Drillers Downtown: Time Running Out

[Renaissance]

I fear the window of opportunity for a minor league baseball stadium in downtown Tulsa is rapidly closing, if it is not already gone.  While downtown developers play power games, Jenks is moving forward to steal our hometown team.  Fellow forumers, I don't trust our city leadership to make the push necessary to keep the Drillers in Tulsa, so it is up to us.  I addressed the following email to Tim Kissler at Global Development Partners: tkissler@globaldevelopmentpartners.com.  I urge you to do something similar.  It may already be too late, but if we don't make noise about this, no one will.  

quote:Dear Tim,

I found your email on the Global Development Partners website.  I had been following the Global "East End" proposal for downtown Tulsa with much interest, and was dismayed when the Wal-Mart development on the Nordam property appeared to win out over your plans for a baseball stadium.

Now the Wal-Mart development is offline, and it would appear the property is open once again.  I just wanted to make sure your group was aware of this fact: http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=071109_238_A1_hAdow60366

Meanwhile, a suburban development threatens to lure the Drillers away from Tulsa, meaning the window of development is closing:  http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectID=11&articleID=071114_1_A9_hSome68134

As you can see, citizens of Tulsa would very much prefer that our baseball team stay in Tulsa, and would be supportive of a site downtown: http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=071012_238_A1_spanc10332

Now is the time for your group to vocally emerge and reassert your vision for the east end of downtown.  I don't know what goes on behind the scenes, and I like to assume the best, but I fear the worst--that nothing will be made of this opportunity and the Drillers will be lost.  Good luck with GDP's endeavors, and please don't give up on Tulsa just yet.

Best,
***Floyd***
Concerned Tulsan

How else can we help our city avoid losing one more treasure?

[Conan71]

Floyd,

I think you did one of the best things you could along with links to supporting articles.  Thanks for the effort and initiative.

I'll craft an email of my own this afternoon.

[Renaissance]

In case there's anyone left who doesn't think a new ballpark can help revive a struggling downtown, please read the following Tulsa Business Journal article.  It has excellent references to successes in Little Rock, Memphis, and Springfield, MO.: http://www.tulsabusiness.com/article.asp?aID=66148376.33783202.597116.3286816.74959102.384&aID2=45923

I've said it before and I'll say it again: if our leadership allows Jenks to steal the Drillers, it will be a colossal blunder--a civic tragedy of the first order.  I'll go futher and say that if this occurs, just go ahead and write off downtown as a "destination" for the next generation or two.  It will be a pleasant place to see Celine Dion, but not much more.

If you are in favor of downtown Tulsa's true revitalization, getting a ballpark should be your number one priority.

[Neptune]

More at KOTV

quote:Jenks moves one step closer to bringing a billion dollar development to the banks of the Arkansas River. A city committee on Tuesday night approved a plan to create a special tax district to spur the development. The News On 6's Ashli Sims reports there's one major employer in Jenks which voted against the plan.

Jenks Public Schools cast one of the three votes against the plan. The tax increment financing or TIF district passed anyway. The school district says it's in favor of development, but against The Jenks River District, a billion dollar development set along the Arkansas River, just south of the Creek Turnpike.

[Chicken Little]

I found this tidbit in today's world very interesting:

quote:Other recommendations approved by the committee would:


Limit the TIF to 18 or fewer years if the $294 million in revenues is collected by the developer.


Limit the TIF district to land owned by the developers.


Strike the city's option to buy a new baseball stadium under consideration at the site and ensure that it is owned by no entity that would be exempt from taxes.

(emphasis mine)

This would appear to take the prospect of a municipally-owned stadium off the table.  If the developers are okay with owning and managing a stadium, then I don't suppose that this is a problem.  But it does seem to limit the developer's options.

[swake]

quote:Originally posted by Chicken Little

I found this tidbit in today's world very interesting:

quote:Other recommendations approved by the committee would:


Limit the TIF to 18 or fewer years if the $294 million in revenues is collected by the developer.


Limit the TIF district to land owned by the developers.


Strike the city's option to buy a new baseball stadium under consideration at the site and ensure that it is owned by no entity that would be exempt from taxes.

(emphasis mine)

This would appear to take the prospect of a municipally-owned stadium off the table.  If the developers are okay with owning and managing a stadium, then I don't suppose that this is a problem.  But it does seem to limit the developer's options.

They can also give the stadium to the team. Just not to an entity that would remove the stadium from the tax rolls.

[Conan71]

quote:Originally posted by Chicken Little

I found this tidbit in today's world very interesting:

quote:Other recommendations approved by the committee would:


Limit the TIF to 18 or fewer years if the $294 million in revenues is collected by the developer.


Limit the TIF district to land owned by the developers.


Strike the city's option to buy a new baseball stadium under consideration at the site and ensure that it is owned by no entity that would be exempt from taxes.

(emphasis mine)

This would appear to take the prospect of a municipally-owned stadium off the table.  If the developers are okay with owning and managing a stadium, then I don't suppose that this is a problem.  But it does seem to limit the developer's options.

Something tells me a private developer isn't going to be happy with $18,000 per year in rent and no shared revenues.

[USRufnex]

Yep, it's all about those overpriced hot dogs and nachos...

Not sure if Tim Kissler's going to be the decision-maker on Global's end..... more likely, Global's future in the East End/East Village will be in the hands of Adwon...

[Renaissance]

quote:Originally posted by USRufnex



Not sure if Tim Kissler's going to be the decision-maker on Global's end..... more likely, Global's future in the East End/East Village will be in the hands of Adwon...

Yeah, Kissler was the contact on the site, though, so I was hoping he'd pass along.

[carltonplace]

Sent a note as well. Think I'll send one to Himelfarb too.

[Renaissance]

quote:Originally posted by carltonplace

Sent a note as well. Think I'll send one to Himelfarb too.

What's Himmelfarb's email?  PM me if you don't want to post it.

[carltonplace]

dhimelfarb@cityoftulsa.org

[carltonplace]

Response:
Thanks for the e mail. I can promise you that while the city has no ownership interest in these properties we are hard at work trying to bring this area alive in a responsible fashion. I can assure you the Global people are aware of the circumstances, and in fact own a piece of property adjacent to this area. Stay tuned.

[inteller]

time is running out?  it is way past that.  as soon as the jenks city council passes the TIF, look for a drillers announcement the same week stating they are moving to Jenks.  

Its over.

[swake]

I'm afraid (I never thought I would say this) Inteller is right.

TDA is still trying to figure out if hiring a consultant on development is a good idea. By the time Tulsa comes up with a plan and starts to talk  to developers Jenks will be pushing dirt. By the time Tulsa has a deal in place with financing and an agreement on a TIF Jenks will be holding opening night in a new stadium.