Journal Record (Oklahoma City, OK)
Copyright 2008 Dolan Media Newswires

August 15, 2008

Oklahoma City's blighted Film Row getting ready for its close-up.

Kelley Chambers

A group of designers, engineers and architects are not only promoting the revitalization of Oklahoma City's blighted Film Row , but also moving their offices there. The area was a bustling center of activity in its prime beginning in the 1920s, with buildings owned by every major movie studio, but fell into decline beginning in the 1960s when studios no longer needed regional film exchanges to distribute reels of film to theaters. Film Row is defined mainly as the 600 and 700 blocks of West Sheridan Avenue, just a stone's throw from the Civic Center and art museum. Many of the art-deco buildings remain, and several were purchased by Chip Fudge in 2005, with plans to bring Film Row back as a bustling center of activity on the west side of downtown.

David Wanzer, with J3 Architecture and one of the first to see the potential in Film Row, did extensive historic research and sold Fudge on his vision. David took the time to find out all the history of the area, Fudge said. It was a compelling story, and it was the last quadrant of downtown that hadn't been bought up. Three buildings have been renovated so far. When the building at 628 W. Sheridan Ave. was renovated for another tenant, who did not end up moving in, Wanzer jumped at the chance to move his offices from the Deep Deuce area on the northeast side of downtown. He was soon joined by three other companies looking for office space.

In February, J3, Task Design, Butzer-Gardner and Obelisk Engineering all set up shop in the 5,400-square-foot building, with their office space on the second floor. But private investment alone would not be enough to revitalize the area. Wanzer and Fudge had a vision for a streetscape and began pursuing tax increment financing dollars. Progress was slow, but last year the district had some major victories. Nine buildings in the area were added the National Register of Historic Places. The area also received TIF money to the tune of about $600,000, with an additional $1.9 million from a city general obligation bond. We couldn't start work until we got all the TIF dollars in place, Fudge said.

Brett Hamm, president of Downtown OKC Inc., described Fudge as a visionary who saw tremendous potential on that side of downtown. Hamm said that area will only continue to grow, especially with plans by Devon Energy to build a skyscraper just a few blocks to the east of Film Row. Film Row has been below most people's radar but is about to be much more recognized following the streetscapes and the companies moving in, Hamm said. It's a hidden gem in downtown. Wanzer said that if all goes as planned the streetscape would be completed by the time the Festival of the Arts rolls around next spring. Plans call for streets and sidewalks inlaid with designs of spotlights and film reels. In September, the Film Row streetscape plan will come before the Downtown Design Review Committee. Hans Butzer, co-director of Butzer-Gardner, said the streetscape is one thing that will help put Film Row on the map. A lot of people now are aware of Film Row and sense that there is an energy, but I'm not sure enough has happened visually yet for people to make a beeline for the area, he said. 'We're confident when the streetscapes begin, and with the continued renovations, it's going to be obvious that some serious stuff is going on down here. One major project under way is the renovation of the Film Exchange building at 700 W. Sheridan Ave. The 22,000-square-foot building was built in 1930 and will likely be used for retail, restaurant or art gallery space. Wanzer called the Film Exchange building the keystone of the area. The renovations are under way, he said. Once people start to see activity in that building, they'll really start to notice Film Row.

Though the project has already taken a long time and will surely take several more years of work, Fudge said he is pleased. It is a lot slower than I ever anticipated, he said. But it's been a really fun project, and we're happy with the three buildings we've finished to date The current tenants at the 628 W. Sheridan Ave. building may not stay in that space for the long run, but all said they were committed to keeping their offices on Film Row. My first thought was that it seemed so far out there, Butzer said. But after we moved in, it became more obvious that David had led me to the new frontier in downtown Oklahoma City.