Thanking God and the Canal Extension
I knew it came close. I didn’t realize that destruction was flying above everything I cherish. Thank you God is all I can say.
On Tuesday (was that really yesterday?) I revealed in my Main Street column that a wide array of downtown leaders are seeking to add a potential Bricktown Canal extension to the discussion of what’s next for downtown.
These folks are not insisting that funding be provided for such a project or that it be a part of a possible MAPS 3. Instead, there is a growing awareness of significant planning for the future and proponents say they’d like to at least see a canal extension given serious consideration.
The chief reasoning appears to be the potential of making the canal a major pedestrian thoroughfare. Interestingly enough, the city has quietly retained the respect author and planner Jeff Speck to look at improving pedestrian access downtown.
Now here’s a big secret I’ll share about how consultants typically conduct their research: they are given marching orders by their employer (in this case it would be city staff) and that’s that. All too often I’ve seen consultants’ reports disappoint various interested parties – and at the root of it all seems to be a tendency by consultants to simply come up with what they think the clients want.
Jeff Speck, by the way, is not your typical consultant. He’s the guy who first introduced himself to Oklahoma City a couple of years ago by addressing a crowd with the introduction of “your codes are bad.”
How presumptious. How dare he. How brilliant.
Everyone in the room laughed and nobody disagreed.
So here’s hoping that Jeff remains presumptious. And here’s a copy of the resolution Urban Neighbors passed that explains why it, the All Sports Association, the Bricktown Association and several other leading downtown organizations and leaders are spending a lot of time and effort trying to get the canal extension idea into the discussion of downtown’s future:
Resolution of Endorsement
January 29, 2009
The Urban Neighbors Board of Directors voted to support the city’s original plans of extending the canal west between the Ford and Cox Center. The Urban Neighbors Board is encouraging the city of Oklahoma City to consider this idea as plans are made for downtown development. Potentially connecting the canal into the Myriad Gardens would provide a much desired connectivity.
As plans are developed for the future of downtown Oklahoma City, the Urban Neighbors Board believes that a canal extension would play a vital role in connecting Bricktown to the Oklahoma River, Central Business District, Ford and Cox Centers, the Myriad Gardens, the new Devon
Tower and the proposed new convention center and hotel. Additionally, this extension would significantly improve the walkability of downtown OKC, a key asset for any downtown.With this extension, downtown residents would enjoy an enhanced quality of life with improved access to Bricktown and the Oklahoma River.Additionally, easier access to downtown green space, both old and new, would be an asset. The Urban Neighbors Board prefaces its support with a desire for such a plan to be incorporated into an overall master plan for the area affected and that timing of such an improvement be appropriate to overall connectivity plans within the downtown area.
A canal extension would provide the following key connections:
- Proposed convention center and hotel to Bricktown and the Oklahoma River.
- CBD and Devon Tower to Bricktown to the Oklahoma River.
- Myriad Botanical Gardens to Bricktown and the Oklahoma River.
- Core to Shore area to Bricktown and Oklahoma River
- Ford and Cox Centers to Bricktown
- Meridian Hotel corridor to Myriad Botanical Gardens, Arts District and CBDA canal extension benefits:
- Downtown residents
- Myriad Botanical Gardens
- Ford Center, Cox Center, plus their tenants and users
- Central Business District businesses and workers
- Bricktown District
- Arts District
- Boathouse community
- River users
- OKC Convention and Visitors Bureau, convention industry
- OKC Chamber, business recruitment specialists and those who market
- Sporting event promoters
- Future Core to Shore businesses and residents
- Downtown hotels
- Meridian Avenue hoteliers and guests
- Downtown event attendees
- Tourists
- Mayor Cornett’s fit city initiative
- Oklahoma City taxpayersThis extension would fundamentally change the canal from an attraction to a pedestrian thoroughfare. It would create a situation where the canal is a preferred walking route rather than a place that has to be sought out. As pedestrian counts increase exponentially, canal development would be almost certain to follow.
We, the Board of Directors of Urban Neighbors, representing key stakeholders of our downtown, urge all of the beneficiary parties identified in this document to join us in supporting the inclusion of a canal extension in all future plans for downtown development.
Thank you for joining our conversation on OKC Central. We encourage your discussion but ask that you stay within the bounds of our commenting and posting policy.
Comments
On an unrelated note, STeve do you know if Downtown OKC plans on updating its “Skyline Snapshot” report? That report was always a useful tool in seeing what the latest news is in regards to downtown okc. They use to publish updates quarterly, but there has not been an update since July 2008.
That’s because they’ve been short on staff now since August. But Kim advises updates have been made periodically and and a new one should be forthcoming soon.
Wow, as a resident of the area back in the 80′s, OKC is showing how proactive and forward thinking a city can be, by rennovating existing areas without expanding further away. Even living in Dallas for 13 years, they haven’t shown the progress OKC has. Makes me wish I never moved.
yes – maybe…
If the canal is being extended only to provide a safe pedestrian crossing of Shields and Robinson, it seems to me that we are spending a bunch of money to bypass the real issue – streets that are hostile to pedestrians – and continuing to allow cars to dominate our priorities. This is a process of decision making that resembles the moves we made that led to a substantial investment in the Underground; it has the potential to negatively affect street life.
On the other hand, if the canal is being extended to bring interest and activity to other areas of downtown, similar to what it has brought Bricktown, then by all means go for it. Though I would point out that it is a combination of the canal and the building that surround the canal that have made it successful. Still, the canal passing by the Ford Center could create a wonderful public space that is great for entertainment and events. It could be really cool.
Either way – and I really am happy with whatever happens – I think the more important issue is where pedestrians fall on the priority list of those in charge of building and maintaining our downtown streets. Perhaps they could also fund the construction of pedestrian curb bump-outs on every intersection in downtown to shorten crossing distances and improve safety – this is just one example of the type of small interventions that could make things dramatically better.
Anyway, I am a huge fan of Urban Neighbors and everything they are doing for downtown, so if they want it, then they can have my vote!
Just moved back from Washington DC. I have the Oklahoma shield from our flag tattooed between my shoulder blades. I have never been more proud to be an Oklahoman.
Wow, is it possible that Oklahoma City could become a miniature Venice? I love the transition from attraction to pedestrian thoroughfare. The water taxis would need to become water taxis in the realest sense. I’m envisioning stops every few blocks, just like the water taxis in Venice. This could be really great, in conjunction with other improvements to downtown transportation (trolley, bus, light rail, commuter rail)