OKC Boulevard

[gopokes88]

https://newsok.com/article/5607553/c...n-to-bricktown

[Pete]

^

Much more to come on WHY the city dropped their eminent domain efforts to acquire the Uhaul parking lot.

The city is still scrambling to cover for never acquiring the necessary right of way years and years ago.

[hfry]

That's 3 high profile eminent domains in this; convention center south of Myriad Gardens and Cusaks parking lot that they have pulled out of persumbaly because they were going to lose and run a higher price tag. Not a good look.

[Pete]

That's 3 high profile eminent domains in this; convention center south of Myriad Gardens and Cusaks parking lot that they have pulled out of persumbaly because they were going to lose and run a higher price tag. Not a good look.

Yep.

As a reminder, the process is this: When a municipality files for eminent domain the court appoints 3 independent commissioners who conduct research and jointly determine the fair market value. Once the value is firmly established, both parties are obligated.

In this case where the constant drumbeat is that Uhaul is being 'unreasonable', when it comes to this type of court case what they want does not really have much sway. Nor does what the city wants to pay. In other words, Uhaul could be asking for $10 million and the city only wants to pay $1 million and that really doesn't matter because it is no longer a negotiation, but rather an independently determined and binding fair market value.

Same with the Cusack and REHCO properties.

My understanding is that if the city was to take that lot from Uhaul they would have to change their building entrance and other expensive changes would be triggered. And that has to be figured in by the court-appointed commissioners. Very similar to the Cusack situation. With REHCO, the city was just completely unrealistic about the proper value for that original convention center site.


What is troubling is that the city is in the press claiming these property owners are somehow being unreasonable, yet the city itself has bailed on the court proceedings when it becomes apparent the court is about to force them into paying fair market value. So if that's the case, which is the unreasonable party in these negotiations?

And again: Why on earth is the city still trying to resolve this issue when they were the ones that insisted that ODOT build the one and only interesection for Bricktown and the Coop at the Oklahoma Ave. intersection when there was already existing right of way and an rudimentary intersection at Compress which is one block to the west?

This seems like a major FUBAR by public works.

[HangryHippo]

This seems like a major FUBAR by public works.

Let's be honest - too much of OKC public works is FUBAR.

[Urbanized]

...With REHCO, the city was just completely unrealistic about the proper value for that original convention center site...

*Edited to reflect that on going back and re-reading your posts about the Ford Center site I'd say you were more making the case REHCO was in no hurry to develop that site and made an obvious "go away" valuation rather than that they were being predatory. I just recalled them being vilified and called "money grubbers" (by other posters).

[T. Jamison]

One issue is that the City waits too long to pull the trigger. The date of value estimate is not set until the commissioners file their report. So the City expects to pay what they budgeted in the planning process, but doesn't account for the significant increase in property value due to the project it was being taken for. It could be reasonable to instruct the commissioners to exclude any speculative sales with project influence, but not years after the project was announce and the entire market has become speculative. Otherwise, one could argue the property owners are not justly compensated as per the Oklahoma Constitution.

[CloudDeckMedia]

OKC Boulevard is now fully open, both directions, between Hudson & Lincoln.

[Pete]

From yesterday:

[PaddyShack]

I love seeing the streetcars out and about!

[hfry]

I looked up one of the renderings because I was curious how the sidewalks would connect with this streetcar stop. It might have changed but this was the one I found;

[CloudDeckMedia]

Nice aerial!

[LuccaBrasi]

Does anyone know what level of landscape will take place once this is completed? I seem to recall once reading they would not landscape until it's complete. I sure hope that's the case and we're not looking at what the city/ODOT typically do in minimalist, if any, landscape with 1/2 caliper trees that die after one hard summer. I know what the renderings show, but those are just renderings, does anyone know what the real plan for landscape includes for medians, etc?

[Pete]

[Pete]

[shawnw]

Trees = good
sidewalks = good

where the bike lanes at?

[David]

That may still be to come since this appears to be just landscaping related.

[5alive]

What does it mean "planting beds to be ripped"?

[shadfar]

where the bike lanes at?

i was asking myself the same question??

[Pete]

What does it mean "planting beds to be ripped"?

I believe that means using a roto-tiller to turn the soil and integrate compost or something similar.

[kukblue1]

who owns the Parking Lot next to the arena?

[LuccaBrasi]

Thanks for digging up and posting, Pete. Although our city tends to cut corners on landscape as a whole in terms of implementation and zoning requirements, I have a glimmer of hope that the boulevard will get done as planned with a proper amount of funding.

[Pete]

[SEMIweather]

Is the overpass going over Western/Classen/Reno or will the Reno intersection be at-grade?

[shawnw]

Reno currently goes through and they haven't ripped it up yet, which it seems like they'd have done by now if that was part of the plan...