That’s the question as plans change once again in Lower Bricktown. More than a year ago developer Randy Hogan was planning on building this two-story retail complex between Harkins Theater and Toby Keith’s I Love this Bar and Grill. Now we know from a story in today’s business section that plans have changed.
The update has posters at www.okctalk.com upset - they’ve typically not been big fans of Hogan. One longtime poster and visitor to this blog commented that the latest changes are a reminder of why he preferred one-time Hogan rival Moshe Tal.
Over the past decade, Tal has sued more than two dozen city officials, at least three of his own former legal teams and several judges who heard his cases - all of this pretty much related to his complaints over not being selected for the Lower Bricktown project.
Before any construction can take place, Hogan will need to obtain design approval from the Urban Renewal Authority - a board whose members are selected by the mayor and where deliberations are required to be conducted at a public meeting.
April 24th, 2008 at 7:30 am
Really, we’ll never know how Tal’s plans would’ve ended up. But, they sure looked good on paper. And, with David Cordish as part of his plan, I only wonder what could’ve been.
Randy Hogan has now screwed up two developments: Lower Bricktown and East Wharf. I’m still waiting for the bike shops and boardwalk that he promised at East Wharf. And the Dick Clark’s American Bandstand, Sega Gameworks, and IMAX theater in Lower Bricktown. Meanwhile, we have surface parking on the canal, and a suburban development, not unlike something you’d see in Edmond or on Memorial Rd.
April 24th, 2008 at 11:21 am
Hogan has “duped” the city and Urban Renewal yet again. Young professionals and downtowners are tired of his sub-par watered down Lower Bricktown. Urban Renewal continues to allow these developers to water down their plans and delay construction timelines that they were originally chosen for. This is getting ridiculous and the fact that Mayor Cornett and others keep dismissing it is sickening. I’m ready for leaders with guts to quit accepting sub-par development. Downtown does not need any more one story developments. Have some vision Hogan, this makes me puke (and probably Mike Gundy)..