Definintely... Eminent domain..... OKC is just taking over parts of downtown as their own now??
A person or company with the right people in power either thru office, word of mouth, or deep pocket books can take ownership and/or steer anything.

Not so fast!

The property has to be for a public use (not the public purpose contemplated under Kelo, Oklahoma's Constitution has a higher standard) or the property has to be blighted.

As I've said before, I don't know of much blighted property downtown.

I doubt eminent domain is an option here whatever this is.

Not so fast!

The property has to be for a public use (not the public purpose contemplated under Kelo, Oklahoma's Constitution has a higher standard) or the property has to be blighted.

As I've said before, I don't know of much blighted property downtown.

I doubt eminent domain is an option here whatever this is.

no, i doubt it's eminent domain either, was just an example.

Has to include some sort of of downtown mass transit.

Has to include some sort of of downtown mass transit.

i sure hope not......

Devon is buying Union Station and making it an intermodal hub for natural gas powered commuter rail and streetcars...

i sure hope not......

Why in the world would you not want that!!!

Public transit......seems like that's a geogrpahically spread-out item, and this annoucenment is focused on downtown...

Public transit......seems like that's a geogrpahically spread-out item, and this annoucenment is focused on downtown...

Not if it's a downtown circular like Portland Streetcar.

Why in the world would you not want that!!!

I would never use it and dont know many people that would. I would rather the money goes towards something culturally beneficial to all, than a trolley system or something. Why not fix what we got to something that works well, than add something else that won't.

Geez, some of you go right for the conspiracy stuff ... no, no, no eminent domain here, no buying up properties like Chesapeake. I'm asking for some deeper discussion here. Think of it this way - How could you take ownership in your own neighborhood without buying up houses and lots?

Set an example.

Geez, some of you go right for the conspiracy stuff ... no, no, no eminent domain here, no buying up properties like Chesapeake. I'm asking for some deeper discussion here. Think of it this way - How could you take ownership in your own neighborhood without buying up houses and lots?

run for office or as an adviser on a board or something. without power to do it through businnes or property owned, the other option would be thru position of importance. say a leading architect downtown takes over some board downtown to help guide the changes coming our way. that would be a way to take over the neighborhood without buying anything.

You could pay off all debts your neighbors owe...

I'm asking you folks this question ... I'm being the reporter. I'm interested in hearing discussions that go beyond simple real estate transactions.

Geez, some of you go right for the conspiracy stuff ... no, no, no eminent domain here, no buying up properties like Chesapeake. I'm asking for some deeper discussion here. Think of it this way - How could you take ownership in your own neighborhood without buying up houses and lots?


You could take responsibilty for maintenance and upkeep, you could take responsibility for security.....you could take responsibilty for providing transportation....

You could take responsibilty for maintenance and upkeep, you could take responsibility for security.....you could take responsibilty for providing transportation....

taking responsibility for something isn't the same as taking ownership in it. need to be in a position overseeing peoples responsibility for ownership.

Not if it's a downtown circular like Portland Streetcar.

Our CBD is pretty small for something like this, IMO. We're talking like 5 blocks by 5 blocks that holds most everyone that's down here.

You could fund/plan/implement something that is a catalyst to improvement & development (which is what MAPS was).

A Devon-funded downtown circular would certainly do that. Even if you don't think you would ride a streetcar from the Brick over to McNellie's for a couple bucks, the development that has been proven to accompany mass transit alone is something to get excited about.

Our CBD is pretty small for something like this, IMO. We're talking like 5 blocks by 5 blocks that holds most everyone that's down here.

It's not just CBD. It involves Arts District, Bricktown, and A-Alley as well, according to Steve. And a circular could/should include Midtown and the Med. District as well.

I'm logging off now. You'll be seeing my coverage soon.

It's not just CBD. It involves Arts District, Bricktown, and A-Alley as well, according to Steve. And a circular could/should include Midtown and the Med. District as well.

Gotcha.

I'm logging off now. You'll be seeing my coverage soon.

get us talkin.........then just leave.......unfair.

He's got to go write the article! ;)

i hope he quotes me

Could be beautification related, too. All new streets/sidewalks courtesy DVN?

"Imagine if every plan and every dream could come true …"

-Steve's blog

Solidification of a phase of C2S? Someone mentioned that ina comment on Steve;s blog.

So, what if this has to do with the Triangle?

Devon wants to make sure they're employees have good places to live and play downtown... where they work. So, a partnership with the Triangle would make sense. I think all the tags Steve posted would work.

But how would the Triangle or C2S involve Bricktown, Arts District, CBD...?

I'm thinking the canal extension is definitely involved. A couple of months ago, someone from the Riverfront redevelopment Authority told me they had resumed discussion about finishing the canal. Here's what I'm thinking:

A canal extension that goes from Bricktown to Devon Tower, with stops at a new convention hotel and Core-to-Shore's proposed Central Park, which may be considered an addition to the Arts District. Of course, that doesn't take into account the Automobile Alley and housing tags, which is why I believe there will be some residential property constructed at the vacant lot on NW 13th and Broadway.

I'm also intrigued at the possibility of buses and light rail. Devon is definitely willing to spend some bucks on transportation, as they proved with the river boats. They may also do some beautification-type projects in the area: parking meters, public art, covered rail or bus stops... That's a good way a corporate entity could establish "ownership" of an area without a major land grab. If every bench, lightpole, railcar, and bus is plastered with the Devon logo, it will be Devon City even if they don't buy up every available property.

"Imagine if every plan and every dream could come true …"

-Steve's blog

This makes me think more on the lines of a fund that Devon would give to developers and entrepreneurs who have ideas for downtown... or something.

Of course, that comment sounds very Disney too. :)

"OKC... Where all your dreams can come true!"

What about the mention of "education"?

That backs up my idea of a downtown circular including the Med. District and OUHSC.

This makes me think more on the lines of a fund that Devon would give to developers and entrepreneurs who have ideas for downtown... or something.



This occurred to me too, but it seems to abstract. It's got to be a little more concrete than that.

Ah, I forgot about the education thing... I've got no explanation for that, though it does back up the transportation theory.

This occurred to me too, but it seems to abstract. It's got to be a little more concrete than that.

Yeah, but with all the districts mentioned it has to be abstract... unless it is a transit system that connects them all.

Which could make sense too.

I can't imagine them building another whole project to address all those tags, which would lend credence to the idea that they will help fund ideas already in place in some way.

With thousands of Devon workers downtown it would make sense that Devon would want there to be places for them to live downtown and play downtown too... which is lacking.

OMG.

We're getting hills.

They're going to import them from cash-strapped Appalachians.

This town is going to be PIMP.

I think this is something that hinges on Saint Anthony and OU.

Why St. Anthony?

They are moving the Space Needle to OKC?

You beat me to it. I was just now gonna say that. LOL! It would be a nice addition to the ferris wheel that Humphreys plans to put somewhere. :smile:

OMG.

We're getting hills.

They're going to import them from cash-strapped Appalachians.

This town is going to be PIMP.

It would be cheaper if we stole 'em from Tulsa. ;)

Yeah Tulsa would probably offer them for a steal. They keep losing jobs like crazy.

Tulsa's hills are still in a bubble though. We can pick 'em up from Jed for a song.

Yeah Tulsa would probably offer them for a steal. They keep losing jobs like crazy.

Maybe that bigger-than-bricktown casino thing will help the job situation in T-Town.

Why St. Anthony... because several years ago, the groundwork was laid for a 'medical/research corridor' connecting St. A with OUHSC - or whatever it's called now. Although that would be mostly north of downtown, it would affect downtown streets, at least the north/south ones, and it would involve education.

This also includes much of the area that has been left 'up in the air', at least as far as we outsiders can tell, by the breakup of the Banta partnership.

We don't think of this area as being downtown, buy we didn't think of the C2S area as being downtown, either. What I'm imagining could be sort of a 'Core to Tenth Street' — maybe as part of MAPS 3.

Why St. Anthony... because several years ago, the groundwork was laid for a 'medical/research corridor' connecting St. A with OUHSC - or whatever it's called now. Although that would be mostly north of downtown, it would affect downtown streets, at least the north/south ones, and it would involve education.

This also includes much of the area that has been left 'up in the air', at least as far as we outsiders can tell, by the breakup of the Banta partnership.

We don't think of this area as being downtown, buy we didn't think of the C2S area as being downtown, either. What I'm imagining could be sort of a 'Core to Tenth Street' — maybe as part of MAPS 3.


What about Devon?

"Imagine if every plan and every dream could come true …"

-Steve's blog

A billion dollar private endowment that will fund city projects.

You know or that's your guess?

You know or that's your guess?

Guess. Something like that is the only thing I can think of that could "make every dream come true." Public or Private. It would probably average $50-100 million/year investment dividends. That's a trolley system one year, convention center the next, canal extension the year after and on and on...

A billion dollar private endowment that will fund city projects.

That sounds like it has to be the answer.

A billion or something like that.

I agree with the poster who said this will be mass transit, something similar to Portland's streetcar system. The only other hint it could be is some massive Core to Shore updates. If you look at the hints Steve is dropping, along with comments like "mind-boggling" from former Mayor Ron Norick. It would have to be something along these lines.

Sorry folks, but a canal extension isn't "mindboggling" to me, let alone the former Mayor/architect of the MAPS program. MAPS transformed this city, the canal did not (well some but not mindboggling), the canal still fails to attract retail or tenants to it's prime space in it's most dense part. Secondly, the canal has had multiple surveys because original plans were to connect it to Myriad Gardens. Nor does a major canal extension rival the MAPS program. They have said time and again it would not be feasible due to elevation changes to do it to the river and other parts of downtown. A canal does not revolutionary effect all parts of downtown, education and such in a community. Does the Venice canal have large effects on education in Venice? My vote is on an extensive streetcar or trolley system for downtown (hits all major downtown streets easily and cheaply).

My guess is something along the lines of what the Basses did in downtown Fort Worth and then some. That would be the retail and hotel end of the deal and maybe some public gathering space.

Does the Venice canal have large effects on education in Venice? My vote is on an extensive streetcar or trolley system for downtown (hits all major downtown streets easily and cheaply).

OKC =/= Venice

Really... the Venice canal system, or rather the fact that the canal system exists is going to eventually do Venice in. Currently, Venice is sinking, so presumably, when the city is below sea level (and the sea), education in the city might feel a bit of a pinch.

Also, the city is largely uninhabited.

But you're missing my point, extending our canal is not mindboggling, and will not effect everything in the hints mentioned, especially education. My money is on mass transit.

Is he breaking the story in the Sunday Oklahoman then?

Did anyone notice this under mindboggling?

# RB Says:
October 31st, 2008 at 2:12 pm

Huge oil deposits discovered under downtown OKC?


# slackmeyer Says:
October 31st, 2008 at 2:45 pm

Only under a certain downtown restaurant, RB.

that was a joke

Is this what you are talking about?

http://www.newsok.com/devon-impacts-oklahoma-city-economy/article/3318005

Thats great and all but not spectacular annoucement I was expecting.

Please tell me there is more.

I hope there's more to this

that was a joke

What was?

What was?

I think he was referring to the post above his.