Downtown Development Overview

[Tulsasaurus Rex]

So far our downtown has a notable lack of corporate retail/restaurant and it's the local folks that are driving the growth and filling the needs.
In downtown we have three subways, a dominos, arbys, supercuts and a bunch of chain hotels
Everything else that I can think of is either a Tulsa original or a local owned franchise.

Not a single starbucks, but tons of coffee choices. I don't believe that any other comparable downtown can make this claim.

Well that didn't last long....

Starbucks is coming to the Central Library in downtown Tulsa. Central Library is undergoing an extensive renovation project and is scheduled to reopen in summer 2016.

According to a news release, the Starbucks will be located on the ground floor at the southeast corner of the building, near South Denver Avenue and East Fifth Street. The 1,483 square-foot store will have its own entrance and will include indoor seating as well as a patio.

"We look forward to partnering with Starbucks, which has strong brand recognition, a large customer-base, successful operational record, and an extensive training process," said Tulsa City-County Library Chief Executive Officer Gary Shaffer.

The Starbucks' hours aren't final yet, but will be probably be consistent with other Starbucks locations in the area, the release says. The coffee shop will be able to operate even when the library is closed.

The shop is expected to employee 18 people who will work for Starbucks and not the library system.

http://www.newson6.com/story/29846249/starbucks-coming-to-downtown-tulsa-library

Tulsa World is calling it the world's first public library Starbucks, which I find dubious...

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/local/world-s-first-public-library-starbucks-coming-to-downtown-tulsa/article_29eb37f8-0e8e-583b-98e5-937436e99b88.html

[TulsaGoldenHurriCAN]

Well that didn't last long....

http://www.newson6.com/story/29846249/starbucks-coming-to-downtown-tulsa-library

I laughed when I saw that having read that comment before. Perfect timing carlton!

[DTowner]

Well that didn't last long....

http://www.newson6.com/story/29846249/starbucks-coming-to-downtown-tulsa-library

What an odd location choice.

[Townsend]

What an odd location choice.

They know things that are in the works that we don't know.

[BKDotCom]

They know things that are in the works that we don't know.

Coffee subsidies for the homeless

[Townsend]

Coffee subsidies for the homeless

SOCIALISM

[LandArchPoke]

Here's some details on the PAC RFP. In total 3 submitted plans:

Flaherty and Collins (Indianapolis)
http://flco.com

12 stories of apartments, a 35,000-square foot Reasors grocery store, parking and civic space solely for use by the PAC.

Milhaus Development (Indianapolis)
http://www.milhaus.com

Team with a Tulsa architecture firm to build ground-floor retail and restaurant space with luxury apartments above.

G4 LLC (Tulsa)
LLC is registered by a Jayesh Jain who looks to be a hotel developer.

Envisions a hotel/condo mix, shops, a grocery store, parking garage and the addition of a theater above Cincinnati.

[LandArchPoke]

Some additional pictures I pulled from the Newson6 story:

















Not terribly impressed with the Milhaus proposal - they essentially have placed a giant parking garage next to the PAC. The other two seem to be very interesting and a decent use of this parking lot. My only comments would be on the Flaherty and Collins one to get rid of the skybridge and the G4 LLC one needs to engage the street level a bit better. At the end of the day these are just concepts though so let's hope the PAC trust hold whichever developer they select to a high standard and don't let them scale anything down.

[SXSW]

What is the timeline for selection and starting construction?  If one of these proposals and the Santa Fe Square project go as planned that would be absolutely huge for this end of downtown.

[LandArchPoke]

What is the timeline for selection and starting construction?  If one of these proposals and the Santa Fe Square project go as planned that would be absolutely huge for this end of downtown.

The selection will likely be made very quickly. This has been in the works for some time. One of these projects is very close to being shovel ready - if it's the one that gets selected. I would suspect we'll hear something about the selection of a developer in the next month with hopefully a ground breaking towards the first of 2016.

[DowntownDan]

This is gonna be pretty awesome.

[TeeDub]

That Fassler Hall image reminds me of the layout of the Empire Bar on 15th.   Always loved their outside area.

[TulsaGoldenHurriCAN]

This is gonna be pretty awesome.

I thought I saw that closed off and under construction. Looks nice! I'm all for more patio areas at Tulsa's best bars, especially when it replaces a parking lot! Inner Circle Vodka bar has done a good job with theirs (across from Cain's). Some outdoor games and an inviting environment!


On their facebook thread, people have posted early progress pics. I hope it is ready in time for their Oktoberfest celebration. Having a closed in area with trees will add to the Bier Garten environment.
https://www.facebook.com/fasslerhall

[cannon_fodder]

Hopefully the fence facing the road will be low enough that people can see the life inside.

[carltonplace]

Dirt is moving at 5th and Cheyenne for the Residence inn!