Since the same theme seems to run across several downtown projects I thought it would be more efficient to keep the discussion in its own thread. Over the last several years it seemed that OKC was making great strides in creating mixed-use neighborhoods. Neighborhoods like Deep Deuce and Midtown have started to fill-in and districts like Bricktown have started to add significant residential components as it transitions to an actual neighborhood. However, downtown seems to be regressing into a true business district where everything is geared to office workers from 9-5 M-F. Considering the massive public investment in downtown it seems to be a large waste of money.

Even with a residential component and elementary school (that now appears to be woefully misplaced just 1 year after opening) there is not any reason for residents to frequent MBG. The core of downtown is becoming an off-hours no-mans land in the heart of everything and it is really disappointing. While the City attempts to re-vitalize Park with retail, downtowns major employers are ensuring that their employees never set foot on a downtown sidewalk. They arrive on an elevated roadway, park in an on-site garage, and get to their office using a skywalk. This robs downtown retailers of their primary customer base - hence why downtown already has 30,000 employees and virtually zero retail.

The people who do end up moving into the Clayco residential towers will mostly go to Film Row for entertainment, dining, and eventually retail because there is simply no space for that being created around MBG. In another thread I asked people to envision if they want MBG to become more like Rittenhouse Sq or Love Park. I think without a doubt people would prefer Rittenhouse Sq, but OKC is ensuring we end up with Love Park. Trust me, a 'Love Park' in the heart of downtown is NOT going to attract new companies and people to the area.