Downtown OKC Has a New Leader
Back in October I mused how many people who were clearly not qualified to take over the president’s job at Downtown Oklahoma City Inc. were interested in applying for the job. As part of that post, I listed the following quiz for interested parties:
1. What is a BID? How are BIDs being used differently in other cities?
2. What is a TIF? How are TIFs being used differently in other cities?
3. Explain how it might be difficult finding office space downtown for a large company if the vacancy rate is still more than 20 percent?
4. What is a “streetscape?” Do you consider Automobile Alley to be a successful example of a “streetscape”? If so, why?
5. How close should ties be between the Greater OKC Chamber and Downtown OKC Inc? What dangers, if any, are posed by those ties becoming too close?
6. What are the “Four Points” taught with the country’s Main Street organizations? How can they be implemented in downtown Oklahoma City?
7. What is the role of the Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority downtown for the next 20 years?
8. How would you address the challenges being faced by downtown’s urban design committees? Or do you think that the recent exclusing of most of downtown’s architects from committee membership is not that big a deal?
9. How do you bring retail back downtown? Is there a danger of having too many restaurants and clubs in Bricktown? Should there be a moratorium on budget hotels?
10. Why do you think downtown will be better off if you’re in one of the most visible, important jobs tasked with continuing its resurgence?
Downtown OKC’s board of directors have finally made their hire. Is Jane Jenkins familiar with the IDA? Oh yeah… she’s the current chair. She also just oversaw the renewal of the BID in downtown Boulder, Colorado, has worked with a TIF, worked with two Main Street programs in Oklahoma and also was a regional director with the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
This ought to be very, very, very interesting.
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Refering to the last paragraph of your last blog entry; The one most potentially devastating landmine is MAPS3. The overwhelming majority suggested some sort of rail transit and I fear the city will instead propose something along the lines of a new conference center. If the city coucil goes against the wishes of the citizens on this deal, the next MAPS may not pass.
Jane Jenkins sounds like a good hire and I am eager to see where this goes. Besides, I can think of a very influential lady of a very similar name who make a huge impact on the way we plan cities.