Oklahoma City Museum of Art

[Plutonic Panda]

I really hope this means a new a skybridge if anything.

[caaokc]

That looks beautiful. I hope this happens. Gotta renew my membership before the rates go up, hah!

[Anonymous.]

So is the "eliminate nuisance to public safety" code for stop transients camping here?

Seems really weird to demo this when there is no actual expansion to be done yet. But I guess doing it in steps is fine?

[caaokc]

So is the "eliminate nuisance to public safety" code for stop transients camping here?

Seems really weird to demo this when there is no actual expansion to be done yet. But I guess doing it in steps is fine?

That was my first thought

[unfundedrick]

That was my first thought

That is definitely their thinking. They have people feeling unsafe at night when visiting the museum for that exact reason.

[mugofbeer]

And rightfully so if other cities are an example. In Denver, the Downtown Public Library and Museum of Art have had a huge problem with homeless, mentally ill and drug abusers. There are transients everywhere now and are a public safety problem. My wife went into the ladies room at the library 2 years ago and there was a naked man washing himself off in the sink. A few months ago, the Denver library main restrooms were shut down for about 6 weeks because they had to sterilize them and air vents because of fenenyl contamination. I had the pleasure of sitting in the newspaper reading area while a transient watched porn on a library computer.

Only a few years ago, you could always feel safe in downtown Denver but since the George Floyd riots, covid and fentenyl, thats no longer the case. Yes, these buildings, sadly, have to be designed to keep from being adopted homeless shelters and keep them for their intended use where the public can feel safe bringing their children.

[Sooner.Arch]

pretty sure it would be cheaper and easier to just put up a fence that can be covered in advertisements until they determine an actual plan....

[PhiAlpha]

So is the "eliminate nuisance to public safety" code for stop transients camping here?

Seems really weird to demo this when there is no actual expansion to be done yet. But I guess doing it in steps is fine?

I mean it’s a decaying bank drive through with no architectural relevance that is already being used for museum parking so why not? As it is it provides cover for people who may be lurking around there at night…even if the museum isn’t expanded for 10 years, it’s hard to not see a parking lot for the museum as an improvement.

[DoctorTaco]

I mean it’s a decaying bank drive through with no architectural relevance that is already being used for museum parking so why not? As it is it provides cover for people who may be lurking around there at night…even if the museum isn’t expanded for 10 years, it’s hard to not see a parking lot for the museum as an improvement.

Also don't forget the value as revenue-generator. When there are events at the Civic Center (which is more and more often the case) local surface lots charge $10-$20 a car. Even if they can't build for 5 years having that revenue stream has to be a big benefit to the art museum.

[Laramie]

Hope this comes to fruition ASAP. Any additional structured parking downtown will attract more events to the new arena development---TBD.

[progressiveboy]

So is the "eliminate nuisance to public safety" code for stop transients camping here?

Seems really weird to demo this when there is no actual expansion to be done yet. But I guess doing it in steps is fine?

I do not find it "weird" to move forward with demolition. The building is not significant and is currently an eyesore. The visual clutter and health and safety factor in on the decision. This will eliminate graffiti and campers where they defecate and urinate.

[Bowser214]

Demolition starting on the old bank drive thru

[Pete]

[bamarsha]

This thread brings back memories of Cocktails on the Skyline with Born in November... It didn't get much better than that! Do they still do anything like that these days?

[dankrutka]

This thread brings back memories of Cocktails on the Skyline with Born in November... It didn't get much better than that! Do they still do anything like that these days?

Oh man, I had forgotten about this. That was definitely a time when OKC felt like it got over a hump.