REI

[patric]

R.E.I says it will not commit to any lease in Tulsa as long as there is a legal challenge to the lease, and the community feels uninformed of the plans.
http://www.fox23.com/news/news/local/exclusive-rei-responds-lawsuit-over-proposed-futur/nphmc/

[cannon_fodder]

They could have walked away saying they didn't realize it was a park. Instead they said they won't sign a lease facing a legal challenge...

[carltonplace]

REI Reticence could be enough to kill this.

[Conan71]

REI Reticence could be enough to kill this.

Let's hope.  Then let's hope the developer doesn't return with a proposal for Academy on that corner.

[PonderInc]

I'm not an expert - but I thought an agenda for a public meeting required 48 hours notice and must be POSTED 24 hours before the meeting. Maybe I'm reading it wrong? (this isn't sarcasm, there is very likely something I'm missing)
Oklahoma Public Meeting Act, section 533(A)(9). 25 OS 311(A)(9)

Seems to be what the Attorney General has to say on the issue too...
https://www.oag.ok.gov/oagweb.nsf/0/9afabc8767512a97862572b400738e39/$FILE/Open%20Meeting.pdf

What good does it do to post an agenda for a meeting that is less than 24 hours away? Reducing the number of participants by, what, 90%?

This website says it was scheduled Wednesday and is a "private meeting" with their attorney followed by a period for public comment.
http://www.newson6.com/story/30724744/tulsa-public-facilities-authority-to-discuss-lawsuit-over-helmerich-park

I'm confused. Someone who knows more about open meeting requirements, chime in!

You are correct.  I get the feeling that the TPFA is not used to any real public participation, so they're a little fuzzy on the rules.  Even so, I'm surprised that city staff would allow an agenda item to be added less than 24 hours prior to the meeting.  But maybe TPFA doesn't have to follow the city's rules, since they appear to act as an independent body that doesn't need council approval to sell city park land....

[SXSW]

So if you could put REI somewhere else in Tulsa where would you put them?  I like the idea of having them near the river but don't think we can pull off the design that kind of site deserves (something like Denver).  We don't have any old buildings that need repurposing by the river.  But we do downtown..

https://www.google.com/maps/place/100+S+Elgin+Ave,+Tulsa,+OK+74120/@36.1568642,-95.9876552,3a,75y,328.53h,88.31t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1srJUgdXYQ2TMwuFrCBQqpMg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DrJUgdXYQ2TMwuFrCBQqpMg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D158.71555%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656!4m2!3m1!1s0x87b6eb7f5df91ccd:0xee9cd0de7c6df9f3

[swake]

So if you could put REI somewhere else in Tulsa where would you put them?  I like the idea of having them near the river but don't think we can pull off the design that kind of site deserves (something like Denver).  We don't have any old buildings that need repurposing by the river.  But we do downtown..

https://www.google.com/maps/place/100+S+Elgin+Ave,+Tulsa,+OK+74120/@36.1568642,-95.9876552,3a,75y,328.53h,88.31t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1srJUgdXYQ2TMwuFrCBQqpMg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DrJUgdXYQ2TMwuFrCBQqpMg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D158.71555%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656!4m2!3m1!1s0x87b6eb7f5df91ccd:0xee9cd0de7c6df9f3

Utica in the Miss Jackson's space

[SXSW]

Utica in the Miss Jackson's space

I could go for that.  Remove the precast (?) panels and put in a glass curtain wall to open up that corner.  Add a unique retail offering to an existing retail center.

[sgrizzle]

So if you could put REI somewhere else in Tulsa where would you put them? 

Where Peoria and Riverside merge, just north of 71st.

[Conan71]

So if you could put REI somewhere else in Tulsa where would you put them?  I like the idea of having them near the river but don't think we can pull off the design that kind of site deserves (something like Denver).  We don't have any old buildings that need repurposing by the river.  But we do downtown..

https://www.google.com/maps/place/100+S+Elgin+Ave,+Tulsa,+OK+74120/@36.1568642,-95.9876552,3a,75y,328.53h,88.31t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1srJUgdXYQ2TMwuFrCBQqpMg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DrJUgdXYQ2TMwuFrCBQqpMg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D158.71555%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656!4m2!3m1!1s0x87b6eb7f5df91ccd:0xee9cd0de7c6df9f3

Let's quit talking about their iconic site in Denver in a re-purposed brick veneer building as if that is REI's standard because it is not.  It is what they consider a flagship for their chain but nothing else in the chain has that cool of an original structure to be built in.  It is, indeed, a one off.

Look at the other  stores in the Colorado front range and this one is very unique.  Their MO is somewhat of a modern design on concrete lay-up slab which isn't the kind of design standard which would really compliment the east side of the river at 71st.

[carltonplace]

So if you could put REI somewhere else in Tulsa where would you put them?  I like the idea of having them near the river but don't think we can pull off the design that kind of site deserves (something like Denver).  We don't have any old buildings that need repurposing by the river.  But we do downtown..

https://www.google.com/maps/place/100+S+Elgin+Ave,+Tulsa,+OK+74120/@36.1568642,-95.9876552,3a,75y,328.53h,88.31t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1srJUgdXYQ2TMwuFrCBQqpMg!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo3.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DrJUgdXYQ2TMwuFrCBQqpMg%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D158.71555%26pitch%3D0!7i13312!8i6656!4m2!3m1!1s0x87b6eb7f5df91ccd:0xee9cd0de7c6df9f3

Evans Fintube site

[PonderInc]

I heard that some local developers were working to bring REI to the 18th and Boston area before the mayor's genius "parks to pavement" plan came on line...

I still don't necessarily have a problem with REI by the river.  But I have a problem with: 1) 600 space surface parking lot 2) huge, blank wall facing and nearly touching the trail 3) the enormous asphalt "roundabout" near the proposed restaurant 4)the proposed drive-thru 4) no attempt at stormwater remediation such as bioswales before parking runoff drains directly into the river 5) insufficient landscaping throughout the development.

It would be possible to do a fairly standard REI on this location that doesn't turn it's humongous back to the river.  It could be a thoughtful, mixed use development that would be attractive and appealing.  But when I say "mixed use" I don't mean a big retail store and a drive-thru.  It could be a mixture of residential and commercial with reduced parking (shared) and incredible landscaping.  It could be a place trail users would want to stop and shop/eat before walking up to their apartments.

REI in Pittsburgh is a good example of blending a standard building into an interesting mixed use space that's next to trails/parkland.  The trick is to turn the back of the building so it abuts...the sides or backs of other buildings!



But that is not what is proposed.  Although there may be developers in Dallas capable of this sort of thoughtful enterprise, the ones who are poaching on Tulsa land are determined to spread their car-oriented crap throughout the land.  Thanks, but no thanks.

[Tulsasaurus Rex]

I still don't necessarily have a problem with REI by the river...It would be possible to do a fairly standard REI on this location that doesn't turn it's humongous back to the river.

Completely agree. In fact, I think this is still a better location than Evans Fintube, Miss Jackson's, or the light bulb building.

[kingsy]

How about Veteran's Park? 

[TulsaGoldenHurriCAN]

How about Veteran's Park? 

This is a joke, right?