Kd's Restaurant / Legacy Grill

[metro]

Good point. I doubt he really thinks about it, though.

Maybe if people write KD about their thoughts and feelings they can get him on their side.

Anyone have an email address that we could use to reach KD's people?

Best way to reach important people these days is Twitter, it's a guaranteed direct conduit to them.

@KDTrey5

I already got the ball rolling with 2 tweets!

[Fantastic]

Can someone point out the canal to Mr. Hogan? I am pretty sure he is unaware it's there.

[Just the facts]

I love the idea of going right at the person with the name on the door. If you put your name on a pile of crap don't be surprised if someone tries to flush it. I'll laugh if this make ESPNews as one of those quirky side stories.

[Pete]

What's particularly appalling about this project is there is now a decent critical mass in Bricktown and even Lower BT, that should make it easier to build and lease BETTER buildings and get more rent for them.

So why is Hogan going backwards here? You know he's made tons of money off the existing buildings because the condos all sold in record time and everything else seems to be completely leased.

Why is he choosing to build something cheaper with less features than what is already there and thriving??

The obvious answer: Because the area has enough demand that tenants will pay decent rent for crappy buildings; Hogan is just trying to maximize profit without any concern about how his heavily subsidized properties impact the broader community.

[Bellaboo]

Best way to reach important people these days is Twitter, it's a guaranteed direct conduit to them.

@KDTrey5

I already got the ball rolling with 2 tweets!

KD doesn't have a dime invested in this......................he's just selling his name. Go after HSG.

[Just the facts]

KD doesn't have a dime invested in this......................he's just selling his name. Go after HSG.

Are you saying the name "Kevin Durant" doesn't have any value? Why would HSG put a worthless name on their restaurant?

[OKCTalker]

You're invested when your name is on a business, or when the business pays to use your name. KD is in this big time.

Why do athletes follow such bad advice?

[Bellaboo]

Are you saying the name "Kevin Durant" doesn't have any value? Why would HSG put a worthless name on their restaurant?

I will quote him - 'Ive been wanting something like this for awhile, I didn't have to pay anything and I'll have my name on a restraunt'. KD has nothing other than his name vested, he's out zero dollars.

How this goes will not effect his marketability on a national scale whatsoever......

[Just the facts]

I will quote him 'Ive been wanting something like this for awhile, I didn't have to pay anything and I'll have my name on a restraunt'. KD has nothing other than his name vested, he's out zero dollars.

How this goes will not effect his marketability on a national scale whatsoever......

Maybe KD should care what his name is on.

[sooner88]

He has been directly involved though, just not financially. He has had input on many things including the menu. While this doesn't have anything to do with the physical design of the building, it's cool to know that he is actually involved with the process and excited to have it open.

[jn1780]

I will quote him - 'Ive been wanting something like this for awhile, I didn't have to pay anything and I'll have my name on a restraunt'. KD has nothing other than his name vested, he's out zero dollars.

How this goes will not effect his marketability on a national scale whatsoever......

One word: Ego. If he cares enough about having his name on a restaurant than he will care enough when people start bad mouthing the design of the building his name is on. He can have his name put on any building or restaurant in the city.

Its kind of hard for HSG to ignore the guy whose name is on the building. He won't be as enthusiastic about marketing the restaurant.

[Stew]

I think the restraunt design looks pretty good. I'd bet a majority of Oklahomans would agree. This is only controversial to a very small segment of the population. I'd also bet dollars to donuts Kevin Durant fans don't give a fiddlers fart about the design of the building sporting his name.

I'm looking forward to the restaurant's opening.

[Mr. Cotter]

Yeah, while I don't like the design (for where it is, not necessarily what it is), the average Oklahoman will be very excited to see this. I don't think this will, nor do I think it should, deminish Durant's immage.

[Popsy]

One word: Ego. If he cares enough about having his name on a restaurant than he will care enough when people start bad mouthing the design of the building his name is on. He can have his name put on any building or restaurant in the city.

Its kind of hard for HSG to ignore the guy whose name is on the building. He won't be as enthusiastic about marketing the restaurant.

I had hoped that KD would not be exposed to the somewhat rare form of mental illness experienced by some of our resident urbanists, but it looks like he will be exposed. I hope he just says WTF to the wind and goes on about his business.

[jn1780]

I had hoped that KD would not be exposed to the somewhat rare form of mental illness experienced by some of our resident urbanists, but it looks like he will be exposed. I hope he just says WTF to the wind and goes on about his business.

This is our urban area were talking about. I am not about to give up on it. You can keep your surburbia out of the heart of OKC.

At least people living in the city will be able to afford the medication to treat their "mental illness" since their not using all their money toward gas. Lol

[Bellaboo]

One word: Ego. If he cares enough about having his name on a restaurant than he will care enough when people start bad mouthing the design of the building his name is on. He can have his name put on any building or restaurant in the city.

Its kind of hard for HSG to ignore the guy whose name is on the building. He won't be as enthusiastic about marketing the restaurant.

They will talk about two things, and the building is not one of them. 1). The memorabilia inside and 2) the food.

[Bellaboo]

I had hoped that KD would not be exposed to the somewhat rare form of mental illness experienced by some of our resident urbanists, but it looks like he will be exposed. I hope he just says WTF to the wind and goes on about his business.

I don't think KD reads or even knows that OKCTALK even exists or about any urbanistic opinions......I also heard him say in an interview one time that he grew up around lots of buildings and liked the wide open spaces and low key atmosphere of OKC. It's a great place to play basketball, he said.

[TechArch]

Developer will seek OK of plan for site in Oklahoma City's Lower Bricktown: early promises compared to actual development | NewsOK.com

Another good article by Steve on this topic.

[Pete]

When asked Monday why he abandoned previous plans for the Kevin Durant restaurant site that called for a two-story building, Hogan responded that parking in the area already is tight, and a larger building would require structured parking. He said the construction of a new boulevard in the old Interstate 40 alignment south of Lower Bricktown will provide space for some additional spaces — but not enough to allow for denser development.

Read more: Developer will seek OK of plan for site in Oklahoma City's Lower Bricktown: early promises compared to actual development | NewsOK.com

Oh brother, there is tons of directly adjacent parking with more to come.

[Urbanized]

The important thing to note is that he says more density would be possible with structured parking, though he doesn't indicate much interest in going there. I've thought for years that structured parking would fix most of the perceived inadequacies of LB. I don't even think Randy would have to come as much out-of-pocket as you might think, as I'm certain TIF would assist in funding . We've seen examples of this with Legacy and Level.

He is correct in saying that the current surface parking is routinely maxed. It happens several times a week, but in part because regular Bricktown visitors (and even, unfortunately, employees) utilize LB's free parking while visiting the rest of Bricktown. It's also always maxed on game and large event (concert, etc.) nights.

Personally I think it's fine and appropriate for OCURA and others to look closely at the design of this restaurant - and I have a personal interest in hoping it eventually relates more to the canal - but I think the more important issue is encouraging him to explore structured parking to allow for increased density and even more development.

[Pete]

I think there is only one more pad site left for Hogan to develop, so I think Lower BT is pretty much finished now.

[BDP]

The important thing to note is that he says more density would be possible with structured parking, though he doesn't indicate much interest in going there. I've thought for years that structured parking would fix most of the perceived inadequacies of LB. I don't even think Randy would have to come as much out-of-pocket as you might think, as I'm certain TIF would assist in funding . We've seen examples of this with Legacy and Level.

I agree. He seems to be blowing smoke and maybe setting up for another hand out. As in, "well, this is the best I can do, unless you want to put millions more into my property for structured parking". Problem is, why put more money into his property if he is just going to squander the gift?

I also think he should make the parking in lower bricktown paid with validation from any Bricktown establishment or at least any lower bricktown establishment. This could mitigate the fact that the parking lot itself has become a hang out for many people who are not even patronizing any of the area businesses. It would create more parking for the actual businesses without adding spaces and make the district as a whole a more enjoyable area to visit.

[Just the facts]

He is correct in saying that the current surface parking is routinely maxed. It happens several times a week, but in part because regular Bricktown visitors (and even, unfortunately, employees) utilize LB's free parking while visiting the rest of Bricktown. It's also always maxed on game and large event (concert, etc.) nights.

If only there was a way to generate a customer base who doesn't have to bring a car with them.

On a side note, I was in Wendy's yesterday and I watched a person park their car and go into the bank next door. They came out, got in their car, backed out, drove to the connecting Wendy's lot, parked, and came into Wendy's. They moved their car a grand total of 9 parking spaces just so they could go from parking at the front door of the bank to the front door of Wendy's.

[Richard at Remax]

People who use Edmond as a source for all their problems sound like insecure little babies. Get over yourselves.

[Mr. Cotter]

I don't think anyone has said Edmond was the source of their problems. But there is a clear mentality from the suburbs that development needs close parking; Edmond just makes a nice shorthand (I currently live there).

Anecdotally, I know the owner of one Bricktown business who can identify if a customer is from Edmond based on whether or not they complain about having to pay for parking. He is also from Edmond.

The perceived needs of commuters should not dictate development in the urban core. I don't think that makes me sound line an insecure little baby.