Busy Today…. Coffee Talk Time
Should Oklahoma City consider using the balance of tax increment financing from the Devon tower project to improve Automobile Alley, MidTown and Bricktown, or should it, as is currently being discussed, be used in the Core to Shore area where there is no current development?
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Comments
Good question, it’s the just that it leads to another question (how much is left over?) and an obvious answer as well.
If MAPS passes, then no. There will be plenty of development related money floating around in that Core to Shore. If it doesn’t pass, then the majority of new development will probably take place in Automobile Alley, Bricktown and Midtown and then I could go either way on the issue. It might be nice to keep improving those areas, but they might also improve enough on their own for it not to be necessary. On the other hand, if MAPS doesn’t pass then I’m not sure we should be putting lipstick on a pig.
I don’t think it should go towards C2S, unless it would be for street beautification of one of the roads leading N into downtown from 40 or the new boulevard.
I think the best use would be putting it towards a Sheridan streetscape from 235 to Gaylord.
Consider this, if MAPS passes and the current streetscape stops at Gaylord, there would be close to a billion dollars being spent all over downtown, but not a penny being spent in Bricktown. I understand that Bricktown benefitted from the original MAPS, but hasn’t the City had consultants (Jeff Speck) tell them that they should continue at least some improvements to Bricktown?
I know there is still plenty of work to be done by the property owners in Bricktown, but close to BILLION dollars beings spent and nothing to improve a district that has been the “poster child” for the success of Maps 1????
How much money is going to be left over?
I assume all the streets and sidewalks in the Core to Shore area will have to be redone anyway. Where would that money come from if the TIF money was not available?