Form Based Code Approved For Pearl District

[Townsend]

http://www.kjrh.com/dpp/news/local_news/volunteers-polish-up-the-pearl-district


I didn't realize how big this whole thing was. It's pretty incredible. Watch the video, they are really making everything look a lot better. By next weekend, there will be trees lining the street and a makeshift canal. Pretty exciting!

They've busted their butts.  It was great seeing so many people volunteer the way they did.  Please drop by next Friday or Saturday to see what's been done.

[ZYX]

They've busted their butts.  It was great seeing so many people volunteer the way they did.  Please drop by next Friday or Saturday to see what's been done.

I will if I can. I am truly amazed at how much they are doing. I thought it would be a quick sweep the sidewalk pull the weeds, but they have really done an amazing job of cleaning up those buildings. I can't wait until there are permanent businesses there.

[SXSW]

There is a lot of interest in this which is great to see.  I think this is just what is needed to jumpstart development in the area.  

When I was living in Norman and then in OKC they did the same thing to a derelict section of NW 16 northwest of downtown called the Plaza District.  This reminds me a lot of the grassroots efforts that went into improving that area and how a city-funded streetscape and redevelopment/new businesses followed.  It has been discussed here ad nauseum but before development can really "take off" the flooding issue needs to be addressed with the detention ponds and canal down 6th.  That is one of the reasons the area is currently so blighted.

[SXSW]

I went by there yesterday and it was full of people.  I wish they had painted bike lanes on 6th; hopefully that will be part of the canal/streetscape.  I've said it before but it reminds me of what I witnessed in OKC with the Plaza District which is in a similar blighted neighborhood but further removed from downtown.  The Pearl on the other hand is right next to downtown, within a mile of Cherry St, and (along with 11th) forms the link between TU and downtown.  

Walking through the neighborhood and noticed there is still a LOT of blight though and it will take several years to bring this neighborhood back.  In many places it looks like they need to just bulldoze the houses and start over once the flooding issues are fixed.  I'm just glad to see people interested in this neighborhood, and I think this event really opened a lot of eyes.  I'd love to see them do the same thing at 11th & Peoria next year.  That stretch could use a streetscape and has lots of vacant buildings on Rt 66..

Pic from KOTV

[ZYX]

Most of the houses in that area do not appear to be worth saving. I think they should be bulldozed and replaced with rowhouses.

[SXSW]

Most of the houses in that area do not appear to be worth saving. I think they should be bulldozed and replaced with rowhouses.

+1

It would be great to see Jamie Jamieson (developer of the Village at Central Park) build a similar development within the Pearl along the streets south of 6th between Quaker and Troost north of 11th.  Many of the houses in that area are either abandoned, blighted or in very bad shape.  Nothing like that can happen until the flooding is fixed though...

[patric]

It would be great to see Jamie Jamieson (developer of the Village at Central Park) build a similar development within the Pearl along the streets south of 6th between Quaker and Troost north of 11th.  Many of the houses in that area are either abandoned, blighted or in very bad shape.  Nothing like that can happen until the flooding is fixed though...

There needs to be a systematic survey of what's historically significant and what's not.  Combine that with a hydrologic remediation plan (where some blighted properties might become retention basins) similar to what was done in areas to the south and east.

[SXSW]

There needs to be a systematic survey of what's historically significant and what's not.  Combine that with a hydrologic remediation plan (where some blighted properties might become retention basins) similar to what was done in areas to the south and east.

The master plans calls for full redevelopment (demolition of existing structures and new construction) for the entire neighborhood south of the commercial strip along 6th between Peoria and Utica north of 11th with the exception of a small area along Quaker, Quincy and Rockford roughly south of 8th and north of 11th.  That area is designated "Residential Revitalization: restoration of existing houses; introduction of small-scale, compatible infill".  While that part of the neighborhood is in slightly better shape than the eastern half it's still in pretty bad shape and the flooding I'm sure has caused a lot of unseen problems.  There is a cool little apartment building near 7th & Quincy that could probably be saved though, and a few others like it scattered around.

I think one of the coolest potential developments in the area is along Peoria from 8th to 11th.  There are a few vacant lots and some small industrial buildings now but per the master plan it is designated "Mixed-use Infill".  The bonus for these lots is their skyline view to the west due to the cemetery.  Just like they have started redevelopment west of Peoria with the Village in Central Park, I could see development slowly migrating east around and south of 6th between Peoria and Rockford.  It will take a block-by-block approach IMO.

[carltonplace]

While that part of the neighborhood is in slightly better shape than the eastern half it's still in pretty bad shape and the flooding I'm sure has caused a lot of unseen problems. 

How many flood events have there been in this area? I know its in the elm creek flood plain but I don't think I've ever seen standing water at 6th and Peoria (other than in the centenial park basin).

[ZYX]

Construction boom in the Pearl...?

http://kjrh.m0bl.net/w/news-local/story/29190873/