Comments on: Eyesores on Every Block

By: Terry

Terry — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:20:36 +0000

Eyesores?? The biggest eyesore downtown is that monstrosity of a cotton seed oil mill (I believe that’s what is is) on the south side of I-40. Pictures I’ve seen of the “Core to Shore” project show the hideous thing still there. I hope it is gone LONG before the core to shore is completed. I would support a MAP tax just for the purpose of razing it. LOL

By: Steven

Steven — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 15:48:56 +0000

Beth,

A lot of the issues you mention ARE against code violations, etc. It’s amazing what happens when people start reporting code violations, the city has to either enforce it, or work towards a solution. I encourage you to use the City’s Action Center. You can report violations and stay completely anonymous and even get back an update as to what the outcome was if you want.

http://www.okc.gov/action/Complaint.html

By: Beth

Beth — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 19:44:15 +0000

I agree parking meters need to be spruced up a bit and not look so utilitarian. However, I have another complaint other than parking meters. Has anyone but me noticed when driving across town on the expressways how many rusted, tin roofs and buildings you see? I.e., west bound on I-40 where it intersects with I-35 & 235 on the north. Those unsightly Quonset huts you see going south on I-235, looking toward Bricktown–what a view! Everywhere you look, you see these ugly, ugly eyesores. I’d like to see a city ordinance passed that requires property owners clean up vacant property–either tear it down, landscape it, paint, up, fix it up, and they have a reasonable amount of time to do it or the city will and charge the owner, plus interest, to do it.

By: mike

mike — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 15:48:32 +0000

I can think of many other things in the downtown area that are more of “eyesores” than the parking meters.

By: Blair

Blair — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 20:56:56 +0000

These parking meters are antiques. All of the parking meters will eventually be multi-space kiosk that allow credit card and cell phone purchases. (www.parkingokc.com/images/parkingmeters_qanda.pdf)

The sidewalks have much bigger – more fundamental – problems, like the lack of ample width, lack of properly planted street trees, lack of transparent building facades…lack of people, etc.

By: Jason

Jason — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 17:05:21 +0000

I like the idea of doing the “credit card” meter like in front of the Civic Center and a few other places. It makes it way easier and they look nice.

I agree with many above, I do not mind the meters or paying to park..

By: Jason

Jason — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 15:31:13 +0000

I agree with Andrew and Kris. I’ve never thought of them as eyesores, and the base on the second one feels very suburban, like something you’d see in a lifestyle center that was trying to look urban by putting in parking meters. I’ve seen that in Colorado Springs.

I do agree that closing them completely or from 4-6 needs to be addressed, though.

By: Kris Bryant

Kris Bryant — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 13:59:21 +0000

I can see both sides of this issue. On the one hand, our parking meters could be spruced up a bit. On the other hand, what separates big cities from suburbia is the fact that not everything is expected to look pristine all the time. I think there’s a kind of psychological tolerance for “dirtiness” that comes with living in a big city. New York is a prime example of a dirty city that people love. Urban life is messy, and people like that for some reason.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 13:46:24 +0000

I do not consider parking meters eyesores. While they are usually quite utilitarian, they serve an important purpose in any urban area. There are many pieces of the urban fabic that taken together, establish a big-city-like character.

Speaking of eyesore, take Chicago’s “L” for example. Ask anybody in Chicago if they would like to move the L underground. Odds are 9-out-of-10 will say “heck no”.

People associate parking meters with big cities…which is what we are going for here. Painting them or installing new poles is fine…but not necessary.

By: Steven

Steven — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 13:14:30 +0000

What’s even more ridiculous is how the city “closes” so many of the parking meters (i.e. they put the bags over them stating out of use or whatever). I’ve noticed plenty of them out of service in high foot traffic areas, Museum of Art/City Hall area, Robinson Ave., Over by the hotels Renaissance and Sheraton, Bricktown and other various places, just blocked from being used. It’s like they are forcing us now to pay more and use the parking garages to rack up revenues, even if we just need a space for 15-20 minutes.