MAPS 4 would fund Innovation District future improvements

The Oklahoman's Steve Lackmeyer was joined by Innovation District director Katy Boren during OKC Central Live Chat in fielding questions about the $71 million proposed for the district as part of MAPS 4. If approved by voters, $15 million would go toward turning the old YMCA on NE 4 into the Henrietta B. Foster Center for Northeast Small Business Development and Entrepreneurship, $25 million for connectivity between the Innovation District, downtown and surrounding neighborhoods, $10 million in matching funds for an innovation hall and $21 million for operations.

Lackmeyer: What is the Innovation District and how does it differ from the Oklahoma Health Center?

Boren: Thanks for having me. It is an economic development initiative to take advantage of the major industries Oklahoma City has, energy, aerospace, tech and health sciences, all present in the area. We want to create opportunities for those industries in innovative ways. We want to create an innovation ecosystem that includes those industries and the large enterprise businesses and also allow start-ups and entrepreneurs to flourish as well.

Lackmeyer: So what is the difference between the Innovation District and Oklahoma Health Center?

Boren: It creates additional opportunities that don't exist for innovation and bio-tech and puts them together with other industries in similar fields. Growing a bio-tech, health sciences or bio-logics company is very different from building a technology company.

We have a great opportunity down there. We want to make sure they have resources they need.

Lackmeyer: So what do we call the area?

Boren: It's the Innovation District. It's from 4th to 13th to Lottie on the east and Robinson on the west. We're not calling Automobile Alley the Innovation District but we had to have a core area. Nobody is being renamed.

Lackmeyer: This is a pretty targeted area you're looking to address with MAPS 4 from Harrison to Lincoln to NE 10 and I-235. Will development in this first phase core area go beyond what is proposed as part of MAPS 4?

Boren: In addition to the Innovation Hall building, it will include additional structured parking, a plaza around the Beacon of Hope, and we're trying to spur private investment in the core area with additional office buildings, a hotel and mixed-use development.

Lackmeyer: The Embassy Suites is doing well. Do you see a market for a second hotel in this first phase core area?

Boren: We're hopeful. The Embassy Suites is routinely busy. They're a great partner.

At the MAPS4 presentations, one of the planners at Team Better Block cited that Lincoln Blvd is overbuilt according to American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials standards for the average daily traffic that is seen (I think the numbers were it is built to support over 36,000 daily cars, but never sees over 24,000). What will a Lincoln Boulevard in 10 years look like to you?

Boren: This is an economic development initiative. We've talked about the economic development it's going to cause, including new jobs, places to live, new office buildings, a hotel, restaurants and a lot more activity. That will impact traffic, foot traffic, car traffic, rapid transit, scooters and bikes. We will have to maximize the use of garages, parking spaces, the highest and best and safest use of roads.

Lackmeyer: Do you think Lincoln is overbuilt

and could be put on a road diet?

Boren: No. Lincoln is used and only will be used more and more as we built the additional restaurants, the hotel, office buildings and all these new jobs. It will only grow in its continued use.

How will the revised Innovation District not just connect to, but better integrate the community to the east?

Boren: In addition to the physical connections, creating additional job opportunities and incorporating the northeast community in with training and development toward those jobs, working with Moon Middle School and Douglass High School to be connected to the Innovation District with learning opportunities, and we are proposing renovations of the Henrietta Foster Center to become a minority small business and entrepreneurship center. Northeast Oklahoma City businesses current and future will benefit from the Foster Center.

I think Booker T. Washington Park, with the MAPS 4 improvements, will improve

activity in the area and create opportunity for events in the area bringing together residents and businesses.

Lackmeyer: The is a vast amount of surface parking, chain link fencing and shrubs separating the east boundary of the OU Medical Center, the eastern end of the area, from the neighborhood to the east.

It's obvious that at some point long ago, there wasn't the desire to connect the neighborhood to the campus and this was essentially created as a barrier.

Do you see any changes coming?

Boren: It is and will be discussed and addressed. This is supposed to be an inclusive place where there is not a boundary between who flows in between living and working. It's supposed to be a place where you live and work and are free to move about. It's where everyone is supposed to feel a part of it.

Whether it's job opportunities, programming, getting rid of boundaries, creating a place for innovation — that is what we are going for.