Convention Center Location Report
The Importance of the Critical Question
Sometimes I wonder if everyone truly understands the history and lessons of the original Metropolitan Area Projects, which without a doubt have transformed downtown into the success story it is today.
I’m proud of the role reporters played in that story. I’m not boasting about my own efforts – I’m talking about the collective efforts of a group of reporters that included Melissa Gandall at KTOK, Alex Cameron at KWTV, myself and Jack Money at The Oklahoman, and Holly Bailey at The Gazette. I believe we gave MAPS the coverage it deserved. We asked critical questions, we scrutinized plans and budgets, and we did stories that weren’t always popular with those leading the projects.
But look back. I’m pleading with a specific group of people like Jim Couch, Jim Thompson and others who were in the battle at this moment of time. What if no one critically questioned the location of the library? What if no one questioned having the Bricktown Canal broken into three segments instead of two? What if no one forced a serious introspective look at financial analysis and planning for the projects? What if no one ever questioned motives and agendas?
No, it wasn’t easy on one’s pride. Not everyone in leadership agreed with the coverage. But some of this town’s best journalists (I credit where I am today from having learned from the others) were free to do their jobs, unhampered, with their judgment, and not the judgment of those who had an interest in the stories’ outcome, crafting and molding coverage day to day.
Did all of this coverage diminish from the MAPS success story? And is this part of the MAPS story relevant to today?
At 7:05 p.m. I’ll be on KTOK discussing Core to Shore
That’s 1000 on the am dial
Is Downtown Done? Automobile Alley
Is Downtown Done? MidTown
Is Downtown Done? The Arts District
Is Downtown Done? East Bricktown
Most if not all of these buildings are part of the former Stewart Metal plant. They have been empty and up for sale for redevelopment for the past six years. To the south is Lower Bricktown, to the north is Deep Deuce, to the west is the convention center and Bricktown, and to the east is the highway junction of I-235, I-35 and I-40, one of the city’s busiest.
Is Downtown Done? Deep Deuce/Maywood/Flat Iron
Core to Shore: Questions and Answers
As always I appreciate readers leaving comments, and when questions are asked, I always try to answer in the best way possible. Several questions popped up during today’s live blogging:
“What was Mick’s excuse for not attending? I’m starting to smell fish over in MidTown coming from City Hall.” – Steven
“Steve, would you mind explaining the difference between the two sites?” – Mark
“Mark, I would go one further. A post that neutrally analyses the pros and cons of each location, including distances from important other (related) sites like hotels, Bricktown restaurants, Ford Center, etc.” – Brian J.
“Whats the story on the Producers Coop/Lumberyard confusion? Don’t know anything about this.” – Jeffrey
“I’m interested to hear your thoughts. You have covered and catalogued as much about downtown OKC’s re-development as anyone. “– MartzMimic
MY ANSWERS:
Steven: I don’t know why Mayor Cornett didn’t attend. His secretary reported he was in town and had ordered a DVD of the presentation. Not sure if that’s got the same value as being in the room and getting to hear afterwards from all the people who attended.
Mark: I never heard any concrete arguments for the Core to Shore site south of Ford Center from anyone other than Cornett. He has repeatedly quoted the Core to Shore task force as having chosen it, but that’s not true. They never voted on the matter and the site was shown in dozens of sketches and renderings after Cornett, who was chairing the task force, reported that a site needed to be shown but it wouldn’t mean a final decision had been made. At the time several members of the task force felt the convention center should be located south of Bricktown, but no full discussion on the matter was allowed. Proponents of the site south of Bricktown (there are actually two, which I’ll address in a moment) argue it has everything the Core to Shore site doesn’t: immediate access to hotels, clubs, restaurants and entertainment venues.
Brian: I would urge you to contact Mayor Mick Cornett and City Manager Jim Couch to inquire as to whether such a report exists if that is something you want to see.
Jeffrey: Mayor Cornett has declined to acknowledge the lumberyard site as separate from the Producers Coop site. But proponents of the lumberyard site say it alone would be big enough for a convention center. This could be significant, proponents say, because Gary Gregory is now brokering the Coop site for what many believe is a very inflated price of $121 million. It is believed the lumberyard could be bought for much less money.
Wrap-Up
Wow, what a morning. Some final thoughts:
Some folks left happy from the ULI presentation. Some did not. The overflow crowd included some of the city’s most influential developers, business owners and civic leaders. City Manager Jim Couch attended. So did Planning Director Russell Claus. Some council members were in attendance as well.
Observers have told me that this report is also bad news for the Producers Coop site and that this is the beginning of the end of a campaign by some to confuse the lumberyard site with the Producers Coop site.
Mayor Mick Cornett, who is in town, did not attend the meeting and did not get to visit with the ULI panel afterwards. His office confirms he did not watch the presentation, but has requested a DVD of the meeting. The presentation challenged many of the development concepts he has championed for Core to Shore.
