Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza

[cks511]

I say it never comes to fruition, nice concept when V2025 was sold but it will be spiffed up a bit more and left.  It's Arena time!!!!  IMHO of course.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by cks511

I say it never comes to fruition, nice concept when V2025 was sold but it will be spiffed up a bit more and left.  It's Arena time!!!!  IMHO of course.

From what I read in some chamber rag, the museum is not scheduled until a 2011 opening. Gives them time to recoup financially I guess.

[AngieB]

Noticed on Friday that the flags were flying.

[Kenosha]

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

I was less than pleased during Jury duty to hear about a bridge people called "Hell" but was later identified as the old route 66 bridge.

What makes it "Hell?"

The "Hell" reference is to a literal hole in the deck of the bridge with a ladder leading down to the arches, or "Hell".  Kids climb down and sit on the arches and, you know, do stuff.

[sgrizzle]

Seems like someone should fix that.

[Oil Capital]

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

So it's a bridge to nowhere?  It looks good, but I'm confused.

The north end drops you down (using stairs now) onto the plaza where there will be large bronzes, flags of all 8 states involved in route 66, etc. The south side connects to the musuem which isn't started yet.

I'm confused too.  Where are the stairs?  In your photo of the current status, we can see neither stairs nor a place for stairs coming off of that bridge

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by Oil Capital

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

So it's a bridge to nowhere?  It looks good, but I'm confused.

The north end drops you down (using stairs now) onto the plaza where there will be large bronzes, flags of all 8 states involved in route 66, etc. The south side connects to the musuem which isn't started yet.

I'm confused too.  Where are the stairs?  In your photo of the current status, we can see neither stairs nor a place for stairs coming off of that bridge

The stairs are half built on the left side of both pictures.

[Oil Capital]

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

quote:Originally posted by Oil Capital

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

So it's a bridge to nowhere?  It looks good, but I'm confused.

The north end drops you down (using stairs now) onto the plaza where there will be large bronzes, flags of all 8 states involved in route 66, etc. The south side connects to the musuem which isn't started yet.

I'm confused too.  Where are the stairs?  In your photo of the current status, we can see neither stairs nor a place for stairs coming off of that bridge

The stairs are half built on the left side of both pictures.

OOOHHHH, I saw those stairs, but I thought they were going somewhere else, off in the other direction...

[Vision 2025]

quote:Originally posted by cks511

I say it never comes to fruition, nice concept when V2025 was sold but it will be spiffed up a bit more and left.  It's Arena time!!!!  IMHO of course.

The concept did not exhist when the Vision 2025 vote was brought forward, it was developed by the consulting team selected by the City for this project.

As for the current status:

The Plaza including the large bronze monument piece by sculptor Robert Summers which is well underway.

http://www.summersstudio.com/index.htm (unfortunately none of the Tulsa work nor any of the other pieces currently in studio are included in the Artist's web portfolio.)

We have a couple of low-res pictures (sorry I had a camera problem that day) of a portion of the Avery Plaza piece on pages 12 and 13
in the April vision report which show only half of the piece which is approximately 130% life size http://www.vision2025.info/page.php?page=monthlyprogramreports

I visited the studio in April to verify the work was progressing in order to verify progress for continuing payments and viewed the development of the Plaza centerpiece bronze as well as two and other works currently underway.  I came away quite pleased with the work and anxious for its completion as I believe that the work Mr. Summers is bringing forth will be an amazing addition to the Tulsa public art portfolio plus be a major Route 66 draw when completed and installed later this year.  

Mr. Summers is several months behind schedule in his work.  This is in part due to his being severely injured in a fall and being unable to work for an extended period and from my observation the absolute complexity of the commissioned piece which includes both the inside and outside of a Model T Ford carrying the Avery family and a hoarse drawn freight wagon with rearing animals.  

Design of the Route 66 Visitor's facility is funded with Vision funds and is currently in fee negotiation between the City and local Architect.  I recall that construction funds for the facility were included in the last 3rd penny vote but don't have a project list handy to verify, but will.  

In addition to this location on Route 66, site preparation is ongoing for the train museum site in West Tulsa Frisco Train site and re-installation of the historic Meadow Gold sign  which has been bid and recommended for award to the Mayor and Yale are currently funded and in the City's process.  Additional 66 projects will be implemented with Vision monies as funds become available like the 11th and Yale intersection street scraping which is presently in design.

[Vision 2025]

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

I don't want to crap all over this project, but...

Currently it is a bridge from no where, to nowhere.

When the museum is completed it will be a bridge from no where to the museum.

Is that accurate?  No offense, but there is not enough traffic in that area to warrant a pedestrian bridge over it.  At least not so much as to necessitate a bridge, or no more so than hundreds of other places around the city.

It takes you from the Route 66 Museum to Cyrus Avery Plaza.




The plaza features statues, flags, plaques, etc. It also has a path that leads you onto the old 11th street bridge so you can... I dunno.

This rendering was the original concept but had to be modified due to ODOT refusing to allow any incursion of highway righ-of-way.  Essentially the long down ramp was changed to a stair and the 66 shield was removed from the plaza area.

[AngieB]

Anyone know what happened to the lighted Route 66 signs that were hanging on each side of the foot bridge? They're gone.

[carltonplace]

What? were they stolen?

[AngieB]

That's what I was wondering. Wouldn't surprise me if they were.

[rwarn17588]

Somebody *tried* to steal it but damaged the sign. It's being fixed now and some steps are going to be taken to prevent that from happening again.

[carltonplace]

Any suspects?