The River District

[perspicuity85]

quote:Originally posted by Floyd

I'm not anti-River District, I'm just not excited about it.  Call it ambivalence.

Read this article about "lifestyle centers," pulled from the link to the other forum Artist made.  There's something inauthentic and creepy about this suburban faux-urbanism and the author captures it well.

http://www.slate.com/id/2116246/

quote: There's something a bit unhealthy about faux public places designed to attract rich people and make them feel comfortable. (At least the traditional mall didn't try to hide the fact that it was a shopping center.) The lifestyle center is a bizarre outgrowth of the suburban mentality: People want public space, even if making that space private is the only way to get it.

"Lifestyle center" is just one of those marketing terms that have been so overused that they lose their meaning.  I can think of a few others, such as "urban," "upscale," "Tuscan," and "Mediterranean."

The most liberally defined lifestyle centers are usually accompanied by a brand name that has been unsrcupulously slapped onto a development or geographic region.  "The River District" may be the best case scenario for South Tulsa because the name does at least reflect a defining characteristic of the region-- the river.

[SXSW]

quote:Originally posted by TheArtist

quote:Originally posted by waterboy

Really, Artist. You seem a little defensive and certainly overreaching. The dam would not have been farther upstream if this development did not materialize. The planned location was made before the RiverDistrict came about. It is more governed by nature and stream geology than where the shopping and gambling areas are.

You are totally focussed on the development of the banks and are missing the bigger picture. Putting in locks now is good planning. Much harder to retrofit when it becomes obvious to everyone. You think only in terms of big bulky ferries but there are many craft that are able to utilize the river and are not dependent on shopping centers (your current universe). Even in the parts of the river that are not part of the lakes. Making the communities interconnected by something other than rubber wheeled trolleys and cars is valuable, progressive thinking and should be done with current dollars.

The railroad being nearby is like found money. Should be interesting to see if only the slow, status quo folks moved to the burbs during the last 40 years.

Your right, for some odd reason I got the impression that the dam in Jenks was originally supposed to go North of the Turnpike. Then when I saw the River District rendering with the dam shown South of the Turnpike I thought perhaps some changes had been made. My bad. However I dont think that these developers can be expected to put the dam in themselves. So waiting on judging the development on whether or not the dam goes in still seems kind of harsh.

I hope it is connected by rail and by the river, but to suggest its the responsibility of this development and the development is a failure if it doesnt do that is again a bit much. Its up to us, the citizens to make that happen, the developers can help push for those connections, but they cant really be expected to build the rail and the dams, the docks, run the rail, etc. all the way into Tulsa and if they dont, they have built a lousy development.

I would appreciate it if you would give me an example of a mass transit option that could carry people back and forth as a mode of transportation on the river as it is currently planned? I dont know that much about it, I can imagine small ferries but cant imagine how they would get past the shallow part north of 71st on towards the Zink Lake? I can envision smaller touristy or recreational type boats and such, but cant see how that really connects Jenks to downtown Tulsa as a real transportation option? Is there something in the middle between these types of things? Again, I am all for it, but just cant see how it will work with what seems to be planned. Nor do I see how its a failure on these developers part if they do not make it happen somehow? If there are watercraft that will work as a viable transportation option, surely I would think they would and should put in a dock and connect to the river over there. But more than that, building dams, locks etc. is a bit much to ask.

As for this being a shopping center and that being my "current universe".  A. if this development were only the hotel, office, living around structured parking part, I would be excited about it. It would still be a significant development for the area. B. Its about an 800 million dollar development. Thats a lot of money being invested here. That alone is significant. Plus the hundreds that will be employed building it, then working there, living there, etc. 800 million dollars for goodness sakes. Ho Hum?

Oklahoma City built their dams with locks and already has a ferry boat system.  And the Oklahoma River is a lot less scenic with NOTHING along its banks...

http://www.oklahomarivercruises.com/

Not faulting the developers, just indicating how proactive this could be for the City/County with river developments (existing or planned) in Tulsa, Jenks, and now Bixby (South Village announced today on the riverfront).

[Markk]

quote:Originally posted by TheArtist

Updates to the River District Website.


Here is a neat video.

It takes a couple minutes to completely download, or you can hit the play, then wait, then hit play, then wait, etc. as I did lol.

http://www.okriverdistrict.com/video.html

The Marketing Brochure...

http://www.okriverdistrict.com/brochure.html

Here is a preview of the "football field sized" water fountain. Is it just me, or does this seem a bit nicer than the fountain in Bartlett Square? []

http://www.flipseekllc.com/nhorriverdistrictvideo.html


Noticed there is a lot of parking around the edge of the River District. But hopefully it will be eventually used up and made into structured parking and other businesses/living, as I have seen other developments of this sort do. The development does have a lot of structured parking already though which is great. Is going to make a very nice little "Mc Downtown" for Jenks.

The Bartlett Square "fountain" is an absolute embarassment.  More like a bubbler.

[FOTD]

The BS fountain is a net for drunk drivers. Ok, more like a ballard for drunk drivers.

[SDTULSA]

I just noticed that they have updated the website at http://www.okriverdistrict.com/ so it seems that it is still a go.  Does anyone have any info about when they will start to build?

[FOTD]

I just noticed that they have updated the website at http://www.okriverdistrict.com/ so it seems that it is still a go.  Does anyone have any info about when they will start to build?

You'll know when Harold Hill shows up with his trombones....


"with the arms of a jungle animal instinct, massteria
friends, the idle brain is the devil's playground....
we've surely got trouble
Right here in river city
remember the main plymouth rock and the golden rule"

Meredith Wilson

[Stone]

The River District
Location: The west bank of the Arkansas River, south of the Creek Turnpike in Jenks

Original plans: Lynn Mitchell and the River District Development Group were going for 852,000 square feet of upscale and unique shopping with a price tag of $1 billion. It would also include a host of restaurants, office space, condominiums, hotels and a performance fountain, and it was sought to be the site of the new Drillers' stadium.

What happened: The 300-acre site was cleared a year ago, but nothing has happened there since.

Current status: Steve Walman, managing broker for Walman Commercial Real Estate Services and a real estate agent for the project, said the slumping economy and a lack of capital have slowed the project down, but it's still making progress.

"We are working with the owners, and continue to do pre-development work."Walman said they're now shooting for construction to begin in 2011, though the scope of the project may change.

[DowntownNow]

Last I had heard it was being scaled back to around $600 million in development and has stalled due to credit and market economy.  The advent of Village on Main probably isn't helping either given their projections of office and retail square footage, as well as a hotel development.

Still, any development of that area is a good development, bringing more jobs, revenue, venues and what not to not only Jenks, but Tulsa county as well.  Shame City of Tulsa has not moved river development plans any further along.

There will come a point in time though that this area can not support further and expansive river growth at the prices projected. 

If these areas do develop the way they are intended, it will also create a significant office market that can and will challenge an already depleated downtown Tulsa market.  Downtown should be weary of these development and push revitalization in all core segments - office, residential, hospitality, restaurants, entertainment, etc. 

Going to be interesting to see how it all comes about over the next 5 years.

[DowntownNow]

BTW anyone know the latest on Riverwalk II?  I've saw the residential apartments under construction but not much else the last time I was out that way.

[Vision 2025]

BTW anyone know the latest on Riverwalk II?  I've saw the residential apartments under construction but not much else the last time I was out that way.

I was there yesterday.  There are two separate buildings under (active) construction (frame mostly complete, and tented for interior work during the cold) between the apartments (which are topped out) and the movie theater with what appears to be room for two more similar sized structures or one big one... I don't know the occupancy of these but will try to find out.

[Stone]

Online exclusive - McDermott's Grille is the RiverWalk's newest restaurant by Erica Harley font size:decrease font sizeincrease font size Print Email 0 comments
McDermott's Grille offers a one-stop shop for evening entertainment.

"When you walk in, you won't forget what you see."

So says Craig Boilla, co-owner of McDermott's Grille, the newest addition to the RiverWalk development in Jenks.

Boilla says McDermott's Grille is not the average local upscale restaurant. In fact, it will be one of the largest restaurants in Tulsa to feature live music and entertainment in a sports-themed setting. The 13,500-square-foot facility is expected to open in early February.

Through 40 years of owning and managing music and restaurant venues, Jim McDermott has learned what goes into creating a dining and entertainment venue that provides customers with everything they need to have a good time.

Jerry Gordon, of Enterprise Construction, developer of RiverWalk Crossing, had become aware of the success McDermott and his wife, Laura, achieved with their business ventures. So two years ago, Gordon recruited the couple to start a new venue in Phase II of the RiverWalk. Jim McDermott soon approached Boilla and his wife, Kathy, and together the four friends became owners of McDermott Grille.

Although the restaurant's opening was delayed a year, Boilla says the extra time allowed for more research and planning so the team could "make so many better decisions." They reconsidered everything from the design of the kitchen and lighting fixtures to how guests will be served indoors and outdoors, he says.

Additionally, much planning is necessary to create an atmosphere that is equally appealing to a mature crowd during the day as to the late-night-loving younger crowd.

Inside the restaurant, tables will be available to serve 350 guests, and the facility will also include all LED lighting, a revolving door, two jumbo 300-inch plasma screens and 30 flat-screen televisions tuned to sports or news stations. Guests can also lounge in one of three seating areas, complete with overstuffed chairs, sofas and drop-down lighting. An upstairs VIP area, dance floor, stage and two champion shuffleboards will be featured as well, Boilla says.

McDermott's Grille's comfort-food-oriented menu will include three steak entrées, hot wings, fajitas, ribs, hamburgers and more. The restaurant will also include a conversational, or two-sided, bar seating 35 people and featuring some of the best drinks in town, McDermott says.

Outside, McDermott's Grille will include seating for 200 guests, as well as an outdoor stage hosting local and regional performers, such as Wanda Watson and bands Bopcats, Alex Cartwright Group, Another Alibi and 3 Hour Tour.

In an effort to provide entertainment for a variety of audiences, Boilla says McDermott's Grille will feature bands catering to an older clientele in the early evenings and to the younger crowd until the venue closes.

As an added perk, visiting bands will receive their own dressing rooms, and Boilla says a production company designed all of the venue's lighting and speakers so bands will not have to bring as much equipment as for a typical show.

"They can just plug in," he says.

Other outdoor amenities include three sombrillas (umbrellas) sitting alongside a 22-foot round, Polynesian-style palapa seating 30 people and offering specialty alcoholic drinks.

While customers once had to drive all over town to find a one-stop source for nighttime entertainment, Boilla says he is excited to offer so many amenities in one venue.

"We want to allow people to come to our place, have dinner, listen to a band, maybe play some shuffleboard or darts and not have to drive four different places to do that," he says.

[RecycleMichael]

I think this will be a great addition to Riverwalk.

[FOTD]

The devil should be keeping a long list of eateries and boozeries that come and go from this property.

[TheArtist]

  I went by the other day and was suprised by the scale of the apartment buildings.  Much larger development than I had originally supposed.  Anyone know how many apartments there will be?  Yes, it looks like there are 2 buildings that are nearing being closed in.  But I have found it odd that they havent started what is to go in between those buildings and the theater.  Will, for a while, leave quite a large gap between the new development and the old that many people may not choose to cross.  

Anyone venture to predict what, if anything, else will be added to this development once phase 2 is completed?  Will it stay as is? Or perhaps add some more stuff and fleshing out into something like a Branson Landing? ( buildings behind the ones that exist now, perhaps the opening between a couple of buildings becoming the entrance to a "town square" or faux streetscape, possibly a parking garage in some area, etc.).  If the first two phases make a go of it, he has the room to do more.  

[Conan71]

But I have found it odd that they havent started what is to go in between those buildings and the theater.  Will, for a while, leave quite a large gap between the new development and the old that many people may not choose to cross. 

Anyone venture to predict what, if anything, else will be added to this development once phase 2 is completed? 

TulsaNow world headquarters and a rip-off of your idea for an art deco museum. 

Speaking of, when is the next meeting?