Steve is such a tease...

[jbrown84]

Yeah Tulsa would probably offer them for a steal. They keep losing jobs like crazy.

[Oh GAWD the Smell!]

Tulsa's hills are still in a bubble though. We can pick 'em up from Jed for a song.

[Luke]

Yeah Tulsa would probably offer them for a steal. They keep losing jobs like crazy.

Maybe that bigger-than-bricktown casino thing will help the job situation in T-Town.

[bornhere]

Why St. Anthony... because several years ago, the groundwork was laid for a 'medical/research corridor' connecting St. A with OUHSC - or whatever it's called now. Although that would be mostly north of downtown, it would affect downtown streets, at least the north/south ones, and it would involve education.

This also includes much of the area that has been left 'up in the air', at least as far as we outsiders can tell, by the breakup of the Banta partnership.

We don't think of this area as being downtown, buy we didn't think of the C2S area as being downtown, either. What I'm imagining could be sort of a 'Core to Tenth Street' — maybe as part of MAPS 3.

[Luke]

Why St. Anthony... because several years ago, the groundwork was laid for a 'medical/research corridor' connecting St. A with OUHSC - or whatever it's called now. Although that would be mostly north of downtown, it would affect downtown streets, at least the north/south ones, and it would involve education.

This also includes much of the area that has been left 'up in the air', at least as far as we outsiders can tell, by the breakup of the Banta partnership.

We don't think of this area as being downtown, buy we didn't think of the C2S area as being downtown, either. What I'm imagining could be sort of a 'Core to Tenth Street' — maybe as part of MAPS 3.

What about Devon?

[wsucougz]

"Imagine if every plan and every dream could come true …"

-Steve's blog

A billion dollar private endowment that will fund city projects.

[jbrown84]

You know or that's your guess?

[wsucougz]

You know or that's your guess?

Guess. Something like that is the only thing I can think of that could "make every dream come true." Public or Private. It would probably average $50-100 million/year investment dividends. That's a trolley system one year, convention center the next, canal extension the year after and on and on...

[Midtowner]

A billion dollar private endowment that will fund city projects.

That sounds like it has to be the answer.

A billion or something like that.

[metro]

I agree with the poster who said this will be mass transit, something similar to Portland's streetcar system. The only other hint it could be is some massive Core to Shore updates. If you look at the hints Steve is dropping, along with comments like "mind-boggling" from former Mayor Ron Norick. It would have to be something along these lines.

Sorry folks, but a canal extension isn't "mindboggling" to me, let alone the former Mayor/architect of the MAPS program. MAPS transformed this city, the canal did not (well some but not mindboggling), the canal still fails to attract retail or tenants to it's prime space in it's most dense part. Secondly, the canal has had multiple surveys because original plans were to connect it to Myriad Gardens. Nor does a major canal extension rival the MAPS program. They have said time and again it would not be feasible due to elevation changes to do it to the river and other parts of downtown. A canal does not revolutionary effect all parts of downtown, education and such in a community. Does the Venice canal have large effects on education in Venice? My vote is on an extensive streetcar or trolley system for downtown (hits all major downtown streets easily and cheaply).

[CCOKC]

My guess is something along the lines of what the Basses did in downtown Fort Worth and then some. That would be the retail and hotel end of the deal and maybe some public gathering space.

[Midtowner]

Does the Venice canal have large effects on education in Venice? My vote is on an extensive streetcar or trolley system for downtown (hits all major downtown streets easily and cheaply).

OKC =/= Venice

Really... the Venice canal system, or rather the fact that the canal system exists is going to eventually do Venice in. Currently, Venice is sinking, so presumably, when the city is below sea level (and the sea), education in the city might feel a bit of a pinch.

Also, the city is largely uninhabited.

[metro]

But you're missing my point, extending our canal is not mindboggling, and will not effect everything in the hints mentioned, especially education. My money is on mass transit.

[ssandedoc]

Is he breaking the story in the Sunday Oklahoman then?

[ssandedoc]

Did anyone notice this under mindboggling?

# RB Says:
October 31st, 2008 at 2:12 pm

Huge oil deposits discovered under downtown OKC?


# slackmeyer Says:
October 31st, 2008 at 2:45 pm

Only under a certain downtown restaurant, RB.

[Steve]

that was a joke

[CuatrodeMayo]

Is this what you are talking about?

http://www.newsok.com/devon-impacts-...rticle/3318005

Thats great and all but not spectacular annoucement I was expecting.

Please tell me there is more.

[shane453]

I hope there's more to this

[Luke]

that was a joke

What was?

[GWB]

What was?

I think he was referring to the post above his.

[Karried]

'Double the economic impact'.... I guess that's one way to 'own' a city. I'm hoping there is more to this story too... time will tell.

[jbrown84]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[shane453]

I mean, if they decide they're going to set aside the extra 200 million per year in economic impact they get from Devon and use it for specific public projects, it's a big deal... Like a permanent fund for high profile public works projects like light rail phases or parks or C2S or something

[betts]

It's the "stunned" word that has me puzzled. That implies that Steve had never considered whatever this is as a possibility, or thought it was such a long shot it would never happen.

What would stun me? A outside investor of impeccable credentials with a plan to create something remarkable downtown in retail/hotel/business. (Neiman Marcus putting a store downtown would stun me, Nordstrom would only excite me. A Ritz Carleton or Four Seasons would stun me. ). OklaDisney would stun me. An Indian casino downtown would not. A plan to create a subway system would stun me. Light rail would not, although it would be nice. Getting a major league baseball team would stun me. A massive residential tower would probably stun me. But I can't think of anything that would fit all the hints given above, so I guess I'll just have to be surprised.

[blangtang]

so a TIF resulting from DVN's building is earth shattering...I thought this was about the new OKC mob 'owning' downtown....