OCU Law School at Fred Jones was a terrible idea anyway. OCU should be using all of its resources to improve its campus and the surrounding area, both of which could use plenty of help. Why they would annex off one of their most popular progams to another area of the city is beyond me.

I heard about this yesterday too. Not good news…very sad

OCU should improve the surrounding area, but they have had that opportunity for what, 100 years? This is a shortsighted decision and one that will haunt them. This could have really bumped up OCU’s national exposure. Bad, bad decision.

Ethan, when was the last time you stepped on the OCU campus? Plenty of new buildings have gone up in the last few years.

Secondly, why is it OCU’s responsibility to “improve the surrounding area?”

Well that’s a bummer … however, I know I’m not the only one who adores the old Fred Jones building – something that cool, on a corner with such amazing potential in the future will surely find a good use at some point.

Boy Steve, I shudder to think what mught happen to OKC if you took a full two week vacation. We’d probably say goodbye to Bricktown, Devon and half the canal.

It was counter-intuitive to move the law school off of the OCU campus to Fred Jones (or anywhere for that matter). It would have increased operational costs and administrative inefficiencies, and I don’t know of a real need for what would have been the abandoned law school facility at 23rd & Blackwelder. Further, is a law school the highest & best use of the former Fred Jones manufacturing facility and/or the western part of the CBD?

Slim:

It’s not OCU’s “responsibility” to improve the surrounding area, but it’s certainly in their best interest. I imagine the area around OCU dissuades some prospective students (or their parents) from seriously considering OCU or making the final decision to attend.

And just because OCU has built some new buildings doesn’t mean they are in a strong enough position to vacate any of their other buildngs. See Tom’s comment for explanation.

The OCU Law move to Fred Jones never made sense. OCU needs to consolidate whatever resources it has.

Though, you know, on second thought I do think OCU has some “responsibility” to improve the local community. They are a faith-based institution of higher education. If such an instition doesn’t feel a “responsibility” to improve the local community, then who will?

….OK….I’ll be the big dummy (nothing new)…what restaurants are closing?

The Grateful Bean, Justin. Don’t worry, a better restaraunt will open in its place.

Went to the Bean only once. Sat at a table with 2 other folks for 30 minutes without even as much as a menu before leaving. Not surprised it’s done.

I second that about the Grateful Bean, it was a cool concept, just not sure the whole charity employment thing translates to service befitting of a popular downtown restaurant..ergo, it was not one.

What is the downtown gallery that’s closing its doors?

Nick, it’s the Colonial Art Gallery. Jeffrey, there’s a reason you never got a menu – you’re supposed to order at the counter register! (I understand how one might have been confused…)

I loved the Grateful Bean Cafe and was totally supportive of its mission to help rehabilitate people who could use a job. The food and service was always excellent, in a warm and real sort of way. As one of my friends said, “it made you feel like you were a part of something good.”

Steve I’m pretty sure I remember people taking orders and serving other folks while we were there. This was pretty soon after their reopening – within the first 10 days or so. Perhaps they realized that format wasn’t working and changed soon after. Doesn’t sound like counter-order worked very well either.

Ethan, in the last few years OCU has opened; a new school of music and performing arts, a new business school, and new student housing. Currently they are doubling the size of their nursing school. OCU IS spending plenty of money on their campus. That alone is my point.

Slim, they’re building isolated buildings. Not a campus of any sort.