Film Row coming together

*Photo credit Will Hider

Film Row may be the next big neighborhood, with a lot of factors working in its favor. It's also still too soon to say for certain what will come of this district, but as of 2012 the prognosis is very good.

Factors working in its favor for long-term viability:
Proximity to new downtown elementary (ground should break as soon as Devon workers no longer need the site for parking), location in between the CBD and I-40 access points, proximity to Devon Tower and the Myriad Gardens, and so on. There is also a great amount of arts spill-over from the Arts District, or perhaps Film Row will become the arts district that the "Arts District" never became. There is a sense that due to the Devon and Myriad Garden projects, that major residential development will begin to transform points just SW of the CBD.

Film Row has seen a lot of positive additions in the last 3-4 years, with a new interior design shop, other creative businesses moving in including the IAO gallery, Joey's Pizza and lofts in the historic Film Exchange Building, and of course the new streetscape project that ties it all together.

The best biggest change yet for the district will be the Hart Building renovation, which will dwarf the size and scale of other projects at 40,000 sf and a $2.1 million price tag. Above (pictured) are renderings of a new "main entrance" and annex to be built south of the building's current primary frontage along Sheridan Avenue (that facade has already been cleaned up). The building will become home to the International Photography Hall of Fame and a number of companies owned by developer Chip Fudge. In all, 175 new workers will office in the Hart Building and the planned annex, which will inject Film Row with more traffic, more activity, and more vitality.

The Ice House building (the red cube at Shartel/Sheridan) across the street has been restored already, and will be home to JHBR, an architecture firm, and Slice Magazines (publishers of 9 metro-areas mags, including Downtown Monthly, Edmond Monthly, Nichols Hills News, etc).

More creative-based businesses. More mixed-use. More office workers. It's easy to see Film Row exceeding people's prior expectations even after the OCU Law School was nixed, which is what impresses me. Not only is that property still sitting there waiting to find a new use, but it also becomes more valuable real estate--although they also risk waiting too long if they don't take advantage of the synergy and redevelopment momentum that has engulfed Film Row NOW. Film Row may never be perceived better than it is now, it may fall prey to stagnation like other entertainment districts, and it may be victimized by a nearby convention center project in the future.

So that's just how things look right now, in 2012.

Major news

Film Row is perhaps evolving as downtown's most under-reported news story. Not blaming Steve Lackmeyer, OKC Business, the Journal Record, the City Sentinel, or any other news outlet, but simply put, there are two major developments that have me giddy, and should have every urbanist in OKC giddy as well.

#1. Bicycle lanes in the new Film Row streetscape. These are actually the first urban bicycle lanes in OKC, ever, and probably all of Oklahoma as well. Way to be progressive! This is an occasion.

#2. Film Row's first restaurant will be Joey's Pizzeria. It's going into the Film Exchange right next to the IAO Gallery. Joey's is currently at Classen and 18th.

Cityshot L

Pre-Film Row resurgence..

Film Row streetscape update!

Tons of progress on the Film Row streetscape this last week. I would estimate the sidewalk components at half-finished...the street still needs to be repaved and a lot of the project will involve decorative paving in the intersections which has yet to begin, but with the sidewalk components wrapping up they will hopefully begin soon on the more intensive construction aspects. Progress pics:

An idea for Film Row..

An idea occurred to me recently.. What got Bricktown started? What got MidTown started? What got NW 9th started? What got Deep Deuce started (as an active area)? The answer: A single hot restaurant.

NW 9th is now most definitely on the radar, and it all began with Iguana Mexican Grill. The Spaghetti Warehouse ignited the spark that lit Bricktown on fire, although I'm not so sure Steve Lackmeyer will agree with my oversimplification of local history. MidTown became hot with McNellie's, and last time I went there they had an hour and 45 minute wait. Deep Deuce started becoming an active area with the Deep Deuce Bar & Grill, although it's been slower to get busy.

My thoughts on what is probably the "next MidTown" are that Film Row is looking really prime these days. Streetscape, two buildings renovated, some interesting existing business mix, a new art gallery with some new lofts, a fabulous new streetscape underway, lots of affect in the minds of locals as a result of all the construction, proximity to Devon Tower, and a strong group of dedicated fans. This area has all it needs to be big, and overcome any problems (like C2S, homeless, etc).

All it needs is a spark, and the time couldn't be better than now. At this point, by the time you finish scheming, develop a business plan, obtain funding and get architectural plans, get permits, and go through construction--the Film Row streetscape will be finished, and Devon Tower will be rising fast. So, what am I talking about, what is my idea?

What Film Row needs is a restaurant, and it needs to be a big hit..a hotspot, much like McNellie's, Iguana, etc. Just for fun here's my detailed proposal, without having any vested interest in Film Row aside from being a concerned onlooker. Maybe someone with more means will see this, who knows.

What if this building (that currently houses a cool screen printing company), or some other similar building in Film Row, could become a new restaurant with a bar. It would need to stay open until at least 1 am on weekend nights, it would need to capitalize on the area's unique history, and it would need to offer drink and food specials that attract attention, similar to Friday drinks at Iguana or Wednesday burgers at McNellie's (just $3!!). It will need a 2nd level, and it should have a rooftop bar with a skyline backdrop for the "place to be seen" in OKC. For capitalizing on the area history, howabout something like Oklawood's (or some Hollywood-spin nickname), or The Paramount (or something named after a film producer).

For food, it should be unique and stand out in order to be the next hotspot. The most unique restaurant I've ever been in was Antonio's Flying Pizza in Houston, my favorite pizzeria. At Antonio's, hence the name, the cooks were exposed to the rest of the upscale restaurant as you walk in, and they were known for throwing their dough up in the air and putting on a show. Every hour supposedly someone walking in gets hit with a raw pizza dough in the face, and their meal is free. Antonio's has been a Houston tradition since 1970, and I have many fond memories. Hopefully people will have fond memories of somewhere like McNellie's, and this restaurant--and it could be the spark that sets Film Row off.

Great website for Film Row

The guy who put this website up recently posted a comment on my pics of the streetscape work beginning, but I wanted to bring this to the forefront. This is a really good website with lots of information, lots of pictures, and lots of history .. just lots of everything on Film Row. Check it out.

Film Row streetscape work beginning..

And..action! Earlier this month work had begun officially on the Film Row streetscape project along Sheridan Avenue, just west of the Myriad Gardens. Historic Film Row is an up-and-coming district of former film warehouse buildings that are being restored on the west edge of downtown. It's an area that stands to gain a massive boost from the Devon Tower project.

Work may finally be moving forward on two projects, the Film Exchange Building and the Hart Building. Two projects that already look nice are the Oklahoma Theater Supply and an upscale home decor store whose name escapes me. The developers behind the rebirth of Film Row maintain a website with more information here. The progress is pictured below.