Brockway Center demo on hold
Catherine Montgomery carries signs during a Preservation Oklahoma rally May 6 for the historic Brockway Community Center at 1440 N. Everest Ave. in Oklahoma City. The site's current owners have a permit to demolish the center, but said they will listen to alternatives from the city's Urban Renewal Authority. [CHRIS LANDSBERGER/ THE OKLAHOMAN]
The Care Center, a nonprofit that helps abused children, promised Friday they will not proceed with demolition of a historic black landmark until their board reviews offers and suggestions presented by the Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authori t y o n alternatives for expansion without destroying the Brockway Center.
Pres e r vat i oni s t s a nd some members of the local affiliate of the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs have protested the demolition plans by the Care Center but lost an effort to block a demolition application earlier this week at the Capitol Zoning Commission. The house at 1403 Ashton Place was for decades home to the women's organization as it played a role in fighting for civil rights and improving the plight of the black community.
The Care Center is on the east half of the block shared with the Brockway Center, 1440 N Everest Ave., and when it came up for sale last year, Stacy McNeiland, CEO of Care Center, saw an opportunity to expand the nonprofit's capacity.
With approval of demolition plans, the Care Center i s free to proceed with demolition.
Cathy O'Connor, director of the Urban Renewal Authority, met with the Care Center and offered solutions that would allow for Care Center expansion without tearing down Brockway Center.
“Our belief is that they can construct their new facility directly north of their current building on the land they currently use as parking, retaining the parking lot portion of the Brockway Center property and possibly adding additional on-street parking if necessary to satisfy their parking needs,” O'Connor said. “The key would be fi nding a buyer for the Brockway Center house quickly as they would not be comfortable proceeding with that plan unless they knew they could sell the historic home and that it would not sit vacant and become dilapidated.”
O'Connor said they also discussed swapping land or a similar transaction.
Representatives of Care Center promised Friday the Brockway Center will not be torn down without first presenting O'Connor's proposals to the board.
“We are reviewing their ideas for our property,” said Traci Schwartz, vice president of operations for the Care Center. “We will be consulting with our architects, engineers and our board about the best way to move forward. Our first priority is creating a safe space for the kids we serve.”
Ward 7 Councilwoman Nikki Nice said she appreciates the latest discussions but remains concerned. Nice f i r s t brought t he matter to the public's attention in February when she attempted to designate the Brockway Center a historic landmark.
"This was an offer we presented when we were trying to move the resolution," Nice said. "We presented the offer of land swapping to the director. She was not i nterested because she wants to build a campus."