Your top 5 developments

[wsucougz]

What are you most fired-up about in terms of OKC developments? These can be in-progress, proposed, planned, rumored, on life-support etc. I'm thinking top 5. Another lame list post that will die in 5 seconds, oh well here goes:


1. Flat-iron. An old building wrapped in a cool new structure. At $15million, this will really jump out at anyone taking the 6th street exit into downtown.

2. India Temple. Very possibly dead in the water, rumor has it the original facade of the building is intact underneath its dystopian shell, added when robocop was filmed in downtown OKC. Formerly a Kerr-Mcgee property, it is now owned by Sandridge and allegedly may not fit into their master plan for the block.

3. Western Ave. Master Plan - Chesapeake. What don't they own? Hopefully it's not a gas field. Either way it's going to change everything.

4. The Hill. I'm warming up to it. The quality looks like it will be good, still up in the air on the layout.

5. Edgemere Park House, Mesta Park House. One by Randy Floyd and the other by Grant Gunderson, respectively. 2 unique houses going up in the old hoods confirms the overall trend of the move back to the city and revitalization of the historic districts.

[betts]

1.I have to be excited about Maywood Park, since I'm thinking of moving there. They remind me of Boston brownstones, with a contemporary twist, and I think it will be a great neighborhood
2. Flat-iron as well
3. The plans for housing to the west of the new "central park". I realize it's just a concept, but the idea of a ring of townhouses, with a central park area just across the street from the "Central Park" is exciting. I hope it happens the way it's drawn now.
4. The new "Central Park". The plans look great, and I think the plan to have a downtown park is one of the best things I've seen since moving here.
5. Ford Center remodel. Of course, since I'm an NBA fan, this has to be exciting, but I'm also excited about it having a new entrance facing the new boulevard, as well as the rooftop gardens, which sound very cool

[wsucougz]

I'm actually more fired up about Maywood Park than The Hill. I guess The Hill just popped in my mind because I'm just now starting to come around to it. Maywood Park is the goods, and I'm jealous if you move there.

[metro]

I agree wsu. I do disagree with the first post of "The Hill" being quality. It's all wood construction. Maywood Park on the other hand is concrete and insulated panels (it's built to last with little maintenance). The Hill's homes being all wood, make it no different in quality than any other new home in NW OKC or Edmond.

[wsucougz]

I agree wsu. I do disagree with the first post of "The Hill" being quality. It's all wood construction. Maywood Park on the other hand is concrete and insulated panels (it's built to last with little maintenance). The Hill's homes being all wood, make it no different in quality than any other new home in NW OKC or Edmond.

True, however I do think the quality of the exterior materials and overall design look promising. Many of these urban townhomes are seeing a heavy stucco treatment in other cities.

[jbrown84]

1. American Indian Cultural Center
2. Downtown Park
3. Ford Center improvements
4. Flatiron Lofts
5. Cotton Exchange

[Martin]

india temple... its dystopian shell, added when robocop was filmed in downtown okc.

wait... what? are you sure about this? never heard that any part of robocop was filmed in okc. -M

[jbrown84]

IMDb does not list any OKC locations, but it was filmed mostly in Dallas, so it's possible they came up here for something.

[wsucougz]

ok, I made that up. I couldn't think of any other plausible reason.

[jbrown84]

haha I figured it was a dis on that architectural style.

I hate RoboCop.

[Pete]

1. Devon Tower - Our one hope for the first real addition to the skyline in several decades.

2. NH Plaza - I'm assuming that Chesapeake is going to do something spectacular on that site and in the area in general.

3. The Triangle - Inclusive of Maywood Park.

4. Boathouse Row - At least two more architecturally significant structures on the river.

5. Ford Center Remodel - Should make it a world-class venue with an NBA team to boot.

[Pete]

I'd also like to throw in the First National Center.

I'm hoping the announcement next month will kick off a major remodel that will restore it's splendor, especially the Great Banking Hall.

[Blairman]

Pete

If you think that improvements to the Ford Center will make it world class, you need to get out more. Regional class I will buy, but to make world class is laughable

[jbrown84]

What makes a world class arena, then?

[Blairman]

How about some of the recent Olympic stadiums, Staples Center, Madison Square Garden.

The Ford Center no matter how you polish it up will behind AAC in Dallas and Sprint Center in KC

[Pete]

I've been to both the Staples Center (many, many times) and Madison Square Garden and neither are anything special, especially the latter.

But I will concede the Ford Center will remain behind some of the ultra-expensive venues out there and also state that I wouldn't be in favor of spending that type of money at this point.

I'm still excited about the upgrades, though.

[CCOKC]

I'm excited about the upgrades as well. Especially when the new Boulevard is built and I'll be able to have a drink on one of the rooftop gardens. Sounds pretty cool to me.

My top 5 developmenst would be:
1) Core to Shore , all of it. I think the public part of this project has the potential to make this city a cool place for people to visit and to bring the citezens together and give us a real reason to have mass transit (I could go on)
2) The Triangle District. My husband and I are also looking into moving there when our pesky kids are gone in 2 1/2 years
3) Chesapeake's plans whatever they may be.
4) Midtown including Auto Alley. This area has some true potential. I would love to see a Crate and Barrel or Restoration Hardware there. I'm not a clothes shopper but I love my glassware.
5) This isn't OKC but the University North Park is shaping up quite nicely. I drive by there every Monday on my way to Ada and it never ceases to amaze me how nice this project just might be.

[tuck]

The future development at N.Grand and Classen should make a few top 5 lists whenever the plans are made public. I have only heard discussions; but, this area should be amazing.

[betts]

[QUOTE=CCOKC;128679]
2) The Triangle District. My husband and I are also looking into moving there when our pesky kids are gone in 2 1/2 years.QUOTE]

Woohoo! We could be neighbors!

[Pete]

The future development at N.Grand and Classen

Do you mean Grand & Western?

And you can't tease us like that without at least sharing the rumors!

[CCOKC]

Woohoo! We could be neighbors![/QUOTE]

And we could walk to Sonics games together.

[betts]

Woohoo! We could be neighbors!

And we could walk to Sonics games together.[/QUOTE]

That would be great!

I've heard some great things about Western and Classen too, but seen no plans. I heard upscale retail, but nothing more. If this is a reality, I'll be e-mailing Anthropologie to consider it, that's for sure.

[CrueJones]

1) Ford Center has to be there b/c it has the biggest economical impact. A permanent franchise professional franchise could do amazing things for this city (such as attract big business)

2) Park- this could do more for the image of the city than anything else due to the misconceptions (albeit some are true) concerning the landscape of OKC. Could be an the perfect compliment to the quickly growing entertainment district of downtwn.

3) Core to Shore- Could give OKC something unique that not many other places have ...

4) Devon & Chesapeake- tied here. Would absolutely love to see a new state of the art high rise in OKC (may be the only chance for a very long time). It would be nice to have a 50 story building in OKC . Also, Chesapeake's plans could be wonderful (but no one really has an idead as to what will come for sure.

5) Going to be ones I would like to see to thrown in sometime...

a)Downtown Aquarium
b)Remington building a state of the art Casino (at the track- thinking Harrahs etc...Not like the trendy bowling alley casino in Norman)
c)Plaza type area by the new I-40

[bornhere]

I'm impressed with everything going on in Midtown. I like Brian Fitzsimmons' home, and I like some of the rehab of older homes in that area.

[BG918]

1. Devon Tower - Our one hope for the first real addition to the skyline in several decades.

2. NH Plaza - I'm assuming that Chesapeake is going to do something spectacular on that site and in the area in general.

3. The Triangle - Inclusive of Maywood Park.

4. Boathouse Row - At least two more architecturally significant structures on the river.

5. Ford Center Remodel - Should make it a world-class venue with an NBA team to boot.

Good list! Rumored Devon Tower first came to mind for me followed by the potential developments the new blvd. will bring to downtown. Wouldn't it be something to see Devon building a new tower in the CBD and the proposed convention hotel/condo tower on the blvd. at Robinson going up at the same time? Both could be serious additions to the skyline.

I must say I'm also excited about the Cotton Exchange building in Bricktown and really hope it goes up as planned.

Also, the prospect of getting a light rail starter line and commuter rail to Edmond and Norman is exciting even if it is way down the road. At least the planning and fundraising should begin in the next 5 years as the NBA and Core to Shore will be additional draws to downtown and traffic is only getting worse.