I've been watching the demolition from my office yesterday and today of the old Dollar General building and the small building south of it on N. Classen just south of 12th. I wonder if Banta has bought this property or whom? It would be a perfect spot for the proposed hotel/retail/condo development that Marva Ellard's group proposed for the old Mercy site.

This kinda got me thinking, what will the significance of buildings built in the nuclear age be in 10 years or so, given the praise for anything pre-1940? As silly as it sounds, when do we preserve perceived-crappy Dollar Generals?

I was wondering what was in that spot...noticed the demolition today but couldn't figure out what was gone.

It obviously made a very deep impression on me while it was there.

Office Depot is building on that site


NewsOK: Office Depot agrees to build MidTown store without public funds<br/><span class='hl2'>Developer sees this as important step in downtown's retail recovery</span> (http://newsok.com/article/3063472)

Thanks Super Scooper, I was wondering because today they are ripping out the old parking lot as we speak. I don't think that building was worth preserving. I'm all for urban preservation, etc. But that was one ugly big box retailer building that didn't fit into the historic character of MidTown.

Office Depot to build MidTown store without public funds

By Steve Lackmeyer
Business Writer
Developer Greg Banta announced Wednesday he has an agreement with Office Depot to build a 22,000-square-foot store in MidTown — without public incentives.

It would be the downtown Oklahoma City area's second major retailer since publicly-subsidized Bass Pro Shops in Lower Bricktown opened in 2003.

Banta began redeveloping dozens of properties in the MidTown district on the west fringe of downtown two years ago, and is transforming a blighted stretch of Walker Avenue between NW 10 and NW 13 into a restaurant row.

Plans call for the Office Depot to be built at NW 12 and Classen, with construction starting with approval by the city's new Downtown Design Review committee.

Banta said the design calls for all brick and cast stone facade — a higher finish than a typical big box suburban outlet.

"We want it to tie into the buildings we have along Francis Avenue,” Banta said. "This will tie into the rest of the neighborhood.”

Banta said Office Depot is a result of increased recruitment of retail by Mayor Mick Cornett, the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber and Downtown Oklahoma City Inc.

"Office Depot's considering of a downtown Oklahoma City location is tremendous,” said Alison Oshel, the chamber's director of community redevelopment. "Downtown and MidTown have long been under-serviced in terms of a full service office supply store. Office Depot is a national tenant with industry-wide recognition and their presence in our downtown retail market helps us to sell downtown to other national retailers.”

Banta added he's in talks with other retailers for nearby properties.

"This is huge,” Banta said. "It's hard to convince a national retailer to go into the unknown. Nobody wants to be first.”

Banta estimated the store will cost about $2.5 million. He anticipates asking for public tax increment financing dollars to rebuild public sidewalks and street lighting.

Mayor Mick Cornett said the Office Depot follows reports by locally-based B.C. Clark's Jewelers that business is up after a recent expansion at Broadway and Park Avenue. Cornett said he also encountered increased interest in downtown by retailers during a shopping center conference last month in Las Vegas.

But Cornett said Bass Pro Shops and B.C. Clark are both targeting tourists, while the Office Depot will be aimed at the downtown work force.

"The next step is to get retail that will meet the needs of people who live downtown — whether it be a grocery or cleaners,” Cornett said. "That's going to be the exciting wave when it comes. Once that happens, it's a significant corner to turn for downtown.”

That's huge news.

I'm not sure how I feel about it.

Retail yes.. but office supplies? hmm, well, they must have done their homework we hope and determined the viability of the location.

Can anyone decipher whether that will be right on the street with parking in the back/side or will it just have a big parking lot in front as usual?

Because the 20 and 30 storey buildings nearby are full of offices.

An update. When I arrived to work this morning at 8am, half of the D.G. parking lot remained. It has now all been removed and most of it trucked away already and it hasn't even been an hour yet!

Retail yes.. but office supplies?

Well, it does makes a lot more sense than fishing supplies. I'm actually excited about it, because it's between home and work for me (and I have a company Office Depot card :) ). I also like the fact that aesthetics are being considered by such a large chain in Oklahoma City. It at least shows some that these chains are willing to build to match the area, as they do it all the time in other markets.

I also think Classen is a good fit for these kinds of developments. There's some space there to build without clearing out some of the cooler old buildings and without dropping them right in the middle of the residential developments. The new guys could actually create some density and maybe spawn some upgardes in some of the older buildings.

Basically, I think Banta might actually have the new urban model down: provide modern services in an urban setting while preserving historic structures when possible.

I agree. I think that's awesome that such a chain is willing to conform. As for location, I don't think the company could've picked a better place than next to two business districts ...with tons of offices.

Two business districts?

OUHSC and CBD.

There's also a lot of offices all up and down Classen.

I think this is a great sign. I love the Classen area and have been thinking that a Barnes and Noble or Borders would fit in here nicely being so close to the University. I have noticed these book stores in other areas like this. I know you guys who live in MWC and south are screaming at me right now but this area just seems to fit in with other stores I have seen in other cities. For example, Fort Worth and Boise ID have major chain book stores in their DT areas which are relatively close to universities. I am not saying the other areas of town don't need a book store, I totally agree that you do.

The proposed site shows only one row of parking in the front with the majority of the parking being on the back side of building. They also added a big landscape buffer along Classen. This should be a big improvement over what was there......which was UGLY.

Are we talking one row in front like Downtown Edmond or an entire set of perpendicular parking on both sides after you turn into a parking lot?

A single row of parking in front of the building that includes the handicap spaces. The spaces face 12th street and there is a landscape barrier between the street and the parking spaces.

And please tell me the additional parking is on the side opposite Classen, with the building right on the street.

Yes....the building runs along Classen and faces 12th Street. The parking is on the east side of the building and behind the building where the old upholstery shop was. No parking or asphalt along Classen.....just a sidewalk and landscaping.

Excellent.

trison, do you have a rendering??

that is awesome.

Guys, dont complain about the fact that it is an office supply chain. We need all kinds of retail downtown and fact is, this major downtown does not currently have an office supply store. That is unthinkable!!!

So I am glad to hear this and am also happy with the location since it will make it accessible to OCU and the inner city as well as downtown's skyscraper tenants. And their design sounds totally awesome, I hope ALL retailiers that build stand-alone in the inner city of OKC will be required to follow this model from now on (although it would be even more perfect if parking would be below the building and not have a surface lot at all, but hey its a start)!!!

There is an office supply store downtown, but it is small and privately-owned. I can't remember the name of it, but I walked by it on Monday and I bought resume paper there once.

There is an office supply store downtown, but it is small and privately-owned. I can't remember the name of it, but I walked by it on Monday and I bought resume paper there once.

Copelin's in First National?

The place on Classen & 12th was, before it went out of business and before Dollar General, a restaurant/club ... can't remember the name right now, but it wasn't bad at all. It was at the location for several years.

There is an office supply store downtown, but it is small and privately-owned. I can't remember the name of it, but I walked by it on Monday and I bought resume paper there once.

Copelan's? Coplan's? Something like that.

It's the only place in town that carries Respondent/Petitioner exhibit labels, FYI :)

Well let me go and load up on those!!!

What are they??? ;) j/k.

The place on Classen & 12th was, before it went out of business and before Dollar General, a restaurant/club ... can't remember the name right now, but it wasn't bad at all. It was at the location for several years.
I've found the restaurant. It was Fuzzy's Supper Club for more than 40 years (late 1940s - early 1990s). The last Oklahoman ad I found was in 1991. Arthur's Prime Rib Room was added around 1973, and it was quite a nice place to go. The restaurant featured beef (notably prime rib) and seafood (lobster, shrimp, oysters on the half shell, etc.), and the restaurant featured live entertainment. It once was popular with sports press and news media and included transportation to OU football games. The article below says that Keith Jackson ate there.

Here's a 10/10/1982 Oklahoman article ... click the link for a readable image ...

Link to readable pic: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/restaurants/fuzzys.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/restaurants/fuzzyss.jpg

The south part of Classen Blvd. was once a very good part of Oklahoma City. Here's hoping it will become a good part again.

I've found the restaurant. It was Fuzzy's Supper Club for more than 40 years (late 1940s - early 1990s). The last Oklahoman ad I found was in 1991. Arthur's Prime Rib Room was added around 1973, and it was quite a nice place to go. The restaurant featured beef (notably prime rib) and seafood (lobster, shrimp, oysters on the half shell, etc.), and the restaurant featured live entertainment. It once was popular with sports press and news media and included transportation to OU football games. The article below says that Keith Jackson ate there.

Here's a 10/10/1982 Oklahoman article ... click the link for a readable image ...

Link to readable pic: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/restaurants/fuzzys.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/restaurants/fuzzyss.jpg

The south part of Classen Blvd. was once a very good part of Oklahoma City. Here's hoping it will become a good part again.


This is terribly off-topic, but I couldn't help laughing at the statement in the above article that Fuzzy's offers chicken Kiev (deep fried chicken breast stuffed with garlic butter) and chicken Cordon Bleu (deep fried chicken breast stuffed with ham and cheese) for the "cholesterol conscious."

Now back on topic - It's nice to see Office Depot make a brick-and-mortar investment in urban OKC. While I'm sure that most of the larger businesses occupying the CBD do their supply procurement via catalog and online vendors, it will certainly be a welcome amenity for small and emerging businesses who often have immediate needs for items which cannot wait for 2-3 day delivery and who don't do enough business to qualify for the volume discounts the wholesalers offer. Also, since O.D. has a substantial catalog and online operation, the positive PR this development may generate could also have a positive impact on that sector if some of the larger local businesses switch their allegience from other vendors like Staples' and Office Max's catalog and online services.

I was just walking out of the St. Anthony Foundation's office and really got to look at the site where Office Depot is going. It is amazing how much better the property looks. It even appears that Banta cleaned up his neighbors back yard. That's been an eye sore for a while now. I'm really starting to think that Midtown is really going to be a big hit. Has anyone else been as impressed as me about how fast they are moving on widening Walker between 11th and 13th. Those guys are amazing. I've been told that they will be finished by the end of the month. It's nice to see progress.

I am totally impressed by the scope of the renovations in Midtown. It looks more like urban renewal on the part of a city, rather than primarily the work of one organization.

Does anyone know the status of the Office Depot like when it is going to open?

I don't know. I'm staring out my office at the site now, it's a big mud puddle right now. On the bright side, the contractor does have the plastic mud guards to prevent mud from washing on the street. I'm sure this will go up quick if the weather cooperates.

Based on the progress of other retail stores I have seen built around the city, I would think the store would be open by September at the earliest and February at the extreme latest.

One thing I have noticed that retailers traditionally want to be finished with new stores before the holiday season starts. The holiday sell profits can often help pay off the costs of building the store.

It all depends on the weather and how much detail is going into the building.

I agree Hot Rod. We need retail downtown and this is definitely a start. Wonder who else is coming in though? Anyone else soon?

Other than quite a few restaurants I have not heard of any other large retailers even looking downtown. Maybe we should make a list of retailers that we would like to see and start some sort of letter campaign. I know that has worked in some other markets.

trison, as the old saying goes "retail follows rooftops". Once we get some people in these new developments, I can almost guarantee you'll see some retail. We've already seen some retail come downtown in the last year or so. Clothing Retail: Firefly, Lit Clothing, Claybourne's, Pinpoint Resource Service Retail: Scott Cleaners, Velvet Monkey Salon, Park Harvey Athletic Club, Body Werx Fitness, and now Office Depot, there are also several more underway that I can't remember.

We are just in the beginning stages of seeing significant downtown retail underway. If the trends continue, it should hopefully snowball, especially after some more housing is online around September.

I wonder what retailer is going on the lot across from Office Depot. I would think someone would want to be on Classen directly across from Office Depot. I also keep hoping the Jamba Juice will show up somewhere....maybe in Plaza Court. It looks like they still have two spaces available next to Subway.

Jamba would be a great addition downtown. I'd patronize.

I don't know if I'd want a Jamba Juice in Plaza Court. I'd rather see them in the CBD perhaps in the Park Harvey corner spot. I wouldn't want them taking away Grateful Bean's business across the street. It's too historic of a place to lose.

As far as an update for the Office Depot. Two days ago they had 3 utility trucks out there in the field. Currently there are several above ground utility poles. I'm not sure what they were doing but I'm hoping they are working on burying the power lines.. As soon as this rain stops, I think we'll see some more progress.

I would LOVE to have Jamba in the Park Harvey, since I live there. :D

I saw a closing sign on S Robinson and about 25th st. I was wondering if they are all closing ir just some of them....:gossip:

helloo, if you read yesterdays Daily Disappointment (aka Daily Oklahoman) there was an article in there stating they are closing 13 Oklahoma City locations. They will still have about 300 locations left in the state. This one we've been referencing has been closed for awhile however and was not a part of this new realignment of the company.

I just heard a rumor that the city did not approve Office Depot's plans to build and that the deal is dead. Tell me this isn't so. I thought we were trying to recruit retailers to downtown!

7/11/07 Oklahoman article by Lackmeyer:

New Rules May Block Office Depot Plan

NewsOK: New rules may block Office Depot plan<br/><span class='hl2'>City adjustment board has rejected bid for parking in front of store</span> (http://newsok.com/article/3080793)


A deal to bring Office Depot to MidTown may be in jeopardy because of new urban design rules that attempt to recast a traditionally suburban stretch of Classen Boulevard as a dense urban corridor.

Greg Banta's deal with Office Depot for NW 12 and Classen was hailed by local leaders last month as a triumph for downtown retail, but so far he has been unable to win plan approval by urban design commissioners or the city's board of adjustment.

By a vote of 2-2, the Board of Adjustment last week rejected a variance request by Banta that would have allowed parking in front of the building.

Banta said while he is concerned about the project, "I'm confident this will be resolved.”

The land in question was suburban retail with surface parking for more than a quarter century, and was last occupied by a Dollar General store that was razed this spring. Banta bought the property before the introduction of downtown zoning earlier this year that, for the first time, placed design controls along Classen Boulevard south of NW 13.

City Planning Director John Dugan said retailers such as Office Depot have adapted urban store designs in other downtown areas, and shouldn't have a problem doing the same in Oklahoma City.

"Fort Worth has done a really good job at this,” Dugan said. "The local franchise just has to get the idea this is the city's new standard.”

Dugan acknowledged the new zoning is a change from the area's historic usage, but added Classen Boulevard is expected to become a major entryway into downtown.

The streets that run east from Classen into downtown travel through MidTown, which predominantly features cottage homes and small office buildings surrounded by surface parking. Denser development is located along NW 10 and Walker at St. Anthony Hospital, where MidTown adjoins downtown's Arts Quarter.

"It is a much more intensive zoning than before,” Dugan said. "If the people don't like it, they can try to change it.”

Brett Hamm, president of Downtown Oklahoma City Inc., said he hopes the city will do what it can to ensure the Office Depot project can move forward.

"While we've been supportive of the new design standards overall, this project should receive consideration recognizing its point in the process,” Hamm said. "Without a resolution, we stand a risk of sending the message that these new standards are anti-business and counter-productive to our top priority of gaining national retail in Downtown Oklahoma City. I have no doubt other national retailers will take note of how this plays out.”

Banta said he, too, supports the new zoning, and submitted plans that include brick and other materials not typically incorporated in a suburban Office Depot store.

"The intent of this is good,” Banta said. "I think Oklahoma City should have high standards, and that the people of Oklahoma City should expect quality development. We support that. Unfortunately we got caught up in the middle, but I'm confident it's going to come out OK in the end. This is what Oklahoma City is wanting — national retail downtown.”

Sounds like it will be worked out in the end. I'm not too worried about this although it does explain the hiatus of no progress being made on the job site.

Just an update...The Downtown Design Review Committee will be meeting on this again tomorrow (Thursday 19th) at 9:30am in the third floor chamber at City Hall 200 N. Walker. Hopefully we'll here good news and the project can move forward.

Approval of the Office Depot site plan was received today by the Downtown Design Committee.

Did they change the parking to get it approved? I was under the impression that the plans did not include a lot of parking along the street and I don't think it would have been a big compromise to shift them away from the street. I think the intent of the code is very good and is exactly what should be implimented. Hopefully, since Office Depot seemed to respect the urban aspirations of the area, they made this small concession as well.

There are workers out there on the site as we speak. I'm looking out my office window and they have some sort of truck that looks like an oil rig drill. I'm not sure if they're collecting soil samples or what, but there are 2 trucks out there for the first time in over a month. Progress nonetheless.

So is it going to conform to the stricter zoning rules or did the commission cave in?

I'm really surprised the Daily O didn't have an article on it today since the design committee made a decision yesterday.

^ metro, Im NOT surprised the Daily O didn't have an article on it; however, I am surprised the Journal didnt since they are really on top of things.

I think the Journal being DOWNTOWN helps whereas the Daily is in far N. Central - pretty out-of-touch!!

well, I can agree with you HOT ROD, but however Steve Lackmeyer at the Daily Oklahoman has been staying on top of this story, and even posted the meeting time of the Urban Design Committee meeting last week. I figured he'd post the outcome of this story. I too was also surprised the JR still hasn't posted on it.

Update in today's Oklahoman by Steve Lackmeyer: NewsOK: City's board's design OK means Office Depot coming to MidTown (http://newsok.com/article/3097676)

It's a go!


The final hurdle to a MidTown Office Depot was cleared Thursday when designs were approved by the Oklahoma City Board of Adjustment.

The plans, which calls for a row of parking facing Classen Boulevard at NW 12, addressed questions about whether they conflicted with a new downtown design ordinance introduced earlier this year.

Developer Greg Banta won approval for the project by the Downtown Design Review Committee, but still needed a variance because the plans conflicted with the ordinance.

In approving the variance, board member John Yoeckel cautioned that the ruling shouldn't be considered a precedent by McDonald's, which is facing scrutiny for plans to build a suburban-style restaurant in Bricktown.

"I'm comfortable with this offset because of the nature of what is available there now and that nothing is going to change there for some time to come," Yoeckel said. He said the Bricktown property is different because of rapid development along Reno Avenue and the planned construction of curbside, pedestrian-oriented additions including a new garage at Reno and the Burlington Northern/Santa Fe Railroad.

"Obviously we're very excited, Banta said. "It's a victory for us and for the city. Bringing retailers downtown is important to the entire neighborhood."

Banta added he believes more retailers will follow.

The MidTown developer began negotiations with Office Depot prior to the design ordinance, and downtown leaders argued Banta needed some help because his project was caught between old and new rules.

"It's a learning process for all involved, Banta said. "Developers and the city must work together."

So what does this mean as far as the overall look of Office Depot??

I'm glad the city is finally trying to take design codes to a higher level, although we've still got a LONGGGGGGGGGGGGGG ways to go. They would have been foolish to be to strict on this project as MidTown and Classen despirately needs bigtime retailers. I'm not necessarily saying we want another chain row or anything, but it will at least attract national retailers attention (hopefully retail stores, clothing that we currently do not have in OKC). It will also help establish MidTown more as a destination and draw more visitors/residents to the area who might not otherwise be aware of it.

Anyone know what the holdup is with construction of the Office Depot. I thought they finally got approval and permits a few weeks back. Haven't seen anything moving here in months now.