AROUND THE PARK
What’s expected to develop around Scissortail Park
The Oklahoman’s Steve Lackmeyer fielded questions from readers during his weekly OKC Central online chat on Friday. This is an abridged transcript of that conversation. To read the full transcript, or to participate in next week’s chat, go to NewsOK.com.
Q: Scissortail Park looks amazing. It’s hard to conceptualize the size until construction began. Is the vision for businesses to grow up around the park? Will something like this lure more companies into Oklahoma City when they see something this vibrant? Thoughts?
A: We have two areas to consider when it comes to adjoining development. Let’s start with the upper park between Interstate 40 and the Oklahoma City Boulevard. To the east of the park we have the convention center, Omni, a Fairfield Inn, and a garage with potentially housing wrapping around it.
The only land to the east not being developed already and not in city control is a small corner lot at SW 7 and E.K. Gaylord that currently has a brown metal building that appears to be unsecured and not in great shape. Code enforcement, I suspect will address that at some point, so it will be an empty lot until the owner likely sells it for development.
To the north of Scissortail Park we have the old Fred Jones Ford dealership that was cleared and is now surface parking. It is owned by Bob Howard and Fred Hall, and I have no doubt they will figure out a way to properly develop this prime piece of land between Scissortail Park and the Myriad Botanical Gardens.
To the west of the park we have a very intriguing consolidation and acquisition going on with Pat Salame’s Strawberry Fields. What’s that you say? You want me to get into what’s next with Strawberry Fields? Well, this answer is long enough. So I guess you will either need to buy this Sunday’s Oklahoman or better yet, become a print and/or digital subscriber.
Q: I agree with your recent comments that the new streetcar should be free (like in Kansas City). What are the chances?
A: Folks are discussing this question. The challenge is to either set up an assessment district or sponsorship to pay for the operation to make it free for passengers. I am very, very concerned the streetcar will fail if it’s not started off as a free means of transit, especially with how the city chose to go with linear instead of dual tracks.
Q: Where can we expect to see a future expansion of the streetcars (assuming they do well)? Capitol Hill? The Plaza District and Oklahoma City University? Uptown? OU Medical Center?
A: I think it’s critical for the long-term success of the streetcar that it be expanded into working class neighborhoods like Capitol Hill and John F. Kennedy, as well as Classen10-Penn and the Plaza District. Those links are needed first if we are to see extensions to the hospitals be truly effective as a means of connecting jobs with those needing the jobs.
Q: Any update on the Dwellings at SoSA on NW 6. That project has seemed to creep along at times.
A: Construction is wrapping up on the first seven town homes and they are all sold. They will start being ready
for occupancy by April. Construction by Northline Development starts on the second phase next month with retaining wall work. One of the second phase homes is already sold and presales on the remaining six town homes is set for next month.
Q: Any update on the storage container development that was supposed to happening at Classen and NW 6?
A: We’re looking at a bigger project by Northline Development than first thought. The Deck plans are being adjusted with phase two being changed to a three-story building (the north part) that will be about 20,000 square feet. Plans should be completed next month. It will be half containers, half regular construction. We’re looking at construction starting this spring. It will be a mix of restaurants, offices and possibly retail.
Q: Is there an appropriate location for OnCue in the general downtown area?
A: Yes. One could go in the area of where the new boulevard crosses over a merged Classen Boulevard and Western Avenue. That area is already populated with fast food restaurants and gas stations and I don’t see how that area is going to change anytime soon.
An OnCue also could be built along Lincoln Boulevard across from the Bricktown Fire Station. The property is owned by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation and they twice tried to auction it off last year.