MidTown Live Blogging: first up, Marva Ellard
Marva just gave run through of team members, is discussing her experience with the Sieber. She’s sharing details of another MidTown housing project she’s about launch by the old Allen’s Cafe at NW 6 and Hudson.
Interesting demographics being presented… a large percentage of the residents at the Sieber are between 20 and 40 years old.
Stacia Johnson, head of local HUD office is here… I’ll be interested to see if some of the boasts and claims in the various development pitches concerning “favored status,” etc., are repeated with Johnson in the room.
If E.Z. Million Were Alive Today…
I think he would be smiling. He always wanted Oklahoma to split the spotlight with Texas on the annual OU-Texas games. Well, it looks like Oklahoma City is going to get to split the national television spotlight with another Red Rivalry – this time in the NBA. Thunder UP.
Nice View
Got to enjoy a view from the 28th floor at SandRidge Tower yesterday. Thanks to Greg Dewey for hosting me.
“I’m Going to Change the Whole Persona of Oklahoma City …”
Thank you KD.
Gotta Love Elliott Nelson
The creative vision behind McNellie’s has opened a cool retro bowling alley and bar in downtown Tulsa. In this story in The Tulsa World, you can read about what he’s up to – and how he might open a similar operation in MidTown. Read here.
Sit Down, You’re Rocking the Boat
More Convention Center Intrigue?
Convention center site chosen, but not everyone is happy. Thoughts?
So much happened at this meeting, I could only get so much into the story. Here’s what didn’t make the cut:
- MAPS 3 Program Manager is now referring to the disputed $30 million substation relocation in Core to Shore as a “separate project” – essentially giving it status equal to the convention center, park, streetcar system, etc.
-”At the last meeting I was somewhat concerned about how one project was pulled by this committee… it seemed unusual that somehting already eliminated was revived, I was hoping for the high road, that what was fixing to happen was we would discect that location to make sure it was the right decision. I think today we see less accurate information about the Core to Shore south site than we had at a previous time.” – Avis Scaramucci, chair of the Bricktown Association, convention center subcommittee member.
- “You’re looking at Core to Shore south through rose colored glasses,” – Kirk Humphreys to consultants with Populous after questioning what he deemed were generous rankings for the site’s proximity to hotels, restaurants and nightlife.
- “All we’re trying to give is an honest comparison of the real costs of the various projects, based on the real world and not on how someone wants to divide or subdivide the projects.” – Larry Nichols
-”What was put into promotional material was $280 million for a convention center. To quote the mayor, the $30 million (being redirected from the convention center budget to a substation relocation) was too small a detail to get anyone interested in. I’m suggesting we get interested in it here today.” – Kirk Humphreys
- Add Councilman Ed Shadid to the list of council members who say they gave no instructions to city staff concerning the scheduling of construction for the proposed Core to Shore central park. That’s a majority – I’ve not heard back from Larry McAtee, Skip Kelley or David Greenwell.
When History and Facts are Inconvenient to a “Controversy”
Sonic was front and center in support for the 1993 MAPS ballot, as shown in this photo taken prior to the vote.
Looks like Sonic Drive Ins, based in Bricktown, is going to get beaten up no matter what for a choice by independent franchises in Memphis to back the Grizzlies in Saturday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Consider, for just a moment, that Sonic took a fairly brave stance in 1993 by publicly backing the original MAPS ballot when community support for the effort was very divided. That ballot included the Oklahoma City Arena, without which most agree the city never would have attracted an NBA team.
London Calling
And after all this, won’t you give me a smile?
How Does One Name a Street?
That’s the question being asked by Sid Burgess on Twitter tonight as part of a discussion on Mayor Mick Cornett’s push to name the new boulevard that will replace the current alignment of Interstate 40 in Core to Shore south of downtown. Cornett’s choice is “Oklahoma City Boulevard,” and he discouraged a public discussion of it when the name was questioned at a recent city council meeting (he indicated he could explain in private, after the council meeting, his research and expertise in coming up with such branding).
So far I’ve not heard a lot of excitement for this name. But Sid, who says he’s OK with the name, wonders what methodology is used. To be blunt, from what I’ve seen over the past 20 years, nothing (somebody correct me if I’m wrong). I’ve seen street names used by council members to virtually curry favor with campaign contributors or folks who can rally votes on an election. I’ve seen streets named after entertainers to varying degrees of success (Flaming Lips Alley, Joe Carter Avenue, etc). I’ve seen virtually meaningless redundant street namings (quick: tell me, without cheating, where Ron Norick Boulevard is located).
I’ve asked before on this blog, is the will of one person, even the mayor, no matter how well intentioned, enough to say “don’t worry about this street naming, don’t ask for other candidates, just vote yes”? Should there be a public discussion on this matter, especially in light of the suggestion by many that this boulevard will take on increased importance to the city’s image as the area develops?
Should there be… (gasp!) a process?
