Does anyone know who owns the old Chris Nickel dealership just west of 11th & Lewis? I think that would be a great location for Tulsa's first transit-oriented residential development. The abandoned dealership straddles the tracks that could eventually be where a light rail extends from downtown to Broken Arrow and there could be a stop just north (or south) of 11th Street. Residential development, mostly in the form of apartments and maybe some houses, would be built around the future station. The location is ideal for TU students as it's less than a mile from the campus and also for people working at Hillcrest just a few blocks away. This could be what finally jumpstarts further revitalization along 11th from downtown to TU.
The entire area north of 11th St. is the abandoned car dealership, while the south part is parking lots, a few warehouses, and a couple businesses that could be relocated elsewhere or within the new development. The focus would be on access to transit, which currently is the 11th Street bus route to downtown/TU but in the future would include a light rail stop. Thus parking requirements could be adjusted, and all parking would either be underground or in garages. Retail parking would be parallel on the street where several retail storefronts could line 11th near the tracks all the way to Lewis with apartments above or behind. Something similar to the Triangle in Austin, but with a future rail transit connection which could also help jumpstart light rail planning if there is already a TOD under construction. Do you think there would there be support or opposition from TU?
Area outlined in red between Hillcrest and TU (future light rail right-of-way in blue)
http://www.triangleaustin.com/