The Oklahoman's Steve Lackmeyer took questions from readers in today's OKC Central Live Chat. You can join Steve's Q&A's on Fridays at 10 a.m. and submit your questions about the happenings in and around downtown Oklahoma City. Below is an unedited transcript of the chat.
9:27 a.m. Good morning everyone! Steve will be logging in at 10 a.m., but you can start submitting your questions now.
10:03 a.m. Good morning. I have no voice this morning, but my typing skills are intact!
10:03 a.m. Good morning Steve! I saw on DowntownOKC's Twitter feed that we're getting an Old School Bagel at Leadership Square. I posed this question to you on Twitter, but I figured I'd go ahead and submit it here: Do you know if Old School will have weekend hours at the new location?
10:04 a.m. Aaron, I saw your question and I'm awaiting an answer from Mark Beffort, who is the lead partner of the group that owns and leases Leadership Square. Beffort confirms Old School Bagel will open by April 1st in the north side of Leadership Square in a space that was previously a card shop, and most recently used by a toastmasters club. Still awaiting word as to whether the restaurant will open on weekends.
10:04 a.m. Good morning Steve. Your article about the McKown project mentioned that they were looking at building east of Level as well as west. Is the east location the parcel of land directly north of the old Calvary Church building?
10:06 a.m. Yes. The land in question is part owned by Urban Renewal, part owned by OIC. Urban Renewal has released requests for development proposals for its parcels on the block previously, but bidders could never lock down the OIC land. McKown has taken the reverse action, acquiring the OIC land, and hoping to then secure the Urban Renewal parcels on the block. At first glance, it seems like a good bet.
10:06 a.m. Morning, Steve! I remember there being talk some time ago about reducing the number of lanes on Broadway and introducing diagonal parking along the street to make things more pedestrian-friendly. Is this still happening?
10:07 a.m. I'm told it is still happening, but I've yet to be told a timeline as to when.
10:07 a.m. any update on what shop is going in across from Cafe 7 on the corner of robinson and park?
10:07 a.m. A clothing store.
10:07 a.m. Have you had a chance to speak with Ron Bradshaw regarding the possibility of Brownstone flats being built adjacent to the current Brownstones?
10:07 a.m. Not yet, but it's on my list.
10:07 a.m. When is the downtown school supposed to break ground?
10:10 a.m. My understanding is that construction of the new John W. Rex Elementary are set to go out for bids this next month. The Urban Land Institute will be hosting a presentation on the school next month. Here's the info:
An $11 million elementary school planned for downtown OKC, the final school to be built through MAPs for Kids.
What makes this school different? How will this school set itself apart from others within the same district?
The John W. Rex Charter Elementary School is a partnership between Oklahoma City Public Schools & OKC Quality Schools, Inc., a nonprofit group headed by former mayor & ULI Oklahoma member Kirk Humphreys.
Oklahoma City Public Schools will apply for the school's charter to the University of Oklahoma, and the charter will be turned over to the John W. Rex board upon approval. Plans call for approximately 500 students, pre-k thru sixth grade & adding a new grade each year.
Join us Thursday, March 7th as Kirk Humphreys will engage members of ULI Oklahoma in a candid conversation regarding the John R. Rex Charter Elementary School.
Legacy Bank has graciously offered to sponsor public officials and first time guests who are accompanied by a ULI Member. Thank you Legacy Bank!
The monthly luncheons are limlited to the first 20 people so make plans to join us & register early.
An $11 million elementary school planned for downtown OKC, the final school to be built through MAPs for Kids.
What makes this school different? How will this school set itself apart from others within the same district?
The John W. Rex Charter Elementary School is a partnership between Oklahoma City Public Schools & OKC Quality Schools, Inc., a nonprofit group headed by former mayor & ULI Oklahoma member Kirk Humphreys.
Oklahoma City Public Schools will apply for the school's charter to the University of Oklahoma, and the charter will be turned over to the John W. Rex board upon approval. Plans call for approximately 500 students, pre-k thru sixth grade & adding a new grade each year.
Join us Thursday, March 7th as Kirk Humphreys will engage members of ULI Oklahoma in a candid conversation regarding the John R. Rex Charter Elementary School.
Legacy Bank has graciously offered to sponsor public officials and first time guests who are accompanied by a ULI Member. Thank you Legacy Bank!
The monthly luncheons are limlited to the first 20 people so make plans to join us & register early.
10:10 a.m. Any progress on the boulevard?
10:11 a.m. I believe the revised plans are being reviewed by federal highway officials.
10:11 a.m. When will we see renderings for the smaller hotels near main street in Bricktown?
10:12 a.m. At this point I'm not aware of design work having started yet for the two hotels planned for Byers and Sheridan, or the hotel planned as part of the Gary Brooks/Andy Burnett development, or the hotel planned for 1st Street and Russell Perry Avenue. Designs are already out for the Staybridge Suites and Holiday Inn Express.
10:13 a.m. I noticed they were clearing out the Lincoln Plaza. Are the latest renderings we saw final?
10:13 a.m. Yes, I noticed the same work being done yesterday. It's my understanding that the property is set to become home of the Oklahoma Healthcare Authority.
10:13 a.m. Any update on the Preftakes block improvement?
10:13 a.m. No.
10:14 a.m. The graffiti and dirty, boarded-up windows remain intact.
10:14 a.m. Remember the Leslie apartments in Deep Deuce? Whatever happened to that?
10:16 a.m. The Leslie project was cancelled when the economic crash hit in 2008. The site is now set to be developed as the second phase of the Level Urban Apartments. You can read the latest on the project, and see renderings, at NewsOK by going to http://newsok.com/deep-deuce-apartment-development-expanding/article/3757813
10:16 a.m. Is this possible midstream move something to do with the long-rumored Devon project on the Preftakes' block? Or would it be kept in their tower?
10:18 a.m. I don't know Nick. I had the very same question when I read the story by Jay Marks this morning. You can read the story here: http://newsok.com/devon-energy-mulling-midstream-move/article/3757827
10:18 a.m. Other than the hotels and the KD restaraunt, are there any other big surprises in the works for Bricktown? Also, with so much new development set to take place on vacant lots do you think that might speed up the process of some of the property owners finishing out the upper floors of their buildings?
10:25 a.m. Interest in developing the vacant upper floors of Bricktown's old warehouses is the highest I've observed in the history of the district. The owners of the buildings occupied by Brix and the Bricktown Brewery, are preparing to launch an extensive renovation of the upper floors at 27 E Sheridan. It will include restoring long boarded up windows and creating a much nicer entryway on the northside of the building facing the parking lot. We also are set to soon see housing developed in the upper floors of the Meidike Building at 108 E Main. Brent Brewer is eager to develop the upper floors of the former Hunzicker Brothers building (home to Peachwave and Captain Norm's). The upper floors Spaghetti Warehouse, meanwhile, are only undeveloped because efforts to do deals with the out-of-state owners to date have been unsuccessful.
As for surprises.... we'll have a couple new "rides" this next year I think will be great for the district in terms of continuing its momentum as a great place for visitors and family fun.
As for surprises.... we'll have a couple new "rides" this next year I think will be great for the district in terms of continuing its momentum as a great place for visitors and family fun.
10:25 a.m. Do we know the type or name of grocery store that will be constructed at tne NW Corner of 63rd and MacArthur once they demolish the old strip mall?
10:25 a.m. I'm not covering this project, but I believe I read it will be a Wal Mart Neighborhood Market.
10:25 a.m. In your article this morning, you said that McKown purchased additional parcels of land to the east of Level. Isn't that where the Calvary Baptist Church is? Which parcels did he buy exactly? The small ones just north of the church on that same block?
10:26 a.m. The land is east of Level, and immediately north of thee former Calvary Baptist Church.
10:26 a.m. Good morning,Steve. With the canal expansion, do you expect to see commercial development along the new part of the canal - and do you expect the expansion to help fill in vacant retail/dining space on the existing portion of the canal?
10:28 a.m. The expanded river inlet (I and others have been guilty in the past of calling it the canal) is part of Regatta Park, so I'm not sure it's possible that section can be commercially developed. But the new connection between the Oklahoma River and the Bricktown Canal certainly could promote development on the remaining empty Lower Bricktown parcels in the area immediately north of the new Interstate 40.
10:28 a.m. I will add that the area in question was once considered as an early site for the Aloft Hotel that is now getting built in Deep Deuce.
10:28 a.m. McKown said he wants a coffee shop, but isn't there already going to be a coffee shop in the Aloft Hotel? And we've heard rumors about a new Starbucks going in north of here for awhile now. Too much coffee?
10:30 a.
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