Ballpark streetscaping

[TheTed]

I vaguely remember something about streetscaping in the area of the new ballpark. Does anyone have details on this? It'd be nice if they just closed Elgin from just North of First street to the ballpark.

Pedestrian improvements in this area are badly needed, especially with all the people who'll be walking from the Blue Dome. Right now, there's not even a through sidewalk on either side of the street from First and Elgin to the ballpark.

I haven't seen any signs of construction in that area. Unless they dramatically widen the sidewalks and complete them, most people will end up walking in the street.

[SXSW]

I was wondering the same thing and just figured they would continue the Elgin streetscaping already in place from 1st to 3rd with new sidewalks, street trees, and lamps all the way to 244.  The pedestrian connection across the tracks at Elgin definitely needs to be improved.

[sgrizzle]

The plans are new sidewalks, lights, landscaping, etc. This is supposed to be a new scheme similar in quality to what they've done in riverparks.

I have not seen details as of yet.

[TheArtist]

They might ought to be starting real soon if they want to be done by the first ballgame.

[PonderInc]

They might ought to be starting real soon if they want to be done by the first ballgame.

+1

[dsjeffries]

They might ought to be starting real soon if they want to be done by the first ballgame.

Well, right now, the road and sidewalk areas are both pretty much covered in dirt and construction equipment. Until they can get everything contained, they can't very well start the streetscaping.

It'd be nice if they just closed Elgin from just North of First street to the ballpark.

That is exactly what downtown doesn't need--another closed street, another superblock. The reasons are compelling, plentiful and well-known, so I won't try to list them all, but I will say that cutting off another entrance to downtown certainly won't help the area or peoples' preconceived notions about downtown being difficult to navigate.

[SXSW]

Well, right now, the road and sidewalk areas are both pretty much covered in dirt and construction equipment. Until they can get everything contained, they can't very well start the streetscaping.

That is exactly what downtown doesn't need--another closed street, another superblock. The reasons are compelling, plentiful and well-known, so I won't try to list them all, but I will say that cutting off another entrance to downtown certainly won't help the area or peoples' preconceived notions about downtown being difficult to navigate.

I agree, no more closed streets especially Elgin which is the most direct way to get to OSU from downtown.  I would hope as OSU grows they reinforce the Elgin corridor as the gateway to campus.

[patric]

The plans are new sidewalks, lights, landscaping, etc. This is supposed to be a new scheme similar in quality to what they've done in riverparks.

I have not seen details as of yet.

Id be interested too.
In the present economy, anyone wanting to put up more wasteful Acorn streetlights should have their head (and books) examined.

[TheTed]

Well, right now, the road and sidewalk areas are both pretty much covered in dirt and construction equipment. Until they can get everything contained, they can't very well start the streetscaping.

That is exactly what downtown doesn't need--another closed street, another superblock. The reasons are compelling, plentiful and well-known, so I won't try to list them all, but I will say that cutting off another entrance to downtown certainly won't help the area or peoples' preconceived notions about downtown being difficult to navigate.

The worst part of that sidewalk is not affected by the ballpark, near the tracks. The sidewalk on the west side ends at a loading dock. The one on the right side looks like it's vintage 1800-and-something. What little sidewalk exists is the narrow residential-neighborhood type, which will be completely insufficient on game nights.

Also, I attempted to walk down Elgin from the ballpark area to OSU once. There's a two-foot-deep hole, the kind that could break your leg, where the sidewalk abrubtly ends under the IDL.

Elgin near the ballpark is a particularly good (or bad) example of our pitiful pedestrian conditions. It needs upgrading ASAP.

As far as closing, I should've been more clear. I was referring to game nights, maybe just weekend game nights. There's not much reason people need to drive on that little stretch of Elgin, but there will be lots of pedestrians.

It always seems ridiculous to me when a tiny sidewalk is packed next to an empty or underused street, as happens frequently during downtown events. The streets belong to everyone, not just cars. If pedestrians utilize them more fully than cars, then pedestrians' share of the street should be increased.

[cannon_fodder]

While we are on the subject, how is the new dense urban mixed use development going over there?  Are the new proposals an improvement on the one that torpedoed?  What?  There hasn't even been any real talk about new proposals?  Crazy, who saw that coming.

Pessimistic prediction:  the ballpark will be done and will be done well, but when it opens and we draw NEW people with families and money to spend downtown - nothing else will be improved.  It will be a largely dead pocket of town with crappy sidewalks, no manicured green space, no attached museum, no new development nearby, and no "A" street or designated improved corridor connecting it to other places to spend money in the Brady or Blue Dome districts.

Hence, the people will get used in the first season to going to the baseball game and then getting out of the area as soon as possible.  Just as they did at Expo Square.   

I hope I'm wrong.  Game nights make Bricktown in OKC alive before and after.  In Des Moines it adds a ton of life.  But if there aren't things in the immediate area for the suburbanite who thinks downtown is full of scary, scary things . . . they are unlikely to ever venture out to find things to do.   

Bonus prediction:  unlimited bitching about parking even though the Drillers will organize a well planned shuttle system, street parking is ample, and no other events are going on.   

[sgrizzle]

The trust is still planning on developing a few blocks on their own and there are already people living in new lofts within a block of the ballpark.

[TheTed]

Pessimistic prediction:  the ballpark will be done and will be done well, but when it opens and we draw NEW people with families and money to spend downtown - nothing else will be improved.  It will be a largely dead pocket of town with crappy sidewalks, no manicured green space, no attached museum, no new development nearby, and no "A" street or designated improved corridor connecting it to other places to spend money in the Brady or Blue Dome districts.

Hence, the people will get used in the first season to going to the baseball game and then getting out of the area as soon as possible.  Just as they did at Expo Square.  

I hope I'm wrong.  Game nights make Bricktown in OKC alive before and after.  In Des Moines it adds a ton of life.  But if there aren't things in the immediate area for the suburbanite who thinks downtown is full of scary, scary things . . . they are unlikely to ever venture out to find things to do.    

Bonus prediction:  unlimited bitching about parking even though the Drillers will organize a well planned shuttle system, street parking is ample, and no other events are going on.  

I think your pessimistic prediction will be partially correct, but the parking lot across from Joe Momma's will almost have to be utilized. That will draw people to the surrounding businesses.

That is unless the OSU-Tulsa lot ends up being the main Drillers lot, the place where they run the shuttle from. It'd almost be better if that lot weren't promoted and used, as it's not gonna do anything to getting people to stay downtown.

I've been hoping they don't bring that stupid tram shuttle thing they had at the fairgrounds to downtown. Anybody who visits from out of the area will laugh at us mercilessly for that thing.

Does anybody know whether they'll have a parking shuttle? I really, really hope not. We're supposed to be aiming for a cosmopolitan downtown. Not some fairgrounds in a cowtown where walking (or waddling) three blocks is unfathomable.

[Townsend]

http://www.kjrh.com/news/local/story/Buildings-around-new-ballpark-to-become-stores/ncJluK42_kGI6M4WYmJpig.cspx

Outside the large walls and heavy metal of Oneok Field, a smaller project replacing pieces of Tulsa's history is underway.
1921 Race Riot building plaques will be embedded in new sidewalks around the Drillers baseball stadium.
The bricks are part of a larger street scape project that contractors say will change the appearance of downtown Tulsa.
"You want the patrons around the ballpark to come to a facility that really looks good, that is appealing and warm, and one they feel safe in," said developer Bob Jack with Manhattan Construction.
At least 500 trees will line several blocks of Elgin and Archer streets.
Before that, crews will resurface sections of Greenwood street by removing the street's top surface, and replace it with asphalt.
By the time it's over engineers say the area will have a unique look with an updated feel.
Some buildings surrounding the stadium will include small grocery stores with residential units on top. Developers also plan dozens of benches and LED lights that will line the streets.

So that sounds great but where's the rest of the story?  Who are the developers and where are they getting these people to open "small grocery stores"?  Not just one but multiple per this article.

[OpenYourEyesTulsa]

I hope the ballpark is not like the BOK Center and it takes 2 years or more before anything is developed around it.

[Conan71]

"1921 Race Riot building plaques will be embedded in new sidewalks around the Drillers baseball stadium."

Wow, there's just nothing that gives me warm fuzzies quite like reminding visitors to our city of our pathetic and ignorant racist past.