American Fidelity

[Oil Capital]

Yes they did. OPUBCO moving out of downtown was a bad move for downtown OKC.

Indeed, the former family ownership made this possible by putting their building out there in the first place.

[Rover]

I don't even know what could possibly be strategic from a sheer growth perspective, because in that dept all the 'burbs are getting their arse handed to them by Moore lately.

Let's not let facts get in the way. Edmond: April sales taxes $3.44 million. 72% increase of building permits 2012 over 2011. Moore: April sales tax $2.03 million. -8% building permits 2012 over 2011. Moore is hardly running circles around Edmond or handing their arses to them. The fact that Moore has some very visible retail areas is great, but hardly shows a referendum on the way their city is managed. Sometimes truth is stretched to tell a good biased story.

While I enthusiastically support and encourage core growth because I believe it is the proper way to improving our city, I don't think that denial of facts serves the purpose of objective analysis. Edmond has a fine lifestyle and is recognized for it. Sometimes the misrepresentations on here and aspersions thrown out come off as jealousy. Moore and south-side has some great development areas and pockets of wealth. It is developing a very nice regional shopping corridor. It is nice in areas, and so is Edmond. It has problems in areas, and so does Edmond. Moore has some corrupt and stupid people, and so does Edmond. But because OPUBCO moved out TOWARDS Edmond or that AF bought their building doesn't make them stupid or our city administrators evil or incompetent. Both are bigger sprawls than serve our city best. We can wish it wasn't so, but to deny the appeal of their lifestyle is just head in the stand.

[NoOkie]

That is pretty close to what I was getting at Spartan. I am for creating pedestrian oriented traditional neighborhood development everywhere it is possible. Than is much easier to do in downtown Edmond than it is on Britton Road.

It would require some gentrification, but old downtown Britton could turn into something nice. Also, I believe the Gateway Academy ended up being purchased by a developer(Is that still in litigation with Mustard Seed, or what?) so there's some potential there. I don't know how the crime and poverty issues in the Highlands would factor in with that.

This is mostly a pipe dream on my part. I commute down 92nd and work at One Benham Place, so more options on my way to work would be great. At least we have the new Taco Place were Starbucks used to be.

[Just the facts]

Indeed, the former family ownership made this possible by putting their building out there in the first place.

It is the gift that keeps on taking.

[Oil Capital]

It is the gift that keeps on taking.

LOL Well said

[Just the facts]

It would require some gentrification, but old downtown Britton could turn into something nice.

Would that be at Britton Road and the railroad? Honestly, I didn't even know that little district existed until 2 minute ago. That place would be great for redevelopment and with the railroad right-of-way right there it would make an excelent regional rail transit station.

[Rover]

The little hamlet of Britton has struggled for decades now by being surrounded by a fairly low income area. With the renewed interest and investments at Bway Extension and Britton, it might be ripe for a little refurbishment. It actually has a nest of old buildings that, if rehabbed, could be made into something kind of neat. It used to have a pretty good greasy spoon (Britton Cafe), a modeling agency, a few antique and consignment stores, etc. Don't know what has survived. But it would take real work and real $$$.

[Just the facts]

If that area got the same kind of street-scaping that the Plaza District got it could be very cool. Just because the area around it might be on the lower income side doesn't mean they don't need places to eat, shop, and work that are neighborhod and pedestrian friendly. This would be a perfect place to test out my neighborhood based bus system. Instead of long distance buses traversing the city run small capacity neighborhood buses out of a transit hub located at Western and Britton. The routes could connect all the neighborhoods in the surrounding area to the central retail/commercial district providing customers to businesses and a transportation alternative to the automobile. I wonder if AF would be interested in helping fund some of this cost since they are moving to the area.

[mcca7596]

Perhaps a hint by Steve that OPUBCO could be coming back downtown, bringing it back full circle (given the timing)?

http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/20...the-oklahoman/

[Just the facts]

OPUBCO moving back downtown would be huge.

[dankrutka]

Perhaps a hint by Steve that OPUBCO could be coming back downtown, bringing it back full circle (given the timing)?

http://blog.newsok.com/okccentral/20...the-oklahoman/

How is this a hint?

[mcca7596]

Just the fact that he's talking about their previous and current locations and showed flattering pictures of the old downtown locations. And as I said, mainly just the timing of the sale, what's the point of doing a rundown of where OPUBCO has been just because they are downsizing in their current location?

The post was on OKC Central after all, where all things downtown related are discussed. Just thought it was interesting...

[Spartan]

I also must be missing something. but I wouldn't be surprised if such a move was considered in the future.

[Pete]

I've heard they are indeed looking to move downtown, but will be staying put for a while.

Not sure what they are going to do with the printing plant but I suppose they would keep using the current location and just locate non-production staff to new offices.

But remember, they are only occupying about 5 floors of the tower, so just over 100,000 sf.

[Larry OKC]

Maybe they can take over some of the space being vacated by AF, would that make everyone less opposed?

[Just the facts]

Maybe they can take over some of the space being vacated by AF, would that make everyone less opposed?

Actually, many of us were hoping AF would move, but to downtown.

[NoOkie]

If that area got the same kind of street-scaping that the Plaza District got it could be very cool. Just because the area around it might be on the lower income side doesn't mean they don't need places to eat, shop, and work that are neighborhod and pedestrian friendly. This would be a perfect place to test out my neighborhood based bus system. Instead of long distance buses traversing the city run small capacity neighborhood buses out of a transit hub located at Western and Britton. The routes could connect all the neighborhoods in the surrounding area to the central retail/commercial district providing customers to businesses and a transportation alternative to the automobile. I wonder if AF would be interested in helping fund some of this cost since they are moving to the area.

That would be the best result, I think. I'm just worried that whoever got the Gateway Academy is just going to turn it into another Laundromat/Payday loan/drive through smoke shop mini strip. Those things just perpetuate the cycle. Renovating the old Ritz theater into a small community center might be a good thing, as well.

[Larry OKC]

There is some scaffolding around the Ritz but not sure what they are doing.

[Bailey80]

There were layoffs this week at Phil Anschutz's Examiner.com offices in Denver.


http://blogs.westword.com/latestword...f_colorado.php

[NoOkie]

There is some scaffolding around the Ritz but not sure what they are doing.

Honestly, it just looks like it's there to hold up the marquee before it falls down and kills someone.

[Just the facts]

Speaking of the Ritz theater, I am wondering if there is any chance we could come full circle back to movie theaters providing weekly entertainment via serials. With so many people today ditching cable tv and looking for more social interaction, I wonder if there is a market for bringing TV to the movies. For instance, what about showing Survivor, Amazing Race, or American Idol on the big screen in one of these old theaters. $1 to get in, a copule of bucks for popcorn and soda. Reality TV is a social event for a lot of people.

[NoOkie]

Speaking of the Ritz theater, I am wondering if there is any chance we could come full circle back to movie theaters providing weekly entertainment via serials. With so many people today ditching cable tv and looking for more social interaction, I wonder if there is a market for bringing TV to the movies. For instance, what about showing Survivor, Amazing Race, or American Idol on the big screen in one of these old theaters. $1 to get in, a copule of bucks for popcorn and soda. Reality TV is a social event for a lot of people.

I doubt it will take off. Time shifting is getting even bigger.

[Just the facts]

I doubt it will take off. Time shifting is getting even bigger.

It might not work with most TV shows but I can tell you first hand - reality TV doesn't work well with time shifting. As soon as Survivor, Idol, Bachelorette, and The Voice are over my wife in on Facebook with all her friend talking about it.

[ljbab728]

Speaking of the Ritz theater, I am wondering if there is any chance we could come full circle back to movie theaters providing weekly entertainment via serials. With so many people today ditching cable tv and looking for more social interaction, I wonder if there is a market for bringing TV to the movies. For instance, what about showing Survivor, Amazing Race, or American Idol on the big screen in one of these old theaters. $1 to get in, a copule of bucks for popcorn and soda. Reality TV is a social event for a lot of people.

Kerry, I wouldn't watch any of those shows for free so I certainly wouldn't pay to see them.

[Just the facts]

Kerry, I wouldn't watch any of those shows for free so I certainly wouldn't pay to see them.

It isn't for everyone - I don't watch them either. But I do see a bunch of women getting together after they are over and talking about them for hours, even days. Reality TV is for women what sports are for men, and you can't tell me you don't drop some coin at sports bars. Plus, Fathom Events seems to be making a living off a similar market strategy. I just think there is an emerging market out there for some of these old neighborhood theaters with only one screen.

http://www.fathomevents.com/