Canal Corner Lot Sold, Hotel coming!

[swake]

There’s no reason that a Harrahs’s can’t be a tribal casino. The Harrah’s in Topeka Kansas is a Shawnee tribal casino. In the Tulsa area Black Gold Casinos are funding and will run the Creek Casino at 81st the Riverside, which is already the busiest casino in the state right now before any construction has started. And another casino company, I can’t recall the name, is opening the Million Dollar Elm Casinos with the Osage tribe, the first of which is already open in Sand Springs and the next one is already under construction northwest of downtown in the Gilcrease Hills area of Tulsa. The Cherokees have their big new casino resort in Catoosa and I think they also just bought the racetrack in Claremore, which also will be a casino/track setup. Gaming has come to the Tulsa area big time and the national casino companies are already involved. I think that now that the gaming question has passed and gambling has been expanded you will see the big Las Vegas casino companies get involved

[Midtowner]

My point was that I think indian gaming should be exclusively on indian lands. Since there are no indian lands in the Bricktown area, we don't need to give them any. I'd be happier with a state or city run Casino -- something that can be a HUGE resource for tax revenue.

It's probably correct to believe that the only way people are going to allow gaming in Bricktown would be if it's done by either a tribe or perhaps the owners of Remington Park? That's the good 'ol boy system working to keep the money in the hands of the corrupt though. I say we give normal Casino management companies out of Vegas a try and let the owners be whoever they want to.

We have a lottery, we have casinos here in Oklahoma, let's not keep our heads in the sand! These places can be great for our local economy. They can bring in tons of tourism and trade. In just a few months, we'll be able to buy lottery tickets at any 7-11. Why not be able to gamble with MUCH more favorable odds at a Casino? The city/state would have everything to gain from something like that.

Tribal gaming has left a bad taste in my mouth, however. Many of these tribal leaders have made enormous personal fortunes off of gaming that was supposed to be for the benefit of the entire tribe. I think those practices are questionable and personally don't feel it's right to support them. If the ownership group of a casino or casinos on the canal included tribal gaming corporations, I have no problem with that. However, ownership opportunities should be open to anyone regardless of ancestory.

[okcpulse]

Yes, Midtowner, I definitely agree that a casino, or a casino hotel would be an awesome addition to Bricktown. The live entertainment alone at a casino is always a huge draw, and visitors to Bricktown would be able to admire our historic warehouses and canal, enjoy one of our night clubs or restaurants, watch a movie, ride a water taxi on the canal, or drop a few bets at a casino on the river near Bricktown. I've envisioned this for years.

I am, however, happy with the election results, and I am proud to see Oklahoma break away from so many constitutional restrictions.

Just four years ago, Oklahoma didn't allow a lottery, gaming compacts or racino. Motorists paid excessive tag renewal fees based on age and value. Cities were unable to create TIF districts for economic development. Barriers stood in the way of attracting manufacturing jobs without a right to work law. State wineries had no assistance in marketing their product in their infancy as a licensed winery, and were not allowed to promote their products at special events. Opening up a domestic brewery to make strong beer was almost impossible. We allowed cockfighting and fought a growing problem with meth labs. Education revenue sources were limited.

Now look at Oklahoma today. We allow state wineries to sell directly to liquor stores and restaurants for better profitability, and you can buy a bottle at the state fair. And rumor has it that state wineries support selling wine in grocery stores. Motorists pay a flat rate for registration renewal, based on age. We are a right to work state (although many have strong feelings against the law, despite proponents reminding voters it will take time for positive effects to be felt, especially during a national recession). Cities can now set up TIF districts for economic development. We banned cockfighting, and we made it more difficult for meth-heads to set up environmentally dangerous labs. We joined 40 other states by legalizing the lottery, and legalized slot machines and card games for racetracks as well as better gaming options for indian casinos. Oklahoma City has a temporary one-cent sales tax dedicated to the overhaul of a crumbling urban school district, and education has a better future because of new revenue sources from a lottery and casino gaming. Most of all, we are less restricted today than in 2000. We still have ground to tread by becoming the last state in the nation to repeal the ban on giving tattoos, and repealing the ban on franchising alcoholic beverages stronger than 3.2 percent by weight, something 48 other states allow.

I don't know about you guys, but as an Oklahoman, I feel our state doesn't stick out among other states like a sore thumb as it once did. I believe the negative "buckle of the bible belt" label that was placed on our state has shifted some place else.

[floater]

Good case, okcpulse

[Luke]

OKCPulse, I agree with you. However, I did want to mention one thing. Personally, being the "buckle of the Bible belt" isn't a negative thing as you say. OKC and Oklahoma have all the things you mention going for it, in addition to conservative, moral and yes, Christian values. It's not a negative, it's a positive!

[mranderson]

Actually, being ANYWHERE in the "bible belt" is a negative. This gives our state the image that we are nothing but a bunch of bible toating religious zeilots who do nothing but try to push strict morals on everyone.

There are a lot of people who will not visit this state because they think all the people will do nothing but call them sinners and tell them God will strike them dead for going into casinos, buying lottery tickets, going into night clubs, and the like.

I, for one, want that holy roller image gone from this area. It is embarrasing.

[Luke]

Obviously, you've had some bad experiences with Christians, mranderson. I am just as offended as you are when it comes to people who try to push their strict morals on me. However, if that happens, I like to strive for levelheaded debate. Usually, that can be acheived. Then it doesn't become a shouting match, but a logical discussion. Christianity, the way Jesus lived it, is something quite different than the way many people nowadays live it. And those "religious zealots" you're speaking of aren't doing anything to bring more people into the fold. In fact, they are pushing people like yourself away as well as giving Christians like me a bad name.

[okcpulse]

On that note, Luke, I recommend reading the book "Whan Bad Christians Happen To Good People." It is definitely an eye-opener. It points out that too many churches have turned their attention completely to the wrong sins by spending too much time preaching about gambling, drinking, the way we dress, and the music we listen to. The author points out that the real sins people should focus on is greed, selfishness, bigotry and pride. Those are sins that go largely ignored by the general church body, because the status quo gets in the way.

Anyhow, back to the subject of this thread, I am thankful that the corner lot got sold. It's an odd corner in an urban district. My real complaint about the canal are the piles of dirt left behind by construction next to Chelinos. Those piles have been there for several years. Isn't it time to, oh, I don't know, put some sort of sidewalk or landscaping where there is now an eyesore. Also, I hope the lot next to Zio's gets developed into a multi-use structure, mixed residential, retail or office. A modest 8-story building isn't bad, but it would be nice to see the corner lot developed into a fifteen story hotel.

Continue the Renaissance!!!

[Midtowner]

okcpulse -- I concur.

[Patrick]

okcpulse, I hear you on your canal comments. Unfortunately, as you know, those mounds of dirt are on private property, so there isn't much the city can do about it. I'm not sure what the owners of those properties are waiting on. The theater and Bass Pro are built now. Seems like they'd go ahead and lower rent a little to try to attract some tenants. Unfortunately, manyof the property owners down there are just too greedy.
I don't like the empty space below Laughing Fish/Zios. I realize there's no basement in that building, but it seems like Jim Brewer, the owner of the property could add some landscaping or maybe even enclose the area and build a small deli or something. Brewer just really irks me sometimes. You have to like the man though because he's really the one you started Bricktown, but sometimes he just really drags his feet on his properties.

In regards to the lot next to Zios.....I agree with you. We need to see less surface parking in Bricktown, especially right on the canal. I'd love to see a few new buildings built next to Zios. Maybe a couple of nice restaurants or a nice large department store.

For parking in Bricktown, I think we need to consider building mixed structures....with businesses on the ground levels and parking above......the Bricktown garage actually has a few businesses at ground/street level, so that's a good example. I suppose on that Zio's lot, one could build a restaurant complex with a parking garage above.