BOK Park Plaza

[Pete]

Here are the final revisions. This is from the final package that will be voted on by the DDRC on Jan. 15.

The retail space in the north garage would be increased from 2,099 square feet to 3,610 and in the west garage from 2,619 to 5,180:

[Stickman]

There's this sudden urge to save what little is left of OKC's downtown history.

Why did you move the bus station to Reno & Eastern?

There were many structures we should have tried to save other than the bus station; this place was the pits. Did anyone try to save the old Burgundy Club (north) next to the bus station? Wilma (bartender) would be smiling if she were still alive. The Burgundy Club & the bus station went hand-in-hand.

Are there plans to make bus travel (city & Greyhound) a part of the future intermodal hub at old Santa Fe Station?

Point, there isn't anything left to save.

They moved the Greyhound bus station for the same reason COPTA was moved, undesirables! There, I said it. I know this is not "politically correct" but we all know it to be the truth. This plan was set in stage years ago.

[JRod1980]

I'm not sure if this was brought up already, if it was I apologize for being repetitive. But the City owns the parking lot south of their building do they not?

This is the same lot that is being incorporated into the larger parking garage, correct? If so, the group needs to purchase the parking lot from the city in order to make this design work...

So if the city really wants to play hardball and save the Bus Station or another building, they have the control to do so, only question is will they actually do it?

[kevinpate]

OKC ... play hardball .... riiight.

[Pete]

^

Yes, the City owns that surface lot and they've worked out a deal with Hines to sell it.

The City is not going to play hardball here. They never have before and the leadership seems to very much favor this type of economic development.


There will be all types of hand-wringing and furrowed brows by the committee on Thursday, then the demolitions will no doubt sail through, including the bus station.

[Snowman]

I'm not sure if this was brought up already, if it was I apologize for being repetitive. But the City owns the parking lot south of their building do they not?

This is the same lot that is being incorporated into the larger parking garage, correct? If so, the group needs to purchase the parking lot from the city in order to make this design work...

So if the city really wants to play hardball and save the Bus Station or another building, they have the control to do so, only question is will they actually do it?

I would only expect relatively minor changes to be asked for before it gets approved, the most I hoping for at this point is at least getting retail/restaurant/office frontage on West side of the street level of the buildings.

[turnpup]

That's definitely the worst area because it was the core of downtown and was almost 100% lost. But plenty of other entire neighborhoods/blocks are gone. There's a zoomed out version here: 60 Years of Urban Change: Oklahoma and Texas | The Institute for Quality Communities

Thanks for that link. Those maps are really cool with the sliders. Sad to see our historic downtown disappearing, but cool technology nevertheless.

[Geographer]

I'm not in favor of this development as it is currently designed, but since it will probably be approved....is it possible to have those garage entrances onto Sheridan, Walker, Main, and Hudson moved to face the alleyway? That would help remove some conflict points and curb cuts that break-up sidewalks.

[soondoc]

I agree with the above poster. Also, is it not possible for the city to just ask them to build the building on top of the gargage? This would take away from the parking garage look and they could incoprorate more retail around the new building. Imagine several shops lining the streets with perhaps some outdoor patio type stuff. This would give more street interaction and wouldn't be as sterile, and of course add a little bit more height to the building.

[king183]

I've asked this before in the thread, but I'm genuinely curious:

How many of you have actually contacted city leadership to discuss your feelings about this project, rather than just complained about it here?

[Bullbear]

I've asked this before in the thread, but I'm genuinely curious:

How many of you have actually contacted city leadership to discuss your feelings about this project, rather than just complained about it here?

this is your #666 post... Bwa ha ha ha

[kevin lee]

Yeah I'm with KING183 on this one. A lot of complaining and suggestions going on but very few if any have put forth the time to get the ball rolling to make changes. Its a hard task building one office building let known four. It's even harder trying to get a company to see the bigger picture. It's impossible though to make changes without being active. Sitting behind a computer complaining without doing your part to change the process is easy. No skill in that at all. I like the project, but if you feel aggravated enough to keep posting about it then go through the process to change it. You might not win this battle but you keep trying until change is made for the better. OR just keep making idle rants about a topic for entertainment.

[Pete]

I saw several letters of protest and several signatures on Preservation Oklahoma's petition from people on this site.

[kwhey]

Downtown OKC - Come and feel the blandness!

[BDP]

I've asked this before in the thread, but I'm genuinely curious:

How many of you have actually contacted city leadership to discuss your feelings about this project, rather than just complained about it here?

You'll find that a lot of people who care about the city's aesthetic, history, and urban future are pretty active about it. And there are definitely more of them that don't post on this site than do. There also seems to be a lot of them that actually interact with the downtown landscape on a daily basis. Of course, the majority sentiment will always be apathy.

[jccouger]

I've written a couple emails, with no responses. I've also signed the petition, but noticed there weren't many signatures. I'm sure I could've done more, but really it feels like I'm pushing against a mountain hoping it will budge.

[Laramie]

I've written a couple emails, with no responses. I've also signed the petition, but noticed there weren't many signatures. I'm sure I could've done more, but really it feels like I'm pushing against a mountain hoping it will budge.

Opposition to these projects won't mean a thing; it would be like a mosquito pushing a train. At best the DTR&DC will request a few modest changes.

[BDP]

I've written a couple emails, with no responses. I've also signed the petition, but noticed there weren't many signatures. I'm sure I could've done more, but really it feels like I'm pushing against a mountain hoping it will budge.

It is an exercise in vanity, but some of us still do it.

Oh well, the street life aesthetic on this side of town will be so boring, that maybe it will help keep it from competing against the renovated areas that are starting to take off.

[Richard at Remax]

Devon is ?encouraging? its employees to ?voluntarily? sign a petition in support of demolishing historic downtown buildings? | The Lost Ogle

[LocoAko]

Devon is ?encouraging? its employees to ?voluntarily? sign a petition in support of demolishing historic downtown buildings? | The Lost Ogle

Was just about to post this. Wow.

[Pete]

Good grief.

Reminder that Devon's Chairman Larry Nichols is also chair of the Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority (OCURA) and the Alliance for Economic Development.

[Pete]

Nick Preftakes wrote a letter in support of the demolitions:

[s00nr1]

What a joke.

[hfry]

I hope the DDRC asks him why he paid such a large sum of money for properties that were in rough same when he clearly knew they needed money put into them to be usable again. Also, why he let the few that were usable sit and make him no money? It just sets a new precedent that you can buy a property, do the bare minimum and then claim they are unusable and destroy them to your liking. His letter is borderline fraud to me. I understand the principal of making money and needing to make the numbers work but you don't buy all these properties and then claim well the ends in the end it only makes me a little profit. Just fess up and admit you bought these for Devon will the intention of doing whatever they told him to. I'd like to see how much profit he made selling these to Hines or however the agreement works out.

[king183]

I've asked this before in the thread, but I'm genuinely curious:

How many of you have actually contacted city leadership to discuss your feelings about this project, rather than just complained about it here?

To be clear, I wasn't making an underhanded comment against people complaining on this board by the above question. I was seriously interested in the answer and hoping there would be a lot. I wrote an email to the DDRC expressing my dissatisfaction with the proposal, specifically the parking garages and the plaza, which I believe will create a massive urban deadzone. I just received an email in response that said my email would be included in the packet given to the members of the committee. I also asked for the names and contact information of the members of the committee and, for some reason, they don't want to release that information. Anyone know why?