Originally Posted by johnnyboyokc

mr. brewer obtained all his land by private means. He has never been given public land like mr. hogan thank you............get your facts right!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by Popsy

I have noticed in my brief time on this forum that when it comes to bricktown and lower bricktown facts tend to be ignored and manufactured facts to suit their purpose are presented by the detractors. I would really like to see a copy of Moshe Tal's plan and his financial information as they are continuously brought up in this forum. The last I heard he didn't have the money to pay the attorney fees granted to the city by the court over his frivolus lawsuit.

Originally Posted by MalibuSooner

Canal side renovation plan includes parking, restaurant, office

By Steve Lackmeyer
The Oklahoman












Two Oklahoma City oilmen are proposing a multimillion-dollar renovation of properties along the Bricktown Canal that would include construction of a two-story parking garage, fountains and addition of offices and housing.

John Shelton and Charles Harding’s project, at 2 E California and 12 E California, was applauded Wednesday by the Bricktown Urban Design Committee. But the committee withheld approval, saying it will need more information and detailed drawings.

“Our development will depend on the approval of the design committee and the city,” Harding said. “We don’t want to go to the expense of doing all this and then finding out it won’t work.”

Harding’s proposal calls for renovation of the second floor and addition of a roof-top terrace at 12 E California. The building’s first floor, overlooking the canal, is home to Zio’s Italian Restaurant and the Laughing Fish gift shop. The four-story building at 2 E California (including a canal level basement) has been boarded up for at least the past decade, but is best known for the water tower on the roof.

Balconies would be added to both buildings. Designs also call for new windows to be added to the west facade of 2 E California, and an expansion of the patio facing the canal. Harding also wants the city to consider adding a fountain in the reflecting pool of the canal west of 2 E California.

Harding said the purchase from owner Jim Brewer also includes air rights over the surface parking lot south of Zio’s. Brewer would retain control of the surface lot, and Harding is proposing a two- to four-story parking garage over the lot that would be connected to the buildings by a skywalk.

Harding said the second floor of the buildings will be converted into offices, and the third floor of 2 E California will be remodeled into housing.

The investment will exceed $10 million, Harding said.

“We will need some cooperation from the city on this,” he said. “This is an underdeveloped area of Bricktown, and we will need to work with the city to make it work.”

Brewer said he recently bought a parking lot east of Zio’s in a separate transaction from Chris Johnson with intention of developing the property into a hotel. Similar development was envisioned by Johnson, but Brewer said the deal wasn’t doable because he couldn’t find a way to provide parking.

Brewer said his deal with Harding and Shelton includes operating the garage, so that ample parking will be available for both nearby restaurants and a future canal side hotel.

Bricktown Association director Frank Sims applauded Harding and Shelton’s plans, adding the property at 2 E California is an eyesore for visitors enjoying boat rides on the canal.

“We’ve been hoping for this kind of development for many years,” Sims said. “It’s long overdue.

“It’s an embarrassment to have buildings along the canal boarded up with broken glass just sitting there. We don’t want to have prime canal frontage being ignored or underutilized. With all the new development along the south half of the canal, we need to see further renovations in the core.”