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Open Design Collective

@open_designco

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Uplifting Black communities through architecture, preservation & design. Come spin the block with us on 11/7! 🧱📍🏡
@so8thokc
@blacktownhomecoming

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Join us as we spin the block with a soulful stroll through one of OKC’s most legendary neighborhoods, South of 8th.

Through a walking tour, guests will experience highlights of the past, connect with the present, and get a glimpse of what’s coming into the neighborhood.

Each stop along the stroll features the people, places, food, music, and culture that make this neighborhood a vibe. Register while tickets are still available at the link in bio! We’ll see you there!

🗓️ Saturday, 11/7
⏰ 2:00P-5:00P
🥂 21+

Registration closes October 25th at 11:59 PM CST.

#spintheblock #southof8th #so8th #eastside #neokc by @open_designco

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11 days ago

A strong development proposal connects your experience and ideas to the neighborhood you’re building in.

In Session 2, Open Design will help local developers break down the RFP and understand what it’s seeking, explore how the opportunity connects to the neighborhood’s history, and build familiarity with the So8th masterplan. Alignment with this plan is a core criterion for proposals.

We’ll cover parcel selection, conceptual site plans, financial capacity, and team qualifications. Through examples and guided narrative exercises, you’ll start explaining what you want to build, how you’ll carry it out, and how it responds to the neighborhood’s vision.

🕒 Thursday, October 22nd | 5:30–7:30 PM | In-person

Save your spot at the link in bio (www.opendesignco.org).

RFP submissions are due November 5th at 3 PM. by @open_designco

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a month ago

Two maps. Decades of neighborhood change. An opportunity to restore, repair, and protect.

These images show South of 8th and nearby Deep Deuce in 1950 and 2022. Behind the changing landscape are generations of Black community life, ownership, and the lasting impacts of urban renewal.

These maps show South of 8th and nearby Deep Deuce in 1950 and 2022. Once densely connected by homes, Black-owned businesses, and gathering places, the area was reshaped by urban renewal that demolished buildings and displaced residents. The construction of I-235 further divided the community, separating Deep Deuce from surrounding Eastside neighborhoods and leaving gaps where neighborhood life once flourished.

Understanding that history matters when planning and building what comes next, and we’re here to support local developers in making these critical connections.

⌨️ Register today for our RFP assistance program while seats are still available. Link in bio (www.opendesignco.org)

🗓️ RFP submissions are due to OCURA November 5 at 3 PM. by @open_designco

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a month ago

The @blacktownhomecoming tour was a tremendous experience where we took fellow guests through the culture, geography, and magic of the historic Black towns of Taft, Tullahassee, and Rentiesville.

From that experience, we’re documenting the design, process, and collaborations that made that work possible. Be on the lookout for the Black Town Homecoming toolkit dropping soon!

#homecoming #culture #tourism #blacktravel by @open_designco

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a month ago

Session 3 builds on the RFP breakdown and neighborhood context from Session 2 to support local developers in bringing the elements of a proposal submission together.

Attendees will leave with a better understanding of how to organize their submissions, identify gaps, and prioritize what still needs attention before the deadline.

🕒 Thursday, October 29th | 5:30–7:30 PM | In-person

Take the next step toward submitting your proposal. Register at the link in bio (www.opendesignco.org).

RFP submissions are due November 5th at 3 PM by @open_designco

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24 days ago

The South of 8th focus area spans approximately 234 acres within the historically Black neighborhoods of JFK and Harrison-Walnut, stretching from Lincoln Boulevard to Lottie Avenue and NE 8th Street south to the Union Pacific tracks.

The So8th RFP presents an opportunity to restore housing and expand local ownership in an area shaped by urban renewal and displacement, supporting the community’s vision for a neighborhood where residents can build, own, thrive, and remain.

Open Design’s RFP Assistance Program supports these priorities by supporting local developers in preparing their proposals.

⌨️ Register today while seats are still available at the link in bio (www.opendesignco.org)

🗓️ RFP submissions are due to OCURA November 5 at 3 PM. by @open_designco

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a month ago

Future development in South of 8th should reflect the people who call it home.

Through Open Design’s engagement with more than 400 Eastside community members, five priorities emerged to guide the future development of the area:

Black Culture: Reflect and celebrate the neighborhood’s Black history, present-day community, and future

Ownership & Agency: Expand opportunities for past and current residents to own, remain, and participate in neighborhood decisions and development

Ownership & Agency: Expand opportunities for past and current residents to own, remain, and participate in neighborhood decisions and development

Connectivity: Improve walking, biking, and transportation connections within the neighborhood and to the broader community

Ecology: Protect and restore native landscapes and ensure development is harmonious with the natural environment

We’re here to support your proposal and project. Sign up the So8th RFP assistance sessions at the link in our bio (www.opendesignco.org).

📸: Various conceptual renderings developed through neighborhood feedback that translate the future vision of NEOKC desired by community members. by @open_designco

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a month ago

‪A huge thank you to all those who attended the So8th RFP Assistance Program launch earlier this week! ‬

‪Through our wonderful partnership with @arnallfndn this program is able to provide opportunities of support for new and established developers looking to build back So8th. ‬

‪Additionally, we want to send a special thank you to the Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority (OCURA) for joining us and being a resource. ‬

‪If you’re interested in receiving technical assistance as you prepare your proposal, register today via the link in our bio.‬

‪#southof8th #neokc #okcdevelopment #communitydevelopment

‪Important upcoming dates: ‬
‪Session 2 - October 22‬
‪Session 3 - October 29‬
‪RFP deadline - November 5 ‬ by @open_designco

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8 days ago

Development shapes buildings and, equally importantly, who can own, build, and remain connected to a neighborhood.

Multiple urban renewal plans changed the economic, cultural, and ownership dynamics of South of 8th across generations. Supporting local participation in owning and building what comes next are priorities shared by the community, and create clear pathways to repair existing harms that continue to impact this neighborhood each day.

Open Design’s RFP Assistance Program offers tools and knowledge to support local developers prepare their proposals and participate in the neighborhood’s future.

⌨️ Register today while seats are still available at the link in bio (www.opendesignco.org)

🗓️ RFP submissions are due to OCURA November 5 at 3 PM.

Images: NE 4th Street facing East - historic and present. taken in Jewel Theatre OKC by @open_designco

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a month ago

‪Join us virtually as we kick off the first So8th RFP Assistance Program on Tuesday, October 6 at 5:30pm 📍

‪This interest meeting will be a chance to about the program and how it will support the RFP submission process. ‬

‪If you’re ready to build, we’ll see you there! Register today at the link in our bio! ‬🏘️

‪Important upcoming dates: ‬
‪Session 1 -October 6‬
‪Session 2 - October 22‬
‪Session 3 - October 29‬
‪RFP deadline - November 5 ‬

‪#southof8th #neokc #okcdevelopment #communitydevelopment #futureofhousing‬ by @open_designco

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15 days ago

Welcome to So8th! Made up of the historically Black JFK and Harrison-Walnut neighborhoods, this community is one of the heartbeats of the Eastside. We can’t wait to share more about the area and the people, places, and stories that make it special. Stay tuned!

#history #communitylove #oklahomacity #culture #business by @open_designco

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2 months ago

Our deepest gratitude goes out to our friends at the @occforg for supporting our work and investing in the communities we serve! Their generosity as a funding partner through the Culture and Community grant is helping us continue the critical work of cultural placemaking alongside our NEOKC neighbors.

OCCF has been a long-standing partner of Open Design, backing us with the resources necessary to sustain meaningful, community-centered projects that celebrate our stories, cultivate joy, and strengthens the connections that make the work possible.

We’re grateful to OCCF for believing in our mission and helping us continue this important work. Thank you for being a part of the journey! 🏙️

#cultureandcommunity #community #design #placemaking #occf by @open_designco

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18 days ago