Senator Says Enough to OKC American Indian Museum Funding Requests

[Snowman]

Besides all the other problems detailed, I seem to remember an economic downtown around that time as well (early 80's?) and a disastrous tornado that wrecked a lot of east Tulsa. The combination of bad economy, shrinking support for the area and the explosion of development in and towards Broken Arrow spelled its demise. There were folks at the time who thought it was folly. Lots of hubris in the builder/developer community.

But back to the current folly. Can this "Okie style Big Dig" be salvaged by selling it off? It would make someone a nicely located business and the state could recoup some of its losses as well as new taxes.

First the problem with one off highly tailored buildings is they tend to only suit the client they are for, so I doubt it will be that conducive to locating a business there.  Second what business wants to get into a potential PR nightmare of being considered obstructing the completion of a museum to Native Americans (even if the project had was struggling).

[AquaMan]

Oklahoma worried about PR??? If the Native American community was strongly supportive of the museum it would already be a done deal.

There have been examples of re-purposed buildings and I'm sure the state could help facilitate the process with some tax incentives. I just wish for once we would start thinking and acting like businessmen instead of talking like them. We've reached the point with this museum that its original sins cannot be overcome. Good businessmen know when to cut their losses. Bad businessmen like the guy who owned the Tulsa Club downtown just let them waste away. Government tends to board up buildings, pay upkeep and hope no one notices till it comes up for sale as surplus a decade later.

[Conan71]

But back to the current folly. Can this "Okie style Big Dig" be salvaged by selling it off? It would make someone a nicely located business and the state could recoup some of its losses as well as new taxes.

Not a chance, makes entirely too much sense for the crew in OKC to comprehend.

[sgrizzle]

Christina Fallin could host a fundraiser.

[Hoss]

Christina Fallin could host a fundraiser.

All hail the Pink Pony!

[Townsend]

All hail the Pink Pony!

New statue for the state capital?

[Conan71]

All hail the Pink Pony!

Is that anything like "riding the pink pony"? 

[Townsend]

Plan to Complete Indian Museum Languishing

http://kwgs.com/post/plan-complete-indian-museum-languishing

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Gov. Mary Fallin's chief budget negotiator says a plan to spend $40 million to complete an unfinished Indian museum near downtown Oklahoma City is apparently dead for this session.

Secretary of Finance Preston Doerflinger said Friday the proposal "is dead for now."

The Senate passed a bill to take $40 million from the state's Unclaimed Property Fund to match another $40 million in pledges to complete the American Indian Cultural Center and Museum. But many Republican members in the House bitterly opposed the project, and new House Speaker Jeff Hickman said he wouldn't present the bill on the floor until at least 51 of the House's 72 Republicans supported it.

Lawmakers must adjourn by May 30.

More than $95 million already has been spent on the unfinished project.

[Gaspar]

Plan to Complete Indian Museum Languishing

http://kwgs.com/post/plan-complete-indian-museum-languishing

$150 million dollar complex. $2,000 per sq/ft.

Nice contract for Flintco and Manhattan.

10 times the average PSF commercial rate. . .for a building in NY.

[Conan71]

$150 million dollar complex. $2,000 per sq/ft.

Nice contract for Flintco and Manhattan.

10 times the average PSF commercial rate. . .for a building in NY.

There's an idea, let Flintco and Manhattan donate the remaining $80 million.

[Gaspar]

There's an idea, let Flintco and Manhattan donate the remaining $80 million.

Interesting.  Considering that the structure most likely costs under $250/sf to build out, they would still make a massive profit.

You're a genius super-genius.

[Radvlad]

How about we let the Cherokees pay for the remaining balance? The museum is for them. They have plenty of money (casinos). They are proud of their past aren't they?

[Hoss]

How about we let the Cherokees pay for the remaining balance? The museum is for them. They have plenty of money (casinos). They are proud of their past aren't they?

Probably let the goverment do it.  I mean it's the least we can do given that whole Trail of Tears thing..right?

[Radvlad]

Hoss you are right. I mean after all, we owe them right? 

[sgrizzle]

How about we let the Cherokees pay for the remaining balance? The museum is for them. They have plenty of money (casinos). They are proud of their past aren't they?

The tribes have their own museums and have little/no interest in this one.