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Councilors shaky on staircase plan for rooftop bar
Brookside nightclub Jewel needs City Council approval to install an exterior staircase that would allow patrons to access a rooftop patio. Courtesy architect James Boswell
Brookside nightclub Jewel needs City Council approval to install an exterior staircase that would allow patrons to access a rooftop patio. Courtesy architect James Boswell

By P.J. LASSEK World Staff Writer
Published: 11/29/2008  2:21 AM
Last Modified: 11/29/2008  2:37 AM

Brookside bar Jewel wants exterior steps to its rooftop, but the council expresses safety concerns.



Approving an outdoor staircase to access what would be Tulsa's first rooftop bar may be too big of a climb for some city councilors to make.

The owners of Jewel lounge, 3340 S. Peoria Avenue, want to open a rooftop patio to provide a retreat for its patrons away from the interior portion of the Brookside nightclub.

"Every couple of years, we try to reinvent ourselves," said co-owner Greg Hughes, who also owns In the Raw, a sushi restaurant in Brookside.

"This is the next step and something I've always wanted to do," he said. "All I'm trying to do is make Tulsa cool. Even Oklahoma City has a rooftop bar."

But when councilors recently discussed the club's staircase, several voiced reservations and suggested a rooftop bar might create a mini Mardi Gras-like setting.

"I can see chairs, tables, beer or other beverages, contents from people's pockets and purses being hurled off this building," said Councilor John Eagleton. "I know it happens in New Orleans all the time.

"I don't want to create a situation where a bunch of hooligans can pelt pedestrians," he said.

Hughes, who wasn't present for the discussion last week, said the Jewel's rooftop patio will not have a raucous environment. He said rooftop bars like what he is proposing are successful all over the country, pointing to Dallas' popular Deep Elm area, which is known for its rooftop
patios.

During the council discussion, architect James Boswell said the rooftop of Jewel would have no live music and would be a quiet alternative area for patrons.

He said not only would staff monitor the crowd in the 715-square-foot area with a maximum occupancy of 49 people, but there would be screening walls on three sides, leaving only a view onto Peoria Avenue.

Boswell also said no bottles or glasses would be used on the rooftop; all drinks would be served in plastic cups.

While Hughes has permission for a rooftop bar, erecting an outdoor staircase would encroach into the city easement and require the council to approve a licensing agreement.

The staircase design complies with the Brookside Infill Plan and provides a safer way of accessing and exiting the roof in the event of an interior fire, officials said.

The council was told that the plan is to construct an attractive metal staircase on the front of the building where garage doors and a front patio area are now located.

Hughes can build an interior staircase and bypass council approval, but that would direct patrons back into the building.

Councilor Jack Henderson said he thinks an outdoor staircase is hazardous.

"I don't drink anymore, but when I did I was afraid to come down stairs after having a couple. If I had an opportunity to fall down some stairs on the inside, at least some walls would keep me from hitting my head. To me, inside would be safer," he said.

Boswell suggested the plan for Jewel was similar to the rooftop patio at El Guapo Mexican restaurant downtown.

But Councilor G.T. Bynum, who represents the Brookside area, said Jewel and El Guapo are not the same. El Guapo's outside staircase is not permanently attached and is used only as an emergency exit.

Councilors have received e-mails from Brookside residents in opposition, while Jewel owners have letters of support from surrounding businesses.

Councilor Bill Christiansen said he thinks the plan is "pushing the envelope. If we let you do it, then everyone else will want to do it."

Councilors Bill Martinson and Eric Gomez said Brookside is full of patio areas and the council should stick with the issue of the staircase, not the rooftop patio.

The council is expected to vote on the licensing agreement Thursday.

Original Print Headline: Councilors shaky on staircase plan



P.J. Lassek 581-8382
pj.lassek@tulsaworld.com

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Comments
peelumba, (last year)
oh my not some new fangled thing like a stair case! Geeze I would hate for tulsa to have anything othrt than a horse rail out front. Mardi Gra appearance? lol Get a life and let the good times roll!
chase, (last year)
drunks can't walk on a sidewalk much less climb stairs.
dean, Tulsa (last year)
Is it really the Council's job to obstruct business innovation? If it's code compliant, build it.
bm, Tulsa (last year)
As a trial run, they should get Henderson really plastered and let him walk down the stairs. If he makes it without bumping his head, they get to build. If he falls and can't get up, deny it.
irwindale, Tulsa (last year)
Some people never get out. There is another rooftop bar in Tulsa.
dean, Tulsa (last year)
bm,

If only our Council was capable of such pragmatic, outside the box thinking. And how much fun would it be watching a completely blotto Henderson navigate stairs? Gold star for bm.
Dr. Strangelove, Tulsa (last year)
The comments by our city councilors are scary. Apparently they think Tulsans are dumber, rowdier, and less coordinated than people in Dallas, Austin, Kansas City, St. Louis, Denver, Miami.......
Graychin, Eucha (last year)
Doc:

The city councilors are probably right in thinking that. Dumb Tulsans elected those same councilors.

Why not let them try the rooftop bar? If it becomes a nuisance, it can always be shut down.



my view, Sand Springs (last year)
Tulsans, your city councilors think you are children and unable to handle yourself in certain environments. If any pedestrians would be injured because of something being thrown from the roof that's what insurence if for. If you got a bunch of drunks up on the roof call the police.

Councilman Henderson said he was always afraid to come down a staircase when he was drinking. Well hold on to the the railing knucklehead that's what for.

Councilman Eagleton says all sorts of things get thrown from the balconies in New Orleans and he knows it happens all the time. Well I have been to New Orleans and the only thing I ever seen come from those balconies were beads made of plastic.

The Tulsa city councils says it has e-mails from area residents, that are against the staircase. This is same city council who voted for an apartment building to house people that area residents were opposed to having. The same Council huh.
Hijinx, (last year)
What a bunch of idiots with God like complexes. Please step into the 21st century councilors.
Jason L., Tulsa (last year)
I am torn about what the council should do. On one hand, Jewel already has permission to place a rooftop area. If forced to install an indoor stair then opening a new hole in the building would be one more point where leaks can occur, from a construction perspective. But if allowed to maintain a completely external structure then everything is simplified. For the sake of simplicity, it seems that the council should allow the external staircase. The rooftop thing is already allowed and people are going to be up there one way or the other. I think that seeing a rooftop pad on Brookside will enhance that street. Also, should Jewel be forced to install an internal staircase, that opening is one more way the music from inside can get out. With the external staircase the soundproofing integrity can be maintained.
Urban Crab, Tulsa (last year)
Remember, folks, this is the same group that agreed to move city hall to an inacessible location and built the new arena, but with no parking. Now, after all the street work in Brookside supposedly intended to boost retail and entertainment development, they won't allow the businesses to flourish as promised.

There is a consistency in all of this that falls squarely within the definition of stupidity.

I say, subject to compliance with existing building codes, leave the businesses alone.
Ray, (last year)
Big deal. Why is the council worrying about this? This city concentrates on miniscule things that should be private instead of figuring out how to fund the swimming pools, some health care, many other things that matter. The rooftop/staircase would be the owner's own liability ~ no doubt he has already thought of that ~ so leave the guy alone and let him try it. Maybe if the drunks stayed on the roof instead of wandering across Peoria and getting hit all night, we'd have fewer police calls.
Bliss, Okc (last year)
LOL! Haven't laughed so much in a week.
BayouGirl, Owasso (last year)
Just because Henderson couldn't handle his booze, he thinks all Tulsans are drunks too! That is an insult to every Tulsan who frequents Brookside. I thought Brookside was an upscale place to be!...........................
quixote, Tulsa (last year)
If you lived in Brookside close to Jewel your letter in support of the stairway would probably have been written opposing the stairway and Jewel’s expansion. The owner says he just wants to make Tulsa cool. Actually, he just wants to make money. Jewel is a nuisance because of noise and trash and lack of parking. The city has allowed a concentration of bars in this end of Brookside and Jewel is one of the few causing problems. Bars are open until 2:00 am. They draw fights, and people have been killed: as in the Halloween event. If you lived close and tried to get peaceful sleep or put your kid to bed you would not be a fan of Jewel or bars close by your house. Or, if you wanted to have a bunch of people over they’d have to park a block away or more because the street in front of your house would be full of nightclub customer’s cars. Interesting how smart people are when they don’t know all the facts of a situation.
ShawnaS, Tulsa (last year)
I guess I didn't realize when I visit all the other civilized cities (Dallas, Chicago, Kansas City, Austin) with rooftop bars that when I was walking down the sidewalk I was taking my life into my own hands in a virtual shooting range for beer bottles and the such. And it's nice that we're being compared with New Orleans. Wow. Thank you, City Council, for making me aware of all the horrible dangers I face when visiting cities with culture!
cherry74129, Tulsa (last year)
Look at it this way, if someone falls down these stairs and hurts themselves, at least they won't be able to get behind the wheel to run over anyone. I don't frequent Brookside, so I have nothing to worry about.
Bullhead, Nicut (last year)
That was my thought as well, BayouGirl, but I think quixote just cleared it all up. Too bad it can't be a 'better' bar. That would be cool. Maybe someone will buy the bar out and make it cool.
Tulsa seems to find any excuse to derail tourism and having a nightlife.
Build the dam stairway.
Anonymous Guy, Tulsa (last year)
What a strange collection is the Tulsa city council.
hurricaneharry, Sand Springs (last year)
A roof top bar!?! Yikes! The next thing you know they'll start dancing.
maggie, Tulsa (last year)
Let's see--the rooftop bar is already okayed--the question is external vs internal stairway. I presume there is an elevator also. Bar catches fire--45 people on rooftop in already approved bar. If no external stairway, then they must re-enter building to escape or wait for ladder truck to arrive. Firefighting personnel danger increases. Not fair to the firefighters.
peelumba, (last year)

hurricaneharry, Sand Springs (11/30/2008 7:49:33 AM)
A roof top bar!?! Yikes! The next thing you know they'll start dancing.

quote of the day! great one!
Bixby Jeff, (last year)
The comments of the city council in regard to this are just embarassing!
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