Private Investment Ready to Go as a Result of MAPs 3?

[bluedogok]

Yes, labor is definitely the more elastic of the two.

I am just a bit tired of explaining to people why things aren't as cheap as they perceive they should be. One thing I tell them, is to quit paying attention to the "doom & gloom" of the national news, things are never as bad as they make it out to be and that is especially the case in Oklahoma and Texas. Then I ask then if they have halved their prices because of the recession...they usually stammer trying to come up with something to say at that point.

[Spartan]

MAPS3 Passage Seals Deal For Private Development - News9.com - Oklahoma City, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports |

News9 remembers.. they're going to start off tonight with the OCU Law deal that was contingent on MAPS.

[betts]

Wow, this is exciting. It will do a lot to continue the momentum started by the Film District in the western part of downtown.

"OCU officials said they'll begin working with the building's owners on getting architecture proposals Friday and hope to break ground by the summer. City leaders said, in a way, the efforts may make it the first MAPS3 "project" to get off the ground."

[Spartan]

I personally didn't favor moving OCU Law to downtown, but I'm a bit excited now myself.

I think OCU really really needs to focus on creating a campus environment. I would love to see NW23rd around Penn and Blackwelder grow into a Campus Corner type of neighborhood.

[soonerguru]

I personally didn't favor moving OCU Law to downtown, but I'm a bit excited now myself.

I think OCU really really needs to focus on creating a campus environment. I would love to see NW23rd around Penn and Blackwelder grow into a Campus Corner type of neighborhood.

I've thought the same for almost two decades.

[Spartan]

My only reservation still with OCU Law moving downtown is that having a streetcar line go out to Classen Blvd is really not convenient.. I would kind of think that the best linear route for a streetcar line would be up and down Walker Ave, from C2S up to Plaza Court. That would be a west edge. The east edge would be another excellent linear route, Lincoln Blvd.. just link those two and then you've got a great loop.

[soonerguru]

My only reservation still with OCU Law moving downtown is that having a streetcar line go out to Classen Blvd is really not convenient..

YES. In fact, it will be a mistake if they "force" the street car to fit the law school. That's what I was referring to in another thread about a pure, organic design process, without interference from powerful interests.

If the street car line makes sense in the context of the law school, great! If it causes the route design to be anything beyond what it should be, no dice. Hopefully cool and rational heads will be leading this process, and hopefully it is not a process marked by undue political interference.

[Spartan]

Honestly, a Classen Blvd circuit may even be a good idea. The problem is this: With only $120 million for 6 miles, we can't afford to go out that far.

Classen would have to be a phase 2 segment in order for this to work.

[jbrown84]

I was never under the impression that they were wanting the streetcar to connect the main campus and the law campus.

They just want to make sure law students have that option for getting to the courthouse.

[soonerguru]

I was never under the impression that they were wanting the streetcar to connect the main campus and the law campus.

They just want to make sure law students have that option for getting to the courthouse.

I think the discussion was about whether it makes sense to route the rail all the way to Classen, not connecting the two campuses.

[jbrown84]

Okay sorry. I misread.

Well if we go with spokes as opposed to loops, it could make more sense, with one running along Sheridan from Classen to Lincoln or so.

[Spartan]

Soonerguru is right.

[Midtowner]

My only reservation still with OCU Law moving downtown is that having a streetcar line go out to Classen Blvd is really not convenient.. I would kind of think that the best linear route for a streetcar line would be up and down Walker Ave, from C2S up to Plaza Court. That would be a west edge. The east edge would be another excellent linear route, Lincoln Blvd.. just link those two and then you've got a great loop.

Except for the crazy people doing the JD/MBA program, a law student's interaction with the rest of the school involves nothing more than visiting the bookstore once or twice a semester and visiting the admin building to get student IDs made and to fill out financial aid stuff. Otherwise, the law school is self-contained. A Classen rail line might be a good idea. God knows there's plenty of right of way to do that. But the law school is not really a consideration.

[Spartan]

Here's the point: We only have 6 miles of rail, tops. We won't have the most efficient service area across downtown if we go a mile west of downtown, out to Classen.

[betts]

I'm not sure Foshee has decided to run again. Last time I talked to him about it he was undecided at best.

[John]

One of the biggest private developments associated with the passage will probably be the convention hotel(s?), but we have a bit of time before we look to that...

I'm sure the big names in convention hotels were keeping an eye on OKC, though!

[Spartan]

One of the biggest private developments associated with the passage will probably be the convention hotel(s?), but we have a bit of time before we look to that...

I'm sure the big names in convention hotels were keeping an eye on OKC, though!

That is also an excellent point. The convention hotel, whatever kind of deal they're going to get from the city and the convention center, should all be determined before we break ground on the convention here in 6-7 years, and that will be a very controversial, contentious debate no doubt. The two should open simultaneously though.

[LakeEffect]

Here's the point: We only have 6 miles of rail, tops. We won't have the most efficient service area across downtown if we go a mile west of downtown, out to Classen.

But the point of developing rail isn't just to serve existing areas, but to provide redevelopment potential for underutilized areas in close proximity. The mixed use, medium to high-rise buildings that could spring up would more than make up for the initial lack of riders.

[hoya]

Actually, if we connect the law school to the system, we might guarantee ourselves a steady supply of riders. Think about the easy connection between not only the school and downtown, but also Bricktown. Taking the streetcar would be much easier than driving over there.

[Thundercitizen]

Not as knowledgeable as I'd like to be about the Arts Festival, but is there a relevant entity that'd be willing to $upport the city regarding their future site (Central Park)?

[John]

Not as knowledgeable as I'd like to be about the Arts Festival, but is there a relevant entity that'd be willing to $upport the city regarding their future site (Central Park)?

The Project 180/Myriad Gardens refurbishment will include elements with the Festival in mind -- it will be in its current location for a while...

[rcjunkie]

I'm not sure Foshee has decided to run again. Last time I talked to him about it he was undecided at best.

I think that's the "Lawyer Speak" in him, there's another very capable person that's seriously considering a run, if that person decides against running, I think Foshee is in.

[Spartan]

Foshee will be back. I have no doubt about that.

But the point of developing rail isn't just to serve existing areas, but to provide redevelopment potential for underutilized areas in close proximity. The mixed use, medium to high-rise buildings that could spring up would more than make up for the initial lack of riders.

That's a great point. The counter to that point however is that pretty much all of downtown still has a lot of room for infill development. We just need to focus on a system. Not connecting points or anything. We just need a system that serves downtown in general. That will help encourage the most organic infill as a result.

Actually, if we connect the law school to the system, we might guarantee ourselves a steady supply of riders. Think about the easy connection between not only the school and downtown, but also Bricktown. Taking the streetcar would be much easier than driving over there.

See this is the problem with special interests though is that they're all valid. You could say that we should just build a system that gets OHC and Capitol workers into downtown, and you could say good idea. Or a system that gets Devon workers around downtown to encourage them to live there. Or a system that accentuates getting people to city hall, "because that's where the people's business is." And so on. Yeah, it's true that the law school could have a lot of riders that you want to get around downtown.. but it's too much of an outlier at this point..far from anything else.

[betts]

I can also see an argument: Do we reward the forward thinkers who have been redeveloping Broadway for their prescience and willingness to take a chance, or do we put the line on Hudson in an attempt to generate development in that area? Will that discourage foot traffic and further development on Broadway in favor of the western part of the city?

[jbrown84]

Yeah there's going to be a lot of competing interests on this. It needs to be the most logical route through downtown and midtown and probably over to Lincoln. It shouldn't snake around to hit all the rich guys' offices.