YALE DETAIL
Developer announces contest involving Yale Theater in Capitol Hill
The Oklahoman’s Steve Lackmeyer fielded questions from readers during his OKC Central chat on Friday with contributions from developer Steve Mason and downtown retail broker Allison Bailey. 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: Any thoughts on what could be done with the Christian Science church on Robinson? It’s a really cool building but seems like it would be a difficult project.
A: I want to issue a challenge to Shane Hampton and the OU Institute of Quality Communities to figure out a plan for this great piece of architecture and the 23rd Street Armory now out for purchase proposals. They are great properties and I can’t
even imagine how to repurpose them in a way that makes financial sense.
Q: Any chance streets near the Plaza District can get no parking on one side? My inlaws live in Gatewood and you can barely squeeze through there at night. Forget about a fire truck or ambulance.
Steve Mason: The process is underway, a petition has been filed with the city to limit parking on one side of the street outside of 16th. It’s coming. It’s not a wish or a dream. The city has already started the hearing process.
Also, an update from Steve Mason on the Yale Theater in Capitol Hill: “On Sept. 28 we’re going before Urban Design for review of the exterior. We will be announcing a national contest in conjunction with The National Trust for Historic Preservation involving the Yale.”
Q: There are cities that have multiple large festivals all summer long and sometimes into the fall and winter months. Can you elaborate on your statement about the urban core being saturated? Festivals bring in tourists. So as long as they aren’t bringing in a major criminal element, shouldn’t the city be willing to facilitate them?
A: Festivals and special events are expensive and labor intensive. We’ve seen the demise of the Halloween Parade, the river Christmas Parade, the St. Patrick’s Day festival and parade (though it may return). Other events have been scaled back. Go for quality over quantity.
Allison Bailey, a veteran of Better Block OKC and organizer of the annual holiday pop-up shops in Midtown, just texted me and agrees we should be careful in pursuing more events. “Until we have more corporate sponsors and donors, we aren’t going to have more festivals and events.”
Q: How much experience does the new developer of the Spaghetti Warehouse building have in redeveloping old buildings?
A: Sam Coury does not have experience redeveloping old buildings, but give him credit for assembling a team that can get the job done. There is no contractor I’d pick over his choice of Lingo Construction for a building like Spaghetti Warehouse. Brian Fitzsimmons has built up a great portfolio of historic rehabs, though this would be an amazing jump up for him.
Q: With the hotels and Steelyard apartments set to open in the not-so-distant future, where does Bricktown go in terms of development? Will the parking lot to the east of the ballpark be in play anytime soon? Will the Oklahoma City Boulevard help jump-start development along it or will it remain parking lots?
A: Bricktown needs some time to absorb the new housing and hotels before we can really know how this dramatic influx of new uses will shape what is needed next. The streetcar is another big unknown.
Q: With so many developments happening across the west side of downtown in Film Row area, do you think they will keep the homeless shelter where it is now or move it?
A: I think the City Rescue Mission will remain on California Avenue. I think it’s important that well-run homeless shelters stay in our midst. They are our neighbors, our relatives, our friends. They need access to the jobs downtown, to public transit, and to the opportunities an urban area can provide.