Things you want Steve Lackmeyer to do an update on

[mecarr]

Slow news period? Maybe. If there is any proof of slow times it is evidenced by the annoying -fill in blank- memories posts that keep staying at the top.

No kidding. I'm getting tired of seeing the some old "memories of this" and "memories of that" threads. Come on guys, this is about looking forward, not wallowing in the nostalgia of yester year. Maybe there should be a forum just for people to trade memories.

[okclee]

^^ Haha, I thought I was the only one that doesn't like the "stroll down memory lane" type of posts. I don't read them either so they really don't bother me that much, but it does surprise me how popular that they are. "The Good OLD Days".

[Pete]

We are in the process of reorganizing the forums and there will be a separate one specifically for nostalgia and memories.

Please get off this subject now and if you have any questions or concerns, you can always contact me or one of the moderators directly.

[bornhere]

I'd like someone at the Oklahoman to do an extensive piece on what's happening - or not happening - on the Paseo. I don't know if that falls within Steve's beat.

[jbrown84]

What do you mean, what's happening on the Paseo?

[Steve]

Paseo is something on the fringe of what I cover, but I'll add to items of interest. Meanwhile it sounds like this list is just about wrapping up. Metro, thanks for being a subscriber.

[metro]

Film Row projects and streetscaping, how School of Rock is shaping up and what's going on behind scenes are two more items that come to interest. I also notice MidTown Renaissance is putting a couple properties up as "residential" over on Francis and 12th.....

[metro]

* Where the City is at on the Film Row streetscaping project that was supposed to start last year

[warreng88]

One more thought and I will leave this alone. Steve, have you ever talked to Robert Meinders about all the property that he owns and his plans for it? Was his original intent to buy it and re-lease it for a profit or develop it into something bigger?

[Steve]

just visited with Robert the other day...

[warreng88]

just visited with Robert the other day...

And? Are you going to do a blog on him or an article?

[wsucougz]

The tech collaborative in Midtown. I'm surprised the Oklahoman hasn't run a story on this already. It's groundbreaking stuff, particularly for Oklahoma City.

[kevinpate]

I don't recall if Steve wrote it or someone else, but back when Meinders acquired that very significant amount of BT's east side, there was an article or two about plans for a solid mixture of retail and residential.

[wsucougz]

I don't recall if Steve wrote it or someone else, but back when Meinders acquired that very significant amount of BT's east side, there was an article or two about plans for a solid mixture of retail and residential.

I believe it was called "The Steelyard."

[Steve]

OK, here's the deal. I'll get to work on every item on this list and will do my best to have at least three a week over the next month. In return though, I'd appreciate everyone who has added to this list to drop old perceptions of The Oklahoman and make it a point to pick up a copy of the paper daily for two weeks so you can see my coverage of these topics you're interested in!
-Steve

The list:
1.) Asian District Streetscaping/ area projects including Lotus Plaza and Sun Moon Plaza as well as the new Asian Plaza that is going up.

3.) Maywood Lofts/Leslie - brief status update

4.) Devon Update- done two weeks ago

5.) First National Update - I know he wrote about the liens in today's paper, but I'd like to see much more in depth about what improvements they have done, where they are at with current improvements and what is planned. That new "north" entrance seems to be coming along way behind schedule.

6.) The Hill Update - more info on what Canfield is doing to secure financing.

7.) Humphrey's Farris Wheel/ Downtown Airpark project

8.) Bert Belanger's proposed development

9.) Where Steve Mason is at on developing the rest of NW 9th near Broadway.

10.) Update on Mickey Clagg/Bob Howard and their "Midtown Renaissance". Especially the building on 10th and Robinson as it is shaping up. What are they doing to attract retailers, etc.

- The tech collaborative in Midtown
- Where the City is at on the Film Row streetscaping project that was supposed to start last year (story update done two weeks ago)
- Robert Meinders about all the property that he owns and his plans for it?
- an extensive piece on what's happening - or not happening - on the Paseo

- development along Broadway between Park Place and 12th where those half-way houses and the old nursing home was torn down. Also, would like to get an update on Banta individually and his involvement in the renovation of the Tower Theatre.

[PLANSIT]

That seems fair. Looking forward to reading about them in the print edition.

[metro]

Yes Meinders project was the Steelyard and is on indefinite hold. I'll be surprised if he develops it. We'll see what Steve has to say in his upcoming article.

[Steve]

Metro, since you started all this, I'm sure you're up for my challenge as well, right?

[metro]

Steve,

Not going to buy the daily, I'm sorry. You know I support you. I will however commit in exchange buying the next 4 weeks of the Sunday Oklahoman and considering getting a weekend subscription.

[lasomeday]

Steve,

Can you tell us what stores are going in at Classen Curve? There has been no news on this at all.

[Steve]

That's actually on the list that wasn't assembled by Metro.

[Steve]

9.) Where Steve Mason is at on developing the rest of NW 9th near Broadway.
Done. View my latest OKC Central show at www.okccentral.com. Two more to go this week.

[OKCisOK4me]

Steve,

Not going to buy the daily, I'm sorry. You know I support you. I will however commit in exchange buying the next 4 weeks of the Sunday Oklahoman and considering getting a weekend subscription.

If I had a choice between living life with a subscription to the Oklahoman or living the rest of my life in the depths of hell, I choose hell. But I'm not against going to newsok.com to get the free stuff..hahaha

[solitude]

Hey Steve, what about an in-depth look at the mysterious OCURA? Look at each member with their profile, connections, and such. You do that and you will have really earned my respect. But some things in Oklahoma City are untouchable. The good old boys downtown club is one of them. Instead of just mentioning that there are crazies on the web with conspiracy theories about OCURA, why not an investigative story about the Authority and tell the citizens of OKC what OCURA is all about and maybe press them on their near invisibility, and how that compares with other cities. There's plenty for a good investigative piece. Steve? Uh, hello? Steve?

[Steve]

It's not that that OCURA is untouchable. I touch them all the time. People like OKCisOK4ME probably has no idea what I have or have not written. But over the years I've written several unflattering pieces that addressed whether they are sufficiently open with their information (not having a web site showing their available properties, posting of agendas), whether they stacked the deck for one developer and against another in regard to development of the old Mercy hospital site, the long delays on Mike Henderson, how submitted designs compared to actual project completions, and so forth.
And I believe Jack Money and I did the exhaustive historic investigative piece with our book, "OKC Second Time Around."
But here's the thing, Solitude: how many urban renewal meetings have you attended? They are open. How many meeting minutes have you reviewed? They are available.
In terms of "mentioning that there are crazies on the web ..," yes, I wrote that. And that column provoked a long thread discussion. I now have more liberty to discuss such things in this open forum than I did at the time. And at the time, I had to answer you and others privately in regard to that column.
So to set the record straight: www.okctalk.com is a good reflection of the "real" community you would find on the streets. By that I mean there are very accomplished, smart and creative people, folks who are involved, posting and reading this forum. And there also some nut jobs. Sorry, that's to be found in the "real community" too. There is no city, no town, no community without that mix. It's real life, but when it's restricted to words posted online, you have to go through all this with an extra filter to understand where people are coming from. That was my point. I'm sticking with it.
Solitude, I seriously doubt you believe EVERYONE on this forum is perfectly sane. I seriously doubt Pete does either, especially now that's he has had to play the father figure on this site.
There are legitimate criticisms and concerns, and then there are conspiracy theories. My job is to not get caught up in the conspiracies and use my best judgment to report what is really going on.
You might not like my judgment, and I've always welcome questions and criticisms of it. But at least I try to explain what I'm doing and how I've come up with the stories I do.
One final bit: I have to wonder if the very concerns you have about Urban Renewal are tied at all to what appears to be an apathy toward the very same agency. I can recall several times when I've written about an upcoming vote that could be controversial, and I gave the meeting place and time for the meeting.
The chairs lined up for the public to attend have rarely if ever been filled during my watch.
Now, one final comment: if you don't read or like The Oklahoman, that's your perogative. But how can you expect anything from a news organization you refuse to support?