RFQ - distributed by Kaiser Foundation for Blair/Crow Creek properties

[SXSW]

East bank needs more residential density? How far South? Its already pretty dense up to 61st. The only blank land I can think of north of 61st is the Blair land and the hills below a couple mansions.

Do you mean high rise type density?

Not necessarily highrise.  Just more density in the area along Riverside from 15th to 21st and points east including the area around Veterans Park south of downtown and north/west of Maple Ridge.  And of course development of the Blair site and redevelopment of the low rise Crow Creek property into higher density apartments.  

I think tying the waterfront into any kind of development of the Blair site is important.  I found this image where a roadway cuts through but with landscaping it doesn't act as such a barrier as it does now.  I could see the portion of the riverfront just to the west of Riverside and north of the Ped. bridge looking like this:


For the Crow Creek redevelopment I think something like what they have developed along Cherry Creek by downtown Denver would be nice but with better landscaping along the creek (there are already plenty of big oak trees lining the creek, a luxury they don't have in Denver):

[waterboy]

Very good. Couldn't we put in a water sluice ala Bell's' log flume that would float right over Riverside into a protected harbor?

The areas you describe as needing greater density do have some open areas and a lot of cheap, non historic apartments. Would be nice to take out some of the drug havens over there and recreate the area sort of like Devon is doing in OKC.

[ZYX]

For example: The Terrace View apartments on Denver. That is a perfect spot to tear out what is there, and replace it with something nicer, and more urban. Something 5 or 6 stories there would be amazing.

Edit: Location is at Denver and 18th.

[joiei]

Can we rename the house Beauvior which was the name of  the home the that the racist Jefferson Davis spent enough time for the state of Mississippi to now call it a "Shrine" and the house which it was a copy of?  OMG did I leave a hanging preposition?   I will get off my soapbox.

Using the house as a children's museum would be a great idea, at least I think so.  I used to love to take my nephews to the Exploratorium in San Franciso, to spend time watching the lights come on for them,  nothing can replace that.   I can see some 3 and 4 story urban brownstones on either side of a park from the house to the river left as a greenspace.   A central water feature with a distinctive fountain artwork could become a city of Tulsa signature.     

[patric]

Sorry but the west bank is dead...we don't need yet another mediocre pocket area that is underfunded and underutilized.

That leaves more land for the tribes to buy up and turn into sovereign (read: no zoning laws) property... that taxpayers will be expected to pay for infrastructure (roads, utilities, fire protection).

[Urban Enthusiast]

Has anyone heard anything about this RFQ?  I just happened to come across this proposal by West 8 an urban design and landscape architecture firm.  It has some interesting elements, but the multi-story buildings tucked back by the existing neighborhoods would never fly.  They also show Riverside Drive being really diverted. It also includes some islands and what they call "cascades."  Perhaps that is a white water element???

[jacobi]

Woah!  I hope those multistory buildings would 'fly'.  That's huge.  As someone who cycles though, that looks obnoxiously diverted.

[AquaMan]

I thought the planned white water cascades would be downstream from the Zink dam. It does look like they re-routed Riverside to the east side of the property and included a canal with barrier islands downstream where the white water should be. This is close to an idea I floated a couple of years ago. Put a gate at the upstream part of the canal and a low water dam at the lower end of the canal and you have a way of keeping water in the canal during low river levels. I suspect these guys haven't seen what the river bed looked like this past few months.

I also doubt that re-routing Riverside that far inland is an idea that would fly.

[jacobi]

I also doubt that re-routing Riverside that far inland is an idea that would fly.

Agreed.  Riverside is nice because it is so direct.  Diverting would cut down its usage.

[Vision 2025]

I thought the planned white water cascades would be downstream from the Zink dam.

Yep that is where the feature is being designed.

[Teatownclown]

hurry up stem cell research....I want to be alive in 100 years to see this!

[TheArtist]

  I am sure thats just one of several proposals they will get.  This one looks like it would take a lot of maintenance work and funding.  Those ponds will be full of trash that blows into them, or is thrown into them and will have to be scooped out every week.  The next thing I see is all that cement will look ratty in short order and have to be redone.  Unless Kaiser springs for granite or pavers or stone.  Not against it, but if you build it, please put aside some money for proper upkeep.  And yes, curving riverside that much, not the best idea. 

[Red Arrow]

Diverting would cut down its usage.

I believe there are some in the area that would welcome less usage of Riverside Drive by thru traffic.  The diversion as shown is probably an accident waiting to happen.

[sgrizzle]

Agreed.  Riverside is nice because it is so direct.  Diverting would cut down its usage.

Traffic slowing has actually been a goal of many Riverside plans. traffic flow on riverside is 10-15mph ABOVE the speed limit.

[sgrizzle]

I believe there are some in the area that would welcome less usage of Riverside Drive by thru traffic.  The diversion as shown is probably an accident waiting to happen.

I don't see it being any worse than the current swoop and dip in the same area, likely better.