Oklahoma City could be bigger player in convention market
The Oklahoman’s Steve Lackmeyer fielded questions from readers Friday during his weekly OKC Central chat. This is an edited transcript of that conversation. To see the full chat transcript, or to participate in next week’s chat, go to NewsOK.com.
Q: Does the Oklahoma City Boulevard project include building a bridge over Classen and/or Reno or will stoplights just be put in place?
A: Classen and Western are going to merge under a boulevard overpass approximately where the large south McDonald’s parking lot is located. Both Western and Classen are already being closed as construction gets started on this part of the project.
Q: I’m an ambitious young business owner ready to make a big splash downtown. If I moved my company headquarters into the First Church of Christ, Scientist on Robinson, what’ll it cost me? And what would you like to see me do to the building?
A: Do you really exist or are you a unicorn? Oh, please be for real.
OK, first off, you need to visit with Cathy O’Connor with The Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City and inquire about using tax increment financing and whether any Murrah District Revitalization funds might be available. Visit with preservation architect Catherine Montgomery to see if this could generate interest in historic tax credits.
Next step: how much parking do you need? If you need a lot of parking, are you visionary enough to have your employees take the streetcar to and from a remote source of parking (maybe the new Heritage Building garage?). Or would you want to approach Bob Howard about getting access to his lots once he moves his dealership? The church building is gorgeous. It can be an iconic home for the right company. You could also work with the city with adding some angled parking into the green space along the Robinson Avenue frontage. Get this done! And call me if you’re serious. And give me the scoop of course.
Q: Share with us your top 5 list of companies you would like to see partner with Embark in some sort of paid sponsorship/ advertisement agreement to help bridge the shortfall of funds for operations in our public transit efforts. (Paycom, Kramkos, Hobby Lobby, Boeing, etc.)
A: Create a Boeing line out to the Boeing operations in southeast Oklahoma City. Paint their name on the bus if necessary. Ditto for Paycom and Hobby Lobby. Do a deal with Baptist Hospital, Mercy Hospital and OU Medical Center.
Q: What year coming up will be the biggest turning point for the city and why?
A: I really believe 2020 will be huge for downtown with the opening of the convention center, Omni and the boulevard, which will follow the completion of Scissortail Park and the streetcar. Add to this the completion of West Village along Film Row, the Steelyard in east Bricktown, and an array of infill projects in Automobile Alley, Deep Deuce, Bricktown and Midtown. I will be shocked if we aren’t seeing some new significant corporate headquarters opening up downtown by 2020 based on what I’m currently tracking.