Autonomous vehicles, MAPS 4, more
The Oklahoman’s Steve Lackmeyer fielded questions during his weekly OKC Central chat on Friday. This is an abridged transcript of that conversation. To see the full transcript or to participate in next week’s chat, go to NewsOK.com.
Q: Do you think with the announcement of autonomous delivery vehicles, that will curb the need for a true grocery store downtown?
A: No. But I do believe the remodeled Homeland curbs the need for a new downtown grocery store, especially when combined with Native Roots in Deep Deuce, the Urban Agrarian, Brown’s Bakery and the market planned for West Village. And keep in mind, Thursday’s announcement about selfdriving vehicle grocery delivery is about some time in the future. These vehicles will have drivers. There is no law allowing for this yet. And there a lot of concerns about the safety of this technology.
Q: What are your thoughts on the OKC Marathon changing courses over the next couple of years?
A: I think it’s fantastic. Automobile Alley was never an ideal fit for the marathon home base in that it couldn’t be shut down for a long period of time, thus excluding the possibility of turning this into multiday celebration of life and how good triumphed over evil. I have seen successful events improperly uprooted from where they belonged just to seed a new place (the failed attempt at relocating the mayor’s Christmas tree to Kerr Park stands out).
The marathon draws tens of thousands of people — an event that benefits all of downtown no matter where it is located. Scissortail Park has the ability to properly host a worldclass event like this, allow it to breathe, and also provide the new park a great anchor marquee event.
Has a timeline been announced for when Heartland will make its move to downtown?
A: Construction will start this winter; it will open in August 2020.
Q: Driving down the new boulevard, I can’t help but notice the amount of grassy area between the street and the SW corner of the arena. Is it destined for landscaping?
A: We have long been promised the boulevard will be landscaped with lighting and street furnishings following the design set with Project 180.
Q: I saw that the city of OKC dropped their eminent domain case over the parking lot to the east of U-Haul (in Bricktown). Can you tell us more about that?
A: I am told Public Works Director Eric Wenger is working on alternative designs or solutions that won’t require litigation with U-Haul.
Q: Do you know if the new tenants for the Parkside building plan on activating Kerr Park?
A: Echo Energy is enthusiastic about working with Downtown Oklahoma City Partnership in programming Kerr Park. I think we will see a pretty lively place emerge over this next year.
Q: Three things we will see in MAPS 4. Three things we could see in MAPS 4. Three other things you’d like to see in MAPS 4.
A: Will see:
• Education.
• Mental health/homeless.
• River.
Could see:
• Fair park arena.
• Streetcar extension.
• Neighborhood improvements.
Would like to see:
• Regional transit connections.
• Extension of public transit at night and on weekends.
• Bike lanes throughout the city.