History
Things to consider about the MAPS 3 convention center:
- The Core to Shore task force NEVER voted or agreed on any favored sites.
- Core to Shore planners situated the convention center south of Ford Center on maps and renderings at the direction of the mayor (I was at the meeting), who at the time indicated they were not to reflect any chosen site, but rather to serve as a placeholder.
- During the MAPS 3 campaign, the mayor told residents the south of Ford Center site had been picked as the best location for the proposed convention center.
- The only experts to look at the convention center – HOK and the Urban Land Institute – advised that the site south of Ford Center is least viable for such a facility. The mayor did not attend the presentation of the Urban Land Institute report.
- The same experts gave high marks to two sites – the lumberyard south of Bricktown and a site north of Bricktown along Main Street – that the mayor has consistently indicated are not going to be considered.
- The mayor told the MAPS 3 oversight board that regardless of where they locate a convention center, $30 million of the money reserved for the convention center must go toward buying out the OG&E substation and property on the south of Ford Center convention center site.
- The council has held no vote on allocating $30 million for the OG&E property.
- The council has held no vote on limiting consideration of convention center locations to the two sites listed by the mayor – the south of Ford Center site and the Southwestern Producers Coop site (for which owners are seeking to sell it for $121 million)
- On Tuesday City Manager Jim Couch said “no due diligence” had occurred in regard to choosing a site for the proposed convention center. During the same conversation the mayor reiterated there are just two sites being considered for a new convention center.
With the exception of Tuesday’s developments, I’m reporting to you what’s been in the public record for weeks if not months.
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Comments
Steve, thanks for the refresh…
Brings up an interesting point, if the sites are down to the 2 mentioned, it would seem the asking price for the Producers Coop would preclude it as a viable location (half of the budgeted amount of the C.C. would go to land?). Can you even build the C.C. that was proposed in MAPS 3 for $129M?. Seems then by default, we are back to the Park site. All nice, neat and tidy and no conspiracy needed. Well, except for whomever decided not to even look at the other two sites that were given “high marks” by both of the experts.
Curious, did the Mayor ever give a reason as to why he didn’t attend the ULI presentation?
What are the usual motives when a politico presents something as essentially decided while saying the opposite?
This may be one of those times where the light needs to never cease to shine. It would not be impossible for the substation property to be purchased well before any formal announcement of a cc location. After all, the old postal facility was purchased before the MAPs III vote was ever held (as was the Goodwill Industries property if memory serves.)
When does public input start happening in regards to the proposed CC site?
Why is the city funding a 3rd study in regards to the proposed CC site, when two highly respected organizations have said the park site is the least desirable?
Do we know what the land for any of the proposed locations besides the cotton gin and the power plant will cost? Do we think the cotton gin owners will come down far enough on their price to even make it a feasible option? Ideal is one thing, affordable is another.
Can’t say I have heard any numbers for any location other than the Cotton Gin site. But from what Steve has said the Mayor has stated, they have already eliminated the other 2 “finalists” from consideration (even though NO due diligence has happened yet)
Anyone want to lay odds on the site being decided and signed well before the next election cycle takes place?
They do need to at least pick the site early on, even if it doesn’t get built for 10 years, because it does impact other MAPS 3 projects. But which election cycle do you mean? The Mayor was just re-elected so that gives them about 4 years.
Slim
Why is the city funding a 3rd study in regards to the proposed CC site, when two highly respected organizations have said the park site is the least desirable?
They need someone to say the site south of Ford center is the best location.
Walk from the location south of Ford Center to the hotels and restaurants convention goers will walk to in high humidity heat of Summer,windy cold Winters and stormy Spring rains.
You could build it cheaper and waste the money if not located in right location.
It doesn’t hurt to press the issue at every opportunity you get. Persistence pays off. If Mayor Mick wants to preclude this convention center locating process with something else, he’s welcome to go ahead. We’ll just start making our case right now, then.