.

First off, one of the projects that was mentioned in the article was Greenarch. A project that I was beginning to fear had died. From a design standpoint, it is my favorite project of the ones currently planned or under construction. It's modern design complements that of ONEOK Field, using similar materials, but separates itself by adding clean, square lines and fantastic colors. It really is a very good looking project if you ask me. The article stated (or maybe quoted) that Greenarch has overcome hurdles in its early stages and will be breaking ground very soon. If this project does in fact come to fruition, it will be the first major development within immediate proximity of the ballpark, and will hopefully encourage more activity around there.

Staying in the ballpark area, Blake Ewing's new grocery concept Archer Market is due to be open soon. The space is well under construction, so hopefully within a few weeks downtown has its own grocery store!

Another grocery, this time in the Blue Dome, Cam's Grocery, is set to be open this spring in their renovated building. The store's proprietor, Daniel Cameron, has been in the grocery business before in Oregon, so it sounds like we will be getting a solid new business with this development.

Jumping northwest a few blocks, the Brady is undergoing a true boom right now. I can't think of any other place in the city that has as many construction projects in such a concentrated area as the Brady.

The Metro is all but completed, and will bring 77 new lofts into downtown within a matter of weeks. Sit back for a minute and think about the economic impact that this is going to have on the area around it. The whole of downtown really. So many business owners would kill to have 77 residences within blocks of them. Along with that, it will bring even more pedestrians and life to the Brady during the day. Residents do more than bring an area nightlife, or weekend excitement. They make an area a living, breathing, 24/7 neighborhood.

Across the street, we have the Brady Fairfield Inn well under construction, with the beams already going up. Upon completion, this will add approximately 104 hotel rooms to the north side of downtown, as well as over 10,000 square feet of retail space, of which they hope to fill with restaurants. That is the only thing that gets me about. This project. We need STORES in downtown, more places to shop and do things, not eat. There are already plenty of places to eat right now, we need stores! Most likely the logic of the developers is that they need a restaurant in the bottom of their hotel for their guests to eat at, but in an urban area other places to eat are only blocks away, which in my opinion would seem to do away with the notion that a hotel must have a restaurant inside it. Even then, that should only be one restaurant. I wish that they would try to recruit some cool, interesting stores to locate there, instead of continuing the redundancy of restaurants. But oh well, I. Guess the stores will come soon enough.

Staying on the same block, it has been rumored that the Brady flats will begin construction shortly after the completion of the Metro. Whether or not this will happen, well my guess is as good as yours, so take it as you will.

Down the street a bit, there is the Matthews Warehouse, AHHA, and Brqdy Park under construction. I tule cannot wait to see the vibrancy that this will add to the heart of the Brady District. I'm sure I will be visiting the museums as well as the park on occasion, which will be an experience unlike any other n Tulsa. Also in this area is the new KOTV studios. These are well on track to Thor scheduled completion in 2013.

Now traveling south, the lot directly east of the BOK Center is alive with construction, as One Place begins to take shape. Cimarex Tower is beginning to rise from the ground, and the Northwestern Mutual headquarters are scheduled to be completed (I think) sometime in the first half of next year. Hopefully by the end of this year we now more about the hotel and residential portion of this project.

Well I guess that concludes this post. It's much longer than normal, as it's the first "real" post I've written on my iPad. I must say it is much easier to type on than an iPhone. :-)

As I always try to end my posts on a positive note, I'll do so again tonight. Downtown is alive. Naysayers that say it is dead or that "no one goes down there" no longer hold any ground. Tulsa is finally gaining quality, something that it has not had in a long, long time.

Downtown Update 1

Soon we will be seeing much more housing downtown, 175 units to be exact. This is due in part to the TDA's decision to allocate a total of three million dollars to three projects. These projects are the...

Vandever Building: This is such an exciting project because it is located right in the middle of the CBD, an area severely lacking in housing. It will contain about 40 units and will be located on 5th street between Main and Boston.

YMCA Building: Also, a wonderful project, The YMCA Building loft conversion will place 82 units in the abandoned and boarded structure at 6th and Denver. This project should add some life and vitality to that forgotten little part of d
owntown.

East End: This project has the potential to be very unique. I've been told that this building has 16 foot ceilings, so they will be REAL lofts. I'd like to know a timeline, for all of them really, but espescially this one because I don't know the developer's track record. The other two are being done by the Schneiders, so you can pretty much guarantee that they will be completed. But I've never heard of the developer for these, and that just makes me a little nervous. Most likely though, he will get his project done in a reasonable amount of time, and I'm very glad to see a plan for the East End that does not sound like a
pipe dream.

Moving on, the Metro at Brady Lofts appear to be topped out now, and if they haven't started on the Brick already, I'm sure they will be soon. I can't wait to see that project finished!

One Place has started construction. After "breaking ground" over a month ago, they have finally started demolition, and should begin site work on the building soon. I'm still hesitant to say just how tall the tower will be, since they havent released any new renderings, but last I heard, it was 18 stories at 238 feet tall.

The Downtown First Presbyterian Church expansion appears to be progressing just fine, with a new steeple rising quickly on Boston Avenue, I think it will fit in nicely.

And finally, the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure will be moving back downtown this year. The more people we can get downtown, the better!

This is the first of a series that I hope to update once a month to recap things happening in Downtown Tulsa. If I left out anything, be sure to tell me in the comments section.


ON EDIT: Vandever Building will have 40 units, East End will be located at 4th and Elgin, total number of units will be 175.