Plow

[Pete]

I'm sure they are using it for an urban decay type of setting; in other words, because it does look so rough:

[Skyline]

Okay, I get it now (after seeing these pics), the owners are going for the vintage, abandoned, neglected, strictly for photo opportunities. I must say they are doing a good job with this, nicely done. j/k

..... Side note, what is up with the middle pic above? The guy looking down on the girl with the smirk. This looks like the break up photo, opposite of engagement.

[Just the facts]

..... Side note, what is up with the middle pic above? The guy looking down on the girl with the smirk. This looks like the break up photo, opposite of engagement.

She's thinking, "I might have screwed up. I can do better."

[soonerguru]

Okay, I get it now (after seeing these pics), the owners are going for the vintage, abandoned, neglected, strictly for photo opportunities. I must say they are doing a good job with this, nicely done. j/k

..... Side note, what is up with the middle pic above? The guy looking down on the girl with the smirk. This looks like the break up photo, opposite of engagement.

I think he just let her know that he's actually gay.

[Urbanized]

If you search "Bricktown engagement photos" on Google Image Search you'll see many examples of this type of session, and a number of local photographers who do them with regularity throughout old and new parts of the district. By the way, the top right photo is actually in front of the Rock Island Plow Building, on Reno.

[Fantastic]

If you search "Bricktown engagement photos" on Google Image Search you'll see many examples of this type of session, and a number of local photographers who do them with regularity throughout old and new parts of the district. By the way, the top right photo is actually in front of the Rock Island Plow Building, on Reno.

The issue isn't people taking pictures in front of the building (or any other building for that matter), I personally think that is awsome, and it makes me proud to work in an area where people want to do that, whether it's for the abandoned urban look in front of Rock Island Plow Building (or the buildings along Main St, and in the alley between Main & Sheridan) or for the beautiful landscaping on the South End. Either way it's great. The issue is the lack of respect for the property in regards to the writings on the side of the building...

but then again, if the property owners themselves don't respect it, why should anyone else. (Personal opinion)

[metro]

I'll meet you there! Maybe we could get arrested for trespassing. Imagine the media firestorm that would come out of that. "Urban Renewal Advocates Arrested For Removing Graffiti From Ignored Building"

To add to the title...owned by a prominent OKC family.

[metro]

What about standing on that corner with signs saying, "Avis Scaramucci is acting douchey!" Shame is a powerful tool.

LOL. Just put a big banner on the building saying "The Scarmucci Family, owners of Nonnas have neglected this building for a decade. Make your Nonnas reservations now."

Let's not forget their son, owns the large OKC Company Balon Valve, and a part owner in the Thunder.

[TaoMaas]

LOL. Just put a big banner on the building saying "The Scarmucci Family, owners of Nonnas have neglected this building for a decade. Make your Nonnas reservations now."

Let's not forget their son, owns the large OKC Company Balon Valve, and a part owner in the Thunder.

WTH? Avis & family own this? Considering the investment they've made in Bricktown and the Skirvin, I find it very hard to believe that they're going to let this building go unused. I suspect they're waiting on OKC to catch up to them.

[Urbanized]

...Let's not forget their son, owns the large OKC Company Balon Valve, and a part owner in the Thunder.

OK, that is not correct, although you're right about there being a Balon connection.

Listen, FWIW Steve says the message on this board has been received. I would tend to believe Steve on this one. It's fair to say that the lack of development/attention specific to this building has been disappointing, but the flip side of that coin is apparently this building was in real structural trouble before they took it on, and they spent quite a bit simply on stabilizing it. I doubt the development timeline was what they had originally hoped either. Sometimes pulling off the types of projects this building calls for is far more difficult than it appears on the surface.

I have certainly not always agreed with Avis (she would say the same about me), but I think talk about picketing, defacing a building, or dragging someone's name through the mud, whether anonymously on here or publicly though some sort of stunt is excessive. What they have done with that building is a mixed bag so far, but don't forget that the family has also been involved in developing Level, dramatically redeveloping the Sheridan-Mickey Mantle corner, bringing the Thunder to OKC, supporting tons of non-profits and events (a number of which are downtown-focused) and plenty of other good things for the city. Maybe dial back the rhetoric and public namecalling.

It's fair and appropriate that people here have criticized the current state of the building, but let's trust Steve for the moment that the message of this thread was received and see what unfolds from this point forward.

[Steve]

For what it's worth, I'll never discourage freedom of speech and that wasn't my intent. I was only noting that from recent conversations it's my understanding they are aware there is a growing frustration with the condition of this building.

[Urbanized]

Hey, freedom of speech is cool. Criticizing the state of the building is fine too. Please, carry on if so inclined.

Namecalling, etc., not so much.

[Steve]

I agree. Picket if you want to. Criticize their ownership. But using the d-word to publicly criticize someone? Meh. Not a big fan of that.

[dankrutka]

I agree. Picket if you want to. Criticize their ownership. But using the d-word to publicly criticize someone? Meh. Not a big fan of that.

For the record, I jokingly used it because it rhymed with Scaramucci. Let's not take ourselves too seriously.

[dankrutka]

But I believe that public shaming is about the only option that will probably have an effect. They've had 10 years with criticism, and don't seem to care. People with their resources should be embarrassed to have left this building in such disrepair in the heart of Bricktown.

[catch22]

But I believe that public shaming is about the only option that will probably have an effect. They've had 10 years with criticism, and don't seem to care. People with their resources should be embarrassed to have left this building in such disrepair in the heart of Bricktown.

And especially if offers have been made that have been turned down.

[Steve]

For the record, I jokingly used it because it rhymed with Scaramucci. Let's not take ourselves too seriously.

Sorry. Sometimes humor gets lost in these threads.... you can surely admit this thread was taking on a "torches and pitchforks" kind of vibe....

[wschnitt]

Sorry. Sometimes humor gets lost in these threads.... you can surely admit this thread was taking on a "torches and pitchforks" kind of vibe....

I was kinda confused by the "Scaramucci is Douchy" but now it is funny. "torches, pitchforks and grafitti scrubbers"

[dankrutka]

Sorry. Sometimes humor gets lost in these threads.... you can surely admit this thread was taking on a "torches and pitchforks" kind of vibe....

Understood. No worries. I think the negative vibe just emanates from the growing frustration every year or so when we revisit how they not only won't develop the property or sell to someone who will, but they won't even maintain it to a decent level. When you put yourself in the spotlight as an advocate of an area it's not wise to completely drop the ball. She looks like a hypocrit...

[Pete]

Ironic that Avis is chair of the Bricktown Design Review Committee, a group that is charged with keeping high aesthetic standards in the district.

She's also president of the Bricktown Association.

[Steve]

Ironic that Avis is chair of the Bricktown Design Review Committee, a group that is charged with keeping high aesthetic standards in the district.

She's also president of the Bricktown Association.

I've noted that myself....

[Just the facts]

While watching the documentary Urbanized a young lady in New Orleans came up with a great idea for just such an occasion like this. She puts little stickers on the building (which are easily removed) so people in the area can tell the owner what they would like to see there instead of an abandoned building. I thought it was a great idea.

http://iwishthiswas.cc/

[flintysooner]

Even better would be to actually produce a successful development.

[kevinpate]

The little suggestion cards sparked a memory, or I think it is a memory anyway. Didn't someone in the metro (Steve Mason perhaps) a while back do a contest or some form of discussion event along the lines of "what do you think ought to happen here" for an area being developed?

Might be interesting to see what would percolate if the Rock Plow owners did something along such lines.

[Mr. Cotter]

Popularize? https://popularise.com/cities/4/neig...11/projects/13