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Imagine if every plan and every dream could come true …

“Mindboggling” - Ron Norick.

If it comes to pass, no major street will go untouched downtown. Education, culture, housing and retail could be boosted far more than most people may realize. Someone is playing for really big stakes, far bigger than discussed so far.

Downtown is about to undergo changes that could arguably rival the original MAPS program. Developing ….

So we know that even on the busiest night in Bricktown, not only can be spaces be found, but they’re pretty cheap too considering they’re in a busy downtown entertainment district.

But …

Problems persist. The Power Alley Parking Garage is in the middle of all the action and is clean, safe and well run. Not sure why they still had empty spaces last night when parking was free. The BPI lots north of Main Street, however, are a different story. I can see the problem here. First, the name is confusing and gives no hint to location or place. The entry is hidden. Half the lighting was out. The lots are manned and I’ve never heard of any problems back there.

Consultants have suggested putting up better signage, changing the name, providing better lighting and most importantly, opening up Oklahoma Avenue as the main entrance. I’ve yet to hear anybody argue with these suggestions and everybody seems to agree it’s important they be followed.

So when is that going to happen?????

Finally, the $10 cap announced by almost all of Bricktown’s parking operators a few weeks ago seems to be holding. That goes a long way in reversing the image of price gouging that followed previous instances where people were charged up to $20 a space.

For years I’ve asked the tough questions posed by some of you readers. I’ve explained to Bricktown property owners and merchants your frustration about not being able to find affordable parking spots on busy event nights.

Tonight I now know those of you who feel this way are …. forgive me … completely deluded.

It had to be said. There’s a point where perception totally disconnects with reality. We’ve hit that point.

It’s 8 p.m., Wednesday night. The sold out opening game for the Oklahoma City Thunder has been underway for an hour. The Bricktown folks conducted a little experiment tonight. They insisted that during the Hornets’ tenure at Ford Center the Bricktown garage next to the ballpark and the parking lots north of Main Street never filled up. So, what would happen if they opened the lots up for free for the evening and made every effort to publicize the effort in the newspaper, on radio and television?

The north parking lots and the garage still didn’t fill up. There are dozens of empty spaces available in the north lot, and as of 15 minutes ago, there were still 30 open spaces at the garage.

Oh, by the way, these spaces are never more than $5. Never.

The Bricktown folks are right - based on what I’m seeing tonight, it’s hard to believe they would ever be in a situation where they don’t have open, affordable parking spaces.

Could Bricktown make better accomodations to encourage retail development? Sure. Could Bricktown do a better job at educating the public where to park? You bet. But in the overall scheme of things, it’s difficult to understand any more what all the complaining is about.

It’s time to move on.

I spoke to George Hobson, owner of Hobby’s Hoagies, the other night and all doubters should know he’s indeed close to opening at the Legacy at Arts Quarter. He’s delayed a couple weeks (typical construction stuff) but expect his shop to be open by mid-November.

The boys at www.thelostogle.com bring us this latest tidbit - the Wichita, Kansas newspaper has created a Thunder section. Though the enthusiasm for such a beat is bit mixed in the first column, it still goes to show that the impact of the NBA’s arrival goes far beyond city limits.

Does this make Oklahoma City a regional city? Was it a regional city all along and we just never knew? Or am I the only one a bit surprised by all this?

Here’s some  more information on how SandRidge is looking at its new downtown campus:

- The company is not looking to get a pass on just razing every old building around the former Kerr McGee Tower. Company officials and architects are meeting with city planners and local leaders about how best to address the overall campus. Company officials know they face a likely difficult hearing with the Downtown Design Review Committee if they propose tearing down any of the older buildings.

ABOVE PHOTO: “CONSTRUCTION of new additions to Oklahoma City’s skyline is running right on schedule. Four of the major downtown projects, costing more than $45 million, are shown in this aerial photograph. Upper left is the $1 million-plus high-rise parking garage being built by the Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority. Well on the way toward completion is the 35-story Liberty Tower (upper right) costing $18.5 million. Rising out of the ground in the center of the photograph is the 30-story, $20 million office tower of Kerr- McGee Corp., and Fidelity Bank’s $6 million, 14-story office building (lower right) has most of its steel framework in place.” Staff photo by Al McLaughlin probably taken about 12/5/1970.

- At least two accomplished local developers would like to move forward with a conversion of the former Braniff building and adjoining tower into housing. SandRidge hasn’t discounted such possibilities either, but it’s clear they are not thrilled with the older buildings hiding the central tower either.

- The NYC architectural firm Rogers Marvel Architects are big followers of urban planner William Whyte and say they’re well aware of past mistakes made downtown where towers were built with large open plazas around them (and thus are unused and have little or no connection with pedestrians).

- City planners and officials are not very happy about the prospect of tearing down the older buildings.

More to come later.

-Steve

I’ll try to post later tonight. Interesting story coming out tomorrow - avoid kneejerk reactions.

One of the largest clearances of old historic buildings in 25 years may soon be pursued downtown…. developing.