The River District

[TheArtist]

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

Speaking of, when is the next meeting?

Third Thursdays, or did we decide on Wednesdays because of your rowing lol? Speaking of which, I think you and Jesse were in charge of Booze, hows that goin  ? 

[Conan71]

Third Thursdays, or did we decide on Wednesdays because of your rowing lol? Speaking of which, I think you and Jesse were in charge of Booze, hows that goin  ? 

Booze?? What Booze?? Hic!! I never saw any booze!

I'm off rowing for three months at this point anyhow, so doesn't matter which night of the week now.  I'll put it down as a standing date, and that would be then, next Thursday, yes?

[TheArtist]

Booze?? What Booze?? Hic!! I never saw any booze!

I'm off rowing for three months at this point anyhow, so doesn't matter which night of the week now.  I'll put it down as a standing date, and that would be then, next Thursday, yes?

Yep, next Thursday

[Vision 2025]

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

So far I only know of  2 very poor attempts (INMHO) at Asian food and 2 attempts at quiet mixed cuisine (one good, one not) in a tough mid-center location, an over priced wannabe burger joint and maybe one bar/grill (not sure about that one) located away from hopping end of the development...  I believe the apartments and additional establishments will pull many more customers, plus improvements to 91st Street which are underway to open a back way in and out will help with a big complaint for big events at the development.

Cabbo's is still full 7 days a week and the Melting Pot seems to be doing well as we were there for a family birthday dinner (daughter's choice) last week on a brutally cold week day evening and the place was 1/2 full.  Additionally, the nearby Louis's appears to be doing quite well and can be a eating out bargain.

[FOTD]

So far I only know of  2 very poor attempts (INMHO) at Asian food and 2 attempts at quiet mixed cuisine (one good, one not) in a tough mid-center location, an over priced wannabe burger joint and maybe one bar/grill (not sure about that one) located away from hopping end of the development...  I believe the apartments and additional establishments will pull many more customers, plus improvements to 91st Street which are underway to open a back way in and out will help with a big complaint for big events at the development.

Cabbo's is still full 7 days a week and the Melting Pot seems to be doing well as we were there for a family birthday dinner (daughter's choice) last week on a brutally cold week day evening and the place was 1/2 full.  Additionally, the nearby Louis's appears to be doing quite well and can be a eating out bargain.

Bar (f)  food..... The emphasis on alcohol here and around town is approaching a sick level relative to the average waist line.

[TheArtist]

Bar (f)  food..... The emphasis on alcohol here and around town is approaching a sick level relative to the average waist line.

   I think there has been an "emphasis" on sodas, that is and has been, FAR greater, in FAR, FAR, FAR, more places than you could ever say alcohol is. Where have you been on that "average waist line" topic?  Heck you can probably find more "emphasis" (more places serving) ice cream and milkshakes than serve alcohol lol.  I dont think its the serving of those things as it is the consumption of them.  You could find adequate amounts of sodas and or ice cream, etc at just about every single restaurant that existed when I was a kid, but yet the "average waist line" was much smaller then (course I was smaller then to,,, hmmmm). 

[Conan71]

Or how about fried potatoes in various forms?

[TheArtist]

Or how about fried potatoes in various forms?

Evil, puuuure unadulterated evil.  Should be banned entirely.

[Composer]

UPDATE FROM TULSA WORLD

River District development shrinks, but still on drawing board

As far as its owners and developers are concerned, the River District lives.

But the former $1 billion residential, shopping and employment hub planned in Jenks near the Arkansas River is being retooled into a significantly smaller, $85 million to $120 million phase one, said Steve Walman, a real estate broker and developer on the project.

"With the downturn in the economy, we wanted to come up with a more manageable plan," he said. "Often the larger developments are done in phases, and we're taking that route now."

Lynn Mitchell and the River District Development Group, which is still the owner and development entity for the project, initially planned 852,000 square feet of space for the 300 acres along the west bank of the river south of the Creek Turnpike.

Mitchell and the development group still own the entire 300-acre site, which was leveled for development nearly two years ago. Walman said they hope to eventually develop the entire tract.

The new plan, which is still taking final shape, calls for 479,000 square feet of buildings over the 45 acres along the river, Walman said. Currently, the plan features 130,000 square feet of retail space, 80,000 square feet for office, one hotel and 46 brownstone-style homes.

Since even the smaller project is still large and complex compared to other area developments, construction is at least a year away. Walman said it would likely take an additional 14 months for all buildings to be completed.

Everything is still planned to have high-end finishes and attract higher-tier tenants. Although nothing is final, the revised project is attracting interest from potential tenants.

"We've already got some pre-leasing activity," Walman said.

The more than two dozen buildings in the latest plans are organized more densely than typical shopping developments in order to encourage walking and exploration of the entire center, Walman said.

There will be some outside parking, but it will be supplemented with parking within the ground floor of the buildings themselves. Stores, offices and restaurants will be on the upper floors, which will give many tenants a different feel from the Tulsa area norm.

"The restaurants will be able to have elevated patios that look out onto the river or the River District plaza," Walman said. "We don't have much in our market that offers elevated dining."

As they get the site plan in order, developers are working with the city of Jenks on infrastructure issues.

The economy isn't the only thing that has changed since the River District was announced. The Village on Main, a $60 million retail, office, residential and hotel development on Main Street near the River District site, also has been seeking upscale tenants since it was announced last year.

Walman said there's plenty of room for both developments, and that each may benefit from the other.

"It's like having three jewelers across from each other in a mall," he said. "They don't cannibalize the sales of each other, since you have people who cross-shop."

[SXSW]

Not long ago I was in Memphis and noticed they have an interesting development next to the Mississippi River by downtown called Harbor Town that I think would fit better at this location.  It's mostly new neighborhoods built in the New Urbanist style, along with some townhouses and apartments with some retail in certain areas.  I don't think more retail/restaurants like what is proposed are needed with Riverwalk's struggles to the north.  More housing, especially something different than your typical suburban neighborhoods, would do well and would offer good access to the Turnpike and river trails, and the potential for a commuter rail stop in the distant future (the rail line from downtown bisects the site).  The property itself is really unique with the Arkansas on one side and Polecat Creek on the other, and the aforementioned rail line.  It's also adjacent to the aquarium and close to the Village on Main and Riverwalk Crossing, both with plenty of retail/restaurants.

Harbor Town

[Red Arrow]

Anyone know how much the Mississippi River has to rise to turn Harbor Town into a Harbor, no town?  Last time I was in Memphis, that spot of ground didn't look that much higher than the River but I wasn't actually on that spot.

[Hawkins]

Not long ago I was in Memphis and noticed they have an interesting development next to the Mississippi River by downtown called Harbor Town that I think would fit better at this location.  It's mostly new neighborhoods built in the New Urbanist style, along with some townhouses and apartments with some retail in certain areas.  I don't think more retail/restaurants like what is proposed are needed with Riverwalk's struggles to the north.  More housing, especially something different than your typical suburban neighborhoods, would do well and would offer good access to the Turnpike and river trails, and the potential for a commuter rail stop in the distant future (the rail line from downtown bisects the site).  The property itself is really unique with the Arkansas on one side and Polecat Creek on the other, and the aforementioned rail line.  It's also adjacent to the aquarium and close to the Village on Main and Riverwalk Crossing, both with plenty of retail/restaurants.

Harbor Town

Interesting.

What is the pyramid?

/Just finished reading The Lost Symbol and am intrigued.

--

[swake]

Interesting.

What is the pyramid?

/Just finished reading The Lost Symbol and am intrigued.

--

It's an arena

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyramid_Arena

[Red Arrow]

It's an arena

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyramid_Arena

Cool, the last I had heard it was just an economic failure.  I hope the Bass Shop can make it work.

[swake]

The River District seems to be back on, albeit in a smaller form.

I've also noticed that there is work that looks to be taking utilities to the site. Power, fresh and waste water links going to the site are all currently being built.

Also, in this weeks Jenks Journal, the developers have asked for a shrinking of the TIF. They state the scope of the River District has been shrunk from $980 million dollars to $400 million dollars. The TIF is reduced from $294 million to $85 million.

It's a smaller, but still huge project that now seems to be back on.


Also, I know that the city of Jenks last week gave the street based rights of way for the old streets to the developer of The Village on Main so they can start to take out the old street grid. And in the same article about The River District the TIF for the Village on Main was increased from $2 million to $24 million and will pay for changing the levee and a parking garage for the project. The Utica Clinic that's part of the village is done and the Los Cabos owned restaurant and trail additions that are part of the village are well under construction now.