Q&A: Convention center garage
The city is set to pay $14 million for land to build an 865-space parking garage for the new convention center and convention center hotel. Owned by OG&E, the property appraised for $6.7 million in June.
Q: Why should I care?
A: The city is investing about $700 million in that corner of downtown, most of it through the 1-cent MAPS 3 sales tax. City and civic leaders expect the public investment to be the catalyst of significant development that will fill in the blighted area between the central business district and the Oklahoma River.
Q: Why pay more than the appraisal says the property is worth?
A: The deal is the result of lengthy negotiations. The price includes compensation for OG&E, which will incur costs to relocatethe control center for its electric power generation, transmission and distribution systems, although there has been no public accounting of its anticipated costs. OG&E's "gold building" that houses the control center will be demolished.
Q: Where is this property? A OG&E occupies a full city block bounded by SW 3 and 4 streets, between Broadway and E.K. Gaylord Boulevard. The tract is kitty-corner from Chesapeake Energy Arena. Q: What does the city get? A: Parking to serve the MAPS 3 convention center, park and streetcar, and the basketball arena and convention center hotel. The city must provide parking to complete the deal with Omni Hotels & Resorts to build the hotel. Convention and tourism officials say the convention center cannot reach its full potential without the hotel.
Q: How much will it cost to build the garage?
A: $40 million, for the land, design and construction.
Q: What else?
A: The city's parking authority has a study that says, over the long term, 2,300 parking spaces will be needed as the area is redeveloped. The garage meets about a third of that need. A 500-space parking lot also is proposed, but whether that gets built depends on getting favorable bids for construction of the convention center.
Q: When will we know how much convention center construction will cost?
A: The budget is around $195 million. Bids could be openedin March.
Q: When will the garage deal be discussed?
A: The Oklahoma City Economic Development Trust discusses the arrangement at 4 p.m. Monday. The city council takes it up at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday. Both meetings are at City Hall, 200 N Walker Ave.
Santa Fe Station events this week
Dignitaries will markprogress of work on downtown's historic Santa Fe railroad depot Thursday afternoon. Renovations are transforming the station into a hub serving passenger rail, the MAPS 3 streetcar, buses and other modes of transportation. Interior work that restores and revives the 1934 station's art deco style has been completed. Still to comeis a pedestrian tunnel beneath the BNSF Railway tracks, providing a new link betweenthe central business district and Bricktown.
Of note: A family-oriented open house featuring children's activities will be Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. Parking is available at the Cox Center across E.K. Gaylord Boulevard from the depot.
Filing for mayor begins Monday
Filing for the 2018 mayoral election is Monday through Wednesday this week. Republican state Sen. David Holt is the only announced candidate after the withdrawal of District 2 Oklahoma County Commissioner Brian Maughan, who was seriously injured in a traffic accident earlier this year. The primary election is Feb. 13.
Of note: In a Christmas message to supporters, Maughan wrote, "I had always thought I could contribute much as mayor. Making the decision to quit the race was the hardest decision I ever made." Maughan continues to serve as District 2 commissioner.
They said it
"Saddened."
— Ward 2 Councilman Ed Shadid, reacting to the city clerk's determination that advocates of pay raises for Oklahoma City-area public school teachers failed to collect enough valid signatures to trigger a vote. Organizers of the initiative petition drive proposed a 0.50 percent, temporary income tax increase to raise $50 million per year for pay-raise grants to the 24 school districts that enroll students residing in Oklahoma City. Advocates can ask for a hearing on the clerk's finding that they fell about 1,100 signatures short. A hearing could be held in January.
Tweet of the week
"Lincoln Riley makes history with Big 12 Championship win as first-year head coach" — @bepryor. Brooke
Pryor covers Oklahoma football for NewsOK and The Oklahoman. Read about the Sooners' win and prospects for competing for the national championship at NewsOK.com.