Get Ready for More Questions. But First, a Look Back
So is there really going to be an open and unbiased look at where to build the convention center? As I pursue this question, let’s look back at what we were told during the campaign. First up, a video and quote from Mayor Mick Cornett at an Oct. 21, 2009 “Breaking Through” luncheon:
We have a really good site picked out in Core to Shore planning. Put it on the boulevard, right next to the park. We’re going to continue to revisit the site because this is a pretty big decision. I want to make sure we have a strong concensus in the community that this is the best site. But the things to keep in mind is where are the hotels, where is bricktown? Do not get too far away from either of those two entities. I think the current site addresses that adequately. But there are other sites we can consider and we’ll do that on the other side of the vote if it’s successful.
See video below:
Mayor Cornett on the MAPS 3 Convention Center from imagiNATIVEamerica on Vimeo.
Now, after watching this and hearing this, it appears that we have two messages that came out: yeah, the mayor had a favored location, but he was promising it wasn’t a done deal.
In case there’s any confusion over this, let’s look at what was reported in the Oct. 21, 2009 Gazette:
Regarding the convention center’s exact location, Williams said four possible sites are being considered: south of the existing Ford Center, at Producers Cooperative Oil Mill facility, the lumberyard north of that facility or the Deep Deuce area north of Bricktown.
Cornett said the community will have input in public discussions for all potential sites if MAPS 3 is approved.
Will there be a real discussion of where the convention center will be built? And what will that discussion be? Is Mayor Mick Cornett promising the same sort of input that occurred with the MAPS 3 ballot? And if so, what’s your take on what that means?
I’ve spent the past two weeks digging into all the various issues on this story. I’m looking forward to seeing how these stories ensue. Today I begin asking questions of the mayor and key city officials.
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Comments
Will the convention center also be a hotel/convention center?
And if so, what are the odds that Gaylord could be that hotel?
Has anyone been to the Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center in D.C.?
Steve, I’m trying to find what NEW information this blog was about…all I see is a video and article four months old. Has the mayor said anything contradicting to what he said in the video? If you spent two weeks digging surely you came up with something else right? I feel like this blog could have been written back in October…
I’ve never seen any history on the Producers Cooperative Oil Mill facility…how long has been there and what economic impact does it have for the city. Are they wanting $120 million strictly on location or does the site have other benefits? $120 million! wowzers.
Those meetings are to be open to the pubic, finding out when they are and keeping up with their schedule can be a little difficult.
ahhhhh ok, good. I’m almost finished with your Second Time Around book; I’ll probably finish it this weekend.
120 million for the coop is obviously not going to happen, and people seem to keep acting like this is a deal breaker. i don’t know what the appraisal on this would be, but say it comes in at 13 million for the sake of discussion (read today’s oklahoman for a piece that has some quotes from kirk humphries on this very issue). you aren’t going to have to pay for relocation, because they are vacating the property and marketing it already. with eminent domain proceedings, you could expect to have the deal done for under 15 million, leaving you 105 million towards the building of the convention center.
to me, the big question we should be demanding is, WHERE is the BEST place to put it? then, and only then, do you start arguing about the cost. assuming that the city builds a new convention center every 50 years (as the mayor mentions), we are looking at living with this decision for half a century (if not longer). it had better be a good one, and not merely a political one.
I kinda like the idea of putting it north of Bricktown. What if you put it just behind the Walnut Street Bridge, just south of the new Wedge and west of the Police Station in that big field that is (unfortunately) becoming (another!) surface parking lot? I mean, this is already a dense, walkable, urban, hip, happening area sandwiched between Deep Deuce and Bricktown, and visitors would love it. Could be cool. Especially if there’s a big transit hub put just west of it like I’ve heard some talk of. Or even if the put the transit hub in Santa Fe Station, it would still keep everything close. That would also free up the new park for development and keep all four sides free of a “superblock.”
My thoughts on this have long leaned to the coop site with easy access to bricktown the primary consideration. South of the ford center would be the worst possible spot as it would severely limit retail/housing at one of our most important intersections. A spot that has been unmentioned, at least to me, is the area east of Stiles and west of Lincoln. It should be enough area for the convention center footprint. Easy access out to the east. An easy walk west to hotels west of bricktown. And finally, a viable alternative to the coop site to use as leverage, if need be.
As a side note, it’s so exciting that we are even able to have these ambitious discussions about our city. The next ten years are going to be exhilarating with plenty for us to talk about along the way.
Chad, that field south of Wedge isn’t even remotely near big enough for a Tier II convention center.
Roy Williams must be on crack, why on earth would Deep Deuce be a good fit for a convention center? To destroy our only decent urban neighborhood that is starting to resemble one?
I am hoping that any site that is mentioned other than the COOP site is just negotiating ploys.
In other words the city can talk about other locations in order to get a better deal for the COOP site.
I would really like to see it built at the COOP site. But $120 mil is a pretty penny. I just think that would help all of the Bricktown area and add a lot opportunities for Lower Bricktown to expand towards that site… and it will get rid of an eyesore DT. Also leaves, like you said steve, the park frontage available for development which could really be amazing! personally I think it’s a no brainer
Will the Citizen Oversight meetings be open to the public? It would be nice if they were, and for people to have the opportunity to sign up to speak before the committee.