Possible Downtown Museum

[Townsend]

Well at least it's a clear statement.  It's no hinting or false promises.

Per The OKC governor, Tulsa is not on the top of her list.

[SXSW]

When are Tulsa's leaders going to stand up to this kind of belligerent malice? When will we tire of always bowing to Oklahoma City's needs when it stifles our own progress?

Until we have a Governor from Tulsa that will stand up for the cause, we will always play second fiddle to OKC in the minds of the state's leadership in OKC.  They hate Tulsa and, as it has been done for over a hundred years, Tulsa will continue to do things on its own.  They realize that better funding things in Tulsa would make us much larger and more powerful than OKC, and they don't want that to happen. 

The funding of a state museum is one thing, but what they have done to us with regard to higher education and public healthcare has done a lot of damage.  Tulsa desperately needs a well-funded, comprehensive 4 year state university and a well-funded state hospital branch.  OSU fulfills both of those requirements and could be a HUGE economic engine for the city, but currently it's not...

[Hoss]

Well at least it's a clear statement.  It's no hinting or false promises.

Per The OKC governor, Tulsa is not on the top of her list.

I didn't vote for her.  I guess the state gets what we deserve.

[patric]

Well at least it's a clear statement.  It's no hinting or false promises.

Honesty, or arrogance?

She's only governor because the anti-Sharia Law measure on the same ballot brought out the crazies.

[SXSW]

it is located between Boston and Cincinnati between Archer and the tracks.  Just north of Jazz Hall adjacent to the Boston Bridge.

Per today's TW article, this is the site that will be donated by BOK if the state approves the funding.  If it happens that will be a nice cluster of activity with lots of new projects in that general vicinity.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20110510_11_0_TheBan447599

[TheArtist]

As an architect, I would hope the Art Deco museum would primarily focus on the architecture of that period as well as the influences (roaring 20's, oil boom, etc).  And of course be located in one of our Art Deco gems.  The ONG building first floor would be an amazing location IMO.

Part of my idea for the museum would be for it to have an architectural streetscape inside.  Each "building" or shop would have an example of some style of art deco architecture.  Some of the facades could be of some of the buildings we have lost in Tulsa, others would incorporate some of the most fanciful and interesting designs from around the world. Then in each shop along those interior streets, we would create fun displays in the windows (General Store, Grocery Store, Toy Store, Womens and a Mens Clothing stores, Car sales and Repair Shop, Motorcyle shop, Bycycle shop, Travel, Home Furnishings, Music, Art, Sporting Goods, Movie Theater, Speakeasy, Burlesque, Restaurants, etc.) all done in the deco style, and showcasing "deco era" goods, colorful advertisements, etc.  No matter what your interest or likes, there would surely be something that would be right up your alley.    

Speaking of the ONG building.  Thats where we had our Deco Ball this year.  Here is the stage, before the musicians set up, that we made out of sheets of styrofoam, tinfoil, glitter and wood lol.  


And here is the start of a little building facade that I made while trapped inside during the snowstorm.  Its made of screen doors, styrofoam, stuccoe and paint. I had to make something that was lightweight and could be folded up, but in the actual museum we would make them much nicer and more realistic.  This one I can still enhance by adding glass, a front door in the center, a canopy and second floor with windows that are lighted, and bring out the gold parts by adding shadows to the depth and highlights to the high points of the sculpted designs.  But hey, its a start and the whole thing only cost us a couple hundred dollars.  Imagine what I could do with a couple thousand.




Here are some of the items I brought from my own collection.  I have a collection of Art Deco pitchers.  Its amazing how even common household items can be wonderful works of Art Deco art. Sorry you can only see the white ones and not the black.    



Couple other pics at the Deco Ball in the ONG building.
Magician working the tables.


Costume Contest


Getting people out on the dance floor for a quick dance lesson.




 

[dsjeffries]

Until we have a Governor from Tulsa that will stand up for the cause, we will always play second fiddle to OKC in the minds of the state's leadership in OKC.  They hate Tulsa and, as it has been done for over a hundred years, Tulsa will continue to do things on its own.  They realize that better funding things in Tulsa would make us much larger and more powerful than OKC, and they don't want that to happen. 

The funding of a state museum is one thing, but what they have done to us with regard to higher education and public healthcare has done a lot of damage.  Tulsa desperately needs a well-funded, comprehensive 4 year state university and a well-funded state hospital branch.  OSU fulfills both of those requirements and could be a HUGE economic engine for the city, but currently it's not...

I agree. I think the Tulsa Chamber has done a good job in the last year promoting Tulsa's interests to state legislators, but why should THEY be forced to be the ones actually lobbying for Tulsa? Legislators from Tulsa-area districts should be fighting this fight, too, and sadly, they're not.

Higher education and healthcare are vital parts of any city, as is transportation (let us remember that Largent and Coburn denied federal funds to rebuild I-44 through Tulsa and awarded it to the I-40 project in OKC in 1998), and the State Legislature has outright refused to support those things in Tulsa.

Here's the full text of the Tulsa World article from today (link):

Oklahoma City museum takes priority over Tulsa's proposed museum, Fallin says

OKLAHOMA CITY - Gov. Mary Fallin said the lateness of the legislative session and a budget hole of about $500 million would hamper efforts to provide a $40 million state bond issue for a proposed museum in Tulsa.

Fallin said she is aware of no legislation calling for a bond issue to help fund construction of the Oklahoma Museum of Music and Popular Culture in Tulsa's Brady Arts District.

The governor supports a proposal for a bond issue to finish the American Indian Cultural Center and Museum in Oklahoma City.

While the Tulsa museum is a relatively new concept, the American Indian Cultural Center and Museum has been discussed for 20 years, she said.

"It needs to be completed," Fallin said Monday. "It is embarrassing not to have it finished. It would certainly not help Oklahoma City or the state of Oklahoma to have a vacant facility sitting on the river after so much money has been invested."

However, the governor said if the House and Senate send her legislation calling for a bond issue for the Tulsa project, she would be open to the idea. The Legislature must adjourn by May 27.

"That is going to be up to the House and Senate," Fallin said. "We have about 2 1/2 weeks left in the legislative session." She said the Tulsa museum is a very interesting idea that would attract people to the state.

She said the state has a long list of performers who have made great contributions, such as Garth Brooks, Vince Gill and Wanda Jackson, among others.

Construction on the American Indian Cultural Center and Museum began in April 2006, said Shoshana Wasserman, director of marketing and public relations.

The overall project calls for about a 210-acre development that includes a museum, park, green space, commercial development and a visitors center.

It is near the junction of Interstates 35 and 40 on the Oklahoma River, east of downtown.

Its target opening is 2015, depending on funding, she said.

Sen. Brian Crain, R-Tulsa, said the Oklahoma Museum of Music and Popular Culture would be the crowning jewel of the Brady District.

"We are in a tight budget year; but at the same time we are worrying about funding today's problems, the idea of starting a bond issue that will not require tax dollars for two years is very attractive," Crain said.

The Oklahoma Historical Society will announce property acquisition for the Oklahoma Museum of Music and Popular Culture at a 3 p.m. press conference Tuesday at the state Capitol.

Also, from a story done by KOTV, (link):

...Blackburn said it's now a political question as to whether they get the votes for the bond issue. "I don't need another museum. I need an institutional home in Tulsa, to deliver our services in this area," Blackburn told City Councilors.

Blackburn said he's been asked by legislators why not put the collection in Oklahoma City, but the Historical Society wants something in Tulsa...

Emphasis on the bolded text. You all are right; it's blatantly said by our legislators that Tulsa shouldn't get anything. Tulsa's representatives need to take a stand.

[DTowner]

It is unclear to me why the American Indian Cultural Center is out of funding before it is completed.  The state already kicked in its share.  Was the rest supposed to be raised privately?  If so, why was this facility started without all of the necessary funding lined up?  They made a stupid decision, can't privately raise all the funds they need and now the State has to bail them out?  The building should stand half completed as a monument to stupidity.

As for the lack of support from the Governor, the other candiate was from OKC and wouldn't have any greater concern for the needs/interests of Tulsa than the one we've got.  And the last Governor from Tulsa called Tulsans dumb for not electing his wife to Congress.

[Conan71]

I agree. I think the Tulsa Chamber has done a good job in the last year promoting Tulsa's interests to state legislators, but why should THEY be forced to be the ones actually lobbying for Tulsa? Legislators from Tulsa-area districts should be fighting this fight, too, and sadly, they're not.

Biggest reason they should be lobbying is because they receive $2.5 million a year or so from the (taxpayers) City Of Tulsa to do just that.  

http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/1952827/metro-chamber-09-10-contracts-pdf-9-9-meg?da=y

(link borrowed from this previous conversation about our bureau and uncloaking what it is they actually do for the city http://www.tulsanow.org/forum/index.php?topic=15671.0 )

I agree our legislators have been impotent for years in fighting for our fair share.  With all the great corporate citizens in OKC, I'm sure Gov. Fallin could find someone to help pony up the money to complete the Indian Center.

[SXSW]

Biggest reason they should be lobbying is because they receive $2.5 million a year or so from the (taxpayers) City Of Tulsa to do just that.  

http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/1952827/metro-chamber-09-10-contracts-pdf-9-9-meg?da=y

(link borrowed from this previous conversation about our bureau and uncloaking what it is they actually do for the city http://www.tulsanow.org/forum/index.php?topic=15671.0 )

I agree our legislators have been impotent for years in fighting for our fair share.  With all the great corporate citizens in OKC, I'm sure Gov. Fallin could find someone to help pony up the money to complete the Indian Center.

The AICCM should've been built in Tulsa in the first place.  OKC does not have the Indian history that Tulsa and eastern Oklahoma do.  But it's a done deal, and it will be an amazing museum once finished.  It is a very interesting design, that's for sure.  

Tulsa is the arts/music capital of the state, and the region, and is more deserving of a pop culture/music museum.  Really wish they would resurrect DFest and Overground Film Festival for those same reasons..

[Conan71]

The AICCM should've been built in Tulsa in the first place.  OKC does not have the Indian history that Tulsa and eastern Oklahoma do.  But it's a done deal, and it will be an amazing museum once finished.  It is a very interesting design, that's for sure.  

Tulsa is the arts/music capital of the state, and the region, and is more deserving of a pop culture/music museum.  Really wish they would resurrect DFest and Overground Film Festival for those same reasons..

Perhaps that could become a great argument for putting the museum here if it would help bring back those festivals.  I didn't care for DFest but I saw how the organizers treated certain business people down there so my opinion might be jaded by a prejudice toward the promoters.

[Truman]

Biggest reason they should be lobbying is because they receive $2.5 million a year or so from the (taxpayers) City Of Tulsa to do just that. 

http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/1952827/metro-chamber-09-10-contracts-pdf-9-9-meg?da=y

(link borrowed from this previous conversation about our bureau and uncloaking what it is they actually do for the city http://www.tulsanow.org/forum/index.php?topic=15671.0 )

I agree our legislators have been impotent for years in fighting for our fair share.  With all the great corporate citizens in OKC, I'm sure Gov. Fallin could find someone to help pony up the money to complete the Indian Center.

The Chamber could get behind any number of local projects. Example, the  "Art Deco Museum".
This and others would spur new development and and possibly take our economic development in a new direction.

Something I found interesting lately, the new "Planning Director" also has the the responsibility of Economic Development. Mr Bunny's old job.
This could prove to be a very suitable marriage of duties with the "PlanitTulsa" implimentation.

The budget, the Chamber has, from the Hotel Motel Tax is obscene for what we get.

I borrowed this link from a previous thread.

http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/3254122/chamberofcommerce06-08-08-16-pdf-november-7-2011-7-13-pm-80k?da=y

[BKDotCom]

Just read a blurb on the TulsaWorld website that BOK is donating land in the Brady district for the museum.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20110510_11_0_TheBan447599&rss_lnk=1

This building I'm guessing
http://g.co/maps/wzyzf

which I always thought would make decent retail

[RecycleMichael]

I think it has a good chance. The Legislature is going to approve a big bond issue this year and they are going to throw in a few perks to get our support.

I have a lot of faith in this Blackburn fellow. He seems to be able to talk their language and get museums built.

It looks like my faith was well-placed.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20120522_11_0_OKLAHO192488

Panels sign off on funding for Capitol repairs; Tulsa, Oklahoma City cultural centers

By WAYNE GREENE World Senior Writer
Published: 5/22/2012  10:29 AM


OKLAHOMA CITY -- Two legislative panels have signed off on a bond issue for the proposed popular culture museum for downtown Tulsa.

The committees OK'd a $20 million bond for the Tulsa project, $22.5 million less than supporters had asked for.

The panels also approved a $200 million bond issue for repairs to the state Capitol and surrounding buildings and a $40 million bond for the half-built Native American Cultural Center in Oklahoma City.

The three bills now go to the full House and Senate for consideration.

During the Senate committee's consideration of the Tulsa project, Senate President Pro Tem Brian Bingman said the rest of the $22.5 million to fund the OKPOP Museum will have to be raised privately. Earlier in the day, Oklahoma Historical Society Executive Director Bob Blackburn had said he hoped to come back to the Legislature for the rest of the money needed for the museum next year.

Rep. David Dank, R-Oklahoma City, said both the Tulsa and Oklahoma City projects were needed.

"We can't have the Native American Cultural Center sit there and rot or whatever," Dank said. "I'm equally enthused, if not more so, for the POP Center in Tulsa."

The Oklahoma City project has benefitted from three previous bond issues, totaling $63 million.

Read more from this Tulsa World article at http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20120522_11_0_OKLAHO192488

[Townsend]

I have faith the bill for the pop museum will not pass as easily as the OKC bills.