Taking Stock
- Missing The Buzz being at the corner of Park and Robinson (yes, I’ll have to find Tim and Alison in their new spot).
- Uncertainty in Bricktown. Looks like Jim Cowan will stick around in a part-time status until a successor is found. The district has made so much progress the past couple of years. Some folks who don’t appear others to have Bricktown’s best interests at heart have been seeking to take charge – will a good new leader be found?
- Some promising new businesses with the potential to bring more life to the canal are opening north of Reno. Meanwhile, Lower Bricktown continues to fall short of original ambitions of becoming a retail and entertainment draw with another restaurant taking the space that was occupied by LIT clothing.
- Hearing more downtown buildings are being targeted for demolition.
- Here’s a question to city leaders and promoters trying to start a Grand Prix race on streets about to be redone as part of Project 180: Really? Really?
- I sent out an email to the city council last week asking about the convention center situation. I can’t wait to hear their answers.
- My contemplative moment of the day: what motivates some people to do what they do?
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Comments
I think people are motivated by a desire to be in the mainstream. The city council and oversight board are going to put the convention center where they think the people want it to go. Just because some councilors or board members think they’re in touch with citizens doesn’t make it so, however. Sometimes being in touch with citizens isn’t the same as being in touch with the experts, such as the ULI (and Bill Hudnut) or Jeff Speck.
Captcha: INDIANAPOLIS chiming
- I’ll be honest, the Grand Prix idea is pretty sweet.
- Peer pressure isn’t just for teenageers.
- Unrelated, I’m strapping my daughter in her bike seat behind daddy, and we’re going on a date to Bricktown.
Never mind Steve. Saw this morning that its a fly-by-night paintless dent repair shop for cars – will be gone as soon as the business dies down.
I like the Grand Prix idea too.
What motivates people to do what they do? Steve you are perfect for Downtown OKC because you are an idealist. Perhaps we all are since we care for OKC and stick up for it when others criticize it (especially Tulsans – Pot calling the kettle black).
Don’t be naive though. People do what they do because of ego.
The “best interest” of Bricktown is totally subjective, so to say that some people have it and some people don’t is entirely a value call and not very helpful in a discussion about policy and progress.
Maybe people prefer restaurants to retail, nothing wrong with that. In this economy, people can do without clothes and nick-nacks. Food…not so much.
Steve, I have a question, but it may be better for Brian Dean. I tweeted it last night, but no response.
A few years ago, a young man leaped from the Santa Fe Parking Garage. Earlier this week, someone else did the same.
My question; Why hasn’t COTPA installed anti-suicide barriers and/or fencing in their high-rise garages?
What motivates people to jump off a building? Many answers
John, you’re right – there have actually been several people who have jumped from the Santa Fe Garage. We also saw a person jump to their death from the Regency Tower not too long ago.
Would a fence make a difference? I’m going to suggest it wouldn’t other than someone would find another place to jump.
Suicide is something people don’t want to discuss. Two people I know – one I considered a friend, someone who regularly read and sometimes commented on this blog – killed themselves this past year.
These are desperate times and sometimes people get so lost in the crisis of the moment that they can lose perspective of what’s important.
If you’re feeling hopeless, if you think you have no reason to live, look to those around you, to your friends, to your family – and know that even if you lose everything, they will lose much, much more if you take your own life. Some decisions can’t be reversed…
plus if they install “anti-suicide” fencing on the garages, how will we get gorgeous pics of the downtown skyline and the current devon construction progress.
Well, I came here to leave a comment about your last point -what motivates people – and then I saw John Doyle’s comment. I wrote about the “jumpers” on my blog once. This is not a good situation. Anyway, here is that link –
http://www.jenx67.com/2009/09/poems-prayers-and-promises-and-things.html I hope COTPA or somebody can do something…
Regarding what motivates people, we once thought it was fear of loss or hope of gain. But, the latest resarch shows that people are most motivated by the desire to fulfill their potential. If someone thinks they can conquer the world (and want to) who knows what they might do. Maybe, anything to achieve their crazy and curious desires.
Steve,
Nice post at 5:12pm on 6/3/10. What made it all the better is that I was listening to KRXO and Kansas’ “Dust in the Wind” was playing.
The part about friends and family definitely makes a difference. It’s what stopped me when I was younger. I didn’t want to put them into pain & grieving. Had a lot of good times since that down time in my life. Definitely not worth it…
Sorry folks if I got this going in a bad direction.
My concern was for COTPA. It’s bad enough they can’t keep trolleys running from the Meridian hotels to Bricktown decently. But I’m concerned that a grieving family member may seek litigation against COTPA because of multiple jumpers, and they have not taken steps to reduce the risk.
Capcha “starting gelatin
Saw a worker on a ladder appearing to measure the building on the NE corner of 10th and Broadway. Looked like he might be measuring to mount a sign. Is the OKC automobile association finally going to move into that place?