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Success Spotlights
Success Spotlight: The Rebirth of the Plaza District
Success Spotlight: Downtown Tulsa Revival
The 119 Downtown condos are being developed by River City Development who were responsible for the lofts at the Philtower. the lofts are being sold instead of rented and the designs are very high end. The building, owned by Kanabar Properties, has been vacant and largely gutted for many years. A model unit is opened and many of the units are already pre-sold. The six story building will be heightened by the addition of a 7th floor of penthouse suites with panoramic views of downtown and the surrounding area as well as a library/entertainment center. There will also be a communal courtyard on the second level over the central entry way.
images courtesy of 119downtown.com
These projects are raising the bar for downtown living in Tulsa as well as historic preservation and adaptive re-use. In a city where much of its history has been lost to the wrecking ball, this is welcome news indeed.
For more information on 119 Downtown please visit their website.
Success Spotlight: Project 114 in Downtown Shawnee
The
Lyric Theatre took a chance back in 2000 when it relocated its
operations to Oklahoma City's Plaza District, which stretches between
Classen Blvd and Penn Ave along NW 16th street. The district at the end
of the old trolley line, launched in the 1920's and one of the oldest
shopping and commercial areas, had descended into dereliction by the
late 1970's, with the majority of its businesses closed and the
buildings they once occupied falling into disrepair. When the Lyric
Theatre moved in, the Plaza had become the domain of transients, drug
dealers and prostitutes. But they had the foresight to recognize the
potential of the Plaza District. The area has reemerged from its darker
days and ailing reputation to become a hub of creativity and divers
culture, now and Oklahoma City destination for art and entertainment
The
plaza District's revival began with it being named an official Main
Street Community and an Oklahoma city Economic Redevelopment District. A
streetscape beautification project that repaired streets, sidewalks and curbs, as well
as adding benches, landscaping and decorative planters identifying the
district, transformed it from it state of neglect. New lighting was
added to illuminate the street and improve safety.
In the years following the cosmetic makeover of the district, it has become a local arts and
culture
Mecca featuring retail shops, galleries, studios, restaurants and
creative services. The newly revitalized arts district plays host to
many monthly events and festivals designed to serve the community,
celebrate the area's eclectic flavor and stimulate economic
redevelopment. The second Friday of each month, the district presents
Live on the Plaza, an art walk featuring live music, featured artists,
special events and local shopping.
The Lyric Theatre has totally renovated the landmark Plaza Cinema Theatre, calling on local architect Rand Elliott to oversee the transformation. He maintained most of the original brick in the lobby and added elements of light and glass throughout the space, these artistic touches contributing to the modern creativity and spirit of the Plaza District itself. Lyric on the Plaza has become the performance space for the smaller productions put on by the theater, as well as the central jewel of the district.
Other
current tenants of the Plaza are: 1708, a co-op of creative
professionals including Cafe Evoke Catering, Josh McCulluck Photography
and Gibson Events; Bad Granny's Bazaar; Chaparney Construction; Coffy's
Cafe; Collected Thread; Convergence; DNA Galleries; Guatemalan Imports;
JuJu Gallery; Keep It Local OK; Midwest Media & Marketing; Paula and
Co. Realty; Photart Studios; Velvet Monkey Salon and Warpaint Clothing
Co.
Revitalization of the Plaza District and its success has depended on the alliance of neighbors, business owners, property owners, community partners, volunteers, artists, the City of Oklahoma City, the Oklahoma Main Street program and those who are committed to seeing the district flourish and continue to grow.
For more information on the Plaza District, please call 405-308-5991, email kristen@plazadistrict.org or visit www.plazadistrict.org.
Images courtesy of the City of Oklahoma City and travelok.com.
The
plaza District's revival began with it being named an official Main
Street Community and an Oklahoma city Economic Redevelopment District. A
streetscape beautification project that repaired streets, sidewalks and curbs, as well
as adding benches, landscaping and decorative planters identifying the
district, transformed it from it state of neglect. New lighting was
added to illuminate the street and improve safety. In the years following the cosmetic makeover of the district, it has become a local arts and
culture
Mecca featuring retail shops, galleries, studios, restaurants and
creative services. The newly revitalized arts district plays host to
many monthly events and festivals designed to serve the community,
celebrate the area's eclectic flavor and stimulate economic
redevelopment. The second Friday of each month, the district presents
Live on the Plaza, an art walk featuring live music, featured artists,
special events and local shopping. The Lyric Theatre has totally renovated the landmark Plaza Cinema Theatre, calling on local architect Rand Elliott to oversee the transformation. He maintained most of the original brick in the lobby and added elements of light and glass throughout the space, these artistic touches contributing to the modern creativity and spirit of the Plaza District itself. Lyric on the Plaza has become the performance space for the smaller productions put on by the theater, as well as the central jewel of the district.
Other
current tenants of the Plaza are: 1708, a co-op of creative
professionals including Cafe Evoke Catering, Josh McCulluck Photography
and Gibson Events; Bad Granny's Bazaar; Chaparney Construction; Coffy's
Cafe; Collected Thread; Convergence; DNA Galleries; Guatemalan Imports;
JuJu Gallery; Keep It Local OK; Midwest Media & Marketing; Paula and
Co. Realty; Photart Studios; Velvet Monkey Salon and Warpaint Clothing
Co. Revitalization of the Plaza District and its success has depended on the alliance of neighbors, business owners, property owners, community partners, volunteers, artists, the City of Oklahoma City, the Oklahoma Main Street program and those who are committed to seeing the district flourish and continue to grow.
For more information on the Plaza District, please call 405-308-5991, email kristen@plazadistrict.org or visit www.plazadistrict.org.
Images courtesy of the City of Oklahoma City and travelok.com.
Success Spotlight: Downtown Tulsa Revival
Tulsa
has long been known for its oil industry roots and Art Deco
architecture. But that hasn't stopped it from experiencing the urban
flight other cities have seen. And like other cities, the urbanites in
Tulsa are coming back. What's the difference? After a few well-meant
false starts, Tulsa's rediscovery has occurred in just the past few
years. But
rest assured, it is in full swing. The recent developments of the Mayo
Hotel at 5th and Cheyenne and the former Mayo Building now called the
Mayo 420 Lofts at 5th and Main are shining examples of the perseverance
and vision of its developers for the downtown area. Riding on the heels
of those successes, two more projects are set to begin; 119 Downtown
(formerly the ARCO building) at 6th and Cincinnati and the former Tulsa
City Hall at Civic Center Plaza at 5th and Denver.
image courtesy of moderntulsa.net
Old City Hall, which has been purchased by Mayo Hotel owner/developer Brickhugger, LLC, will be a hotel and mixed retail space. The plans includes
conversion of the building to hotel space, the addition of new retail
spaces around the existing building, and extending W 5th St to the front doors of the new hotel.
The 119 Downtown condos are being developed by River City Development who were responsible for the lofts at the Philtower. the lofts are being sold instead of rented and the designs are very high end. The building, owned by Kanabar Properties, has been vacant and largely gutted for many years. A model unit is opened and many of the units are already pre-sold. The six story building will be heightened by the addition of a 7th floor of penthouse suites with panoramic views of downtown and the surrounding area as well as a library/entertainment center. There will also be a communal courtyard on the second level over the central entry way.
images courtesy of 119downtown.com
These projects are raising the bar for downtown living in Tulsa as well as historic preservation and adaptive re-use. In a city where much of its history has been lost to the wrecking ball, this is welcome news indeed.
For more information on 119 Downtown please visit their website.
Type "community revival" into Google and see what you get. The results will most likely include a couple of churches, an educational organization in the UK, a nonprofit or two, and Project 114. Project 114 is a commercial rehabilitation project located at 114 E. Main St., in Shawnee, and when it's complete the project's backers are hoping to restore more than just an old building.
On a street mostly dominated by antique stores and furniture shops, 114 E. Main will open this fall as a true live/work space: the ground floor will open as a coffee house and bistro, and the second floor will provide residential space for owners Brad and Alicja Carter. In a fledgling downtown district, it is their hope that good food, drinks, performances by area musicians and orators, and local art on the walls will spur a revival of sorts in downtown Shawnee.
“[We] wanted to bring something unique to downtown Shawnee,” Brad Carter said. “There is such great history and buildings downtown, and hopefully this will encourage other people to invest in the area.”
Shawnee's Main Street, like many main streets of its era, has seen its ups and downs. It sustained the town during its development. As the town had no central square, Main Street became the place to open retail businesses, hotels, opera houses, cotton gins and banks. Railroad tracks surrounded Shawnee on three sides, allowing easy transport of goods and opportunities for a viable commercial industry. Other developments occurred at this time as well; Baptist and Catholic colleges were started, the streetcar arrived, and the area served as an agricultural center in the early years of the twentieth century. Development slowed when Shawnee lost the battle for state capital, and slowed further with the stock market crash and the devastation of the boll weevil on local cotton crops. Despite these hard times, the New Deal and other developments kept downtown alive.
According to Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps, 114 E. Main Street served a variety of functions over the years: in 1898, it was a store; in 1901, a Five and Dime store; in 1907, a china shop; in 1912, a moving pictures venue; in 1919, the building housed a cobbler and a cigar shop; in 1929, a drug
store; and in 1950, the first floor was a store and the second housed
"rooms." Most recently, the building belonged to Covington Credit and
Loans. The Carters hope to provide a viable use for the building for
years to come.
Using sustainable building practices and trying to reuse as much original material as possible, this space now has the potential for that to happen. Simon Ott is the general contractor for Project 114, and an experienced craftsman with more than 12 years of historic renovation experience. With his expertise, and the team's desire to create a model of sustainable development in downtown Shawnee, the building has retained its original tin ceiling tiles, portions of its original floor and an open layout that facilitates community gathering in a fashion similar to its historic uses.
The Carters will soon achieve their first goal of opening the coffee shop and bistro. As for the community revival part, that’s up to all of us.
For more information on the restoration process, go to www.project114ok.com.
Images courtesy of Project114
Success Spotlight: Atlas Life Building, Tulsa
Since the oil boom of the 1920's the Atlas Life building has been a prominent piece of architecture in Tulsa. The Greek Titan, Atlas, has been overlooking the city streets of downtown Tulsa since 1922, carrying the "world" on his shoulders. Nearly 90 years has passed since the Atlas Life building opened its doors for business.Now, after a long period of non-use, it is a different kind of business; it has been reopened as a Courtyard by Marriott. And when downtown's newest hotel opened, Tulsa celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony. This is an excellent demonstration of how old buildings can live new life as a first-class, nationally branded hotel or any other purpose we might imagine.
Success Spotlight: The Wells Building, Sapulpa
In Sapulpa Oklahoma renovation has
begun on the Wells building. This project is part of a larger community-based plan to revitalize downtown Sapulpa. Not only is the restoration
of the Wells Building an effort of preservation but it will also be used for
affordable housing for elderly members of the community. The Tulsa County Home Consortium
addresses housing needs of citizens by helping to
provide affordable housing to those in need. The
Wells Building Apartment project is the consortium's 11th 
affordable housing project for elderly community members, but ts the first one in which a building will be renovated, and not built new, for the purpose.
affordable housing project for elderly community members, but ts the first one in which a building will be renovated, and not built new, for the purpose. Much
work needs to be
done to the Wells Building before it can become the Wells Building
Apartments. Construction crews have removed the metal facade. The metal
that once covered the brick was used in an effort to make the building
appear more modern in the 1960's.The hope was to keep shoppers downtown
instead of going to the shiny new malls outside of town. Times have
changed and people are recognizing just how great these old buildings
are. Completion of the Wells Building Apartments is set for December of
2011. The Building will provide 32 affordable housing units for older people.
In preparation for its interior remodeling, the building has undergone an
amazing exterior transformation as can be seen in these pictures.
Removing the skin has revealed the incredible post turn of the century
details intended by the architect. For nearly a century it has been a
source of pride for the city of Sapulpa. and it is now ready to begin its
new life and exist for another 100 years.
In preparation for its interior remodeling, the building has undergone an
Success Spotlight: Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, Enid
The Museum of the Cherokee Strip in Enid has been undergoing a transformation to become the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center through an $8 million fundraising initiative entitled "Claiming Our Past, Inspiring Our Future: The Campaign to Create the Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center". The initiative secured $7 million for the central project and $1 million for an operational endowment.
The
transformation was brought about to expand the original vision of the
museum and to tell the extraordinary stories of settling the Cherokee
Strip, sharing the inspiring lessons of leadership and perseverance with
future generations.
The new 24,000 sq. ft. Heritage Center features five gallery spaces
with all new exhibits, including a Special Exhibits Gallery for
temporary and traveling exhibits, a research center, visitor center,
theater, gift shop and "The Homesteaders" monument by H. Holden.The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center is set to have its grand opening in the early Spring of 2011. For more information, please visit www.csrhc.org.
Information courtesy of www.csrhc.org & Oklahoma Historical Society
Success Spotlight: Former Chieftan Pontiac Building, Oklahoma City
The former Chieftain Pontiac Building, located at 1100 N Broadway on historic Automobile Alley in Oklahoma City, was built in 1928. Once home to an auto dealership, the 20,000+ square foot building has been gutted and adapted into a mixed-use facility with retail and office spaces. However, the upper floor of the two-story building has been restored to its original appearance. After many years sitting unoccupied and in disrepair, the Chieftain building is available for lease through Mid-Town Renaissance, the real estate development group responsible for its rebirth.
The Chieftain recently housed an exhibit featuring recreations of Oklahoma City's landmarks and architecture using two million LEGOs, with proceeds of the exhibit benefiting OKC Educare.
Success Spotlight: Former Chieftan Pontiac Building, Oklahoma City
Photo courtesy of Price Edwards Co.
The former Chieftain Pontiac Building, located at 1100 N Broadway on historic Automobile Alley in Oklahoma City, was built in 1928. Once home to an auto dealership, the 20,000+ square foot building has been gutted and adapted into a mixed-use facility with retail and office spaces. However, the upper floor of the two-story building has been restored to its original appearance. After many years sitting unoccupied and in disrepair, the Chieftain building is available for lease through Mid-Town Renaissance, the real estate development group responsible for its rebirth.
The Chieftain recently housed an exhibit featuring recreations of Oklahoma City's landmarks and architecture using two million LEGOs, with proceeds of the exhibit benefiting OKC Educare.
Photo by Steve Lackmeyer
Roman Nose State Park following recent renovations
Success Spotlight: Roman Nose State Park, near Watonga
Roman Nose State Park following recent renovations
Roman Nose State Park outside of Watonga is a beautiful and unique recreation area. Built by the National Park Service with labor from the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), it pays tribute to the man whose name it carries; Chief Henry Roman Nose. The park was opened to the public in 1937 and since then has been a favorite travel destination of Oklahomans across the state. The Oklahoma Department of Tourism, which manages and operates the state parks, began a restoration of the park's structures starting with the redesign of the Roman Nose Lodge.
Roman Nose State Park during the 1950's
The park also boasts other recreation amenities including an 18-hole golf course, a swimming pool, hiking trails, two lakes, and numerous sporting opportunities for both water and land. There are abundant lodging options including the lodge and cabins as well as RV stations, tent camp sites and picnic areas. This beautiful and scenic park should be on everyone's "Must See" list when traveling this year!
Roman Nose State Park following an addition in the 1980's
The lodge, originally built in 1956, sustained damage to an addition built in the 1980's from tropical storm Erin. The damaged addition was removed and new facade was designed in its place with an emphasis placed on the original 1950's design. The original footprint of the lodge was restored and to that was added two new ADA-accommodating guest rooms. The colors chosen for the renovated spaces are based on those found in the natural aspects of the park. Elsewhere in the park, cabins have been renovated and returned to the rustic style in which they were built. Roman Nose State Park during the 1950's
Thank you to Buffy Hughes of the Oklahoma Department of
Tourism for contributing information to this article. Photos were
provided by Oklahoma Department of Tourism