Funny how we budgeted a repair price for the building when we didn't even inspect it thoroughly to get an idea of how much it might cost. I hope it doesn't go over budget.

Crews Face Several Challenges As They Repair OK Capitol - News9.com - Oklahoma City, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports | (http://www.news9.com/story/27732803/crews-face-several-challenges-at-they-repair-ok-capitol)

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!

Agreed.

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!

I just said that so I don't sound too negative.: p

Oklahoma Capitol's building management catches criticism | News OK (http://newsok.com/oklahoma-capitols-building-management-catches-criticism/article/5459185)

Man, once again OK has done the "We're just gonna do it ourselves, however we figure it out all by ourselves, screw all the other cities/states/countries that have figured out how to have one group manage everything in one building over the decades/centuries". Glad they're going to try to fix it, though.

The price tag to repair the state Capitol just doubled | News OK (http://newsok.com/the-price-tag-to-repair-the-state-capitol-just-doubled/article/5464427)

That title seems to be misleading though if I understand it correctly.

There is a new proposal or a phase two. This would be pretty cool. Some nice renderings on that page too. I would also like to see 23rd ST. capped and a park with a two lane street for development built over it.

I would love for the archway to be built! I believe it's in the original drawings with the capitol.

I would as well! Here is a rendering of the proposed front entrance

http://okcfox.com/resources/media/5874e74c-2dff-401b-a68d-55e9f4853c90-large16x9_CapitolCeremonial.PNG?1449179290386

You can read some info here: http://okcfox.com/news/local/capitol-restoration-costs-jump-in-new-estimates

Here's a video with some renderings.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nVd-LsWZfk&feature=youtu.be

The full article from NewsOk.


The vision

The proposal lays out a vision that goes beyond much-needed repairs to the exterior, plumbing and electrical service. It calls for major changes to the building's interior and would alter the way the public gains access to the state's signature structure.

A three-story parking garage would be built east of the Capitol, and a new tunnel under N Lincoln Boulevard would connect it to the building through a ground-floor area that would serve as the public's main entry point.

The rotunda, the circular area of the building under the dome, would be extended to this area through an opening in the first floor and the state seal would be moved to the ground floor.

A rectangular reflecting pond and a park, including a towering three-arch monument, would be built on the south side of the Capitol.

- read more here: Capitol costs: The price tag for projects is about to get a lot bigger | News OK (http://newsok.com/capitol-costs-the-price-tag-for-projects-is-about-to-get-a-lot-bigger/article/5464385)

Some great renderings in that link.

They should scrap the little archway and build a big one over Lincoln

They should scrap the little archway and build a big one over Lincoln

Actually, that was the original plan about 100 years ago.

Does the remodel include a front door that will be accessible to the citizens?

Does the remodel include a front door that will be accessible to the citizens?

Citizen front door access is ground level to the right of the steps, due to the scanner locations currently.

Actually, that was the original plan about 100 years ago.
Yes it was. Here are pics of the designs. In the one picture, you can see a model of the arch on display in the rotunda.

The arch was to span Lincoln Boulevard. The original plans called for the arch to be placed between 14th and 15th Streets. It would have been pretty cool. It was to be dedicated to WWI veterans.

11889

11890

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I love this and think the state should indeed pay to fix our drive-thru Capitol complex... It's really embarrassing. Not a good impression when you fly into OKC.

However I've got an Okie born and bred hunch that this has a snowball's chance in hell. All of my rural Oklahoma friends on fb are up in arms, as are the Tulsa people (generally an oddly conservative bunch), and more of them have caught a whiff of this plan than anyone who's unfortunate enough to live nearby the state govt.

This will only happen with the support of private donors. Sadly..

I believe the state workers and citizens would be better served by investing the money proposed for cosmetic changes on extending the streetcar to the capitol complex.

If we want to actually take our place among the top states in the country, we should step up and act like it. Our public facilities are generally poor.

Contractors unveil $187M in proposed new spending on Capitol | The Journal Record (http://journalrecord.com/2015/12/03/contractors-unveil-187m-in-proposed-new-spending-on-capitol-real-estate/)

The pipes leak, there's mold, the plaster is crumbling and oh yeah, chunks of the wall fall off from time to time.
The previous property management groups didn't do much in way of repairs, other than a snazzy cap and sculpture, so the old gal's worse than she's ever been.

But hey, let's add on a parking garage and some tunnels too.

WTH? Did the project 180 people get a hold of the capitol renovation project?

Kevin - what do you mean? Are you against structured parking at the Capitol?

Spartan, I think it's more about priorities in a state that is facing larger and larger budget shortfalls for FY 2016 and beyond. The Capitol Building absolutely needs to be repaired to the best of our ability, but I don't think it's fiscally sound policy to tackle a new park and fancy archway and structured parking right now. These are definitely things I would like to see happen once our fiscal ship is righted, however.

I do also find it somewhat curious that state agencies like ODOT are prohibited by law from issuing bonds to borrow money for road projects but when it comes to the Capitol building they seemingly had no problem with borrowing money to make it happen. To be clear, I have no problem with borrowing money as long as it's done responsibly, but the actions of our state government do seem a bit hypocritical.

I do also find it somewhat curious that state agencies like ODOT are prohibited by law from issuing bonds to borrow money for road projects but when it comes to the Capitol building they seemingly had no problem with borrowing money to make it happen. To be clear, I have no problem with borrowing money as long as it's done responsibly, but the actions of our state government do seem a bit hypocritical.

I wouldn't say "seemingly had no problem." I think they proposed changes for at least 2, if not 3 or more, legislative sessions before they actually voted on issuing bonds. They delayed quite a bit...

I was not fully aware of that, actually. Thank you for the clarification! :)

Kevin - what do you mean? Are you against structured parking at the Capitol?

When the pies are busted ad the roof leaks and the walls are falling down, yes, I am against the notion of even talking about turning a parking lot into a park and building a freaking garage to replace the parking lot that gives way to flowers.
There have been millions sent in the last decade on prettifying the interior spaces and the dome for a seriously damaged building.

It's a bit like someone with more money than sense planning for a chin lift and liposuction when the patient is in need of liver and cornea transplants and bypass surgery. In other words, priorities.

What if the bond issue paid for the structured parking, and private donors paid for the landscaping and the arch.

A parking garage isn't like some sort of crazy opulent pork amenity.

After they save the patient, then save for the tummy tuck. Sell more bonds and escalate the repairs timeline.
The garage to replace an existing p-lot is not needed before it is clear repairs for the the building's long term neglect has been fully resolved.

On the list of wasteful state spending - beautifying the Capitol complex is no where near the top. In my book spending money to have a top-notch Capitol wouldn't even be considered "wasteful".

I believe the state workers and citizens would be better served by investing the money proposed for cosmetic changes on extending the streetcar to the capitol complex.

I also believe the majority of state workers would feel they are better served by getting a raise in wages. The last raise was in the Henry administration. Streetcar, not so much.

I also believe the majority of state workers would feel they are better served by getting a raise in wages. The last raise was in the Henry administration. Streetcar, not so much.

Different branches of government. The state is not paying for the streetcar.

State facilities should be for the benefit of the public and act as a physical manifestation of the grandeur of the State. They should be hands down the nicest buildings in the state and far outshine any private development. The citizenry should gaze upon them in awe and be inspired to be better citizens.

Different branches of government. The state is not paying for the streetcar.

Yeah, I knew that. I was responding to the poster who wanted to have the capital improvement funds redirected to a streetcar line extension.

This calendar year I've been to the following state capitols (as in walked around the grounds):
Oklahoma (obvs), Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona

It's interesting to see the differences, both in terms of "grandeur" and land use.

On the list of wasteful state spending - beautifying the Capitol complex is no where near the top. In my book spending money to have a top-notch Capitol wouldn't even be considered "wasteful".+1

After they save the patient, then save for the tummy tuck. Sell more bonds and escalate the repairs timeline.
The garage to replace an existing p-lot is not needed before it is clear repairs for the the building's long term neglect has been fully resolved.

I don't think they are saying to add the other elements INSTEAD OF the repairs, are they?

I also think they can do this based on bonding capacity and credit rating at a time of almost historically low interest rates. It isn't a matter of current state income, but long term investment wisdom. We can wait a year or two for $60-75 oil and wind up paying two or three times the interest making this reasonable expense now a huge expensed later, or we can lock in at low rates and save mucho denaro over the life. Our uber conservative legislators don't know how to use interest rates and debt to an advantage. They only look at this afternoon or tomorrow, but not the next 10 years. Their daddy left them the family farm and they are scared to plant a crop next year for fear of failure. They pucker when confronting any kind of forward thinking investments, so they do nothing.

How much money would be saved in building expenses as well as a plethora of savings elsewhere if Oklahoma would have a unicameral legislature.

How much money would be saved if we invested properly in education and helped people become tax payers instead of users? How much money would we save if we maintained our public assets properly? How much would we save if we didn't keep fighting legal battles on issues we are destined to lose? How much money would we save if we participated in legitimate federal programs for health and well being of our citizens? How much would we save if we allowed cities to actually govern themselves in an efficient way? How much money would we save.......

Our legislators are great moral pontificators and poor business people.

^^^^^^ Exactly on why we should eliminate a whole chamber of them.

You can't fix stupid. Sadly we have a very unique brand of stupid. They should be proud. I would like to see this project financed and implemented by the AICC project team..


After they save the patient, then save for the tummy tuck. Sell more bonds and escalate the repairs timeline.
The garage to replace an existing p-lot is not needed before it is clear repairs for the the building's long term neglect has been fully resolved.

I'm not so sure I'm there with you. I can see the reasoning in wanting private donors to pay for beautification, but a parking garage is very reasonable. It is in fact very embarrassing that our Capitol has nothing but surface parking and it was in fact not meant to become surrounded the way it has. This land was originally a park that was sacrificed as the state grew. I don't understand equivocating a garage to some kind of fancy frill, and you really should cut the operating comparisons. The patient may need a new Walker and some help getting up at first. If you're doing very basic essential repairs, that should include a garage. Doesn't have to be a fancy garage, but it just needs to get done.

On the other hand I totally understand relegating the arch and beautification to private donors, which will probably slow that project way down, but seems reasonable.

This calendar year I've been to the following state capitols (as in walked around the grounds):
Oklahoma (obvs), Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona

It's interesting to see the differences, both in terms of "grandeur" and land use.

I've not been, Shawn. What's your analysis and comparison? and how would you say we compare (not that it matters, per se)?

Not Shawn, but we are on par with Arizona in terms of surrounding landuse and relative isolation.

If money was no object I would just build an entire new Capitol complex in Core 2 Shore and sell the current site to American Energy Partners so they can have a suburban corporate campus with plenty of parking.

Pretty wide variety of differences. From a grandeur perspective we're better off than New Mexico for example. Arizona's grounds is similar to ours layout wise but the building style is much different. Colorado and Idaho... oh, I forgot about Tennesee and Arkansas earlier as others I've visited this calendar year... and Tennessee are all pretty urban, Idaho in particular sits on a surprisingly tiny city block, just down the street from downtown amenities (and thus probably my fave). Utah's sits on a pretty big hill with a nice view of the surroundings. New Mexico and Oregon have the strangest looking buildings (you wouldn't think they were capitols at first glance). Washington's seems really isolated (to me). Oregon's capitol city as a whole was probably the least impressive. Arkansas' is in the city but a considerable walk from the best parts of Little Rock. California and Texas didn't seem particularly notable, not that ours is.

The pipes leak, there's mold, the plaster is crumbling and oh yeah, chunks of the wall fall off from time to time.
The previous property management groups didn't do much in way of repairs, other than a snazzy cap and sculpture, so the old gal's worse than she's ever been.

But hey, let's add on a parking garage and some tunnels too.

Based on the articles above, the project is supposed to be prioritized so that the repairs and restoration are paid for before any major improvements. Whether that actually happens or not may be another story, but, as you've implied, it would be foolish to take what is already not enough money and use it to pay for anything that isn't essential. The repairs have to come first.

...Sadly we have a very unique brand of stupid...

There are no degrees of uniqueness. Something is either one of a kind or it is not. This OCD moment brought to you by my high school sophomore English teacher, Mr. Umansky.

How much money would be saved if we invested properly in education and helped people become tax payers instead of users? How much money would we save if we maintained our public assets properly? How much would we save if we didn't keep fighting legal battles on issues we are destined to lose? How much money would we save if we participated in legitimate federal programs for health and well being of our citizens? How much would we save if we allowed cities to actually govern themselves in an efficient way? How much money would we save.......

Our legislators are great moral pontificators and poor business people.

Then why don't you spend a day at the Capitol going into every legislator's office asking them those questions. I bet they enjoy few people pestering them with questions or criticizing their governing skills.

Then why don't you spend a day at the Capitol going into every legislator's office asking them those questions. I bet they enjoy few people pestering them with questions or criticizing their governing skills.

Wait. Someone is defending the governing skills of our State Legislature??

Can you please continue? I need more of this.

There are no degrees of uniqueness. Something is either one of a kind or it is not. This OCD moment brought to you by my high school sophomore English teacher, Mr. Umansky.

And Jeff Speck. He hates modifiers attached to unique.

Then why don't you spend a day at the Capitol going into every legislator's office asking them those questions. I bet they enjoy few people pestering them with questions or criticizing their governing skills.

That is exactly what should happen. We should all go to the capital routinely and ask our representatives why they are doing what they are doing (or not doing what they should be doing). If they consider that pestering, then that should tell us something about how they view their roll in governance. BTW, I have been active asking for transparency and accountability. We should share with them what OUR point of view is. They are there to do OUR bidding, not to be the wizard of oz. We sit back, don't engage them, let them do whatever irrational or ignorant thing they want to do, and then don't understand why our legislature is a joke. GO PESTER THEM. GO ASK THEM QUESTIONS. When they have stupid answers or viewpoints, tell them so. Give them accurate and true facts and hope they listen and apply good judgement for the benefit of ALL the people. We have let a minority of vocal, judgmental, over opinionated tea partiers control this state for too long.

^^^^!!!!

Then why don't you spend a day at the Capitol going into every legislator's office asking them those questions. I bet they enjoy few people pestering them with questions or criticizing their governing skills.

You would have to misrepresent yourself as a lobbyist to get an audience.

We are all lobbyists technically

We are all lobbyists technically

http://s2.quickmeme.com/img/92/9253c5b2e9520394d06ef32b9764c42b71939dc83beca83338 14a4bbed6265ab.jpg

Nm

You would have to misrepresent yourself as a lobbyist to get an audience.

If we can get listened to by being a constituent, then throw the bums out. Their arrogance should be punished by voting them OUT.

If we can get listened to by being a constituent, then throw the bums out. Their arrogance should be punished by voting them OUT.

I don't disagree with your sentiments. Unfortunately there are numerous examples of voters that vote against their own interests based on a candidates political party or because of one hot button issue.

You would have to misrepresent yourself as a lobbyist to get an audience.

Generally not true at the state level. I've had a number of meetings with representatives and senators. Call their office, be polite, say you'd like a brief meeting with them, be upfront regarding what the meeting is about (have an issue in mind, not simply a bitchfest), and you'll get an appointment.

But the pessimism!

Generally not true at the state level. I've had a number of meetings with representatives and senators. Call their office, be polite, say you'd like a brief meeting with them, be upfront regarding what the meeting is about (have an issue in mind, not simply a bitchfest), and you'll get an appointment.

That is good to hear and refreshing.

This was posted on TulsaNow, it brings up a good question that needs to be answered


Serious question, because we just did a renovation on this building. Between 1998 and 2002 they finished the dome and restoration work was ongoing since then... until they found the serious cracks in 2014. Most of the structural problems are IN THE DOME.

WHY IS OUR CAPITAL FALLING APART?

The main part is 100 years old, but for a solid structure of steel and stone that isn't really that old. The worst part, the dome, is younger than my high school aged son.

Did we defer maintenance?

Bad designed or poor construction?

Not designed for earthquakes?

It cost $1.5mi to build the thing in 1915. Math tells me that's $35mil in today's dollars. The Dome's total construction cost was $21mil, paid for by our NASCAR like sponsors adorning our public building.

SO--- total cost ~ $50mil.

HOW, in the hell, is it $300,000,000 to fix it?

The building is 450,000 square feet. Ironically, that's $666 per square foot FOR REPAIRS, a new parking garage, a pool and archway. Devon Tower cost $380 per square foot TO BUILD, and included land acquisition, demolition, parking, etc. The Burj Khalida, the most luxurious and tallest building in the world, cost $450 per square foot to build. You can have my house for $100 a square, and it comes with parking and a hot tub - which is kind of like a pool.


So my serious proposal is this. The state capital building is ugly, the only redeeming feature is the sculpture at the top, the complex around the capital is worse and it’s in a miserable part of the city.

Tear it down. Move the capital.

Take the $120 million and build a shiny new capital building as the center piece of Core to Shore.

Really.

No not really. It's not in a bad part of the city as most folks think. The fringe to the East of the capitol it gets worse, but not South, North or West. I have not heard that the newly constructed dome is the problem, it's the structure beneath the dome that's the problem, along with plumbing and wiring.

BYW, it's not ugly at all.

This was posted on TulsaNow, it brings up a good question that needs to be answered


So my serious proposal is this. The state capital building is ugly, the only redeeming feature is the sculpture at the top, the complex around the capital is worse and it’s in a miserable part of the city.

Tear it down. Move the capital.

Take the $120 million and build a shiny new capital building as the center piece of Core to Shore.

Really.

Sorry, but worst idea in the thread.