Devils advocate time…they are saying “proposed convention center” and in the event that site is ultimately chosen, they don’t want the relocated I-40 ramp to get in the way. That said, are the other finalists for the C.C. in a similar situation?

Has the location of the ramps changed since the C2S report came out? It looks like the ramp is south of the new I-40 so I am not sure if it is even an issue. But if it isn’t an issue, why is it on the agenda?

Also, I saw the 1st Citizen Oversight Committee meeting and Russell Claus gave his presentation clearly showing the dated C2S renderings showing the C.C. alongside the Park, but did correct himself a moment later and said the site had not been chosen yet, that it was up to the Committee to make their recommendation (but ultimately up to the Council). Mr Weinger made a similar comment later. My apologies if that isn’t his name or if it is misspelled.

I certainly don’t doubt your sources and if it hasn’t already been determined, they are doing a pretty good job with their acting abilities even if it looks like they let something slip.

In that same meeting, the Mayor made a presentation and mentioned that if they chose the other site (thought there were 4?) that the total amount budgeted for the C.C. was actually $250M instead of the $280M reported during the campaign. The extra $30M was to go to OG&E for relocating a power sub-station that is in the “preferred” path. His point being that if they choose the other site, can’t use that $30M to make the C.C. bigger or better or to cover cost over-runs etc.

So I guess that leaves us with the $30M for the OG&E station is going to be spent no matter where the C.C. ends up??

Honestly. I don’t think the “preferred spot” is ideal. It moves momentum farther from Downtown, Bricktown, Midtown, and any other urban district we have. They’re putting it in the middle of nothing with the hope that it will help the area flourish. That area is really just disgusting, and a new park won’t change that. I think what’s best, and this statement has been used by many others, is that we focus on what we have now. We need to help foster the development that will ultimately bring out our current stock of in-progress urban districts to something grand. I think the City of Oklahoma City and their “preferred spot” is awfully stubborn and coy.

And screw that $30 million extra dollars. If it’s going to be used to move a substation, then how could it benefit the new CC? Unless of course, relocating the substation isn’t that expensive and the remaining monies is spent on the CC. This whole subject just angers me.

People are going to love walking long distances from the new convention center in the hot humid Summers, cold windy Winters and thunder storms of Spring.