Crossroads Mall

[ljbab728]

Sorry, what do you mean? I guess they have to go somewhere. Just saying it's not going to translate into competitive economic development for south OKC.

I have totally no interest in and never frequent the bingo parlors but you have to admit they fill up the parking lots. That has to translate into some benefits for adjoining businesses.

[rcjunkie]

I have totally no interest in and never frequent the bingo parlors but you have to admit they fill up the parking lots. That has to translate into some benefits for adjoining businesses.

If you call trashed filled parking lots and illegal parking a benefit, then yes.

[ljbab728]

[/B]
If you call trashed filled parking lots and illegal parking a benefit, then yes.

LOL. That could be any parking lot in any shopping center in OKC. Having a bingo parlor has nothing to do with that.

[stlokc]

In St. Louis, where I live, there are at least 2 or 3 malls that have gone the way of Crossroads.

I thought this announcement today was interesting. Jamestown Mall was built about the sane time as Crossroads and was apparently a big deal for a while. But the area around it never grew and is now in very real decline. While the surrounding area has better demographics than Crossroads,(for the time being) the worst parts of the city are creeping in and the mall has been abandoned.

Nevertheless, after an exhaustive year-long process, this was unveiled today:

www.slcec.com/jamestownmall.html

Not sure what the difference is between OKC and STL but it seems the community is taking a pro-active approach to reimagining and redevelopment before it gets too bad. I wonder if the powers that be in OKC would undertake such a project? I promise, this area is only marginally better than the Crossroads area, and this is a more isolated location. Just food for thought.

[Thunder]

I want to see an entertainment district surrounding the mall. There are plenty of good locations for that. The southeast corner of the I-240 and I-35 provides plenty of space for a theme park (not relocation of Frontier City), but a suitable theme park mixed with water park and a hotel to go in there. If OKC was not managed by uptight morons, we could also add in a casino there or two. We need entertainment. That is it. We have stupid retailers building nearby down the highways instead of locating inside Crossroads. So, entertainment is our last hope before going the way of "Shepard Mall" business/government mall. Hell, a casino can transform an anchor completely, both inside and out. We have a hotel in the area, but there is the need for more hotels. Repayed parking with more landscaping. Put in a major outdoor fountain or two.

It can be done. WE JUST NEED BUSINESS OWNERS TO JUST FRICKIN TAKE THE RISK!!! And we need customers to start SUPPORTING the mall by actually SHOPPING. Get it going. GO GO GO!

[ljbab728]

If OKC was not managed by uptight morons, we could also add in a casino there or two.

Thunder, it's obvious that you have no clue what it takes to get a casino approved in particular location. OKC's "uptight morons" have very little say about anything like that.

[Thunder]

Yes they do. They can start working with the state government.

[Larry OKC]

It is true that Mayor Cornett was definitely cool to the idea (almost frigid) when a casino was proposed in Bricktown. When the same tribe proposed building a resort complex out near Frontier City, the Mayor was against it as well. That said, ljbab728 is correct, there are a myriad of legalities that prevent a casino from being in most of OKC. Crossroads location may be just on the fringe area but still there are multiple levels tribes have to go through to get land put into trust so they can build a casino. Not just any tribe can build where ever they want to, they have to have a historical claim to the area in question (this is why you don't see competing casinos from the various tribes built next to each other. Remington Park in OKC only got there because it was one of the "Racinos" approved in the State Question several years ago. Then representative (now Governor) Fallin was also opposed to the one by Frontier City for the above stated reasons. Unlikely now that she is governor that she would support it by a statewide vote or other means.

[kevinpate]

Yes they do. They can start working with the state government.

Thunder, there are some who would suggest there are far more uptight morons at the state government level than any city government level, even more than all the uptight morons you can find in the combined greater metro area. Some would even opine they tend to also be even more uptight and moronic than their local government cousins, and nearly on par with their federal government cousins.

In any event, an absence of casinos inside OKC is not as simple as you seem to think it might be.

[Patrick]

Crossroads is simply going to become a redlight district, full of strip clubs and prostitute centers.

[Thunder]

Casinos don't have to be managed by tribes.

[Larry OKC]

Thunder, it is my understanding that under Oklahoma law they do (unless they are one of the state approved "Racinos"), pre-existing horse racing facilities were allowed to add slot machines on the premises. So basically, to get a non-tribal casino built it would most likely have to be approved at the state level and probably would have to be another Racino. Oklahoma city would be just as opposed to it because it would be direct competition with Remington Park. The casino and horse racing facilities are apparently scattered throughout the state where they have their own territories to avoid direct competition. Then again, there may be a moratorium t=on Race Tracks too, so that might also have to be changed. Not saying it can't happen but it isn't as simple as someone just buying the land and starting construction.

[Thunder]

Well, Oklahomans can join together to push for a change. How about annual % of the profits for education?

[ljbab728]

Well, Oklahomans can join together to push for a change. How about annual % of the profits for education?

I think that has already been tried, Thunder. Most Oklahoma gambling issues are supposed to support education. And Indian gaming is not just a state issue. I'm not saying your idea is frivoulous, just that it is is "pie in the sky" and won't happen.

[Larry OKC]

Agree with the above, we aren't trying to go all "wet blanket" on you Thunder, just helping you and others that have suggested the same thing many times, that it isn't as easy as it sounds. I personally enjoy casinos and have spent many a vacation in Vegas. Have also spent a few bucks locally but don't seem to win as often (with Vegas, I often break even on the gambling and sometimes pay for the trip too!). Have yet to break even locally. But I look at it as my entertainment expense (as opposed to movies, theme parks etc) and don't gamble more than I can afford to lose.

[Spartan]

LOL. That could be any parking lot in any shopping center in OKC. Having a bingo parlor has nothing to do with that.

But it may be an inverse relationship thing, I'd imagine that the bingo parlors are a big part of "what is wrong" with south OKC in terms of many things.

[megax11]

They need to turn the entire area into something retail oriented, so southside can see more spending.

[Spartan]

They need to turn the entire area into something retail oriented, so southside can see more spending.

No. Get it through your thick head already. This thread has been literally 48 pages of you asserting that Crossroads has to stay retail and other people telling you that it's best for the southside to move on and abandon ship. Get over Crossroads already.

Now commence 48 more pages of this.

[earlywinegareth]

The only way I could see CRM becoming viable retail again would be to implode the place and start from scratch. Then build something pretty amazing and put a lot of resources to insuring it was a safe and pleasant experience, and a better experience than Penn Square. Megabucks.

But I think it's too late...MWC and Moore now have their own retail centers. The rest of us southsiders go to Sooner or Penn Square if only a mall will do.

[bluedogok]

The Crossroads site is better suited for industrial, which is what has always surrounded it. If there were any new shopping developed down there it would more than likely be a lifestyle center where one of the older strip malls are located, but as long as those are generating some revenue then the owners will never be forced into it.

[megax11]

No. Get it through your thick head already. This thread has been literally 48 pages of you asserting that Crossroads has to stay retail and other people telling you that it's best for the southside to move on and abandon ship. Get over Crossroads already.

Now commence 48 more pages of this.

LMAO! Buddy, I didn't say CRM had to remain. I'm over CRM. Just because I said they need to turn the ENTIRE AREA into SOMETHING retail oriented, doesn't mean I meant CRM.

LOL again.

[megax11]

The only way I could see CRM becoming viable retail again would be to implode the place and start from scratch. Then build something pretty amazing and put a lot of resources to insuring it was a safe and pleasant experience, and a better experience than Penn Square. Megabucks.

But I think it's too late...MWC and Moore now have their own retail centers. The rest of us southsiders go to Sooner or Penn Square if only a mall will do.

Even a retail center like the ones in MWC, Moore, and Reno and Mcarthur would do. That's better than having a stupid office complex, or inudustrial crap.

[soonerliberal]

LMAO! Buddy, I didn't say CRM had to remain. I'm over CRM. Just because I said they need to turn the ENTIRE AREA into SOMETHING retail oriented, doesn't mean I meant CRM.

LOL again.

Outside of flea markets, retail at Crossroads is not feasible. AT ALL.

Let's recap the previous pages:

1) Demographics around Crossroads are no longer retail friendly. Reputable national retailers will not return to the area.
2) The general geographic area is saturated with the types of chains that historically been in the Crossroads area. The types of stores that used to be in the periphery of Crossroads have moved west, east, and south.
3) The Crossroads area is not conducive for 21st century retail growth.

The fantasy that Crossroads will return to its glory days even with a brand new rebuilt mall is pure fantasy. It's that simple.

[ljbab728]

But it may be an inverse relationship thing, I'd imagine that the bingo parlors are a big part of "what is wrong" with south OKC in terms of many things.

Spartan, I live in a nice area of NW OKC that has a bingo parlor in a shopping center about a mile from me. It's not a south OKC problem.

[megax11]

Outside of flea markets, retail at Crossroads is not feasible. AT ALL.

Let's recap the previous pages:

1) Demographics around Crossroads are no longer retail friendly. Reputable national retailers will not return to the area.
2) The general geographic area is saturated with the types of chains that historically been in the Crossroads area. The types of stores that used to be in the periphery of Crossroads have moved west, east, and south.
3) The Crossroads area is not conducive for 21st century retail growth.

The fantasy that Crossroads will return to its glory days even with a brand new rebuilt mall is pure fantasy. It's that simple.

Not a rebuilt mall. I was thinking more of a huge plaza.