City officials say its time to pick the technology for a new downtown streetcar.
MAPS 3
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Another convention center?
Shadid claims city and Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce officials were not honest with voters before the 2009 MAPS 3 election, particularly with the convention center project and a related convention center hotel. The convention center could cost taxpayers an estimated $250 million, but the hotel would not receive MAPS 3 funding. Voters approved […]
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White magic
In a couple of years, the entire landscape for American kayakers and the availability of training courses will change, the three-time Olympian and four-time world champion said. Shipley, owner of S2O Design and Engineering in Lyons, Colo., the firm hired to design Oklahoma City’s MAPS 3 whitewater superpark, said the newest and most sophisticated course […]
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Streetcar route passes City Council vote after contentious debate
Jeff Bezdek voices his disapproval of Ward 2 Councilman Ed Shadid\’s approach to the streetcar vote, at Tuesday\’s City Council meeting. Photo by Mark Hancock Almost two dozen citizens spoke against and in favor of the proposal, which created a 2 ½ hour discussion of the most controversial MAPS 3 project. Councilmen James Greiner, Ed […]
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Wrangling over wellness
Putnam City Baptist Church Credit: Mark Hancock Liberty Institute attorney Michael Berry sent a letter July 26 to Oklahoma City Manager James Couch and municipal counselor Kenneth Jordan outlining why the city is within its legal and constitutional rights to negotiate with Putnam City Baptist Church as a potential operating partner for one of the […]
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Of wellness and worship
Ryan Kiesel Ryan Kiesel, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma, told the Oklahoma City Council and municipal attorney Kenneth Jordan on July 16 all potential trouble spots in the offer by Putnam City Baptist Church “should be resolved” quickly in order to avoid litigation. “A partnership between the city and a […]
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Q-and-A question
The meeting’s format called for residents to write their questions on cards to be turned over to moderator Jimmy Robertson of Jacobs Engineering, the project’s consulting firm. Citizens were not allowed to ask follow-up questions or engage in dialogue with the consultants. In fact, some attendees thought their written questions might have been ignored. In […]
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Field trip
Zumba class at the North Little Rocksenior wellness center credit: Tim Farley The 15-member group, led by Mayor Mick Cornett, City Manager Jim Couch and MAPS 3 Director David Todd, checked out the programs and equipment of that city’s Patrick Henry Hays Senior Citizens Center. Facility director Charley Baxter and North Little Rock Mayor Joe […]
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Walking Western
The plan, culminated after a months-long study, would narrow traffic lanes and increase sidewalk space throughout the five-block area of Western. Proponents say it will create more appealing public space and ease parking and pedestrian concerns. “We can make Western Avenue a better place,” said Blair Humphreys, executive director of the Institute for Quality Communities […]
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Build the cathedtral
Shadid supports his premise with statistics and facts from other projects and cities. This kind of research is vital when entering into something as important as the expenditure of taxpayer funding. We must be careful to remember, however, that facts and statistics can be read multiple ways and stated in a supportive fashion rather than […]