Local News Outdoes Itself... again

[dsjeffries]

What began as a good story showing progress being made on the reconstruction of downtown roads took a weird turn at the end.  Keep in mind, the story is about road construction, but at the end, they asked people on downtown streets about parking for the BOk Center without actually mentioning the BOk Center specifically.

quote:KTUL: Believe it or not, construction downtown is on schedule.

For months drivers have been dealing with a lot of diversions and construction.

"It changes day to day. I come through roads one day are detour and the next day a different detour," said one Tulsa resident, who drives downtown.

But, according to the city, progress is being made. Out of 50 city blocks on the 'to-do' list, 28 are finished and the rest should be done by August.

"Whenever there's a free moment, they're working," said Albert Martinez, City of Tulsa Engineer.

But even when the contruction is finished, one problem still looms: Parking.

Notice how in the script, it just says "parking" and ends?  Well, this doesn't include, however, the most important part of the weird twist of the story... Just watch the video by Clicking here.

I know the roads are supposed to be finished by the time the BOk Center opens, but I have some problems with this story.  They obviously know that many people who've never been downtown believe that there is no parking, and by bringing up a non-issue like this, it appears to me that they're just pandering and calling it news (what's new, I know).

This script also says that 28 blocks are finished, yet the on-screen graphic clearly states that 28 are "either completed or nearly complete".

Like parking problems LOOM so ominously over a Central Business Parking District.  Give me a break, KTUL.  I think we've all seen the number of significant, historic buildings which have been ruthlessly torn down for surface parking lots, of which half or more are usually empty or nearly empty asphalt wastelands.

And I thought all the morons flocked to the Tulsa World's comment sections [xx(].
(I'm particularly fond of the word "contruction" in the story.)

Maybe I just expect too much from local media.

[sgrizzle]

Some additions
Williams Center Towers 1&2 sit on top of a parking garage (samson plaza is part of the roof)

Just north of 5th and main on the east side is a parking lot.

Bank of america at 6th and boulder is also sitting on a parking garage.

SW corner of 7th & detroit is parking

The Mayo hotel at 5th & cheyenne sits on top of a parking garage.

There is also a mayo parking garage on the west side of cheyenne, between 4th and 5th.



Obviously, we need more parking.

[FOTD]

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

Some additions
Williams Center Towers 1&2 sit on top of a parking garage (samson plaza is part of the roof)

Just north of 5th and main on the east side is a parking lot.

Bank of america at 6th and boulder is also sitting on a parking garage.

SW corner of 7th & detroit is parking

The Mayo hotel at 5th & cheyenne sits on top of a parking garage.

There is also a mayo parking garage on the west side of cheyenne, between 4th and 5th.



Obviously, we need more parking.

The Areema project reminds me of the planning and execution that went into the Iraq war. I'm sure someday neither will look anymore like a war zone but will have evolved into a blood sucking liabilty. No parking is like no exit plan....

[booWorld]

Also missing from the map:

- garage at SE corner of 6th & Boulder
- garage at NE corner of 7th & Boulder
- lot at NW corner of 7th & Main
- three garages west of Denver and east of where Frisco used to be, between 7th & 11th
- lot at SW corner of 3rd & Main
- garage north of 8th between Boulder and Cheyenne
- lot at SE corner of 5th & Boulder
- small lots along 4th between Main and Boston
- garage inside Renberg's on east side of Main, 300 block
- lot at SW corner of 5th & Cincinnati
- lot and rooftop parking at NW corner of 7th & Cincinnati
- lot on east side of Cheyenne, 200 block

[booWorld]

Also:

- garage on west side of Cincinnati, 400 block

[inteller]

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

Some additions
Williams Center Towers 1&2 sit on top of a parking garage (samson plaza is part of the roof)

Just north of 5th and main on the east side is a parking lot.

Bank of america at 6th and boulder is also sitting on a parking garage.

SW corner of 7th & detroit is parking

The Mayo hotel at 5th & cheyenne sits on top of a parking garage.

There is also a mayo parking garage on the west side of cheyenne, between 4th and 5th.



Obviously, we need more parking.

I think we need a clarification here.  Is there a PUBLIC parking shortage?  The garage at Samson Plaza is NOT for public use.  You don't have a card, you are NOT getting in.  I would imagine similiar lots at Bank of America and so forth have the same restrictions.

SO, with that said, how many lots can any Joe Blow pull into, get a gate ticket, and get out of later?  I don't know the answer to that, but lets not exaggerate more parking than what there is.

[hoodlum]

i don't believe there is any exaggeration. Those lots that are currently private will be open and charging 5 - 8 dollars to park on nights of events just like they do in every other city in the country. parking is definitely a non issue.

[inteller]

quote:Originally posted by hoodlum

i don't believe there is any exaggeration. Those lots that are currently private will be open and charging 5 - 8 dollars to park on nights of events just like they do in every other city in the country. parking is definitely a non issue.

you are making assumptions.  tenants of these buildings may not want them opened up to the public because of security/safety issues to their employees.

Lots owned and managed by places like American Parking will certainly open to the public.

I think there is not a parking issue if you remove the previously mentioned private garages...lets just not overstate.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by inteller

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

Some additions
Williams Center Towers 1&2 sit on top of a parking garage (samson plaza is part of the roof)

Just north of 5th and main on the east side is a parking lot.

Bank of america at 6th and boulder is also sitting on a parking garage.

SW corner of 7th & detroit is parking

The Mayo hotel at 5th & cheyenne sits on top of a parking garage.

There is also a mayo parking garage on the west side of cheyenne, between 4th and 5th.



Obviously, we need more parking.

I think we need a clarification here.  Is there a PUBLIC parking shortage?  The garage at Samson Plaza is NOT for public use.  You don't have a card, you are NOT getting in.  I would imagine similiar lots at Bank of America and so forth have the same restrictions.

SO, with that said, how many lots can any Joe Blow pull into, get a gate ticket, and get out of later?  I don't know the answer to that, but lets not exaggerate more parking than what there is.

I've parked there before. I think for like $25 I got to park for  day and got my car washed and detailed. That's been a few years though.

Almost every garage is open to the public. Not counting the fact, even if it is private, many of those people will be going to events downtown.

[cannon_fodder]

Sq, please don't let facts and logic get in the way of Inteller trying to say there is no parking downtown.  Seriously, if you pointed out everything wrong with his nay-saying he'd have to just shut up and go away.  No one wants that.

[inteller]

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle
Not counting the fact, even if it is private, many of those people will be going to events downtown.

wow, now there is another big assumption.  I park in one of those private garages and I would -not- be staying downtown to go to these events.

[inteller]

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

Sq, please don't let facts and logic get in the way of Inteller trying to say there is no parking downtown.  Seriously, if you pointed out everything wrong with his nay-saying he'd have to just shut up and go away.  No one wants that.

go ****ing read.  I stated above that even when you REMOVE those private garages, there is NOT a downtown parking problem.

[Kenosha]

If we have a good mass transit/shuttle system, it won't matter how far away the parking is...

[inteller]

quote:Originally posted by Kenosha

If we have a good mass transit/shuttle system, it won't matter how far away the parking is...

yes, it is called Bus 11.

[cannon_fodder]

lol Inteller, calm down a little man.  Just prodding ya' a little as you have gone negative nuts this AM.