Stage Center

[okrednk]

Completely agree.

[OKCRT]

I am no redneck and I think it's pretty ugly myself. Looks like a big waste of someones money to me. When I first seen this back in the day I thought it was cool. But that wore off pretty quick and now it's looks like wasted space. That sure doesn't mean I am in favor of that tiny little low rise they are talking about building there. And yes,it is a low rise. Not mid rise or high rise but low rise. I mean look at the Colcord and you will see about how tall this project will be. Maybe slightly taller but not much. More wasted space IMO.

[OKCisOK4me]

I am no redneck and I think it's pretty ugly myself. Looks like a big waste of someones money to me. When I first seen this back in the day I thought it was cool. But that wore off pretty quick and now it's looks like wasted space. That sure doesn't mean I am in favor of that tiny little low rise they are talking about building there. And yes,it is a low rise. Not mid rise or high rise but low rise. I mean look at the Colcord and you will see about how tall this project will be. Maybe slightly taller but not much. More wasted space IMO.

I can't believe I'm agreeing with OKCRT but I am....spot on!

[okrednk]

I am no redneck and I think it's pretty ugly myself. Looks like a big waste of someones money to me. When I first seen this back in the day I thought it was cool. But that wore off pretty quick and now it's looks like wasted space. That sure doesn't mean I am in favor of that tiny little low rise they are talking about building there. And yes,it is a low rise. Not mid rise or high rise but low rise. I mean look at the Colcord and you will see about how tall this project will be. Maybe slightly taller but not much. More wasted space IMO.

okcrt,

As much as my screen name may say Redneck I am more into the country way of life. I have lived all over the world and actually born abroad. I just chose the screen name 15 or more years ago and have stuck with it ever since.

Aside from that and back to topic. I agree, back in the day the Stage Center may have been neat and the hip thing. I also agree there can always be better than the current plans for this location than what is being proposed. I look at it like this really. These individuals are putting their money into the site to build something that would benefit the momentum of the city and be a better fit in that location. I think the current designs (although not 100% final and somewhat conceptual) in my opinion fit in better with the Devon Tower. The Stage Center served it's purpose and now it's time to move on. I hope one day in the future (20-30 or more years down the road) something a little more grand will be built on this location.

[betts]

I absolutely love the Stage Center. It lifts my heart. Art and beauty are in the eye of the beholder.

[zookeeper]

I absolutely love the Stage Center. It lifts my heart. Art and beauty are in the eye of the beholder.

Exactly. I love it, too. I'll never understand the level of hate for Stage Center.

[UnFrSaKn]

[kevinpate]

I'm curious. For those who want to make this last pitch to save SC ... let's say it is spared. Folks high five each other, landowner says oh, ok, leave it. Not going to fight this fight. OGE slinks away hoping no one recalls they would have been the tenants.

Then what? Who has even a semblance of even a wisp of a teensey beginning of a workable plan for the building to do more than sit empty?

[Urbanized]

I told myself (and others including those reading this thread) that I would not post here, but I will wade in with (hopefully) just one comment in that regard.

First, I want to be on record as saying that I think the Preservation Oklahoma effort, while noble, is also wasted. I don't believe for a second the building can be saved from the wrecking ball at this point. It's too far down the road and actually this demolition was decided upon long, long ago, through action AND inaction. But PO has a mission, and they would lose credibility if they did not make this last-ditch attempt.

That said, the thing that I have wanted to say for a while - but have bitten my tongue on, owing to my own promise - is that we are really looking at the building the wrong way. That is, every attempt or idea to save it and the arguments of those who say it won't work are based on the idea that it requires a use which (or a tenant who) can pay to restore it and keep it maintained. That is simply not true. The critical mistake that was made years ago was adhering to this principle. Arts groups, for which this building was constructed, are notoriously-underfunded NONPROFITS. They have a difficult enough time raising funds just to put on their next productions, much less fund a wonky building.

If the preservation of this building was important to OKC (and I think it should have been), the solution would have been to make the building's existence and maintenance COMPLETELY SEPARATE from the budget of whatever arts group was its tenant at the moment. There should have been a separate foundation created, devoted solely to the building itself. These exist all over the world. There are even examples in Oklahoma City, for instance Friends of the Mansion, which preserves and protects the Governor's Mansion irrespective of who is in office, or the budgetary whims of the legislature. Buildings like Frank Lloyd Wright's various designs and constructions have foundations dedicated to their survival. A separate Stage Center foundation could have pursued sponsorship, funding and grants from outside the community. It could have reached out to the international architectural community for support. It would have had appeal to architecture lovers like myself who might not have been specifically interested in funding the performing arts tenant du jour. Most importantly, it might have found a local patron or patrons. Instead, the fundraising message was made cloudy and watered down by whichever group was in the building at the time.

The building could have served as an architectural tourist attraction (as does the Overholser Mansion here in OKC, Price Tower in Bartlesville, Taliesin West in Scottsdale, etc.). We have too few of these locally. This would have raised awareness of the building not just outside of the community, but inside it. Public tours could have been not only a source of revenue but also a chance for those who weren't inclined to see a performance there to experience the building, which would have engendered more public affinity.

Regarding the idea that various performing arts groups didn't care for the building, that is fine; even understandable. I think a stable, showpiece building that the arts group wasn't responsible for maintaining would have given many of them a better feeling about the place, and if it didn't, other groups more friendly to the confines would have been pretty easy to cultivate. That group didn't work out? Fine; the building is taken care of. We'll try someone else. The draw of a free or at least less-expensive space would have been powerful.

Anyway, I think this is a bunch of talk about nothing. Stage Center never found its audience. It never found a champion with resources. The building is coming down. I just wish someone had thought to take an approach similar to the one described above back when it would have made a difference.

[zookeeper]

Well said, Urbanized. For the record, I did argue the point-of-view of asking, "what's wrong with saving art for art's sake?" in another thread. I agree 100%.

I also still believe this will be true for many:

[coov23]

Sir,

Just because I have a screen name does not imply I am uneducated. Ignorance is bliss.

So why glorify a negative connotation? Being a self-proclaimed redneck is no better than a black guy bragging about being a gangster, or any other negative connotation the is apart of any ethnicity or culture. It seems that country music has glorified being a "redneck" as much as hip-hop has gangsters. It's not looked upon as a something to be proud of. Redneck is synonymous with uneducated, poorly mannered and spoken people. Sorry, I digress.

I do, however, agree that the building is useless at this point. I do think that a much better project would be more fit for that property, though.

[okrednk]

So why glorify a negative connotation? Being a self-proclaimed redneck is no better than a black guy bragging about being a gangster, or any other negative connotation the is apart of any ethnicity or culture. It seems that country music has glorified being a "redneck" as much as hip-hop has gangsters. It's not looked upon as a something to be proud of. Redneck is synonymous with uneducated, poorly mannered and spoken people. Sorry, I digress.

I do, however, agree that the building is useless at this point. I do think that a much better project would be more fit for that property, though.

As I've mentioned before I chose the screen name long ago. Does it really matter. Not really, I'll digress talking any further about something as petty as a screen name. Either like it or don't, doesn't matter to me. I for one have never said anything about anyone or felt the need to say something about anyone based on their name, race, religion, etc. Let it be and get back on topic.

[Plutonic Panda]

So why glorify a negative connotation? Being a self-proclaimed redneck is no better than a black guy bragging about being a gangster, or any other negative connotation the is apart of any ethnicity or culture. It seems that country music has glorified being a "redneck" as much as hip-hop has gangsters. It's not looked upon as a something to be proud of. Redneck is synonymous with uneducated, poorly mannered and spoken people. Sorry, I digress.

I do, however, agree that the building is useless at this point. I do think that a much better project would be more fit for that property, though.

Dude, it's a freaking username. Who the hell cares. We have a user on here that has the name cocaine; do you think he uses cocaine? Do you really think I am a Panda made of Plutonium? Come on....

[macfoucin]

Just my opinion, who cares about a user name!? Another opinion, every time I see stage center I can't help but think, that is a horrendous look building.

[OKCSteel]

These extremists were given a chance to save Stage Center before it was put up for sale. Tear the darn thing down already so we don't have to hear the few extremists whine about how "important" the building is.

[CuatrodeMayo]

Historic preservationists = potential terrorists.

gotcha.

[catcherinthewry]

Do you really think I am a Panda made of Plutonium? Come on....

Wait, what?!

[UnFrSaKn]

Wait, what?!

[Pete]

Who said this building isn't functional??

[Spartan]

These extremists were given a chance to save Stage Center before it was put up for sale. Tear the darn thing down already so we don't have to hear the few extremists whine about how "important" the building is.

You mean the sham RFP..

[Bellaboo]

What's that one kid doing on the ledge ?

Actually, there are a few with a lack of common sense there....

[Spartan]

I've had these for a couple of years and never thought to post them.

Top picture is WOW!!! Good find.

[Urbanized]

What's that one kid doing on the ledge ?

Actually, there are a few with a lack of common sense there....

Parkour/FreeRunning. It's a pretty common activity downtown these days. That building is probably tailor-made for it.

[Plutonic Panda]

Wait, what?!

My username is not made to suggest platonic meanings such as a platonic relationship. I know plutonic is technically not a word, but I liked it.

[catcherinthewry]

My username is not made to suggest platonic meanings such as a platonic relationship. I know plutonic is technically not a word, but I liked it.

Pump your brakes, I'm still trying to get over the fact that you're not a panda made of plutonium.