Michael probably wasn’t counting on me taking his comment and turning it into a post. But it’s interesting enough that I don’t want to see it skipped over. Michael’s been in the trenches and has done a lot of work to promote downtown preservation. He’s also someone who does more than just speak a good line - he’s taken on some very admired projects himself along with partner Randy Floyd. So, without any more delay…
Of course, there is no actual parking problem in Bricktown . . . only an inaccurate perception and the resultant whining by people that are accustomed to pulling their SUV into a free parking spot right in front of the entrances of the strip malls or chain restaurants they typically frequent. And, I think paying for parking is the bigger issue . . . not a shortage of parking . . . people in OKC are used to parking in a giant paved lot at the mall for nothing. If you get a ticket parked at a meter during the posted enforcement hours, pay the $10 ticket and don’t do it
again.I love to quote former City Councilman Gorey James’ comment from Bricktown’s early days after Spaghetti Warehouse had been open a few months in 1989 and people were bitching about the lack of parking . . . he said . . . “It’s been a long time since we’ve seen much congestion in downtown Oklahoma City . . . and we are looking forward to seeing a lot more congestion in the future.” The Bricktown Spaghetti Warehouse restaurant took in almost $4 Million it’s first year . . . selling mediocre Italian food, so I guess people were both very hungry for an urban dining experience and somehow able to find a spot to park. Also, on the 4th of July weekend a few years back when the Bricktown Canal opened, over 250,000 visitors reportedly passed through Bricktown and there was way less parking than there is today.
So, the complainers should park where they can find a spot, walk a few blocks if necessary and shut their pie holes.
Side Note: Spaghetti Warehouse paid $189,000.00 in 1989 for the ten story building that they still only occupy two floors of . . . Those upper floors don’t have great ceiling height, but they do have incredible wood floors and huge rough sawn wood columns and beams . . . the building is a great mixed use development opportunity for a developer that really knows their stuff. How many $Mil would that building bring today . . . pretty savvy real estate investment.
-Michael Smith
June 28th, 2008 at 10:41 am
You know, I have to agree with this: “So, the complainers should park where they can find a spot, walk a few blocks if necessary and shut their pie holes.”
One of the things Oklahoma City never lost from ‘89 was the desire to always be able to ride up to a saloon and find a hitchin’ post right out front.
Just do a little walkin’ y’all. The good mayor, his health-conscious honor, will be proud.
June 28th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Michael Smith does know his stuff, and, as you said, he’s been around the block (no pun intended) many times … can you say, “He tried to save the architecturally significant YMCA when it was NOT structurally damaged after the Murrah bombing, and keep it from becoming a street-level parking lot?”
A down-side to the parking matter might be for people who have disabilities who really cannot walk for any significant distance. I’m not there yet (though I do have to pace myself and walk slowly), but that time may come, even though Michael, doubtless in better shape than me, probably can walk a country mile without breathing hard. My wife, though, is there already. Probably off-topic, but I’ll throw it in, just the same.
Good post, Steve, and good comments, Michael!
June 29th, 2008 at 8:10 am
Though I can see Michael Smith’s point on the matter of parking in OKC’s beautifully rejuvenated Bricktown district, I have a pie-hole opinion of my own. Sure you can justify the paid parking by noting the traffic the area gets despite the cost of parking, but what are we as a city going to do when the novelty of Bricktown wears off and the numbers start to decrease. Will we then lower the cost of parking or simply make it free? Likely not, we’ll just find a new part of town to develop and milk for all it’s worth and probably watch the Bricktown area erode as businesses close because another area has brought on the heat.
Most of the frustration with paid parking is that tax dollars paid for the area and consumers and residents feel as thought they are having to pay twice to enjoy the area. Perhaps a better communication of who owns the properties, how they are regulated, and occasional “Free” events would lessen the animosity (sp) felt by those having their cake but keeping their pie holes closed.
June 29th, 2008 at 9:40 am
Paying to park for the Priviledge to enjoy an evening in Bricktown is absurd. We’ve helped the developers build the district with tax dollars and the walk certainly doesn’t bother me, however, the weather plays a major factor with wind, rain, humidity and heat can take a toll on one’s appearance. We usually dine with 3 other couples the meal with drinks, appetizers and/ or dessert plus tip can total $45-$65 per couple, then ADD parking. Now with gas prices soaring we’ll just cut cost by avoiding Bricktown all together and feed our pie holes in another area of town.
June 29th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
I recently moved back home to OKC after spending 10 years in Ft. Worth, TX. Ten years ago I watched with amazement on my first visit to downtown Ft. Worth when I saw the streets full of people, the pubs and restaurants full and the movie theaters with people waiting to buy tickets, a large 4 star hotel and others available. I saw construction with the Bass Performance Hall (now a world class center) being built. I was fresh from OKC with a lackluster Bricktown and a Myriad Convention Center and really not much parking available.
When I returned home I was pleasantly surprised to see the Skirvin Hilton and the wonderful changes to Bricktown, the refurbished Cox center and the new Ford Center. What surprised me was the difference in the number of people I saw on the streets. Where Ft. Worth was still crawling with people, OKC was sprinkled with a group here and another group here, but nothing, nothing like what i was used to in Ft. Worth. It amazed me because the population of the the cities and the counties are very similar.
It didn’t take me long to find out why my birth city and chosen city of living lacked so much activity in “Our Entertainment District”. You see, Ft. Worth has from the beginning of their overhaul of downtown offered free parking in all lots after 5 PM weekdays and all day on weekends. You can imagine what the parking lots look like. In fact, the multi-story parking facility next to two of the three movie theaters has the same parking rules. Even when there is a large concert or event at the Bass Hall, it’s still free. What a concept. Really it’s: what a SMART concept. Why in OKC can’t we afford to offer the same deal? Most of the parking lots are owned by the city and leased out to parking lot businesses. Why not put free parking at certain times into the language of the leases, or better yet, take back the operation of those lots and then operate them in a customer friendly way.
In many ways, we still lack the vision to see the forest for the trees in OKC. Hopefully, some smart politician will take the lead in bringing us up into what will be an even better experience for downtown and Bricktown, and most importantly the customers who spend their money there.
June 30th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
When the walk from any of the numerous free places to leave the vehicle becomes viewed as an integral part of the eve, rather than a chore one must endure merely to save some coin, one may save the coin and keep the BP low at the same time. Or one can pay it forward and share the saved coinage with the lad or lass who takes such grand care of you at your establishment of choice.
If old balding chubs like me can walk and not gritch, evenc ome to enjoy it, many more can as well.
June 30th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
Idiots… The reason Bricktown will ultimately fail will come down to this vary topic. Well that and the idiot developers that continue to push restaurants or clubs. I can understand certain lots that happen to be REALLY close to the Ford Center, maybe pay a few bucks for those. However, I shouldn’t have to pay just to go eat. Also, maybe I don’t want to walk!! Maybe I’ll do enough of that while I’m at work all day and want to spend a nice evening going to a nice restaurant without sweeting before I get there. We want to compare ourselves with other downtowns that have prosperous retail and restaurant combinations but guess what… they all have free parking or at least a good amount of it. Also, I’ve been down there on the 4th and couldn’t find a parking place, much less a place to watch the fireworks. Retail won’t make it in Bricktown without more convenient and free parking. Bricktown won’t make it without more retail… So I will continue to go down there for special events and to go to the Ford Center for shows, but I won’t go down there to eat any more. Take that and stick it in your pie hole, keep seeing those restaurants close their doors.
July 4th, 2008 at 5:27 am
Jess, nice comments. Please don’t ever let the facts get in the way of you forming an opinion. Parking will be improved in Bricktown/Downtown and retail will come. By the way, Lit Clothing just opened by Starbucks in the last couple of weeks.
The NBA coming to town will by a catalyst to spur more development. One Hotel opening this year, two others breaking ground in the next 6 months, you are right, bricktown is doomed.
July 6th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
Yes, that’s why this weekend my wife and I wanted to go downtown and check it out. Guess what… we drove around for a full hour and every single lot and garage was …you guessed it full. We ended up leaving and instead ate up north, where we could easily find parking. I’m not saying it’s doomed, but there is a lot of room to grow also. I think it would grow a lot faster if this was addressed. Oh and I loved how the lots kept increasing their prices, $15-20. Very classy.
July 6th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Couldn’t find parking???? Are you kidding me? $15-20 parking…I’m not sure where you were, but it wasn’t downtown or bricktown. I was in Bricktown all evening, there were people everywhere and both the Bricktown Garage, the Santa fe garage, and the lot north of main street all had availablility at $5.
Now, bricktown and downtown do have a lot of room to grow. There are many things that require attention. Communication of where to park might be right at the top. These districts are not perfect, but they are something to be proud of since taxpayers are a large reason they are so successful.
Bricktown and downtown aren’t for everyone and other parts of the City do offer a great place to enjoy an evening out.
July 6th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
Considering that I saw $10 being charged Saturday afternoon when crowds were at a minimum (plenty of open parking spaces to be found, no major event going on), I’m curious to hear more details about Jess M.’s experience and I’m not quite ready to dismiss his complaints as fantasy. Further, I’m interested in knowing whether people consider the Santa Fe garage or north parking lots to be easily accessible.
-Steve Lackmeyer
July 8th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
I was down there around 6:30-7:30 PM on the 4th. I would liked to have been down there earlier, however, i worked that day and didn’t get off work in time to be down there “all day”. I’m sure during the afternoon there was a lot of parking. I saw NO $5 parking, the cheapest was $10 and a few $15s. So I’m not sure if they up the price towards evening or what. I passed 2 parking garages and they both had cones out front and a “full” sign posted. So I think the solution is if you can arrive down there early, ahead of the majority then you’ll find parking easy and cheaper. Not sure, but I’m not exaggerating or lying either. We really wanted to be down there but were tired of driving in circles hoping someone would open up a spot.
July 8th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
I hope this doesn’t double post, I tried to submit the comment but didn’t work earlier apparently. I’m not exaggerating or lying, I passed at least 2 parking garages both full. The cheapest parking I found was $10, no $5s. I’m not sure if they are raising prices as the crowds get bigger or what. I was down there between 6:30-7:30 PM on the 4th. I would like to have been down there sooner but had to work. So maybe when some were down there a few hours earlier, parking may not have been an issue. I just got tired of driving around in a circle hoping that someone would open up a spot. And yes I did drive up several blocks and cars were lining the streets. I have received a ticket once a long time ago down there and didn’t want to risk parking somewhere I wasn’t sure.