OKC Public Schools Headquarters

[BoulderSooner]

This is extremely concerning. Between this and the city jail it is clear the city has no concern for preservation or the demoralization surface parking brings to an area. What changes have occurred at city hall to see this shift back to demolishing historic structures for surface parking? It seemed not long ago everyone was in agreement about the harm this type of action caused to the health of the city.

"everyone" was never in agreement

a very small vocal minority was


also that group going crazy over this structure (and in a lesser extent the city jail ) actually hurts their preservation efferts elsewhere ..

[Pete]

One the right, you can see the big hole where the wavy drive-thru stood:

[shawnw]

Super annoying that they didn't even TRY to save the roof for some future use. It's the least they could have done after going back on trying to save the whole thing.

[dford2]

Super annoying that they didn't even TRY to save the roof for some future use. It's the least they could have done after going back on trying to save the whole thing.

I agree, but it's just as annoying that no one stepped up with a plan or finances to save it!

[Swanky]

I agree, but it's just as annoying that no one stepped up with a plan or finances to save it!

That's not true - there was an active effort and agreement put forth by the OCFA to take over maintenance and preserve it.

[Pete]

[Laramie]

Good move by Dr. Dave Lopez to purchase this property for the future home of the OKC Public Schools Administrative offices. A new superintendent's office, auditorium and offices that deal with day-to-day operations was long overdue.

[bombermwc]

That's not true - there was an active effort and agreement put forth by the OCFA to take over maintenance and preserve it.

So what exactly would you do with it? Imagine yourself as the business owner of this property and you want to use the land you purchased but there's a rather large structure that takes up quite a bit of space, and you were told you're expected to leave it as-is and not mess with it. Oh and the maintenance is SUPPOSED to be done by a third-party but you dont know if the funding is secured long-term and you aren't allowed to ever touch it.

About all it would be good for is to provide covered parking for a dozen cars. It wasn't a significantly important structure either, especially considering the rest of the building lost all of it's mid-century points a long time ago.

If it's not registered to be protected (and there was plenty of time if someone want to do that, but it wouldn't have qualified anyway because of the changes that had been made), then i think it's fair game for the new owner to do as they please.

[shawnw]

The same could have been said about the Marion staircase but I think most find it cool what they did with it. I'm certain if you handed it to some creatives that they could have found a cool way to incorporate it into something.

[Pete]

[Pete]

[Pete]

[Pete]

They've done a very nice job with this project and it looks like they are closed to finish (notice the cubicles already installed).

Even though they demolished the old retro drive-thru, looks like they salvaged some of the tiles and used them around the east entrance and on the columns on the south facade.

[shawnw]

Do we know if the tile around the door and the columns were reclaimed tile from the drive through or is it new? It matches the structure up against the sidewalk really well (and the drive through had it as well), at least from a distance.

[Pete]

Not sure, but I think it was reclaimed.

[Pete]

Looks like they are finished; it's very nice in person.

[HOT ROD]

just need signage or poster(s) on those monolithic beams fronting the old bldg.

would be nice for the district to hang education or district campaign posters from there.

[BridgeBurner]

I saw they were already jack-hammering up their new walkway this morning

[Plutonic Panda]

https://freepressokc.com/big-traffic...9IEe1uJ8N4pL4Q

[riflesforwatie]

https://freepressokc.com/big-traffic...9IEe1uJ8N4pL4Q

Thankfully pulled off the school board's agenda... for now. https://twitter.com/BrettDOkc/status...327427074?s=20

I really hope the Board of Education votes against this, or, failing that, that the City Council denies the request. The school district should instead make an effort to get Western and Classen in this area on the mother of all road diets and make this area more friendly to cyclists and pedestrians. Wouldn't hurt to slim NW 5 and NW 6 down, too.

[Plutonic Panda]

Good. Very shortsighted move. Build a bridge or tunnel.

[HOT ROD]

here here

[GoGators]

“to create a contiguous piece of property and allow District to fence the entire property….”

They want to create a new, completely fenced off super block of parking? In downtown? in 2020?

[BridgeBurner]

Damn, that would really piss me off haha. I take 5th every single day

[Canoe]

They want to create a new, completely fenced off super block of parking? In downtown? in 2020?

Why do they want the parking areas fenced off? Is it common for a student or parent to attack the cars parked at the OKC headquarters?