Re: Aquarium
Originally Posted by
BDP
The aquarium, as proposed, might be the coolest of the three and no doubt would bring some tourist dollars, but what about it makes it a fundamentally stronger project than "a horse arena and minor league soccer stadium", especially to the degree that one would hold other projects hostage until it's included?
I can answer that. The aquarium would be a world class addition to Oklahoma City and is not being side-stepped or bait-and-switched like the other two.
The Fairgrounds Arena (now being call the "OKC Fairgrounds" arena - get real!!) is also stated as MULTIPURPOSE but its design is clearly for horseshows only! And the fairgrounds have a revenue source and have come to the MAPS plate far too many times especially for the ridiculous "park" they've created. Again, nothing world class nor transformational about this either.
The soccer stadium is stated as a MULTIPURPOSE stadium to be home to the minor league OKC Energy; which is already home in OKC and would remain minor league (so nothing new/better), and a 10,000 seat stadium would not be anything "world class" or transformational and definitely couldn't be used for anything else (too small for concerts or meaningful football).
Now, if the stadium were say 30,000 expandable to 60,000 for a state championship or bowl game then that's transformational since OKC has neither. If the stadium would be part of a package to secure MLS designation for the Energy that too could be transformational. None of this is the case with a 10,000 seat stadium. Sorry.
Take the aquarium, as presented already has that WOW factor and would extend the canal to have a destination. That by itself makes it trump the other two, but also consider the fact that it'd be the biggest in Oklahoma and one of the best in the region with the Zoo running it - that makes it world class and highly transformational while at the same time also giving OKC yet another apex attraction and providing a 'connection' to the Boathouse district, Canal, river, and AICCM as well as Bricktown to the Adventure district.
If it were me, I'd have MAPS 4 be the following:
MAPS 4: $750M/7 years
* $90M Aquarium (showpiece, keeping in-line with the MAPS brand. Itself likely ensuring passage)
* $10M Canal Extension to Aquarium
* $65M Transit (less the "BRT" crap)
* $120M Parks (less the Endowment)
* $40M Innovation District ((less the Endowment)
* $75M Mental Health + Homeless facilities (instead of either-or, combine the two functions since most homeless need services and have more than one location)
* $60M Youth Centers (less the Endowment unless the purpose is to have them free for children)
* $15M Senior Center (no Endowment, sorry)
* $80M Sidewalks, Bike Lanes, Trail connection (ensure every section arterial and school/library/center has full length, Bike Lanes in dense corridors in the inner core/Trails connections in less dense suburban OKC and near parks)
* $20M Lighting (ensure every section artery in OKC has street and pedestrian lighting full length)
* $100M Beautification (trees along every section artery, signs and statues for placemaking, public art and foliage at gateways and freeway interchanges [instead of empty grass], soundwalls to hide industrial areas along interstates, neighborhood specific streetscapes/furniture - Will Rogers World Airport (OMG, so UGLY now), OCU, Asia district, 39th street, Eastside, Capital Hill, ect)
* $20M Victim Services building
* $35M Animal Shelter
* $20M Clara Luper and Freedom Center (no endowment)
AND increase city sale tax rate by 0.10% for O&M (instead of endowments). There would still be room for RTA (esp with gas tax increase and the state allowing property tax for regional transit). In fact, OKC should look to raise the gas tax a little bit now, to help fund EMBARK. ..
Oklahoma City, the RENAISSANCE CITY!
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