Suicide
Downtown Design Review Committee discusses impairment to “make good decisions.”
“Demolition of our historic buildings is a lot like suicide … It’s a long-term solution to a short-term problem.”
Read full story here.
So Here’s Something to Annoy Everyone Else….
Here are questions I’m hearing from those wanting to see this whole fight over the SandRidge Commons matter end:
Is it fair – or right – for people to be throwing a fit now only after having stayed quiet and having done nothing throughout the several months it was known or at least suspected SandRidge would be tearing down buildings on its campus? Is this the appropriate time to fight, or is it time to move on?
Are the people preparing to fight on this matter truly concerned about historic buildings, or are they simply obstructionists who are against any new development that might require the demolition of older buildings?
Are These Legal?
These signs were at the entrance to Bricktown yesterday.
My question to city staff: are they legal? They’re parked in front of the Santa Fe Train Depot.
SandRidge Energy demolitions: Appeal Coming?
“This committee is severely inhibited in making good decisions …” Story developing….
Is the Fight Over, Or Is It About to Begin?
Don’t be too surprised if an appeal is waged on last week’s vote by the Downtown Design Review Committee to raze six buildings on its downtown campus.
Here are questions I’m hearing from readers and people I’m running into out on the beat:
1. Was there undue influence on committee members?
2. Why was City Manager Jim Couch attending this design review committee meeting? Has he had a history of attending such meetings?
3. How much does the Oklahoma Historical Society depend on corporate funding? Does this matter when the OHS is asked to weigh in on matters like the SandRidge application?
4. Did the special early meeting time for last week’s vote confuse potential protesters and deny them a chance to argue their case?
5. Is the Downtown Design Review Committee confusing its role with that of the Board of Adjustment?
Happy Monday!
Video by Sid Burgess
I’m taking a vacation day today. I’ve got a lot of topics stored up to introduce this week. So consider this another opportunity for coffee talk. Which downtown developer do you think best represents the future for our central city?
Since You Asked …
GiGi Faulkner
I don’t have an email address. But here is her blog address and it has a contact box on the page.
Chuck Ainsworth
coolains@aol.com
Jim Loftis
LoftisFAIA@aol.com
Anthony McDermid
Betsy Brunsteter
Dick Tanenbaum
Mark Grubbs
I don’t have a photo or email, but here’s his linked in profile: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/mark-grubbs-p-e/11/102/a39
More I Didn’t Know on Thursday….
Here are letters that the Downtown Design Review Committee members, consisting of architects, developers and business executives who must do business in this town, received prior to their vote on SandRidge Energy’s plans to tear down six buildings.
Progress
