Aquarium

[Urban Pioneer]

Was there any sort of campaign website for this shiny object?

[OKCRT]

Actually, IIRC the Dolphins can't survive this far inland above sea level; OKC's 1201' elevation didn't help--which led to pneumonia. May had more to do with the zoo's inexperience though.

Please correct me if I received the wrong information, strange though, Las Vegas has a dolphin exhibit...

Well shoot,I was hoping to swim or at least wade with the dolphins in the canal.

[Laramie]

Was there any sort of campaign website for this shiny object?

In all fairness, I certainly don't recall. . .

[jerrywall]

Actually, IIRC the Dolphins can't survive this far inland above sea level; OKC's 1201' elevation didn't help--which led to pneumonia. May had more to do with the zoo's inexperience though.

Please correct me if I received the wrong information, strange though, Las Vegas has a dolphin exhibit...

As I recall, and everything I could find online backs up my spotty memory, they never did figure out what exactly was the source of the bacterial infection was that lead to the deaths, which led them to returning the remaining dolphins to their owners and closing the exhibit. I'd also love to know if there is more to the story.

[jerrywall]

that aquarium was build for 21.3 Million in 1981, based upon every inflation calculator out there... the most i saw was saying that would be about $80 Million in todays dollars. now i'm certain they have probably done some renovations since then... but i think 150M would get us a pretty dang good one

I'm also sort of curious how the National Aquarium became the only bar... like, if somehow what's done isn't as nice as the National Aquarium, it's not world class? I guess any museum that's not the Smithsonian isn't worth it either?

Regardless, agree with you, and with others, in the fact that 150M would definitely get us a pretty nice aquarium. Would it be the best and biggest in the country? Course not, and I don't think that's a reasonable expectation in a land locked state.

[checkthat]

Hahahahaha holt just killed maps4 and I don’t think he even realizes it yet. Voters will shoot it down out of spite, make them go back to the drawing board and add it.

Holding out hope for the Chrystal Lagoon!

[Canoe]

I'm also sort of curious how the National Aquarium became the only bar... like, if somehow what's done isn't as nice as the National Aquarium, it's not world class? I guess any museum that's not the Smithsonian isn't worth it either?

Regardless, agree with you, and with others, in the fact that 150M would definitely get us a pretty nice aquarium. Would it be the best and biggest in the country? Course not, and I don't think that's a reasonable expectation in a land locked state.

How many miles of roads or sidewalks does 150 million buy?

[jerrywall]

How many miles of roads or sidewalks does 150 million buy?

A lot less than the $967 million dollar better streets safer city bond that was just passed less than 2 years ago? Or less than the $240 million dollars MAPS3 extension that goes for roads and sidewalks?

[BoulderSooner]

Yes to keep it out

[SagerMichael]

A lot less than the $967 million dollar better streets safer city bond that was just passed less than 2 years ago? Or less than the $240 million dollars MAPS3 extension that goes for roads and sidewalks?

Talk to em

[Pete]

Did the director of the Zoo push for the story? It seems pretty simple to me that if they had done any type of public education effort this would have been a contender for inclusion.

This feels very orchestrated.

I've already explained how this came to pass.

[catch22]

MAPS 4 has always needed a sexy project. Not one proposed project has had any “punch” or excitement except this one - and it’s not going to be included. Fail.

[jonny d]

MAPS 4 has always needed a sexy project. Not one proposed project has had any “punch” or excitement except this one - and it’s not going to be included. Fail.

Will still pass. Is it a fail?

[Urban Pioneer]

My very first project when I moved to Oklahoma twenty years ago was to build the little clock tower at the new Cat Forest Park at the OKC Zoo. As a single person, I didn't go to the zoo for probably a good ten years. Now with two kids, I probably go out there every month and my wife probably weekly. I brought up the aquarium idea to her at lunch. Immediately I was bombarded with questions. Would we have to pay to get in as we all have an annual family pass, etc? Why would it be in Bricktown? Would she have to pay to park? Why isn't it at the zoo that already exists? I could tell the whole idea of lugging the kids to someplace else was an anathema.

For people who actually support the zoo, having a sensible awareness campaign with simple answers to these questions is just covering the basics to get their support.

I have to say that if you did install an aquarium at the zoo itself, you would continue to propel that entire complex further into a continent-wide destination for zoo lovers. This idea about Bricktown just smells like some sort of payoff to developers and property brokers. This is a really odd day for all of this suddenly become an issue.

[Plutonic Panda]

You guys are silly. Please vote yes for thew sake of Bike lanes, public transit, sidewalks, trees, support for mental health, etc.. an aquarium is not nearly as important as these things that will actually improve quality of life for all people in meaningful ways.

But those can happen without MAPS and with MAPS and this aquarium. The powers that be need a shake up. This was shown today to be a very popular project and it wasn't even given a chance. Bike lanes and buses aren't getting that much funding anyways and this MAPS just throws a bone to those supporters instead of a meaningful change. This is sad and will turn me against MAPS 4(not like it really matters anyways).

[baralheia]

that aquarium was build for 21.3 Million in 1981, based upon every inflation calculator out there... the most i saw was saying that would be about $80 Million in todays dollars. now i'm certain they have probably done some renovations since then... but i think 150M would get us a pretty dang good one

The world-class Shedd Aquarium in Chicago was built in 1930 for $3 million, which equates to about $46 million today. Of course, the Shedd Aquarium has had a lot of investment in it since - but this definitely goes to show that $125 million would *absolutely* build us a world-class aquarium.

[baralheia]

Hope to get him to explain this:

To provide some additional context, here's the original tweet, Mayor Holt's response, and the original poster's reply to Mayor Holt.


https://twitter.com/davidfholt/statu...45584876982274

Like the OP, I don't think I've ever seen so many people express support for a potential MAPS project this quickly. This is an absolute slam dunk of a project, and it's inclusion in MAPS 4 would get people to the polls and virtually guarantee that it passed. Despite incorporating some important social projects and other stuff I would like to see happen, the current slate of expected projects is just incredibly lackluster for most people.

[Colbafone]

To provide some additional context, here's the original tweet, Mayor Holt's response, and the original poster's reply to Mayor Holt.


https://twitter.com/davidfholt/statu...45584876982274

Like the OP, I don't think I've ever seen so many people express support for a potential MAPS project this quickly. This is an absolute slam dunk of a project, and it's inclusion in MAPS 4 would get people to the polls and virtually guarantee that it passed. Despite incorporating some important social projects and other stuff I would like to see happen, the current slate of expected projects is just incredibly lackluster for most people.

Lololololololol


"Let this be a lesson for everyone. Certain message boards and forums, they can be entertaining for fun heresay and rumors. If you want facts, stick to
@stevelackmeyer"


/facepalm

[Plutonic Panda]

Lololololololol


"Let this be a lesson for everyone. Certain message boards and forums, they can be entertaining for fun heresay and rumors. If you want facts, stick to
@stevelackmeyer"


/facepalm

Mayor Holt did NOT say that. Another person replying to him did.

[SoonersFan12]

That is really nice! They would get my vote!

[OKCRT]

Lololololololol


"Let this be a lesson for everyone. Certain message boards and forums, they can be entertaining for fun heresay and rumors. If you want facts, stick to
@stevelackmeyer"


/facepalm

These MAPS projects aren't what the people want. It's what special interest groups want. That's the way it works around here. Maybe things are starting to change,maybe not.

[catch22]

I’ll say it again, this MAPS is misguided. You don’t wave a $700 million to $1 billion dollar check in the air and ask what we should spend it for. It seems as if the city has already done their scientific polling ahead of time and already knew what they wanted to do. It’s disguised as a public process but it seems like the same old Oklahoma City we all know too well.

[jccouger]

Lololololololol


"Let this be a lesson for everyone. Certain message boards and forums, they can be entertaining for fun heresay and rumors. If you want facts, stick to
@stevelackmeyer"


/facepalm

I really almost puked when I read that.

[Laramie]

An Aquarium on the I-40 front: Gaining momentum; however it may be too late in the process to get it on MAPS 4: Contact your council representative if you want help drum up interest; what do we have to lose...

:

https://www.okc.gov/

https://www.okc.gov/government/city-councilhttp://

MAPS 4 would leave the current Oklahoma City sales tax rate of 4.125 percent unchanged. Including state sales tax, the overall sales tax rate in most of OKC is 8.625 percent (8.975 percent in Canadian County and 8.875 percent in Cleveland County because of county sales taxes).

[citywokchinesefood]

I really almost puked when I read that.

It gave me another reason to start another twitter account to call Steve out on his bull****. He blocks every single account even though I have never been rude, but he is a snowflake that cant take a hard question let alone ask one. Steve Lackmeyer embodies the mediocrity of the Oklahoman.