BOK Park Plaza

[Anonymous.]

I think the glass casket is cool looking. But I agree the bus sign inside is a sad attempt @ paying homage.

[OKC_on_mines]

I do like the sign and the glass casket that goes over it.

I think, like other OKIEs have mentioned as well, the next step for us is to focus on connecting all the unique and vibrant districts around our city with emphasis on: streetscape/landscaping (out-door room concept), information kiosks and signage, functionality through transit and spokies/bikeshare, and finally catering to the needs of 24/7 community living (venues, restaurants, bookstores/cafes, and green spaces).

I absolutely LOVE and adore the progress we have made and look forward to a more stronger grasp on urban living!

[dankrutka]

I'm just frustrated that the identity of the parking garage district is being ruined by a sign that signifies public transit as a transportation option.

[SOONER8693]

I'm just frustrated that the identity of the parking garage district is being ruined by a sign that signifies public transit as a transportation option.

Good point. An oxymoron.

[d-usa]

Duplicate.

[d-usa]

Did everybody complain that keeping the old building was stupid because people were going to wait on a bus instead of ordering food from whatever new concept was recommended for that building? Or were we wanting to keep the building and demolish the sign? And there is actually a bus stop there, so the sign is actually more relevant now than it would have been before.

Either the sign is so damn confusing that it was a good thing it was taken down to begin with, or it's a nonsensical argument considering that everybody was pushing to keep the exact same sign up on a building that was just as much an active bus station as the parking garage. There are plenty of reasons to be made at the sign being there without this particular argument.

[Rover]

Hey, we have to have something to argue over and be upset. May as well be a bus station sign.

[d-usa]

And to be fair, I don't have an issue with the basic premise of being pissed off that a great building got leveled and the feeling that using it as a decoration for a parking garage is a joke.

[Rover]

And to be fair, I don't have an issue with the basic premise of being pissed off that a great building got leveled and the feeling that using it as a decoration for a parking garage is a joke.

“Great” is a bit overstating it. A bit of our history...maybe. A period piece that is short of supply here...yes. Nostalgic...of course. But it wasn’t a great building.

[bchris02]

“Great” is a bit overstating it. A bit of our history...maybe. A period piece that is short of supply here...yes. Nostalgic...of course. But it wasn’t a great building.

I agree. It's the fact that OKC has so little of its history and original character left that it's important to do everything possible to save what little is left. Great cities are defined not just by what amenities they offer but by their character and what makes them unique. This is an area where OKC fares uniquely poor due to how much of the original downtown and urban core was torn down. It's why a lot of the country has the perception of OKC that they do. It does a lot for the city to invest in preserving its heritage and its unfortunate this block, one of the last remaining blocks of the original downtown, was allowed to be torn down.

I can agree that they aren't particularly good buildings. For the era in which they were constructed, they were quite cookie cutter.

[dankrutka]

^^^
+1000

[Rover]

This is an area where OKC fares uniquely poor due to how much of the original downtown and urban core was torn down. It's why a lot of the country has the perception of OKC that they do. .

Actually, I believe a vast majority of the world outside Oklahoma (and probably just OKC) has no perception at all based on any personal experience. Most of the world hasn’t even thought about OKC’s old building inventory. In fact, I had this discussion with some RE investors I had in from the west coast who were visiting OKC for the first time. They had no idea of what to expect, and they even commented they were pleased and surprised at how many buildings downtown had been and were being remodeled and repurposed. I have heard this from other business associates visiting as well, so their comments were not unique.

I’m not saying we do a good job, but most people have no idea what others know or think about these things outside of our own groups. Thinking something ourselves doesn’t mean that it is what others think.

[AP]

This weekend my wife's family was in from out of town. Her uncle is an architect based out of Venice, LA. My mother-in-law showed him around one afternoon and he talked to me about how surprised and delighted he was to see so many buildings being remodeled and repurposed. I was quite shocked about the good things he had to say about OKC.

[Timshel]

Actually, I believe a vast majority of the world outside Oklahoma (and probably just OKC) has no perception at all based on any personal experience. Most of the world hasn’t even thought about OKC’s old building inventory. In fact, I had this discussion with some RE investors I had in from the west coast who were visiting OKC for the first time. They had no idea of what to expect, and they even commented they were pleased and surprised at how many buildings downtown had been and were being remodeled and repurposed. I have heard this from other business associates visiting as well, so their comments were not unique.

I’m not saying we do a good job, but most people have no idea what others know or think about these things outside of our own groups. Thinking something ourselves doesn’t mean that it is what others think.

Unfortunately have to agree with this based on my experience living on the east coast. I feel safe in saying most people in this country have never given Oklahoma/Oklahoma City much of any thought, much less thought about the quality of our original downtown building stock. I wouldn't want to try count the number of otherwise very intelligent people I interacted with who, other than the Thunder and the bombing, had never given any thought to OKC and guessed that our state was located anywhere but where it actually is (a few of my favorites - "up by Michigan, right?" "north of Nebraska?" "near one of the Dakotas?") It was definitely a humbling experience. However, as Rover and AP said, it gives us a unique opportunity to impress people who visit that have no preconceived expectations. It just seems the key is convincing people to give OKC a chance and after most visit (especially with the guidance of informed locals) they are pleasantly surprised.

[dankrutka]

And, by the way, this is not just OKC. Most people on the coasts, or just from somewhere else, probably know next to nothing about Dallas or a variety of other citiies they haven't been too. When I tell people I live just outside Dallas, I get ridiculous comments, stereotypes, and misunderstandings. The biggest exception for Dallas is most people are likely to have a layover there and see Dallas or Fort Worth upon their arrival.

[LocoAko]

Unfortunately have to agree with this based on my experience living on the east coast. I feel safe in saying most people in this country have never given Oklahoma/Oklahoma City much of any thought, much less thought about the quality of our original downtown building stock. I wouldn't want to try count the number of otherwise very intelligent people I interacted with who, other than the Thunder and the bombing, had never given any thought to OKC and guessed that our state was located anywhere but where it actually is (a few of my favorites - "up by Michigan, right?" "north of Nebraska?" "near one of the Dakotas?") It was definitely a humbling experience. However, as Rover and AP said, it gives us a unique opportunity to impress people who visit that have no preconceived expectations. It just seems the key is convincing people to give OKC a chance and after most visit (especially with the guidance of informed locals) they are pleasantly surprised.

Yep. For the most part people are pleasantly surprised when I bring them here -- the biggest criticisms of downtown that I get are that it features very few pedestrians/street life and it appears "dead", and to a lesser extent the number of surface lots (which is related to no longer having building stock indirectly, I guess). No one's ever complained that we lack historical buildings to me, etc. Granted, these aren't particularly urbanism-minded people, but still.

[Urbanized]

^^^^^^
This is true of nearly anyplace that is not a regular visitor destination or a place that’s not often featured in movies or television shows. I’ve been humbled so many times in the past when visiting places that were nothing like I expected them to be. Most people put together general ideas about a place based on stereotypes in the absence of other info. I mean, I assumed all of New Jersey looked like the Newark intro to The Sopranos until I drove from Newark to Rochester, NY via New Jersey and Pennsylvania. And can anyone who hasn’t been there tell me what Rochester is like? Or Des Moines? Or Flagstaff?

[Timshel]

^^^^^^
This is true of nearly anyplace that is not a regular visitor destination or a place that’s not often featured in movies or television shows. I’ve been humbled so many times in the past when visiting places that were nothing like I expected them to be. Most people put together general ideas about a place based on stereotypes in the absence of other info. I mean, I assumed all of New Jersey looked like the Newark intro to The Sopranos until I drove from Newark to Rochester, NY via New Jersey and Pennsylvania. And can anyone who hasn’t been there tell me what Rochester is like? Or Des Moines? Or Flagstaff?

Agreed. I always chuckle when I hear people from OKC talk down on Cleveland, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, Omaha, etc. and other cities that have the same or arguably a lot more going for them compared to OKC (something I'm sure that I'm guilty of as well). And the vast majority of New Jersey is beautiful - not called the garden state for nothing.

[dankrutka]

I made a point to vacation in Milwaukee this summer and everyone asked, why are you going there? We absolutely loved the city and were impressed by the all the things we could walk to from our hotel (e.g., great restaurants, tons of people playing beach volleyball on Lake Michigan, loved the Milwaukee Public Market).

[SOONER8693]

I made a point to vacation in Milwaukee this summer and everyone asked, why are you going there? We absolutely loved the city and were impressed by the all the things we could walk to from our hotel (e.g., great restaurants, tons of people playing beach volleyball on Lake Michigan, loved the Milwaukee Public Market).

Agree. Was visiting friends in Madison, also very neat city, several years ago and went in to Milwaukee to see a Brewers game and spend a couple of days. Very neat city.

[dankrutka]

Agree. Was visiting friends in Madison, also very neat city, several years ago and went in to Milwaukee to see a Brewers game and spend a couple of days. Very neat city.

We spent 3 days in Milwaukee, two days in Madison, and did some hiking in between. Loved Madison. State Street is a great, urban college street.

I really love under the radar cities. I loved living in Wichita. Great, cheap weekend trip from OKC. Stay at the Ambassador and just wander Old Town (the Bricktown of Wichita) and Delano. I'm hoping to hit up Cleveland, Sacramento, and some other similar cities in the coming years.

[bradh]

I'm just frustrated that the identity of the parking garage district is being ruined by a sign that signifies public transit as a transportation option.

Let's not confuse Greyhound with public transportation. More like an airliner with wheels

[bradh]

And ditto to all that was said about vacationing in so called second tier cities. I can't wait to take the drive to Milwaukee from MSP and check it out. Myself and some HS buds take a Texans NFL road trip each year and through that I've seen some cool cities I'd like have never visited. Cincinnati was my favorite.

[Plutonic Panda]

I find it hilarious that this thread the topic has evolved to people being impressed with the historic preservation and repurposing in OKC.

[Rover]

You need to re-read and characterize the discussion properly, The claim was made about how most people perceive OKC relative to building preservation. It was not about how well we actually do it.