Lexford Park (formerly First Christian Church)

[Bill Robertson]

They did in fact announce this. One great thing about Crossings doing it is that it will be done well!

[mugofbeer]

Thank you for the information and to OKCTalk and members for, I'm sure, being greatly responsible for what seems like a great outcome.

[PhiAlpha]

Yes, plan to renovate and preserve.

If their current campus is any indication, they’ll dump a ton of money into this campus. I can’t think of a much better scenario for that property. Between the investment and all the people it will draw to the area this is major win for everyone involved if it goes through.

[mugofbeer]

Any idea on the inclusion of the old youth center (now a charter school)?

[Bill Robertson]

I don’t think they’re anywhere near actual plans for anything except that they felt it was important to the community save the building. From being at Crossings since we were Belle Isle I can say with certainty that anything they do will be after lots of input from the community.

[5alive]

https://crossings.church/news/

[Pete]

^

From that link:

[barrettd]

It would be very cool to see that property revitalized. This is promising news, and I'm very optimistic about what they'll do with the property.

[rezman]

This is wonderful!. Crossings has a great history and community outreach.

[Martin]

if this also saves the jewel box, then it sounds like a perfect win...

[David]

What a fantastic development. Major kudos to Crossings for stepping up like this.

Given their current campus locations, it really does seem like a good choice for their own potential growth and ministry reach in addition to preserving such an important OKC landmark.

[Urban Pioneer]

Thank you for the information and to OKCTalk and members for, I'm sure, being greatly responsible for what seems like a great outcome.

One has to wonder if the public dialogue on here about Crossings helped put the concept back in front of them

[barrettd]

if this also saves the jewel box, then it sounds like a perfect win...

They just announced part 1 of a 2-part season for 2019-2020, so they're optimistic about being able to stay in the space. Big question is who will take over running the theatre, if it stays, as the man who ran it for the last 30+ years just retired.

[Bill Robertson]

They just announced part 1 of a 2-part season for 2019-2020, so they're optimistic about being able to stay in the space. Big question is who will take over running the theatre, if it stays, as the man who ran it for the last 30+ years just retired.

Tgat could be another benefit of Crossings taking ownership. They have a lot very talented, artistic and organized people.

[Midtowner]

Any idea on the inclusion of the old youth center (now a charter school)?

Since Crossings already operates a school on its main campus, it doesn't seem a stretch to think they might open their own school in that building. I'm surprised that a school could operate out of that building at all. Back in the 90s, I was in the Oklahoma Youth Symphony, which rehearsed there. It was in pretty bad shape then.

[barrettd]

Since Crossings already operates a school on its main campus, it doesn't seem a stretch to think they might open their own school in that building. I'm surprised that a school could operate out of that building at all. Back in the 90s, I was in the Oklahoma Youth Symphony, which rehearsed there. It was in pretty bad shape then.

I understood the article to say the sale would only include property West of the creek, which would exclude the youth center.

[Bill Robertson]

I understood the article to say the sale would only include property West of the creek, which would exclude the youth center.

I hadn’t read the article on NewsOK until just now but it does say that. It also says that all the undeveloped land zoned residential isn’t in the sale. So the possibility of something being done with that land later is also a possibility. This could be a win-win.

[bombermwc]

Note that the land east of the creek also includes the DoC Regional office. So i would imagine that the eastern chunk will be maintained by the denomination as well as the current endowment.

[David]

Four councilmen want to reverse a decision taken by Historic Preservation Commission to protect First Christian Church

Partial quote of the article, in particular the bits that pissed me off.

Despite the fact that First Christian Church lies in his ward, Ward 2 councilman James Cooper said he did not know about the resolution until Friday.

“The unfortunate consequence of me learning about this proposal the Friday before the vote is that I don't know the particular details why each one of those council folk put forth this resolution,” he said “I've spoken very briefly with people involved with the [potential] purchase of the church, and they were concerned about the historic preservation component of this. I was looking forward to being a part of that conversation. … I was looking forward to being a part of that process. I learned about all of this instead on Friday evening.”

----

The resolution is sponsored by Ward 1 councilman James Greiner, Ward 4 councilman Todd Stone, Ward 5 councilman David Greenwell and Ward 8 councilman Mark Stonecipher. They could not be reached for comment.

[Pete]

My understanding is the resolution will be delayed until May 21st.

But the issues in that article are the same. This was handled very, very badly and may signal a new era on the council.

[mkjeeves]

he said (Cooper) “I've spoken very briefly with people involved with the [potential] purchase of the church, and they were concerned about the historic preservation component of this.

Am I understanding Crossings is concerned about buying the property with the designation as opposed to without where they would have more freedom to do whatever in the future?

(Reading between the lines...that's probably what is driving the resolution to drop the move towards designation?)

[Pete]

^

Yes and remember Stonecipher is a member of Crossings.

[mkjeeves]

^

Yes and remember Stonecipher is a member of Crossings.

Yeah, I picked up in that. Nice to have people in high places. I get as a potential property buyer of a distressed property why they would be concerned. They are probably going to want to change it and possibly at some point want to exit it if it doesn't work out. It's good they are interested but that's a sleazy approach.

[Pete]

Keep in mind the council is looking to rescind the entire process, which amounts to a 6-month moratorium (already one month in) before city council has the final say.

Waiting another 5 months to do anything is not going to hurt Crossings or anyone else.

It's just a lousy power play, especially not even discussing this with Cooper. And they seem to have violated state open meeting laws in the process.

[mkjeeves]

Keep in mind the council is looking to rescind the entire process, which amounts to a 6-month moratorium (already one month in) before city council has the final say.

Waiting another 5 months to do anything is not going to hurt Crossings or anyone else.

It's just a lousy power play, especially not even discussing this with Cooper. And they seem to have violated state open meeting laws in the process.

So it seems.