Our downtown has made quite the comeback in the last decade but we are not done. I fully believe that to make another big step forward that the train should be a quiet zone through downtown. You can just look at the value of condos near the tracks and away from the tracks if you need evidence.

I live in deep deuce and I walk to automobile alley for dinner and drinks just as often as I walk to bricktown. This loss of the residential project is a HUGE HUGE loss that should sting for anyone who has bought in to downtown OKC.

It’s the age old chicken and egg argument. What comes first, commercial or residential, and I believe we are at a point where for more commercial to appear, we need to continue to add residential, especially considering that as of a decade ago there was none, and the majority of the current residencies are designed for wealthy middle aged folk and there is a dramatic lack of residencies designed for mid to late 20 year olds, who like myself, are the ones who want to live downtown anyway.

Don’t get me wrong, Automobile Alley is undergoing a renaissance, but Bert’s Class A development would be more welcomed if developed in Downtown, Bricktown, or even Deep Deuce. Let’s face it, that area near Campbell Park is not very eye candy and needs more beautification and pedestrian friendly development.

Moreover, I know the city was seeking federal funds to acquire land south of the new proposed downtown elementary school between SW 2ndst And California, this would be a great area for Berlanger and the Bomasada Group to develop their coined Enclave apartment complexes. Let’s hope Bert doesn’t turn is back on Oklahoma City, and considers developing somewhere else in the downtown core, there are plenty of undeveloped areas.

I appreciate your coverage very much. Some will say I am whining but this is something a number of us have worked on for over 4 years. Comparing OKC to Chicago or even Austin or Houston is hardly helpful, as these markets have much higher population densities and mature downtowns.

What is most disappointing is getting sandbagged.

Brent Bryant forgot to say “rich and powerful” when he said we needed cheerleader.

I am very concerned that City Staff is not just making policy but is picking winners and losers based on flawed urban land planning thinking, and, sometimes even less objective criteria. Developing Downtown, according to the City’s own recent housing study consultant, costs almost 42% more than developing on the City’s edges.

What Steve Mason has done near the tracks is terrific, but restaurant customers only stay around about an hour at a time, not overnight or 8 hours a day like an office worker. Until have a committed timetable in place for a safe RR corridor, we will not and cannot expect any significant large projects to occur between 4th and 23rd or between Broadway and I235.

Thanks again

Bert

Meg Salyer has to go. She stands in the way of even greater downtown progress.

http://twitter.com/#!/shopgoodokc/status/127201825333051392
http://twitter.com/#!/JDMerryweather/status/115407865291878401
http://twitter.com/#!/JDMerryweather/status/115409964360667136
http://twitter.com/#!/shanehamp/status/114202967103643648

However, according to Meg Salyer, BNSF is the only one to blame:

http://twitter.com/#!/MegForWard6/status/122315324824625152

How much does a Jersey barrier cost? Let’s just block up everything but 10, 13, and 16. Give me a forklift and I’ll do it tomorrow.