Repairs Could Cost $130 Million
Video
http://www.koco.com/video/30057308/detail.html
What does this say about the state of historic preservation in this city?
Repairs Could Cost $130 Million
Video
http://www.koco.com/video/30057308/detail.html
What does this say about the state of historic preservation in this city?
Yeah...uhmm. Maybe someone at the state level could have done a thorough building assessment study before so much money was spent adding the dome to the capitol. I'm never shocked at how our priorities can so out of line on a state level....
Yes, I realize that. My point is before adding the dome surely an engineering assessment would have been done on the building before adding all the structural weight. If an thorough assessment would have been done then the repairs would have not been a surprise now. The report would revealed major building issues years ago.
Also, the need for work elsewhere in the capitol is only a surprise to those who feign surprise. There have been obvious issues for quite some time, dating back well before the dome project. They simply were not a priority to the various leadership, in either party.
Repairs aren't sexy and they are always put off as long as possible, as there never seems to be a good time.
The state just spent $47 million on the new Judicial Center very nearby.
Over the past couple of decades, the state has revamped lots of the interior and quite some bit of the mechanical. Making public spaces nicer, changing dead and storage space into functioning office space where none have been before, and then reworking some of that as well. The plazas, the tunnels, the legislative chambers, areas outside the gov and lt gov offices, redoing the interior of the courtrooms and judicial offices in the main building, much of this before the dome went up and some of it as the dome went up.
We're talking under several Gov. terms from both parties. Money kept getting found for sexy, as Pete notes, but only rarely for the non-sexy. Much of it, though sexy sort of work, was needed, but other work was needed as well, and known to be needed. But there was no large group advocating for it and so, like so many areas where there is no large clamor for something necessary, it was put off to the side. I suspect large parts will continue to be set aside rather than a concerted effort being made.
Well it was always Keating's pet project to get the dome up. Remember the dome was originally planned in the design of the building and it wasn't added because the state ran out of money back in the 20's or whenever it was. So keep that in mind, because that means the building is strucurally capable of holding much more than it does now. The dome is built out of a lighter weight conrete that is far lighter than the limestone of the rest of the building. They actually tinted the conrete as well so it would match the color of the rest of the building and not looke like a bright white cap on a dingy body.
Listening to the end of the video, if the state only has a 150 million shortfall, then they did pretty good. Especially considering that equates to what, a few miles of 4 lane highway. As Fallin said, a bond issue is probably the best way to go to do this, but the problem will be what will get worse in the meantime? You could end up with a 200 million project by the time the bond money is colleceted at a high enough level to do anything.
Other than it would require Republicans to suck it up to put it into place, what would be wrong with a MAPs type temporary state sales tax instead of the more expensive and costly bond route? A 1 year to 18 month state-wide 1/4 penny would raise enough to do the capitol, and get a few other potential bond sort of projects as well (provided they kept their hands outta the new til.)
I think the dome looks great. I am glad they put the dome on the building. I'm probably wrong, but I would imagine that when the dome addition was done, it was done in such a way that you could probably remove the entire original building and it would still be up there on something resembling stilts. If not, I hope that the architects' and engineers' insurance is paid up . . . I'd hate to see the entire structure ringed with "Caution" tape and everybody having to work out in the parking lot. Although that would lend an element of transparency to government . . .
They can include the Capitol White House in the next MAPS project. The building is just old age and naturally falling apart. Its not the dome or anything else. I don't think the problem was as serious as it is now when they started the dome project. Now we are dealing with more earthquakes and constant politicians screaming/stomping in the building that is now requiring urgent repairs and improvements to the building. I don't think its anything of dire urgency, so just wait it out and include it in the next MAPS project whenever we all go to vote for approval. Are we at MAPS 3 or 4 now?
No they can't . . .
It's against The Law.
Perhaps a makeshift Dome over Kerr Park while The Legislators do "the peoples' business" in public would be a nice Christmas Present?
Along with a few little kiosks for The Washington D.C. Crew?
Replete with State O' The Art Internet Connections . . . =)
BTW, Thunder: RCJ beat me to the practical punch on the different levels of law 'n politics 'n funding 'n so forth etc.
I think the primary problem is overuse of the pronoun "they" . . . =)
I disagree that its against the law. The white house is within OKC and the people can freely vote to approve a tax hike within the next MAPS to do emergency repairs along with more glamorous cosmetic upgrades.
Read that post again, Thunder.
RC's post.
Then read it again.
It's The Law.
Then go to Law School and become a legislator.
After having served effectively in the capacity of . . . oh . . . i dunno . . .
A CityCouncil Person....? =)
But be prepared to take tests about stuff regarding Spelunkian Cave Explorers.
(Like the caves in the basement of The Capitol Building containing The Secret Archives . . .)
Well maybe they won't fund the repairs and our state capitol will fall down. Hopefully, with all the legislators inside of it...
From what I recall, the Dome was to be 100% private donations and I don't recall the final percentage, but believe the vast majority was achieved that way (there is the list of major donors names/corporate entities inscribed in a ring or something)
The State stepped in and approved a bond issue (which was later challenged in court and successfully overturned because of logrolling). But because the bonds had already been sold for the Dome, they were left "as is" and the unsold bonds/projects thrown out (courts don't like to "unstir the pot"). With a stern admonition by the State Supreme Court not to let it happen again, but they continue to ignore that directive.
Don't recall any Rainy Day funds being used for the Dome, but maybe they were???
I have a feeling that either The Round Barn in Arcadia or the Temple Addition to the Original Statehouse in Guthrie might be available as temporary meeting places while the Legislature Suffers under the weight of The Dome . . . (and worrying about it and stuff like that there) . . .
Is Kerr Park presently unoccupied?
LOL, that describes our Legislature pretty well too...Feb thru May session....rarely meet before Noon on Monday and usually adjourn before Noon on Thurs (4 day work week)...about a third of the time they are there, they meet for 20 minutes or less (just enough time to take roll and get their coffee & donuts)
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