This is something OKC has needed for a long time. Glad to see some big names behind it.

Group planning for city's future
Urban Land Institute forum set

By Steve Lackmeyer
Business Writer

Saying Oklahoma City needs to have a more thoughtful approach to land use and development, civic and business leaders are hosting an Urban Land Institute forum next week as the first step to organizing a local district council of the non-profit think tank.
Founded in 1936, the institute has more than 34,000 members worldwide representing interests ranging from land use to real estate in both private and public sectors. Its members are called in as experts when cities face critical challenges.

Past work includes recovery of north downtown Oklahoma City after the 1995 federal building bombing and, more recently, New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

"I think there is a need in Oklahoma City to really bring everybody together and create a forum where we can talk about what's going on, what's next,” said Blair Humphreys, who started organizing a local council in early 2006. "We want to make sure the decisions we make now produce the Oklahoma City we want in the future. And as I looked to get tied into something like that, I couldn't find anything that played that role in Oklahoma City.”

The kickoff meeting, at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the Petroleum Club at downtown's Chase Tower, will feature a perspective on Oklahoma City's development by Tom Murphy, an Urban Land Institute senior resident fellow.

As mayor of Pittsburgh between 1994 and 2005, Murphy oversaw an inner-city revitalization program that included redevelopment of 1,000 acres of blighted industrial property into commercial and residential use, and construction of a new convention center and arena.

Both Humphreys and fellow organizer Leslie Batchelor have historic family ties to Oklahoma City development. Humphreys' father, Kirk, is a developer who oversaw completion of the Metropolitan Area Projects program as mayor between 1998 and 2003. Batchelor's father, Dan, has spent the past 40 years as an attorney advising the Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority on redevelopment of downtown and the Oklahoma Health Center.

"For so long, we felt so desperate to have anything happen that we were afraid to ask for very much, and for developers to just do certain things, we were just so grateful,” Batchelor said. "Now that we've had progress, we can see what it means to make a really good investment in having a good environment. MAPS taught us if you put a good plan in place, it will reap rewards for years to come.”

Other organizers include Kirk Humphreys, real estate broker Chuck Wiggins, retail specialist Carl Edwards, developers David Yost, Mark Beffort and Nicholas Preftakes, architect Hanz Butzer, city planner Russell Claus, engineer Tim Johnson, Plaza District volunteer Susan Hogan, and Valerie Thompson, president of the Urban League.

Humphreys and Batchelor said the list is intended to reflect the community, and they welcome public participation in the forum.

"We don't want to be all about downtown,” Batchelor said. "We think some of the most critical issues are throughout the metro. We would like to see a good representation from Edmond, Midwest City and Norman as well. Issues like transportation, housing and retail patterns all affect the larger area.”

Humphreys said a local Urban Land Institute council can delve into development issues before they become the next hot topic at a city council meeting.

He envisions a more thoughtful approach to city growth that would help elevate Oklahoma City to a higher national profile.