R.D. and Scott Smith - Cosair Cattle Co. - own the building.

That building was bought from the Baptist Church in 2009 by a local invetment/development firm called Corsair.

Corsair owns a bunch of properties in the downtown and midtown areas.

Imagine lofts upstairs, and retail at ground level...notice how the building curves at the corner to compliment the street corner, nice....

One can look at the Corsair track record the past 20 years and see two brothers who buy properties and let them sit for years, with no improvements, until they sell at much higher prices than for which they were bought (evidence: Packard Building on NW 10), or see a pair who have taken a chance on buying up risky old properties and have brought in cool new development (evidence: Ludevine in MidTown).

Don't they also own the Elemental Coffee building?

I know they recently started renovation on a small office building in Midtown.

Originally Posted by Steve

or see a pair who have taken a chance on buying up risky old properties and have brought in cool new development (evidence: Ludevine in MidTown).

Also, our former office site, 228 2nd Street in Deep Deuce- now Sage and apartments.

Originally Posted by Pete Brzycki

Don't they also own the Elemental Coffee building?

Yes

And owned the Plaza Court (now McNellie's, Irma's, YMCA) and the buildings on the NW corner of 13th and Robinson. While I know they hold onto buildings for a long time and don't seem to take on much of the development themselves, I also think it is encouraging that they rarely if ever seem to tear down good historic stock, and ultimately sell to people who do a good job renovating it.

That building (Main Street Arcade) might be my favorite old building in downtown; certainly my favorite that hasn't been renovated. I have secretly dreamed for years of owning it. One of the few buildings in downtown that absolutely feels like the turn of the twentieth century.

Maybe the new streetscape along Main will prompt someone to take it on, and to restore the historic retail window openings on the street level. New streetscapes seem to have a way of doing that.

Plaza Court is not Cosair's work - all they did was lease a single space to Subway before selling it to Greg Banta/Bob Howard

Well, we can rest assured either way that Corsair is not going to renovate this building. I've always thought that building had Plaza Court written all over it. It would make a smashing rehabilitation, and could use a bright neon sign on the roof (imagine how it would enhance the skyline view from the perspective further down Main).

Wasn't this site also just identified as one of the potential parking garage locations?

Originally Posted by Spartan

Well, we can rest assured either way that Corsair is not going to renovate this building....

A couple of years ago I would have agreed with you. But with the other projects they've done more recently, maybe I was wrong. Truth be told, I've not made a good effort to meet the two, ask them about their thoughts and ideas. And that's my bad.

Originally Posted by Urbanized

And owned the Plaza Court (now McNellie's, Irma's, YMCA) and the buildings on the NW corner of 13th and Robinson. While I know they hold onto buildings for a long time and don't seem to take on much of the development themselves, I also think it is encouraging that they rarely if ever seem to tear down good historic stock, and ultimately sell to people who do a good job renovating it.

That building (Main Street Arcade) might be my favorite old building in downtown; certainly my favorite that hasn't been renovated. I have secretly dreamed for years of owning it. One of the few buildings in downtown that absolutely feels like the turn of the twentieth century.

Maybe the new streetscape along Main will prompt someone to take it on, and to restore the historic retail window openings on the street level. New streetscapes seem to have a way of doing that.

I've always thought the exact same.

Originally Posted by Steve

Plaza Court is not Cosair's work - all they did was lease a single space to Subway before selling it to Greg Banta/Bob Howard

they had the mcnellies deal done in principle before they sold to banta ...... and they also have owned the building just east of plaza court (fully leased) for about 20 years ..

Originally Posted by Steve

A couple of years ago I would have agreed with you. But with the other projects they've done more recently, maybe I was wrong. Truth be told, I've not made a good effort to meet the two, ask them about their thoughts and ideas. And that's my bad.

i don't think they would have any desire to meet with the press ... and or share any of their ideas

Are you being cynical or do you know them?

Originally Posted by Steve

Plaza Court is not Cosair's work - all they did was lease a single space to Subway before selling it to Greg Banta/Bob Howard

I didn't say it was their work; neither are the buildings on the NW corner of 13th and Rob. The point I was making is that they at one point OWNED the buildings (in some cases for extended and sometimes frustratingly inactive periods), but I'm not aware of any real penchant they have for tearing down old buildings. This bodes well for Main Street Arcade, in my opinion.

I don't know if you can go so far as to credit them as being caretakers, but many if not most of those buildings would have been torn down without a second thought by many, or even most other owners. Now they are buildings that are restored or in the process of restoration. A few of the buildings formerly owned by them have become some of the more interesting and inspiring small-to-medium revitalization projects in downtown over the past decade. Those buildings all could have met much, much worse fates than being owned by Corsair.

true

Here's some history on the origins and early uses of this building. The County Assessor's on-line records show a couple of images and indicates that this property was constructed in 1936 and contains 29,852 square feet.

That construction date is wrong. A 1920 Oklahoman article reflects that the property was built in 1920 for the exclusive use of "little shops". A 1922 Oklahoman advertisement/prospectus gives further description.



A May 1923 full page ad shows that the 2nd floor of the property became occupied by Hills Business College.

Click image for full-sized view



The property was acquired by the Downtown Baptist Church in 1934, and in 1938, and apparently for many years thereafter, the property was the home of the Downtown Baptist Church.



That's as far as I went in my research.

As it happens, Downtown was my wife's home church and Rev. Cook performed our marriage ceremony. Jo's grandfather was a long-time deacon there, and I've helped count the offering many a Sunday morning. I wasn't aware that the church had finally sold the building; we hadn't been active there since Cook's death, and many of the original members have either died or moved to the suburbs (as we did) and found the distance to downtown too far to drive.

Jo tells me that the top floor, where everything other than the pastor's office and the food room was located, was a roller skating rink and had a boxing ring, before the church bought the property. The food room, located in that great corner area, handed out food parcels to the needy, and also served hot meals. We helped serve one Thanksgiving Dinner there back in the 70s. The church also sponsored Grace Rescue Mission, which was located a few blocks away in the California-Reno area until Urban Renewal forced it to move; after relocating to a building in Stockyards City the mission sort of faded into nothingness...

Doug, you might search for more about W.E. Cook -- he was a real character, almost the stereotype of the fire-breathing hard-shell Baptist minister, but also one of the most compassionate people I've ever met. Look especially for stories of his shouting matches with George Miskovsky on the sidewalk of the main business district, and his PA problems with beer joints near the mission! There's another blog item there for you, but I'm much too close to the subject to write it...

Great news: application before the Downtown Design Review Committee to replace all the windows and put new storefronts in this cool old building.

I'm sure their plan is to market the property for lease and I bet they find some takers.

Man, I wish I could do something there. That building has been one of my favorites downtown for years. A nice vibe going on over there these days with P180 and Film Row. You can see the Main Street Arcade from Joey's Pizzaria on Film Row. That whole area has such potential.

Big plans to renovate this awesome building. Note the addition of all glass at ground level and also the restoration of the transom windows above the canopy.

Can't wait to see what this looks like when finished -- it really is a gem on a very visible corner and an important link between Film Row and the Arts District.

Very cool. I wonder if they have any plans for the second floor because residential would be very nice and would provide customers for all those new store fronts.

Under intended use, their application states: "Commercial lease space". I don't think residential is part of the plan.

BUT, residential is needed in that area and there are still tons of vacant building and lots. I'm sure we'll see some apartments soon.


Here's a bit of history on the building:

"The original two-story 29,852 sq ft masonry structure was built in 1936. Sanborn
Maps of 1922 and 1950 indicate that the structure had been occupied by a Lodge
Hall, Printing Store, Restaurant, a Business College, various retail shops, and
more recently, the Downtown Baptist Church.

The structure has been identified Downtown Oklahoma City Intensive Survey,
Phase 1 as a historic resource eligible to be included in a potential historic district."

Originally Posted by Pete

Under intended use, their application states: "Commercial lease space". I don't think residential is part of the plan.

You can't win them all I guess. I am really surprised that a midrise arts-fartsy tower has not been built on one of the surface parking lots between Main and Colcord Dr. I would think the arts and croissant crowd would love living in close proximity to much of the arts that they fund through philanthropy. Maybe OKC's problem is that the upper-crust is not urban enough (yet).

Remember The Montgomery and The Legacy in that area are both still pretty new but also both very well leased.

I'm sure we'll see more residential in that area soon.

Originally Posted by Just the facts

You can't win them all I guess. I am really surprised that a midrise arts-fartsy tower has not been built on one of the surface parking lots between Main and Colcord Dr. I would think the arts and croissant crowd would love living in close proximity to much of the arts that they fund through philanthropy. Maybe OKC's problem is that the upper-crust is not urban enough (yet).

There is one mixed use development between main and colcord just west of Walker. I think the problem is that the Montgomery has a lot or residential and this part of downtown is not ready for that much residential. Hopefully soon!! I have always thought that this portion of downtown could be amazing!

Originally Posted by DirtLaw

There is one mixed use development between main and colcord just west of Walker. I think the problem is that the Montgomery has a lot or residential and this part of downtown is not ready for that much residential. Hopefully soon!! I have always thought that this portion of downtown could be amazing!

what?

the short term hope for more residential is the new city parking garage with residential on top .. just a block east of this site

1936? I'm really surprised by that. The design of the building seems to me to be more like something from the turn of the 20th Century through maybe the early twenties. I had always suspected it was older.

Read Doug's comments back on page 1 of this thread. The assessor's information is incorrect; the building was built in 1922, and housed Hill's Business College in the late 20s per an ad that Doug included in his post. Downtown Baptist Church members bought it in 1934 but held it as individuals for a short time before deeding it to the church. And the description as having two floors is also incorrect; it was more like 2.5 because of a mezzanine where the original sanctuary was located...

Thanks for confirming that Jim. The design surely says very early twentieth century. I think that building perhaps more than all but two or three left in this city evokes a different time more than any other. So glad to hear there are plans for it.

Originally Posted by DirtLaw

There is one mixed use development between main and colcord just west of Walker. I think the problem is that the Montgomery has a lot or residential and this part of downtown is not ready for that much residential. Hopefully soon!! I have always thought that this portion of downtown could be amazing!

Are you referring to the brick condo with a gate along Main? If so, that's just one unit, and the Montgomery has done quite well. I tend to think that proven areas are best for residential development. Downtown's west side has Devon, the new elementary, most cultural amenities, so it is a natural fit for residential - I almost already think of it as the shadier, quieter, more upscale side of downtown. Too bad Trattoria went away.

This project is fantastic. I am elated to see that they're renovating this fantastic property, and I'm extremely curious as to who is renovating this. Surely not Corsair?

It is Corsair.

Wow. Someone help me pick my jaw off the floor...

Way to go Corsair.

Main Street Arcade Renovation Starting? | OKC Central

I like Hills Business Colleges old location better.



Main & Broadway
1908

Originally Posted by UnFrSaKn

I like Hills Business Colleges old location better.



Main & Broadway
1908

I wish this building was still here.

Are there any pictures of the interior? Arcade seems to also refer to an architectural style where a building is composed of a series of archways and/or columns ... kind of similar to the exterior of the business college's previous location pic but on the inside???

Originally Posted by OnlyOne

I wish this building was still here.

Totally agree!

Heard work has started on this renovation project...

Can anyone confirm?

Originally Posted by Pete

Heard work has started on this renovation project...

Can anyone confirm?

Yep, it's not much, but there's definitely something going on.