Originally Posted by
Spartan
Pete, we're finding some disagreements here. Deep Deuce wouldn't happen without Bricktown? I think rather, Bricktown won't survive without DD at this rate, and furthermore, how do we not know that DD wouldn't be bigger/better today? That neighborhood was decimated by ODOT, not solely OCURA like everywhere else. Bricktown was NOTHING in 1980. It was industrial, even.
On balance, if you like at where each neighborhood began, Deep Deuce did make more sense. So I think this Bricktown-centric view of downtown development is not only myopic but it's no longer the year 2004. Downtown has matured, issues have been solved, other issues popped up, and so on. The Bricktown-centric downtown view that many still have is not an accurate reflection of downtown today and not even CLOSE to it. Hopefully we can all agree on that.
As for the more than $12 million in TIFs, you don't think that is a standing offer for any developer willing to invest in a HUGE development like all of those TIFs are for? If anyone stepped up to do something like LEVEL in Bricktown, surely they could work a deal out. Besides, let's not pretend there haven't been subsidies for some Bricktown projects, as well. ALSO furthermore, keep in mind that those TIFs in DD paid for streetscape improvements for the most part. Bricktown already got all of that.
As for ACM@UCO, I think it's questionable whether they chose the right neighborhood at this point. I believe that there is a potential for a lot more REAL culture not to mention day-time vitality in other parts of the downtown area.
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