Mcbirney and Cordell Buildings

[Kenosha]

Here we go again. Two more of our unique irreplaceable Downtown buildings scraped. On Main Street no less. They are rare too. Two story shotgun style building with commercial facades. One has a streamline moderne facade, with most of it intact, the other has had some work done, but is/was a viable building none the less. Pretty much perfect for a bar or a restaurant. Places we will need once downtown is bustling again, right?

The buildings, one formerly known as the "Lerner Shop", are located between 4th and 5th Street right in the heart of our lovely "new" Main Street are coming down for, you guessed it, parking lots. Apparently, the McFarlin Building is being renovated (that's a good thing) but they want additional off street parking. Not that there aren't 560 surface parking lots within a block or two of the building, mind you.

These buildings have been rumored to be on the chopping block for literally years, but have somehow made the cut until now. They are, at present time doing asbestos abatement and plugging the sewer line. They will probably be down within the month, if not sooner.

This is absolutely absurd. I could understand if they wanted to build a new structure that oriented towards the plaza, but once again we are doing this for PARKING. It makes me sick to my stomach.

[ttownclown]

quote:Originally posted by Kenosha

Here we go again. Two more of our unique irreplaceable Downtown buildings scraped. On Main Street no less. They are rare too. Two story shotgun style building with commercial facades. One has a streamline moderne facade, with most of it intact, the other has had some work done, but is/was a viable building none the less. Pretty much perfect for a bar or a restaurant. Places we will need once downtown is bustling again, right?

The buildings, one formerly known as the "Lerner Shop", are located between 4th and 5th Street right in the heart of our lovely "new" Main Street are coming down for, you guessed it, parking lots. Apparently, the McFarlin Building is being renovated (that's a good thing) but they want additional off street parking. Not that there aren't 560 surface parking lots within a block or two of the building, mind you.

These buildings have been rumored to be on the chopping block for literally years, but have somehow made the cut until now. They are, at present time doing asbestos abatement and plugging the sewer line. They will probably be down within the month, if not sooner.

This is absolutely absurd. I could understand if they wanted to build a new structure that oriented towards the plaza, but once again we are doing this for PARKING. It makes me sick to my stomach.

They are finally moving dirt at this site.  I had heard that they were going to make a "Green Area".  However I must have heard wrong because I spoke to the construction workers today and confirmed it will be a surface parking lot with 15 spaces.

[sgrizzle]

I thought supposedly Kanbar said they WOULDN'T put on there.

A parking lot there would server no-one.

[cannon_fodder]

My memory also tells me that he was going to put in a "green area" with seating and areas to eat outdoors.  He assured EVERYONE when he started purchasing buildings that he didnt want to see more surface parking downtown.  

Currently, the area near Bartlett square is the only spot downtown that isnt littered with empty and crumbling surface lots.

My enthusiasm for Kanbar's downtown plans has now turned to cynicism.   At this point, lets tear down the rest of downtown and start over.

Has anyone ever been downtown when any one of the doze or so parking garages is full?  I can attest to the fact that the 2 serving the petroleum tower, the one under the Bank of America buiding, the OneOK garage, and the on that is behind MainStreet are never full.  But we need more parking...

Just like the Tulsa World needed more parking.  I think I've seen 2 cars parked there, total, over the last year and a half.  We need a web cam on that to point out how retarded MORE surface parking is.

[PonderInc]

[AVERAGE JOE]

Ah, the continued suburbanization of our downtown. So glad we spent the millions of dollars returning traffic to Main Street so we could provide access to yet another surface parking lot.

When we spent the money on Main, we should've created a special district that removed surface parking as a use by right and dictated ground floor retail in all buildings (would've made the Tulsa World HVAC plant more tolerable if there was a storefront on Main).

Returning traffic to Main was absolutely the right idea, but the execution couldn't suck more.

[inteller]

have you ever seen how much traffic goes down main?  not much.

[AVERAGE JOE]

quote:Originally posted by inteller

have you ever seen how much traffic goes down main?  not much.

Because there's not much reason to go down Main due to the lousy execution.

I will say this, though - the parallel parking spaces between 5th and 6th are mighty handy when making an Impressions run.

[tshane250]

"Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got till it's gone?  They [razed] paradise and put up a parking lot."

[ttownclown]

Work is nearly complete on the surface parking lot.  Not 1 piece of vegitation.  I thought there was a city ordinance passed several years ago that required new parking lots to have vegitation & landscaping?  

This is just a black top with a curb.  

So disappointing.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by tshane250

"Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got till it's gone?  They [razed] paradise and put up a parking lot."

I thought it was "paved"

[cannon_fodder]

I wonder if this lot will be used as much as the World's lot a couple blocks away?

That is to say, none.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

I wonder if this lot will be used as much as the World's lot a couple blocks away?

That is to say, none.

I just walked by there and it looks like they paved it level with the main mall pedestrian area. I wonder if the plan was to have it available for mayfest and such.

[ttownclown]

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

I wonder if this lot will be used as much as the World's lot a couple blocks away?

That is to say, none.

I just walked by there and it looks like they paved it level with the main mall pedestrian area. I wonder if the plan was to have it available for mayfest and such.

I don't know.  But I just found out that it will be Paid Monthly Parking.  You can have your own spot for $150/month.

[AVERAGE JOE]

I think the record should show that the developers told bald-faced lies about what would be done with this property one year ago this week:

"Crews are also working to smooth the north wall, which was exposed by the demolition of the Cordell and McBirney buildings next door....

The buildings were demolished because of safety concerns, and the pedestrian area next to the First Place Tower... will be extended."
Tulsa World, 3/21/2006

"The space once occupied by the two buildings will be used for a pedestrian plaza."
Tulsa World, 3/8/2006

Monthly paid parking is not a pedestrian plaza.