MAPS III Redux

[wheeler]

Since parking is such a problem in OKC,what about a free parking garage with a 25 or 50 cent shuttle to major attraction areas of the city such as Cox, Bricktown Ballpark, Riverwalk, shopping areas, etc. Of course there would have to be controls to prevent folks taking advantage of the free space, but visitors, city workers, etc. could really benefit from such a service. Perhaps designated pick up areas in the lot for specific destinations. What do you think?

[jbrown84]

The Gary England Museum of Weather!

No actually I do like that idea, as well as the idea for a Ralph Ellison museum for African-American literature or something along those lines. I think Union Station would make a great museum facility, since it can no longer be used as a transit hub.

[jbrown84]

I don't think we have a parking problem.

[Patrick]

Park after hours at the city's major parking garages, like Santa Fe, and you'll find that they are free.

[Pete]

I concur that we don't need more parking and if anything we have too much.

I worked downtown in the mid-80's when there was considerably more occupancy than now, yet there was way less parking (several huge garages have been constructioned in the last 10 years) and it was never a problem. And I know because I had to pay for my own parking and there were many options avaliable -- all pretty reasonable.

And I've never had a problem parking at Bricktown or for an event. Worse case, I have to pay $5 and/or walk a few blocks. Still way better than any urban entertaiment area I've ever visited.

And I personally think it was a big mistake to take half the Galleria property with a parking garage. That's primo real estate that could be put to a higher and better use.


I don't mean to be too harse in the criticism of that idea, just wanted to point out there seems to be a disconnect between what most citizens believe (parking problem) and what actually exists.

[BG918]

^ I still have hope that part of the Galleria site will have a new tower someday. Perfect location for a new office tower with the garage already there.

[dismayed]

Hey I like that museum of weather idea. You should suggest that to the city on their MAPS web page.

[Kerry]

First let me say thank you to Patric for support on Heartland Castle. Why a medival theme? Why not? There is not a stadium anywhere in the world that would look like this and any city attempting anything similar would be seen as copying OKC.

Every stadium in the world follows the same pattern. Why not try something different for once. Use a little imagination. Why build a stadium that will looks like everything else on the planet? I think most of can agree that a stadium would be a nice addition to the city. But if you are going to dream - dream big.

[Kerry]

Also, aren't most new stadiums costing $750,000,000 plus.

Yes, a stadium built with borrowed money does cost this much. But that is what MAPS is about. collecting the money before you start construction and pay in cash. That is why the Ford Center cost $80 million and Sprint Center in KC cost $280 million. Pick any other theme you want but for crying out loud give up the western theme crap. No one is proposing that the new downtown blvd be a dirt road. Why would we want a stadium to portray that image?

[floater]

I do like the idea of an Art Deco stadium. A brick and glass stadium with lights of the team colors would be cool. The Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired stadium, with a materials similar to the airport's, would be cool too.

[TStheThird]

If the Ford Center were built today and was a tad bigger with nicer amenities, it would cost at least twice as much. It is not cheaper because of how it is financed. Hell, OSU is spending $300 million plus on their stadium. We would have to spend at least half a billion to have a decent stadium... and if we don't have a team and won't for the next decade, we would need to build the stadium to the percieved standards of 2017.

I just think that $500 million plus would be better spent elsewhere.

[shane453]

Instead of using the word "trolley" for the downtown/inner city light rail, let's call it light rail or modern streetcar. I don't want some historic-style gimmicky trolley rolling through the CBD. If we do a "trolley" it would just be goofy.. By doing a real modern streetcar, we show that we're down with REAL transit. It just looks like it serves a real purpose, rather than just shuttling tourists around.

I'm glad so many people are listing light rail and commuter rail as priorities for MAPS3. I think that's what Mick wants to hear, actually..

[Patrick]

Here's something fun to bring up:

"Why do we need a railed street car downtown? Rubber-wheeled buses that look like trolleys are a better option for downtown OKC." - Ernest Istook

[Pete]

Speaking of a stadium and the opportunities the I-40 realignment will present, there are several conceptual drawings on the okc.gov website that are part of the Core to Shore initiative:

City of Oklahoma City | Core to Shore

Here's a sample and I really like how they've grouped a new convention center with the Ford/Cox centers and how they've positioned the stadium to be within walking distance of Bricktown and the convention facilities... I also love the idea of a centralized transit center:

[Pete]

No wonder I like this rendering... It shows the stadium in a position I proposed almost two years ago....

[CuatrodeMayo]

And now for something completely different...

[dismayed]

I am so glad that pompous arrogant you know what didn't end up becoming our governor (Istook). He certainly took a political stand against funding light rail with government dollars. How he was able to justify to himself the government- subsidized billions and billions and billions he approved for highway funds is beyond me. Seems like the exact same thing to me. At least with light rail you can offset some cost by having people pay for tickets. Oh well, who ever said politicians were logical.

[jbrown84]

That's a good idea for the river extension? Where did that come from?

I will have a major proposal prepared soon.

[Kerry]

It seems some people keep trying to tie a football stadium together with an NFL team. I don't see any reason to link the two. A 60,000 seat stadium has many uses and none of them have to do with the NFL. In fact, having an NFL team would limit the number of events that could take place there. NFL teams usually get a large cut of ticket sales and advertising revenue for non-NFL events. Here is just a quick list of stadium events.

Olympic festival/training, monster truck shows, MLS, concerts, high school football/soccer, college bowl game, BIG X11 championship game, OSU football, Tulsa football, ATV/motorcycle racing, NCAA soccer championship, BIG XII soccer championship, NAIA soccer championship, Division 2 football championship game, and political rallies.

On a side note the domed stadium in St Louis was first proposed as an extension of the convention center. City officials estimated the facility would triple the number of convention visitors. Later the Rams moved to St Louis.

[Pete]

^

I agree completely, Kerry.

There are plenty of cities that either built a stadium long before they got an NFL team, or still have one without that specific intention.

We certainly didn't need the NBA to build the Ford Center.

[okcpulse]

Cuatrodemayo, I hope you submitted that idea to the MAPS 3 website. VERY awesome idea!

[Kerry]

i'd say that something in the 'cherokee gothic' style would be more appropriate.

Just for the record, Cherokee Gothic is medieval.

[Patrick]

MalibuSooner, that image taken from okc.gov may already tell us what MAPS 3 has planned. If it's any indication, looks like the city is just making sure public support is in line with their thoughts.

If the image is any indication, MAPS 3 will contain the following 5 projects:

1. A new convention center
2. The new downtown Blvd.
3. Commuter rail linked with a new transit center.
4. Beautification between Union Station and the present Myriad Gardens
5. A football stadium.

I wonder if Bob Howard Ford has any indication its location is blocked out as retail!!!!

[Patrick]

Looking at the pics more closely, I'm afraid to say that this transit center might just be a parking garage for the convention center and/or football stadium. Anyone else have that feeling, or do you think it's going to be the center for commuter rail?

[Pete]

Patrick, that rendering and all the others found on the okc.gov site are merely broad concepts and not all of them contain all the components you listed, such as the stadium.

However, they do show a lot of sentiment towards razing the co-op and generally gutting everything (except Union Station) south of Reno to the river.


One common element is a huge, continuous park from the Myriad Gardens to the river. In terms of cost, this itself may require a good chunk of Maps 3 funds just do to acquisition of the land.


I have to say, I'm really impressed with the foresight being show by the city leaders and various concerned citizens. You can't do it if you don't dream it first, and I love the idea we have some grandiose, ambitious concepts being discussed.