"If a Planned Boulevard is Built …"
A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the fact funding has yet to be secured for a boulevard promised as part of the relocation of the Interstate 40 Crosstown Expressway.
Now, a story on Tom Elmore’s fight against the project includes the following tidbit from ODOT director Gary Ridley:
The project’s total cost will rise to $600 million if a planned boulevard is built along parts of the existing roadway’s path, Ridley said.
What do you mean by “if”????
New Oklahoma City Visitors Video
I visit www.okctalk.com everyday. If I didn’t, I’d miss out on finding out about things like this:
OKC Marathon, It's More than Just A 26.2 Miles Run
Today’s guest blogger is Casey Cornett, downtown resident, office dweller (works for Jones Public Relations) and son of some guy who used to be on television a lot.
I don’t know how many Oklahoma City citizens know this (roughly 20,000) but the noisiest cross streets in North America on Sunday, April 26, 2009 happened to be in Oklahoma City…at N.W. 6th and Harvey to be exact. I know this because I live one block away on 5th street. I was awake against my will at 6:00 a.m., but this time I was ok with it.
I have been awaken numerous times living downtown (mostly by the train because it feels the need to blow its horn for 3-4 minutes straight at 4:30 a.m.) but never have I been more…um…fulfilled to be awake so early to the sound of loud speakers and dedicated runners; dedicated to running at the remembrance of the 168 that lost their lives due of the tragedy striking Oklahoma City in 1995.
Everyone has a story of that morning. Mine happens to be one of sitting in Miss Mayer’s 6th grade English class feeling the building shake and later on at lunch hearing the announcement over the intercom of a bomb in the downtown area. I also remember seeing nothing on TV for that entire week except half of a downtown building I had never seen before yet would change my life and millions of others’ forever.
I see that site every day walking to work; walking back from work. I meet tourists all the time coming here to remember; coming here to witness. They remember that day. I remember that day. On April 26, 2009 we all remembered it together.
I’m a little embarrassed to say that I have never participated in the marathon. I think we all should. On Tuesday at lunch I talked with a friend, Nancy Redinger, who participated in the 5-person relay. I thought to myself, “I want to do that…There are five people in my family…we should all participate.” I immediately sent out a text to my mom, my dad, my younger brother Tristan and my older brother Mike with the idea. Within minutes I got response from all of them. “Yes!” “Wow…cool” “Sounds good.” Responses I had hoped and for responses I expected.
Marathon participants pray under the Survivor Tree during a service at the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial before the start of the ninth annual Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon, Sunday, April 26, 2009, in Oklahoma City. Photo by Sarah Phipps.
Next year team Cornett is looking to run the course. We’re looking to join those in waking those sleeping in downtown. I figure if enough join us in the cause than hopefully there will be nobody left to “wake up.” Where were you on April 19, 1995 and will you join with your neighbors and participate in someway next year?
“You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” -Gandhi
Don't Mess With Santa, the Martians or the Lips
Looks like the very liberal MSNBC is casting the Oklahoma Republican Party, and not Oklahoma as a whole, as the bad guys on this whole Flaming Lips matter:
Meanwhile, Wayne Coyne seems to having the last laugh:
The Blue Coats Are Coming, Very Quietly
FFA students from Oklahoma Union High School in South Coffeyville do some sightseeing during their lunch break from the annual FFA convention at the Myriad Gardens in downtown Oklahoma City in 2002. Archive photo by Jim Beckel.
If not for the stylin’ blue corduroy jackets, you might not notice the more than 10,000 high school students who will be in downtown Oklahoma City Tuesday and Wednesday this week for the 83rd annual State FFA Convention.
The FFA convention very quietly comes and goes each year without much fuss (a friend at the CVB said they’ve been coming to OKC since 1997), but their economic impact on the city is every bit as substantial as more high-profile events like the Pre-Paid Legal conference, which draws about the same number of people downtown each year.
Hoteliers, restaurateurs and retailers in downtown, Bricktown and along the Meridian Ave. corridor love the annual flood of blue coats, because they’re so polite and respectful. I’d venture to guess that attractions like Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill and Bass Pro Shops will do really well on these days.
According to an FFA news release, the theme of this year’s convention is Step Up, Stand Out, challenging the youth to “step up by living their values, showing their pride and encouraging others.”
This conference treats OKC very well, and I think these kids have stood out for years through good works, and people notice. If I see some blue coats while out and about this week, I’m going Step Up and cheer them. Sure, it may be a little awkward.
Have you been impressed by the FFA kids in years past?
Looking for History on Film Row
A rare old photo of Film Row - the Film Exchange Building.
Bradley Wynn is hoping to get some assistance from the public in capturing the history of old Film Row on, go figure, film (photos will suffice).
This area has an incredible history as one of the country’s regional film distribution hubs in the days when film cannisters had to be transported by train for screenings at theaters. Most of the major studios had Art Deco branches along W Sheridan (then Grand Avenue). The big names included Paramount, 20th Century Fox, Warner Bros. and RKO. The advent of jet travel, television, changes in film distribution spelled an end to these districts. Oklahoma City, I’m told, has the the last surviving example of what was once a circuit of 36 film districts.
For the past 40 years the area has been known as skid row, but it’s changing with increasing speed as homeless missions move further west of downtown and owners are renovating their buildings and creative firms are moving in. To get a summary of what’s going on, go here.
If you can help Bradley, email him at bradley@scriptfolio.net.
Taking a Break
For the next couple of days I have no deadlines and I’ll be free to be stupid. The blog will remain active will some items I think will be of interest to you and hopefully some guess postings.
The City Attorneys and Code Enforcement Score a Homerun in MidTown
Last summer I addressed a post to city planning staff and asked a one-word, obvious question: “why?”
This virtual junkyard had scrapped cars at the prominent corner of NW 10 and Harvey for years.
They answered back:
Two citations have been issued for the property at 302 NW 10th -. Case # 06-4483326, for improper storage of vehicles in a C-CBDF zoning district went to court on September 5, 2008, the case was continued until October 17, 2008. Case # 04-026511X , the defendant entered a plea of no contest and was fined $277.00. The Chief Zoning Inspector is talking with the Municipal Counselor’s office about issuing additional citations.
- Bob Tener
Now we know their efforts paid off.
You Never Saw the Arts Festival This Way
The folks at New Spin 360 are amazing. Go here.
A Proud Day for Mike Shelton, Guy Liebmann, Jeff Hickman, Jason Nelson and All the Other "Leaders" I Know …
And here comes the national embarassment….
I saw this coming. I hope it was worth it guys.
