Vision 2 returns from the dead

[Ed W]

Apparently the Tulsa Chamber and the city will not take NO for an answer.  You people are just too stupid unenlightened to know what's good for you (and especially what's good for those folks in the power suits who stand to make scads of money!) This is really about jobs, not a corporate slush fund.  We all know that AA has the best interests of the people of Tulsa in mind whenever they make decisions that impact so many lives in this community. 

From today's World:

Tulsa chamber, city leaders look to try again on airport upgrades
By WAYNE GREENE World Senior Writer

You might call it Vision2.1.

The same people who organized Tulsa County's unsuccessful Vision2 campaign to aid key industrial tenants at the Tulsa airport-industrial complex say they are working on new plans to bring those facilities up to date, and that could include another go at getting voters to approve taxes to pay for the work.

...Tulsa County voters rejected the proposal on a 96,000 to 122,352 vote.

...Preliminary meetings between political and business leaders have been held and talks with American Airlines have started with an eye toward a deal for the most urgent projects sometime in 2013 that will solidify the airline's maintenance presence in Tulsa for the future, Neal said.

...Bartlett said the Vision2 package failed for a number of reasons, including lack of unanimity in support among elected officials, voter misunderstanding of what was being proposed, a necessarily fast calendar for consideration and resentment of American Airlines, which was in bankruptcy and negotiating contract concessions with its workers.

Bartlett said he has regrets about the results of the campaign, but says he isn't sure he'd do it much differently if he had the chance.



http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20121226_16_A1_Youmig6132

[Teatownclown]

The quack pack is back!

[sauerkraut]

No Surprise for me, and they will likely keep putting this on the ballot until it passes. I don't see any need for it. The one River improvement thing that Tulsa should do is to rebuild the section of the RiverSide jogging trail from around 47th street south to 56th street they still have the old trail there, and the far south section of trail should be re-built. It seems like they did re-surface that Sand Springs Trail it looks pretty good. I'd like to see Tulsa extend the trail south past 101st street too, lets focus on the things that people use and not waste money dreaming up fancy frilly River attractions that no one cares about.

[Teatownclown]

I don't see any need for it.

It amazes me that this town can have an airport trust that is on the verge of collapse and nobody says a word about it.

This is most likely a rescue plan in the guise of a capitol improvement plan.

Will Tulsa International Airport be one of the first municipal airports in the country to go under? And what pray tell will become of our ratings?

[DTowner]

Vision 2 was rejected, but the problems with the city owned properties at the airport remain.  If, for legal or business development reasons, the city is responsible for making repairs to those properties then City and Chamber leaders should be looking for solutions and  how to pay for it.  Just don't laddle on the extras like "community projects" or industry specific tools for the tenants. 

Clown needs to provide support for his accusation that the Airport Trust is on the verge of collapse.

[Teatownclown]

Clown needs to provide support for his accusation that the Airport Trust is on the verge of collapse.

Ok. Amend that. The Airport....The Tulsa International Airport....The Airport Trust is composed of a few innocent trustees.

Since when did my future lead stories need proof?

Crime many! Since when did you ever believe what I post, DT? You should have me on ignore!

[DTowner]

Ok. Amend that. The Airport....The Tulsa International Airport....The Airport Trust is composed of a few innocent trustees.

Since when did my future lead stories need proof?

Crime many! Since when did you ever believe what I post, DT? You should have me on ignore!

I'm just trying to assess risk/necessity before I change all my scheduled flights to NW Arkansas.

[Teatownclown]

I'm just trying to assess risk/necessity before I change all my scheduled flights to NW Arkansas.

You'll know when they establish an arm with a toll box at the runway entrance.... 

[Red Arrow]

You'll know when they establish an arm with a toll box at the runway entrance.... 

Ever heard of landing fees?  The big planes pay them.  Small planes pay them at some airports. Ramp fees are probably more common for small planes.

[sauerkraut]

Vision 2 is not the answer, but I see Tulsa getting farther behind OKC, our neighbor city 100 miles away is really growing & building. They have a new skyscraper tower called the "Devon Tower" and it's about 200' taller than Tulsa's BOK tower. OKC is making a big network of jogging trails, and updating the city structures. "T" Town needs to get on the ball or we'll be left in the dust.

[TheArtist]

  One of the most important things we can do for Tulsa infrastructure wise is realize that growth models have changed.  Sprawl has been going "out of fashion" for quite a while now.  Pedestrian friendly urban areas have been picking up steam for several decades now.  Both of those trends have picked up steam to the point that the last census data showed that for the first time in 9 decades, walkable areas are now growing faster than suburban type areas.  Those trends are going to continue to grow, sprawl becoming less attractive and growing slower with pedestrian/transit friendly areas becoming more attractive and growing faster.  

Meanwhile Tulsa as per usual has not taken heed.  Meanwhile our mayor seems to want to drag his heels on instituting the new Comprehensive Plan (in which so many people wanted zoning and funding for more pedestrian/transit friendly growth) while he is pushing for the Gilcrease Expressway expansion?  Meanwhile we leave in place zoning which makes developing pedestrian/transit friendly areas virtually illegal in over 95% of the city.

Again, walkable areas of the country are growing faster than suburban type areas and will continue to do so.  Where does that put Tulsa's future growth?

[Teatownclown]

Vision 2 is not the answer, but I see Tulsa getting farther behind OKC, our neighbor city 100 miles away is really growing & building. They have a new skyscraper tower called the "Devon Tower" and it's about 200' taller than Tulsa's BOK tower. OKC is making a big network of jogging trails, and updating the city structures. "T" Town needs to get on the ball or we'll be left in the dust.

BFD....we do not have a state crapitol nor do we have three interstates bisecting the center of the country. Growing up in Teatown, OKC always had the grander scale but we had the class. That's certainly changed as we have gone all out to be like all the other cities.

I do not think the Devon dick is 200' taller than the BOK Tower. It's 200' higher in terms of sea level.

Define "left in the dust."

[rdj]

Vision 2 is not the answer, but I see Tulsa getting farther behind OKC, our neighbor city 100 miles away is really growing & building. They have a new skyscraper tower called the "Devon Tower" and it's about 200' taller than Tulsa's BOK tower. OKC is making a big network of jogging trails, and updating the city structures. "T" Town needs to get on the ball or we'll be left in the dust.

I'm not familiar with this "Devon Tower" you speak of.

[TheArtist]

BFD....we do not have a state crapitol nor do we have three interstates bisecting the center of the country. Growing up in Teatown, OKC always had the grander scale but we had the class. That's certainly changed as we have gone all out to be like all the other cities.

I do not think the Devon dick is 200' taller than the BOK Tower. It's 200' higher in terms of sea level.

Define "left in the dust."

Roof height of BOK Tower= 667'    Roof height of  Devon Tower = 850'    So it's about 180' taller.   

[heironymouspasparagus]

Vision 2 is not the answer, but I see Tulsa getting farther behind OKC, our neighbor city 100 miles away is really growing & building. They have a new skyscraper tower called the "Devon Tower" and it's about 200' taller than Tulsa's BOK tower. OKC is making a big network of jogging trails, and updating the city structures. "T" Town needs to get on the ball or we'll be left in the dust.

Come on, guy...get into reality just once in a while...  You obviously aren't getting out of the house to see anything at all.  Tulsa downtown, and Pearl and all these cutesie little catch-phrase places are making massive progress at renewing a lot of areas of town that have languished for years.  OKC ain't doing what we are doing now - and what we have been doing.  They got bricktown.  Blah, blah, blah....

And yeah, there are fun/interesting things to do there, but overall, if you had spent as much time as I have there, you would really appreciate what Tulsa offers a lot more.  And you would never consider moving there over Tulsa.  (Right Conan - since I know you have spent quite a bit of time there...?)

As for trails - they are so far behind that it will take them 20 years to catch up to Tulsa - they really are limited and lack connection to segments.  We have a fantastic set of trails...amazing for just about any city.  (Dare I say "world class"?)  Wish there was even more, and hopefully the progress and process won't stop.