The have really nice holiday lights up this year too.
The have really nice holiday lights up this year too.
Oh my. Is it really worth all this, Ms. Floyd??
Although I don't know Ms. Floyd, I have had a couple of good lunches and talks, as well as a few e-mails, with Michael (though not as recently as I would like ... hopefully again, soon). Only one or two days pass that I do not think of him since I drive by his long-standing Design Resources business on NW 23rd with almost daily regularity (living only a few blocks away). He has long been in the forefront of acting to try and save notable parts of Oklahoma City, including his (and others') failed attempt to save the building below, the YMCA building located at the NE corner of NW 5th and Robinson which was needless destroyed following the Murrah bombing to make way for a street-level parking lot ...
For a piece of the story about that, see Doug Dawgz Blog: Other Downtown Hotels. He was also involved with the more successful attempt to preserve the "Gold Dome" at NW 23rd and Classen, as well as other ombudsman Oklahoma City endeavors. I would assume, but do not know, that his wife may also have been involved in some if not all of those efforts.
It would be a serious mistake for any to think that Smith & Floyds' hearts and minds are not in the right place. They are intelligent serious minded people who have Oklahoma City's interests at heart, and Michael has my complete respect and admiration ... vicariously, I extend that same opinion to his wife whom I have not met.
That's not to say there isn't necessarily a legitimate difference of opinion about this, as evidenced by the main article's report of a pair of other residents in the neighborhood who have differing views. Reasonable minds have and will differ and I have no opinion on the particular item at issue except to say, if Michael Smith has a position, as he clearly does, it is not a position that is short-sighted or frivolous and it is a position that should receive respect.
And that's all I've got to say about that.
Since Michael and Randys' address was given in the article, it is now in "public view," so to speak. So I went to the Assessor's records to have a peek ... "before" and "after" photos are there, which was nice.
2002
2004
Nice work, Michael!
I'll drive by soon to see how the property has changed since the 2004 photo was taken by the assessor. But, to the point, this "spearheading" project is credited in the main article with turning the area around. It is a fair and reasonable thing for them to be acting in a way which will, in their view, be beneficial to that area in the short and long term, especially since the dispute affects them directly. It is evident from the article that the neighbors who take a different position have a high regard for Smith & Floyd.
Now, if and when it might occur that negative remarks about Ms. Floyd and/or Mr. Smith, and if and when the authors of such remarks will be shown to have have paid their Oklahoma City dues like Michael has, well, then, I'll give more respect such authors and their remarks.
But not yet, since that hasn't happened.
Well said, and here are just a couple of examples: Without Mr. Smith we likely would not have the Gold Dome. Without Ms. Floyd we would not have the Walnut Avenue bridge....if Michael Smith has a position, as he clearly does, it is not a position that is short-sighted or frivolous and it is a position that should receive respect.
The two parties are not always on opposing sides. In fact, Fitzsimmons was heavily involved in trying to preserve the Gold Dome and the downtown YMCA, in addition to various other historic preservation projects, the stalled Tower theater, the Bricktown Kingman building, the Buick building with Rand Elliott. This area however, has no "historic" rules or covenants. With the above exception, no other neighbors have voiced any formal opposition. In fact, those who have attended UDC, have strongly been in favor of the project. Some may argue that this "issue" isn't really an issue. In fact, 3 hours and 2 sessions of UDC deliberation, and a formal opinion issued by the City of Oklahoma's legal department ruled that it was not an issue, that the Lovallo project is a welcomed addition to the area, and is well within current official guidelines.
Also well said. I would add that many consider Mr. Fitzsimmons to be one of the top architectural talents in the city. Like Mr. Smith and Ms. Floyd, Mr. Fitzsimmons is a real asset for OKC. All of which makes it doubly interesting to see how the issue will ultimately be resolved.
Completely agree. As I said, reasonable minds can and will differ, and all "antagonists" in the current matter appear to fall in that category. On the issue at hand, I have no opinion due to my personal ignorance of the issues involved. My comment was aimed at the respect which I regard as due to Smith and Floyd, nothing more, nothing less.
I'm not aversed to stirring the pot a bit, I admit that, but did not intend my "update" to launch an attack on anyone. Judging from the strong defense on behalf of certain parties, my last post might have been construed as such but, it wasn't meant that way.
I didn't intend to knock Ms. Floyd or her opinion in the matter. It merely seems like, at this point, after being approved 2 or 3 times over by the UDC, it wouldn't be worth fighting over a setback.
Fight demolition of unique historical stuctures, yeah! I'm right with them. This just doesn't seem worth fighting over your neighbors about.
As I've said, I have no opinion as to the merits of the issue. As to whether this matter is worth the fuss, I'll defer to Smith, Floyd, and their neighbors who apparently think that it is. But as to ultimate outcome, history teaches that there's no sure thing in litigation ... consider Brown v. Board of Education, for example. Not that is matter is that big a deal, but just to say ...
Cuatro, maybe you can lend your expertise and providing us a better name for the district? At least some of us are out there making downtown a better place. We'd love to have your expertise and better ideas...
Well since you want to call me out...
I actually kinda like "Cottage District" because it is quite the misnomer. It makes the neighborhood sound very quaint, but in reality it is considerably the opposite, like Greenwich Village in NYC.
Other than that, I'll have to think about it.
Just because I criticize, doesn't mean I am not interested in our downtown...quite the contrary actually.
I still like "Cottage District" myself CuatrodeMayo . . . imo, SOSA has no romance to it. However, I did receive an email enquiry about one of our Midtown appartments the other day that included a SOSA reference, so it may already be creeping into broader use.
South of Tenth Street might form a more appropriate acronym.
Pray For World Peace . . . pass it on.
Michael Smith
The Old Downtown Guy
It will take decades for Oklahoma City's
downtown core to regain its lost gritty,
dynamic urban character, but it's exciting
to observe and participate in the transformation.
Et tu, Brute.
I'm growing tired of your constant nagging and badgering too, you've done it farrrrrrrrrrrrr longer than I have. I don't know what your beef is with me. Again, at least I've been out there for years doing stuff in the community, which I'm willing to bet is more than most of this message board can say, with the exception of a few posters. It was this very reason Todd the old owner of this website offered to me to buy the website before he offered it to Pete because of my passion for this city. Being a broke college student, I couldn't really afford it.
Having a few neighborhood abbreviations is ok. However, when ever neighborhood is given one by some real estate agent or association, it can get a little unimaginative.
I guess it's a good thing we didn't get this one from a real estate agent or association then.
I don't have "beef" with you. You do good things for this site and this city, you just need to be careful not to sound like your bragging all the time. I'm not the only one who feels this way.
I second that. Just because someone disagrees with your opinion doesnt mean we want to hear you talk about how you do so much for downtown. Its great what you do and all, we just dont want to be reminded all the time. And Im not sure coming up with a alternative name to a neighborhood is all that constructive.
Metro =/= humble.
No, I just get upset when others criticize and don't offer a better solution. I'm all for difference of opinion, but I haven't heard anyone offer other solutions when they criticize. It's upsetting to the people keeping the forward motion of this city going and the criticizers don't offer to help. I offered Cuatro to help out and still no one is offering a better solution.
I already offered mine, but you have chosen to ignore it.
I didn't ignore it, but previously stated that the city is looking to change the name of the district, so I can respect your opinion, but it won't be renamed to the same thing it's already called.
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