A Downtown Vision Project.

[tulsa1603]

 The PAC would like a smaller theater so that more acts could play longer and not get bumped for when the big acts rotate in.  That site has been talked about for some development to tie the CBD with Blue Dome etc.  I also agree that the PAC could use some renovating.  I too would love to see the front wall ripped out and glass put in.  Would really add life and interest to that area and look glamorous at night with the lights glowing and all the dressed up people milling around inside being able to be seen from the street and being able to see the people being dropped off and coming inside.

I wonder if the wall on the East side would be big enough to put a screen on and do something like that Kansas City outdoor thing there?  IN the parking lot across the way. Put retail on the ground floor, then a small amphitheater above facing the wall, parking behind. Perhaps have a screen attached to the side of the building and out over the sidewalk and leaning out at the top over the street, then on the opposite side a logia for the shops and start the seating above, over the sidewalk to move the distance closer, though even the drive in theater has a good distance between the "first row" and the screen.

When I was in architecture school (back in the 90's) we would often do projects based on real sites and programs, and that happened to be one we designed.  The concept was that a new PAC would be built on the parking lot across Cincinnati to the east.  The new theater would be larger, and the existing PAC would become a secondary theater.  I remember that a few weeks in, the professors tried to ruffle our feathers by suddenly adding a residential tower component, which I thought was a cool idea, even though I didn't appreciate having to add it in late in the game.  Residential towers tied to arts districts have some precedence; I believe the Denver museum of art has one adjacent to it.  Not sure Tulsa is a high rise residential town, but your comments jogged my memory. 

[rdj]

The whole reason OSU-Tulsa controls the land it controls is because Tulsa has been fighting for years to have a four year school.  UCAT was supposed to be the answer.  In my opinion until OSU-Stillwater is bursting at the seams and their leadership decides to turn many students away or you have a significant change in leadership the OSU system will never invest in residential buildings on the land they control in Tulsa.  There is too big of a desire to protect the mothership in Stillwater to allow Tulsa to compete with Stillwater for students.

The better idea is for the city to presssure the UCAT trustees to put out an RFP for a large scale mixed use development that includes housing open to all but suitable (aka affordable) for students and attractive enough for professors along with amenities for the same that would also interest the community at large.  Take the proceeds from the sale of the land (or do a long term ground lease) and place them in an endowment for the maintenance and improvement of the remaining UCAT (OSU-Tulsa) campus.

While the parking crater on the south side of downtown is certainly embarrassing, I find the acres of land sitting fallow on the northern boundary of downtown to be far worse.  The city, state and higher ed system made a promise to the community and they haven't followed thru.  They've had long enough and it's time to call them on it.

The redevelopment of that land combined with TPS' plans for Emerson Elementary could be the line that north Tulsa needs to plug into the energy downtown.  I know gentrification is a dirty word for many, but the gap between the near north neighborhoods and downtown is so wide as a result of this vacant dirt it is tough to see the development crossing not only a physical boundary in the IDL, but also a big open space.  Without bridging that gap it will be very tough to ever see north Tulsa improve.

[AquaMan]

Of all the ideas proffered so far I most like the dramatic effect that would occur with the vision put forth by LandArchpoke on the other thread about downtown. Please pare it down a bit and bring it to this thread. Removing the Moss Correctional center is a fine plan. It will provide synergy to the historic areas directly to the north and west as well as stimulating the opportunities directly to the west of Brady.

I think there is a better location as well for the terminus of the railroad for downtown. It should be near Cheyenne at Archer. There is a huge, multistory white building next to the tracks with a docking platform and sitting on one of the last brick paved streets downtown. It would place that terminal just two blocks from the western edge of Brady District, easily walked or shuttled.

[Weatherdemon]

Of all the ideas proffered so far I most like the dramatic effect that would occur with the vision put forth by LandArchpoke on the other thread about downtown. Please pare it down a bit and bring it to this thread. Removing the Moss Correctional center is a fine plan. It will provide synergy to the historic areas directly to the north and west as well as stimulating the opportunities directly to the west of Brady.

I think there is a better location as well for the terminus of the railroad for downtown. It should be near Cheyenne at Archer. There is a huge, multistory white building next to the tracks with a docking platform and sitting on one of the last brick paved streets downtown. It would place that terminal just two blocks from the western edge of Brady District, easily walked or shuttled.

Agree on all counts.
I love that white building and think it would make a great train terminal!

[Townsend]

 The two remaining parks would be new ones at this location in Blue Dome by the PAC and one next to the BOK.  That one would replace the Federal Bldg when it finally gets a new home with a highrise convention hotel on the west side of that double block and a park facing Denver.  It could tie into an expanded convention center across Frisco if the civic parking garage were moved west of Houston.  Perfect location for a larger Winterfest and other festivals in that area.  

Isn't Tulsa's Fed building scheduled out about 20 years?

[DowntownDan]

Isn't Tulsa's Fed building scheduled out about 20 years?

Yes.  It's indefinitely about 20 years away from happening.