Sweet! We're getting the worlds smallest McDonald's!

. . and that's a bad thing??

I can see it now, Sonic, McD's, KFC, Arby's, BK, Carl's JR, Taco Bell, Long JS, A&W , let's line them up and down Reno in Bricktown.

As long as they are built with bricks the more the better Fast Food the better.

Please... you guys are acting like Bricktown is Park Avenue Real Estate. It is a food and booze district with a creek running through it and that is all that place will ever be.

One way or another chain businesses like Mcdonald's are coming to Bricktown. If you run them out there are just going to create a fast food row on the east side of Bricktown from Lincoln to Eastern. Trust me in due time, one by one the freight yards, salvage yards and sales lots will dissappear. Discount stores, fast food and other shops will take their place.

Keep your prententious little hypocritic attitudes in Edmond where they belong. I just love how you guys cry a river about the I-35 Wal-Mart. Then when the place opens you are all shopping there just like every other Joe Blow in town. The parking lot is always packed with every expensive import and monster SUV.

Thank you oneforone:

I was thinking this topic "Bricktown {Wired}" had died. Your post contains veritably something to insult everyone and should fan the flames!

The land between Bricktown and MLK along Reno will develop as demand requires; be it McDonald's and WalMart or botique hotels and shoppes. And OKC will be the better for whatever develops.

ps I live in Edmond, I drive an SUV, I shop wherever I get the best buy and I like Starbucks. But at 61 years I don't have a prententious little hypocritic attitude.
I "earned" the right to chose my lifestyle.

It will be more of a Park Ave for OKC when we land a permanent NBA team

With all the residential properties popping up in downtown and bricktown I don't have a problem with them placing fast food places on the fringes of bricktown...The people living down there will want numerous fast food choices just like the rest of us

__________________
Dr. Spaceman: Now Jenna, medically speaking for your height your weight puts you what we call the "disgusting" range. Fortunately there are solutions. For example, crystal meth has been shown to be very effective. How important is tooth retention to you?

I actually boycott that Walmart.

You're part of the problem, not part of the solution. Now let's see if you're moniker is true and you really are one for one (otherwise you're a liar). Your contribution here sucks - SHUT UP!

I actually boycott all Walmarts. When they can build acceptable buildings and not abandon them in a few years and landscape their parking lots I will consider shopping there.

And that seems to be because that is all Oklahoma City wants, so you may be right. The developers seem to think you're right as well. The city would rather put a road block up for just about anything, but stuff like this and wal-marts. Urban renewal consistently picks the least ambitious projects. Hogan was selected for lower bricktown without a plan or any comprehensive vision. Bricktown developers hold out for chains or leave properties empty. The city finances Bass Pro. And on and on.

So, the reason that bricktown is destined to become redundant and stale is because that's all anyone seems to believe it can be and that is exactly how it has been executed. We continually sell it as something that will one day be a signature entertainment district, but only seem to support the opposite. We balk at major investments, while the old guard simply sits and waits for their properties to appreciate on promise until a Wal-Mart or McDonald's comes along with the cash.

Bricktown, and especially lower bricktown, was the opportunity for Oklahoma to have something unique and to create a dense selection of businesses and concepts that had not had a place in Oklahoma before. It could have been a source of identity for the area, something that gave reason to be and reason to visit. The surface lots and the east side represent that last remaining option for any of this to be done with new construction. But again and again we seem to just want more fast food, more mass market shopping, or just more parking.

I believed at one time that it would improve and diversify our city, yet those in control of its destiny seem to want something else. Mid-town and areas like the triangle may bring hope of something new back to the area, but we'll just have to wait and see if 1) the developers believe in that idea enough to bring in new concepts and 2) if Oklahoma City is really interested in increasing its options of entertainment, dining, and living or if we just want more of the same with slightly better facades.

It may suck, be he/she has a right to their opinion.

I am reserving my judgement of the McDs until I see a full-size rendering and a site plan.

If I boycott Walmart, I can't buy anything after 9 pm in my town.

Everyone has a right to their opinion - even if it's wrong. But if someone is going to come on here and just trash talk OKC and everyone on the boards and in OKC without providing a solution or alternative, that is not welcome.

Ignore them or disprove them.

Telling them to SHUT UP! is kinda childish.

I was just trying to bait him to see if he had any more gems of knowledge he wanted to drop on us. Looks like that' all he's got. One hit wonder. He may not have an opinion on anything else in the world but by golly he feels strongly about Bricktown.

You say to ignore them or disprove them, but you can't disprove stupid.

Probably a jealous Tulsa troll.

First of all you have to mix old brick with new ideas..........and second, the new mcdonalds design is worse than the first one...........btown is not a historical district, however UD has to review it....Lets mix brick with new urban design and continue on with a successful OKC!!!!!!!!!!! Rand Elliot ? proven? Of course...... being in red prime is like being out of town...........we need more of this

Not surprising coming from you [....................]

Mc D's got the approval to build in Bricktown.

OKCBusiness - Oklahoma City Business News

it will be interesting to see what the bricktown mcdonalds looks like in the end.

Bricktown tailor-made McDonald’s moves ahead in approval process

October 11, 2007
The Journal Record

OKLAHOMA CITY – Bricktown will likely see a stand-alone McDonald’s restaurant in the district after the fast-food giant first submitted a restaurant design in July.

McDonald’s had its sights on a piece of land at 501 E. Reno Ave. to build the restaurant. First, however, the design had to pass muster with the Bricktown Urban Design Committee. After the committee initially criticized the proposed design in July, company representatives came up with a more suitable fit with a brick and stone facade. Last month the committee approved the concept and site plan but asked McDonald’s representatives to return with a complete building plan as well as landscaping plans.

Jerome Elenez, marketing director for McDonald’s greater southwest region, said the company was not put off by the criticism of the initial plans presented to the design committee.“What we try to do is adapt our building plans to meet the culture of the city,” he said. “We’ve been looking at that area over the last couple of years and just realized how much Bricktown means to the city of Oklahoma City and the relevance it creates for not only residents but also for tourists.”

Elenez noted several instances where McDonald’s has adapted a restaurant’s look to a local community as in Roswell, N.M., where the company renovated a restaurant to reflect a spaceship theme.“We’re always looking for ways to make sure the restaurants we have are representative of the community and also just extremely relevant,” he said.

Trinity Group Architects completed the Bricktown McDonald’s design and serves as architect of record for the project.

John Calhoun, with the Oklahoma City Planning Department, said the urban design committee must approve all design projects in Bricktown north of Reno Avenue.The land for the McDonald’s site is owned by Pumpco Inc.“This is an area that’s ripe for redevelopment,” Calhoun said. “We look for development that is pedestrian-oriented.” Nevertheless, Calhoun said the committee does not control what entity seeks to build on or occupy a space, be it another fast-food restaurant or any business.“From our standpoint whoever owns the property, or has a long-term lease, is not something we can control,” he said. “The nature of the visual character and the site plan is something we can.”That would also be a factor in another fast-food restaurant moving to the area or along the canal in Bricktown, which is overseen by the committee. But Calhoun said there are certain provisions for businesses that want to open in Bricktown. “We look for good development from anybody who would bring in an appropriate design,” he said. “What we’re looking for also is a walk-able neighborhood that is a quality commercial district.”

With the Bricktown certificate of approval, the plans will now move on to the city for consideration. Elenez said McDonald’s hopes to begin construction in the next six months to a year. Jim Cowan, executive director of the Bricktown Association, said he is not worried that McDonald’s, or any other fast-food restaurant, will tarnish the reputation of the district. Bricktown has a Sonic just south of Reno in front of the Harkins Theatres.“As we address the whole fast-food issue, it’s going to fit into the area just like it fits into other areas of Oklahoma City,” Cowan said. And rather than draw business from locally owned Bricktown restaurants, Cowan said fast-food operators could fill a gap for breakfast, and times when the area plays host to large events. “For people that still want to get out and walk around and go to a ballgame or a concert, chances are they’re going to continue to go to their favorite Bricktown restaurant,” he said.

Cowan applauded McDonald’s for adapting its design to a brick and stone exterior, but said a development plan is in the works with the city of Oklahoma City to determine several aspects relating to Bricktown’s future much as it did when the district was first developing in the early 1990s.“

Now as Bricktown enters into this new era we’ve got to again redo a plan,” he said. “What was relevant in the early to mid ‘90s is obviously not current now.”Cowan also said while he welcomes new businesses to the area, he does not want Bricktown to become flooded with fast-food restaurants to the point the area loses its unique flavor.“We’re not a restaurant row,” he said. “We’re an entertainment district and we’re an area where people get around, walk around and do something other than just eat lunch or eat dinner.”

OKC’s Bricktown Urban Design Committee approves McDonald’s design
By Stefanie Brickman - 10/10/2007
OKC Business

The Bricktown Urban Design Committee today commended the designers of the proposed McDonald’s restaurant location for modifications made to plans originally submitted at last month’s meeting.

The restaurant will be located at 105 E. Reno.

In July, McDonald’s representatives presented preliminary plans. After hearing their proposal, committee members stood firm that they would not approve anything that was not pedestrian friendly, to include a $2.5 million drive-thru hamburger joint.

At the time, committee members agreed the building design, with its drive-thru window, was not in keeping with what Bricktown merchants are trying maintain as a community.

At the September meeting, the committee approved an amended site plan and concept for a McDonald’s, however, they requested more landscaping and elevation plans.

“It’s really nice to get to a point where we are all comfortable with the drive-thru and pedestrian traffic,” said Avis Scaramucci, committee vice chair.

Committee member Bob Bright praised the McDonald’s and Pumpco Inc. representatives who were present for their effort. He said the landscaping is three times what the City of Oklahoma City requires.

“This is an example of an intensely commercial enterprise that has adapted to Bricktown, especially its landscaping,” Bright said. “It’s what I hope every (commercial enterprise designer) would do.”

Jim Calhoun, City of Oklahoma City planner, said the next step will be for the developers to submit building permits which he says will have to conform to the plans presented at today’s meeting.

It looks like this project is underway. I have noticed that the dirt is being moved and the construction pad is being prepared.

That blows.

Yeah, it's hard to get excited about this.

You act surprised metro. Once the designed was approved (which isn't so bad), is it really a surprise that McDonalds is actually happening?