First National Center

[BoulderSooner]

It's private development and ownership in an area that has received hundreds of millions of dollars in public funding, with specific laws and design guidelines about how you are supposed to build in this area.

It isn't like someone sprung this on them by surprise. They knew about these rules before they bought the land. If I move into Heritage Hills and want to tear down a turn of the century Georgian manor and replace it with something that looks like a giant neon pink igloo, you can understand why I'll be prevented from doing that. Right?

....Right?

Rules? Like the sand ridge demo or stage center this year ? Or a bunch of others. I imagine they thought they would be treated like everyone else

[city]

Reminder that several City Council spots go to election in just two months.

This is a great time to call out the City Council on issues like these and make them take a public stand, then vote accordingly.

All new TIF's, TIF allocations and committee appointments have to be approved by the council.

I completely agree with this quote. Especially as it applies to Meg Salyer and the sixth ward. She has only advocated for big money, big oil and the chamber. She is the champion for demolition.
She has done nothing for the residents of her ward. If anyone would run against her, I think ward 6 residents could be raise funds and work door to door to help elect a new council person.

[s00nr1]

Attachment 9919

Hey, check out the 5 parking garages visible in that image. We really need more of those.

:/

[Jeepnokc]

You are right. Downtown OKC has enough surface parking and grassy lots that there really isn't any excuse for demolishing anything at all. If I was playing SimCity, I would place the 499 Sheridan development instead on the southwest corner of Walker and Sheridan on the surface parking. Either that or fit everything in the way KanyeMo posted in that thread.

The SW corner of Walker and Sheridan is John Rex Elem. I have had a few vodkas but pretty sure you are not wanting to put it on top of the school. If so, you have had too many vodkas!

[Just the facts]

If this can be torn down (to build Madison Square Garden) anything is possible.

[bombermwc]

That's a bit of a stretch there JTF. First off, because of demo projects like that, the country is now more focused on preservation. Not to mention the fact that when that structure was torn down, it wasn't seen in the same light as it is now. It was a terrible shame to lose, but there's a LOT of story behind that structure's demolition besides just a picture of it.

And that whole post about not moving back here.....Ill do a happy dance that yet another tea party member wont be in Oklahoma, but if you don't want to move here, why do you troll a forum solely devoted to development here?

[Just the facts]

well on that note bombermwc - peace out.

[Jim Kyle]

I'd like to think Urbanized and myself caused it

I believe a careful comparison of posting times and first appearance of Steve's report indicates his report appeared before many here mentioned "possible demolition." However when I read Steve's article, I immediately equated "online" with this place, myself...

[Jim Kyle]

I'm seriously considering putting this in our header:

"We always feel Oklahoma City is most successful when our residents are informed, engaged and able to participate in an ongoing public process.” – Mick Cornett Oklahoma City Mayor

By all means, Pete, DO IT!!!

[Spartan]

We are going to lose this landmark Art Deco skyscraper if we don't set a good precedent with the Preftakes block.

[catcherinthewry]

We are going to lose this landmark Art Deco skyscraper if we don't set a good precedent with the Preftakes block.

That's a giant leap. Let me guess, you've never taken a logic class.

[Jim Kyle]

I was referring to comments being made on Twitter. My post, by the way, was already being written before today's discussion and would have been posted Friday if I hadn't gotten sick. Was I misled by people I trusted? Yep. I'll make sure that doesn't happen again.

I was sure you were first, knowing a bit about the editorial process behind the scenes.

And I would definitely call Twitter, Facebook, and friends "rumor" since they have absolutely no fact-check requirements...

[Jim Kyle]

If I move into Heritage Hills and want to tear down a turn of the century Georgian manor and replace it with something that looks like a giant neon pink igloo, you can understand why I'll be prevented from doing that. Right?

You mean like the Colcord Mansion on NW 13, demoed for a ho-hum office building back in the day?

[UnFrSaKn]

You mean like the Colcord Mansion on NW 13, demoed for a ho-hum office building back in the day?

Yes but at that specific place and time, it was "better and higher use" right? That's what some people don't seem to grasp. You'll never get anything like the Colcord Mansion ever again, plus it was Charles Colcord's home for crying out loud.

[NWOKCGuy]

Also the destruction of the Colcord Mansion was almost directly responsible for the city creating the first preservation committee if I remember correctly. Different time and place. People really need to calm down and quit trying to use scare tactics to make people think FNC is in trouble. I could honestly care less about the buildings on the Preftakes block but I would be at every meeting about FNC if it were to happen and I'm pretty sure most people feel the same way.

[Bob Loblaw]

People really need to calm down and quit trying to use scare tactics to make people think FNC is in trouble. I could honestly care less about the buildings on the Preftakes block but I would be at every meeting about FNC if it were to happen and I'm pretty sure most people feel the same way.

YES! Where's the friggin' LIKE button for this post?!?!

[Pete]

^

Right, but remember we had hundreds of people that were crazy passionate about Stage Center and that didn't end up making any difference.

I don't think there is any reason for alarm but also believe it's a mistake to assume that any building in OKC is safe.

As unbelievable as it sounds now, the Skirvin was once very close to being demolished simply because 1) it was vacant and 2) a couple powerful people wanted it to happen.

[CuatrodeMayo]

As unbelievable as it sounds now, the Skirvin was once very close to being demolished simply because 1) it was vacant and 2) a couple powerful people wanted it to happen.

THIS. You are absolutely correct.

[NWOKCGuy]

^

Right, but remember we had hundreds of people that were crazy passionate about Stage Center and that didn't end up making any difference.

I don't think there is any reason for alarm but also believe it's a mistake to assume that any building in OKC is safe.

As unbelievable as it sounds now, the Skirvin was once very close to being demolished simply because 1) it was vacant and 2) a couple powerful people wanted it to happen.

The only people that cared about Stage Center were preservationists and people from the architecture community. The Skirvin would have been a huge loss but again, it's not really comparable to FNC. FNC is a landmark in our skyline. Did the average person in OKC know what or where the Skirvin was when it was in trouble? FNC is vacant but are there powerful people in the community that want it to happen?

Pete, I really appreciate everything you do on this site. I love the information your bring about our city but in my opinion, you've been fanning the flames on this quite a bit.

[BoulderSooner]

^

Right, but remember we had hundreds of people that were crazy passionate about Stage Center and that didn't end up making any difference.

I don't think there is any reason for alarm but also believe it's a mistake to assume that any building in OKC is safe.

As unbelievable as it sounds now, the Skirvin was once very close to being demolished simply because 1) it was vacant and 2) a couple powerful people wanted it to happen.

And thousands thought it was terribly ugly. And are happy it is gone.

[NWOKCGuy]

And thousands thought it was terribly ugly. And are happy it is gone.

This.

[hoya]

^

Right, but remember we had hundreds of people that were crazy passionate about Stage Center and that didn't end up making any difference.

I don't think there is any reason for alarm but also believe it's a mistake to assume that any building in OKC is safe.

As unbelievable as it sounds now, the Skirvin was once very close to being demolished simply because 1) it was vacant and 2) a couple powerful people wanted it to happen.

Who are those powerful people? Name names.

[Pete]

I think most know I have never been a cynical person and always try to see both sides of any issue.

But with the recent happenings around the Preftakes Block, I an now 100% convinced that demolitions will never be stopped.

And even if we got some new committee or council members who wanted to take a firm stance, I don't think they would be successful. Due to the well-established track record and precedents, any owner that was denied demolition would almost certainly find relief in court, making an easy case for inequitable treatment.


So, where does that leave us? I'll tell you where: Completely at the mercy of what property owners choose to do.

Considering we are dealing with an ownership group that seems to still involve a recently convicted felon who is being sued all over the place and generally regarded as a world-class sleazeball, I'm not going to assume anything.

[bchris02]

And thousands thought it was terribly ugly. And are happy it is gone.

Agreed. Stage Center was very polarizing, despite it's architectural significance. I don't know of anybody who hates First National and would be glad to see it gone.

[Pete]

Who are those powerful people? Name names.

Ask Steve or Urbanized.

I believe one was E.L. Gaylord.