Developments continue throughout central OKC
The Oklahoman's Steve Lackmeyer took questions from readers during Friday's OKC Central Live Chat. You can join Steve's Q&A's on Fridays at 9:30 a.m. and submit your questions about the happenings in and around downtown Oklahoma City. Here is an edited transcript:
I noticed that they’re cleaning up Linwood Blvd. Are there any major projects planned for this area in the future?
Fudge, Cosair Cattle Co. (R.D. and Scott Smith) and the Pivot Project. IAO is moving into the area and other projects are in the works.
Are we getting any closer to putting 6th and 5th on a road diet. My kids would love to be able to walk to school at John Rex, but those roads are very bad for pedestrians.
I recently visited with Planning Director Aubrey McDermid and Public Works Director Eric Wenger. Changes are coming to NW 4 with it being a part of a bike lane demonstration project that will be far more advanced than what we've seen to date.
The answer for NW 5 and NW 6 is bit more complicated, but really, it comes down to this: if one wants to see these streets re-striped and
tamed, it would help a lot if you and other parents at John W. Rex teamed up with developers in the area to make the case to City Hall. This area is in Ward 6, and we may know next week after Tuesday's election who will replace Meg Salyer.
Developers in the area sharing your concern might include David Wanzer and Richard McKown, who are building the Bower, Ron Bradshaw who is set to develop the corner of
NW 4 and Shartel, as well as Hunter Wheat with Banquet Cinema Pub and the Mark Moore Group.
As the months go by,
I am finding it harder to get excited about MAPS 4 because is seems we are having to invent projects on which to spend the money. MAPS projects need to happen organically, from a groundswell of civic support. To fund the need/desire that is readily prevalent. Very few people are clamoring for a deck over I-235 ...... except the vested property owners. Much of MAPS 3 (specifically the streetcar projects) has only enriched the downtown/midtown property owners who own property along the streetcar routes.
Where will be the balance on money spent in other parts of the metro for improvements? Do we really need ANOTHER downtown park?
The idea of the streetcar making property owners rich is not quite true. They've actually suffered quite a bit with the street closings and detours. Some were not supportive of this at all.
Also, ridership topping 100,000 during the first month tells me the streetcars aren't without community support or interest. But as I've written previously, the operation isn't without problems and I question some of the decisions made on busy nights by
the operator, Herzog.
City Hall is working on the signal prioritization. I really think the biggest improvement only requires paint. Re-stripe Sheridan and Reno Avenues in Bricktown to create a dedicated streetcar lane and we will see a vast improvement in streetcar timing.
It's not a big deal, City Hall. You know it can be done and it might even make the streets safer for cars and pedestrians. The current striping, especially on Sheridan Avenue between Oklahoma Avenue and E.K. Gaylord, is confusing and dangerous. Get out the paint and fix it.