“For the public works department, it may be a 180 to an extent. They have been instructed for as long as I can remember that their job was to get cars from point A to point B as quickly as possible. Now, with these streets, we are asking for people to come before cars.” – Mayor Mick Cornett, discussing Project 180 in the Nov. 27 issue of The Oklahoman.

QUESTION: Would it be acceptable to have a fenced grate in the middle of a street? If not, and if pedestrian access is now to be given equal (or better) footing with vehicular access, than why is this an acceptable sidewalk?

Ah, what twists and turns can occur when questions are asked. If you read today’s Main Street column, you know that as of yesterday the city wasn’t even so sure anymore who was responsible for the NE 2 sidewalk.

Well, today we now know the answer – it’s the city that did this, not a utility.

Speaking to Debbie Regan in the city’s water department, I learned that the grate covers a water meter. Apparently the water meter was installed as the adjoining 2nd Street Lofts were being built. Regan says the contract changed the plans for the underground garage construction, causing the meter to be at a level where the grate had to be raised higher than the sidewalk.

I asked – why can’t the meter be lowered or moved? She responded the meter was installed first, and the contractor caused the situation. I asked if the average pedestrian really cares as to how this happened. Is it impossible to move the meter and fix this sidewalk? She again responded the contractor was to blame – an answer, quite frankly, I doubt makes a difference to most of you.

So now Ragan is looking into whether it is or is not possible for the meter to be moved. My question remains the same: in the post Jeff Speck era, is this acceptable? Is this something that would be permitted in front of Devon tower or City Hall? If not, why is it acceptable on NE 2?

By the way, YOU PAID FOR THIS. This was part of a Tax Increment Financing district project.

Good news, wheelchair users! Oklahoma City has provided you with a good, modern ramp onto the NE 2 sidewalk. But what's that up ahead?

Oklahoma City has been vigilant in recent months in constructing new sidewalk wheelchair ramps a street corners throughout the metro – even at intersections where there are no sidewalks.
The stretch of NE 2 between E.K. Gaylord and Walnut Avenue at least has sidewalks – and wheelchair ramps. This pedestrian corridor will be an increasingly important one in the future as the 2nd Street Lofts are joined by an Aloft Hotel and a large apartment complex to the immediate east Imagine all the people who will be able to walk from the hotel and their homes to the Central Business District and Automobile Alley.
Of course, when they use the sidewalk along NE 2, they’ll also have to walk around this big fenced in above-grade utility grate.
I’m stumped as to how this sidewalk meets ADA requirements.

Planners, developers, city officials – I know you’re out there reading this site – how in the world does this make any sense? Did someone at Public Works really look at these sidewalk plans and say, “oh yeah, this will work just fine?” Is this not an embarrassment to someone?

Why?

And now we have an answer:

“Two citations have been issued for the property at 302 NW 10th -. Case # 06-4483326, for improper storage of vehicles in a C-CBDF zoning district went to court on September 5, 2008, the case was continued until October 17, 2008.  Case # 04-026511X , the defendant entered a plea of no contest and was fined $277.00. The Chief Zoning Inspector is talking with the Municipal Counselor’s office about issuing additional citations.”

- Bob Tener 

Today we start off with a new feature at OKC Central – Why?

I now know that this blog is getting read by an interesting mix of people throughout downtown. So why not use it to ask some really uncomfortable questions? And while we’re at it, let’s just send a photo to the appropriate people with just one question: “Why?”

So, the following photo is going out via email tomorrow to Planning Director Russell Claus, Mayor Mick Cornett, and the two people in charge of the city’s fire code inspections, Deputy Chief Bryan Heirston and District Chief Kellie Lee.

Let’s see if they respond. In the meantime, any of you readers care to take a shot at this same question? 

The apparent junk yard at NW 10 and Harvey. Why?