Downtown NEEDS a plaza

[SXSW]

I think this idea is great and started generating some of my own ideas earlier today.  This is my quick GoogleEarth Photoshop overlay of the potential spaces, as outlined by TheArtist.  There is an existing building at 8th and Main, what is it though?  As you can see the parking lot next to it would be developed into lofts overlooking the square along Boulder and 8th Street.  The ground level would have space for retail/cafes opening out towards the square.  The parking garage, probably 4-5 levels, would also have retail/dining space on both sides.  The side facing Boulder would open out onto the square with a large sidewalk along the old alleyway.  The Main Street side would also have retail space.  The park would most definitely have a distinctive fountain and would have a sidewalk axis going from the entrance to First Christian Church to the south up to the loft development and then another axis going from the entrance to Holy Family Cathedral across to the parking garage.  In the center of this axis could be the fountain and alongside grass, flowers, and a few trees.  Maybe something like this could finally get those surface lots west of TCC re-developed...



A potential "mixed-use" parking garage design


A potential midrise residential building, with street level retail space


A grand urban fountain, framed by buildings and surrounded by trees and landscaping

[TheArtist]

Yep, very much what I had in mind.  How bout moving the parking garage further across the street to make the park area a full block?  And also have living on it as well, a loggia on the ground floor with shops and cafe's facing the Cathedral to really create that grand European square feel. Basically I would just flip the red and blue squares lol.  For it would be nice to have lofts/condos closer to 9th so that the tennants could see the cathedral and the dowtown skyline and place the main parking where there isnt a view.

Course if you wanted to build closer to the Cathedral as you have it. One solution to adding more drama and space would be to have a building with an arch in it just opposite the Cathedral and the park.  Something like this....



I wouldnt complain if someone built those high rise condos behind it either lol.  The more I think of how much cheaper and more interesting we could do other things than the Channels the more frustrated I become towards the idea.

[T-TownMike]

quote:Originally posted by TheArtist

Yep, very much what I had in mind.  How bout moving the parking garage further across the street to make the park area a full block?  And also have living on it as well, a loggia on the ground floor with shops and cafe's facing the Cathedral to really create that grand European square feel. Basically I would just flip the red and blue squares lol.  For it would be nice to have lofts/condos closer to 9th so that the tennants could see the cathedral and the dowtown skyline and place the main parking where there isnt a view.

Course if you wanted to build closer to the Cathedral as you have it. One solution to adding more drama and space would be to have a building with an arch in it just opposite the Cathedral and the park.  Something like this....



I wouldnt complain if someone built those high rise condos behind it either lol.  The more I think of how much cheaper and more interesting we could do other things than the Channels the more frustrated I become towards the idea.

Great picture of the condos. I haven't seen that ,yet. Nice job.

Young Tulsan,
I think your ideas are well thought-out and add alot to the topic. I really think this would help bring people to downtown that want to hang out, so-to-speak. This would be a fairly inexpensive project and would add alot to the area.

[pmcalk]

With the approaching holidays, it would be nice if Tulsa's downtown had a city Christmas tree (or holiday bush, if you prefer).  Something that the Mayor could turn on to celebrate the season, a central location where you could hear performances, drink hot chocolate, look at lights, etc....

As a child, we use to drive downtown one night to look at the Christmas lights every year (this was when the parade was during the day). Now, there really isn't anything to see, except the parade.  So we have to drive out to Rhema instead.  Blah.  I'd rather go downtown.

[Hometown]

I hate waste.  Let's use what we have.  Bartlett Square should be the site of a free New Years Eve celebration.  For the cost of police overtime Tulsa could have a major free public event.  Bring out the TV cameras, have a count down, drop the ball, turn a blind eye to drinking.  The people would be the attraction.  20 somethings would love it.

[pmcalk]

I am all for using what we have (at least for now), but I would say the civic center plaza would be a better location for a tree and New Years eve party.  After all, you can't very well admire a tree from Bartlett circle at this point--you might get run over.  Or some drunk kids might mistake the tree for a fountain.  

DC has the National Tree, as well as the 50 trees from the different states; New York has Rockefeller center.  It would be nice for Tulsa to have a downtown location that celebrated the holidays.  How difficult/expensive would it be to put a tree up on the plaza, have a "lights on" party, maybe the same night as the PSO parade?  After that, I am sure you could get schools, churches, etc...., to perform on different evenings.  You might even be able to get some charitable orgination to donate the tree.

[TheArtist]

It does seem odd that Tulsa doesn't have something that would seem to be a basic, fundamental piece of any city or town.  Even the channels people realized it was missing and included a public space like that.  We are missing a town square or central plaza, a gathering place.

BTW did anyone notice where they chose to put the crowds of people to watch the downtown fireworks?... Right where the Cathedral Square idea would be.  Wouldnt it be nice to have a large round pool of water there with a fountain in the center, it could be an ice skating rink in the winter, and the center of it a place to put the city Christmas tree.

[SXSW]

^ It would be awesome.  I love the river development ideas (not in their current form though) and I think I will love the East End project (haven't seen renderings, but the site plan looks good), but your Cathedral Square idea is one of the best "proposals" for downtown IMO.  While it's just an idea with no financial backing I hope that somehow it will come to fruition just because it wouldn't be that difficult.  A variety of residential and retail/dining space (with outdoor seating) surrounding an urban plaza with a distinct fountain would not be an overly ambitious plan by any means.  Holy Family Cathedral is hands down one of the most beautiful churches in the region and deserves a plaza of its own.