MLS in Tulsa, Part Deux: World Cup Edition

[Conan71]

I'm curious if Kaiser still holds the option on the apartment complex over there.  All those river plans seem so long ago . . .

I believe it was Warren, not Kaiser that had the option on it.  Honestly I'd hate to see someone knock down Westport, it's the only complex that's actually situated on the riverbank, it's reasonibly well kept, and it seems to attract good renters.

[BierGarten]

I believe it was Warren, not Kaiser that had the option on it.  Honestly I'd hate to see someone knock down Westport, it's the only complex that's actually situated on the riverbank, it's reasonibly well kept, and it seems to attract good renters.

That's funny.  My recollection is that the option was on the concrete plant, not the apartments, and that the city held the option.  Maybe there were two options.

[Conan71]

"The William K. Warren Medical Research Center has signed purchase options totaling $65 million to acquire the sites of the Westport on the River apartments and the Mid-Continent Concrete Co. for a proposed $788 million river development, it was revealed Wednesday."

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=061102_Ne_A1_Optio29493&archive=yes

Tulsa World Nov. 2, 2006

[waterboy]

On the amphitheater, it's not a matter of "if" it's "when".  My source is pretty solid.  Also look for the lagoon to get filled back in.  (Lagoon in, lagoon out.  Main Mall in, Main Mall out).

If that concrete plant is worth developing and could be profitable as something else, let a private investor pay the plant owners their exhorbitant ransom.  Meanwhile, there's a city M & E facility I believe we were promised would be consolidated out with the OneTech purchase and moving maintenance ops to the old downtown airpark or was this just another iffy promise made by proponents of the 2007 river tax scam?

I'd be all for putting a multi-use stadium on the west bank, just so long as it goes on land we already own, or is part of a privately-funded MUD.

Yes, I agree with you on most of that. I recently talked to someone who knew of the Branson snub. He visited there recently and told me he was quite impressed with their operation and it was very busy.

Has any one considered that we could eminent domain the concrete plant if we can't find private funding?

[swake]

Yes, I agree with you on most of that. I recently talked to someone who knew of the Branson snub. He visited there recently and told me he was quite impressed with their operation and it was very busy.

Has any one considered that we could eminent domain the concrete plant if we can't find private funding?

Um, you do realize that eminent domain isn't free, right?

[waterboy]

The price for the concrete plant was inflated. Eminent domain would put it back into a fair and reasonable value.

[Hoss]

The price for the concrete plant was inflated. Eminent domain would put it back into a fair and reasonable value.

You do remember the Denver Grill during the BOK Center land acquisition, right?

[FOTD]

From a real estate development standpoint these posts are comical.

And from a tax paying citizen viewpoint these comments indicate an interesting irony. So many issues on the National scene get trashed over the expediture by government by several posties. Quite the flip when it comes down to the local level expenditures and the total lack of insight into funding future deferred maintenance items.

Besides, there's no way you can put anything attractive other than re mediated parks along the western edge. You go and breathe that crap while watching soccer.

One other point with regard to parking. The ballpark downtown will be adversely affected by the lack of nearby parking. Hopefully, TPA or a foundation will build one nearby quick and soon...or the Fairground have all that there already. It's really a no brainer.

It would be nice to see a soccer team the likes of 1980 back in town.

[TheArtist]

I would suggest no more parking lots or garages downtown, lets get people used to using "trolleys" and other mass transit. I have actually been happy to see how well Tulsans have adapted to the use of the shuttle buses and "trolleys" in the area. We used them when family came into town for Mayfest and friends for D-Fest. Its become part of the experience for me and the people with me. Hopefully over the years it will become a memorable tradition and second nature habit.  Once you have done it a few times, its absolutely no big deal. Having the ballpark downtown will help get more people used to using the shuttles, and help the shuttles/trolleys stay in business. One more little step to getting mass transit started and woven into the nature of our city. Its good to start as early as possible for its easier that way in the long haul.

[Conan71]

From a real estate development standpoint these posts are comical.

And from a tax paying citizen viewpoint these comments indicate an interesting irony. So many issues on the National scene get trashed over the expediture by government by several posties. Quite the flip when it comes down to the local level expenditures and the total lack of insight into funding future deferred maintenance items.

Great, contribute something substantive and explain why they are comical.  What are we missing here?

[FOTD]

Great, contribute something substantive and explain why they are comical.  What are we missing here?

You know zilch about development. You just come up with the grandiose picture in your alcohol splattered parched skull and think "why not?" without figuring the effect it has on the city over the long term. Too many duplicitous ideas and too little research to back any of it up.

Again, the irony of the National positions compared to the local situation is humorous. You are a hypo crit.
You'd prefer to see a soccer stadium in a dirty smelly toxic environment paid for through taxes on citizens over having health care for 50+million of your fellow Americans paid for by corporate taxes and the wealthiest %1 of America?

Go figure.

[BierGarten]

You'd prefer to see a soccer stadium in a dirty smelly toxic environment paid for through taxes on citizens over having health care for 50+million of your fellow Americans paid for by corporate taxes and the wealthiest %1 of America?

Yes.

[Conan71]

You know zilch about development. You just come up with the grandiose picture in your alcohol splattered parched skull and think "why not?" without figuring the effect it has on the city over the long term. Too many duplicitous ideas and too little research to back any of it up.

Again, the irony of the National positions compared to the local situation is humorous. You are a hypo crit.
You'd prefer to see a soccer stadium in a dirty smelly toxic environment paid for through taxes on citizens over having health care for 50+million of your fellow Americans paid for by corporate taxes and the wealthiest %1 of America?

Go figure.

And you prove your superior knowledge of development by using ad-hominems and straw man arguments.  Thanks for sharing in such a substantive way we can all understand and appreciate. 

[waterboy]

Really, FOTD, you can do better than laugh at all of us. Its just thinking out loud anyway. BTW, I have gone and watched soccer games and breathed all that crap for the last two decades. The West Bank Soccer fields are nestled between Sinclair Refinery and a concrete trucking company. Didn't seem so bad. The parents were more dangerous than the air.

[DolfanBob]

I went to the Roughneck games back in the 80s.
And thought that it was great fun and entertainment.
The problem is I am not sure that soccer has grown in popularity much since the NASL of back then. Sure Beckham may be todays answer to Pele, but one stars shoulders cant carry the load of a entire league.
We will never be where Europe is and always will be about Futbol.
I dont care how many US kids play soccer. The parents have the money and the NFL, MLB and NBA will always get it.
The Tulsa Roughnecks won the Soccer Bowl and Tulsa(the city)had no idea what they had accomplished.
I have no problem with the WNBA coming here but entertainment dollars are going to be few and far between.
MLS will struggle here, But they wont be alone.