Deep Deuce Retail Audit

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Spring 2017
View the Final Report Below

The Deep Deuce district is an urban neighborhood that has experienced a boom in residential construction with thousands of new rental and owner-occupied housing units. Many buildings in the district are mixed-use with commercial tenants to serve area residents and visitors. These include restaurants and bars, hotels, galleries, a grocery store, retailers, and neighborhood service businesses. Businesses are primarily clustered on 2nd Street and Walnut.

Area developers and Downtown OKC, Inc. partnered with the University of Oklahoma Institute for Quality Communities to conduct an audit of the retail experience of Deep Deuce. Students in the Environmental Design Practicum course at the OU College of Architecture were led by IQC staff in analyzing the area to guide recommendations for Deep Deuce.

This report includes findings and recommendations in key areas the students analyzed:

• Tenant perceptions is an overview of issues identified during interviews of business owners and residents in the area.
• Market context explains the unique characteristics of Deep Deuce and how to stand out from other urban commercial districts.
• Tenant mix explains the current status of commercial tenants in the area, and offers ideas to evolve the tenant mix.
• Community events provides ideas for how projects and events can be added to the district to address key goals.
• Buildings and signage shows critical improvements related to buildings, signs, and future development to strengthen the retail experience.
• Streets and public space shows critical improvements recommended to strengthen the retail experience.

By maintaining strong relationships between business owners, developers, the business improvement district, and residents, Deep Deuce can pursue strategies in this report to improve the retail experience.