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#1
Development & New Businesses / LARGE mixed-use development pl...
Last post by BKDotCom - July 01, 2025, 11:33:33 AMhttps://tulsaworld.com/news/local/government-politics/article_23aec991-a9a2-441b-9035-85b99e09fee6.html#tracking-source=home-top-story
QuoteThe Muscogee Nation received approval Monday to move forward with plans to seek financial incentives from the city to build a 37-acre mixed-use project on the east side of Riverside Parkway near the River Spirit Casino.
Preliminary conceptual plans for the project, known as Riverline, call for spending approximately $400 million in private dollars to build 213,800 square feet of retail space and 780 multifamily units.
During a meeting of the Local Development Act Review Committee, members voted unanimously to recommend approval of the Southern Villa District Economic Development Project Plan, which would include a three-phase tax increment finance district within the boundaries of the project.
TIFs allow governmental entities to use a portion of property taxes and/or sales taxes generated within the district to invest in infrastructure, providing an incentive for private investment.
The TIF recommended for approval Monday would include property and sales tax collections and would run for no more than 25 years or until revenues reach $425 million, whichever comes first.
The recommendation now goes to the Tulsa Metropolitan Area Planning Commission, which must determine whether the project plan is consistent with the city's comprehensive development plan. It will then go to the Tulsa City Council for its approval.
Jason Salsman, press secretary for the Muscogee Nation, said the tribe was pleased with Monday's vote.
"We're excited to see the progression of our development on Riverside continue and even more pleased to join with our partners to show how we can work together in a unique way to stimulate growth and commerce in the local economy," Salsman said.
Erran Persley, the city's economic development director, said that "for me, the most important thing to recognize is that we're talking about an area that used to be a trailer park with low value to the city and turning it into something that's going to be a mixed-use development that's going to generate sales tax revenue that builds and supports the city for years to come."
"It's taking something that wasn't valuable and making it a very valuable asset for the city," Persley said.
The development property is not part of the casino. It starts across the street from the southern entrance of the casino parking lot and extends south nearly to where Riverside Parkway and 91st Street intersect.
The tribe is partnering with Rainier Development Co. on the project.
The construction schedule presented to the Development Act Review Committee shows work on Phase 1 of the project beginning at the north end of the property in 2026. It would include 282 multifamily units and 120,000 square feet of high-end retail.
Phase 2 of construction is anticipated to include 252 multifamily units and 48,500 square feet of retail and, at the far south end of the property, 246 multifamily units and 26,000 square feet of retail space.
City Councilor Anthony Archie, who represents the district in which Riverline would be constructed, chaired the Local Development Act Review Committee meeting Monday.
"I went to ORU. I spent a lot of time at the corner of 81st (Street) and Lewis (Avenue)," Archie said. "I used to work at the Hilton Hotel, as well. I've just seen it economically struggle for the last 10 years."
"This partnership with the city of Tulsa, Partner Tulsa, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, represents the economic engines being turned on. It represents housing and retail. And my desire is for our local businesses to experience economic uplift from this."
The proposed project, if approved, would help advance another south Tulsa development — construction of the south Tulsa/Jenks Dam.
In December 2022, the Muscogee Nation signed a memorandum of understanding with Jenks, Tulsa and the Indian Nations Council of Governments in which it pledged $8,192,000 for maintenance of the dam contingent on the execution of a development agreement for the Riverside Parkway project.
According to the MOU, the Muscogee Nation would provide the funds "from various sources, contingent on execution of a Development Agreement."
City officials stressed, however, that the proposed Southern Villa TIF does not include the proposed south Tulsa/Jenks dam site, and that revenue generated by the TIF would not be used by the tribe to maintain the dam.
A city spokesperson said the project is still in the early design and feasibility stage.
"We should have more information to share early next year after we receive the initial deliverables and updated cost estimates from our engineering firm," the spokesperson said. "It's important to note that the city of Tulsa is just one piece of this joint project between the city of Jenks, the Indian Nations Council of Governments and the Muscogee Nation."
"This project will be a true catalyst for the area, transforming it with much-needed housing and introducing high-end retailers and amenities that have been missing here for too long," said Mike Dickerson, senior vice president of incentives and municipal relations for Partner Tulsa. "By expanding local retail options, we'll keep more of our community's spending here at home rather than losing it to other cities."
#2
Entertainment / Mazeppa R.I.P
Last post by patric - June 20, 2025, 02:36:22 PMTulsa actor and artist Gailard Sartain, a longtime "Hee Haw" cast member whose entertainment career was sparked by a late-night show on local television, died Thursday in Tulsa. He was 81. Sartain accumulated credits in more than 70 film and TV projects before stepping away from acting 20 years ago. Though Sartain tackled serious roles, he was best known as a comedic actor.
Gailard Sartain stated that he owes his career to the "Mazeppa" late-night show, which gained a local following in the 1970s. He used Mazeppa as a springboard to "Hee Haw" and other TV and film roles.
"Those are rough years when you are coming out of Cascia Hall and going to Will Rogers," he said. "You are used to wearing a sport coat and tie, and then it's clothes optional at Rogers. It was a transition and kind of hard, but I had to prove myself."
Sartain was in pursuit of a master's degree at TU when he landed a job at KOTV, Tulsa's CBS affiliate. A cameraman, he began "monkeying around" in front of the camera during Gary Chew's early afternoon movie program, "Go for Dough on the Early Show."
In the same interview, Sartain said he lobbied KOTV for a late-night show. When a program hosted by a disc jockey fizzled, he approached program director Art Elliott about the possibility of being a replacement host. Elliott reportedly said, "Matter of fact, I was thinking of firing you, too."
Sartain was given a short leash — a three-episode test run for the late-night show. Titled "Dr. Mazeppa Pompazoidi's Uncanny Film Festival and Camp Meeting," the show featured Sartain and his allies, Busey and Jim Millaway, who appeared as Sherman Oaks. They performed sketch comedies that aired between breaks of whatever movie was showing (usually horror films and sometimes Busby Berkeley musicals).
https://tulsaworld.com/life-entertainment/local/movies-tv/article_7295af07-d754-4a9e-86df-1b1938c5ae5e.html
Gailard Sartain stated that he owes his career to the "Mazeppa" late-night show, which gained a local following in the 1970s. He used Mazeppa as a springboard to "Hee Haw" and other TV and film roles.
"Those are rough years when you are coming out of Cascia Hall and going to Will Rogers," he said. "You are used to wearing a sport coat and tie, and then it's clothes optional at Rogers. It was a transition and kind of hard, but I had to prove myself."
Sartain was in pursuit of a master's degree at TU when he landed a job at KOTV, Tulsa's CBS affiliate. A cameraman, he began "monkeying around" in front of the camera during Gary Chew's early afternoon movie program, "Go for Dough on the Early Show."
In the same interview, Sartain said he lobbied KOTV for a late-night show. When a program hosted by a disc jockey fizzled, he approached program director Art Elliott about the possibility of being a replacement host. Elliott reportedly said, "Matter of fact, I was thinking of firing you, too."
Sartain was given a short leash — a three-episode test run for the late-night show. Titled "Dr. Mazeppa Pompazoidi's Uncanny Film Festival and Camp Meeting," the show featured Sartain and his allies, Busey and Jim Millaway, who appeared as Sherman Oaks. They performed sketch comedies that aired between breaks of whatever movie was showing (usually horror films and sometimes Busby Berkeley musicals).
https://tulsaworld.com/life-entertainment/local/movies-tv/article_7295af07-d754-4a9e-86df-1b1938c5ae5e.html
#3
Development & New Businesses / Re: Rumored Facebook AI center
Last post by dbacksfan 2.0 - June 19, 2025, 10:50:21 AMFrom CNN, way down in the article:
https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/19/climate/xai-musk-memphis-turbines-pollution#openweb-convo
Ironic that Musk named the facility Colossus, which was also the name of a movie from the early 70's about a super computer built by the US government that found a linked up with a similar Soviet super computer that, spoiler alert, when combined the two took over the world.
Colossus: The Forbin Project
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colossus:_The_Forbin_Project
QuoteAerial images taken by the Southern Environmental Law Center and South Wings, an organization of volunteer pilots, in March showed xAI had 35 turbines at the facility.
These can generate a total of 420 megawatts, equivalent to a "medium- to large-sized power plant," said Patrick Anderson, a senior attorney at SELC. They can produce an up to 2,000 tons of nitrogen oxide pollution every year, which would make xAI one of the biggest sources in the county, according to SELC calculations.
Aerial pictures taken in April, this time with a thermal imaging camera, showed 33 turbines were producing heat, suggesting they were operating, Anderson told CNN.
What has inflamed the community further is xAI's lack of air permits.
It appears the company relied on a loophole which allows temporary turbines in one location for less than a year to operate without a permit.
The SELC, however, argues xAI's turbines don't fall within a permit exemption because of their size and the pollution they produce. "Our position is (xAI is) without a permit, they should not be operating," Anderson said.
In January, months after starting operations, xAI applied to the Shelby County Health Department for permits for 15 turbines. A health department spokesperson told CNN the application was currently under review and all community feedback would be "carefully considered."
Twelve of the remaining 20 turbines were removed in May, and the rest will go in the future, said Mayor Young, although the timeline is unclear.
The Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce said the turbines for which permits have been requested "will achieve industry-leading emission standards" once they are equipped with pollution reduction technologies.
https://www.cnn.com/2025/05/19/climate/xai-musk-memphis-turbines-pollution#openweb-convo
Ironic that Musk named the facility Colossus, which was also the name of a movie from the early 70's about a super computer built by the US government that found a linked up with a similar Soviet super computer that, spoiler alert, when combined the two took over the world.
Colossus: The Forbin Project
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colossus:_The_Forbin_Project
#4
Development & New Businesses / Re: Rumored Facebook AI center
Last post by patric - June 18, 2025, 08:33:04 AMMEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The NAACP filed an intent to sue Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company xAI on Tuesday over concerns about air pollution generated by a supercomputer located near predominantly Black communities.
The xAI data center began operating gas turbines last year, emitting air pollution, without first applying for a permit under an exemption that allowed them to do so for 364 days. The permit application now being considered by the Shelby County Health Department calls for the use of 15 turbines, though the Southern Environmental Law Center says there are as many as 35 turbines located at the sprawling facility.
The Southern Environmental Law Center, among others, says the supercomputer is stressing the power grid, and that the gas-powered turbines emit smog and carbon dioxide, pollutants that cause lung irritation such as nitrogen oxides, and the carcinogen formaldehyde, experts say.
The SELC has claimed the use of the turbines violates the Clean Air Act and notes that residents who live near the xAI facility already face cancer risks at four times the national average.
The xAI data center began operating gas turbines last year, emitting air pollution, without first applying for a permit under an exemption that allowed them to do so for 364 days. The permit application now being considered by the Shelby County Health Department calls for the use of 15 turbines, though the Southern Environmental Law Center says there are as many as 35 turbines located at the sprawling facility.
The Southern Environmental Law Center, among others, says the supercomputer is stressing the power grid, and that the gas-powered turbines emit smog and carbon dioxide, pollutants that cause lung irritation such as nitrogen oxides, and the carcinogen formaldehyde, experts say.
The SELC has claimed the use of the turbines violates the Clean Air Act and notes that residents who live near the xAI facility already face cancer risks at four times the national average.
#5
National & International Politics / Re: President Trump- The Impli...
Last post by dbacksfan 2.0 - June 18, 2025, 01:07:37 AMQuote from: patric on June 16, 2025, 06:20:51 PMSo of course, there is a local angle...
Vance Luther Boelter, 57, is accused of impersonating a police officer and gunning down former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, in their home outside Minneapolis. Democratic Gov. Tim Walz described the shooting as "a politically motivated assassination." Friends and former colleagues interviewed by AP described Boelter as a devout Christian who attended an evangelical church and went to campaign rallies for President Donald Trump. Records show Boelter registered to vote as a Republican while living in Oklahoma in 2004 before moving to Minnesota.
https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-shootings-lawmakers-suspect-21b2165404bc66f77dd5e0e36efeb065
"He's a looney MAGAT Conservative, anti abortion right wing neo Nazi Trump loving Facist." "He's an appointee by two Democrat Governors psycho left wing anti Trump biggot."
Truth is he's a nut job wacko with guns and ammo and it seems some manifesto with most of the Minnesota state senate and congressional members on a hit list who surprisingly didn't off himself or commit suicide by cop in an attempt to become some sort of martyr.
He's no hero, more a worthless waste of human flesh.
#6
National & International Politics / Re: President Trump- The Impli...
Last post by patric - June 16, 2025, 06:20:51 PMSo of course, there is a local angle...
Vance Luther Boelter, 57, is accused of impersonating a police officer and gunning down former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, in their home outside Minneapolis. Democratic Gov. Tim Walz described the shooting as "a politically motivated assassination." Friends and former colleagues interviewed by AP described Boelter as a devout Christian who attended an evangelical church and went to campaign rallies for President Donald Trump. Records show Boelter registered to vote as a Republican while living in Oklahoma in 2004 before moving to Minnesota.
https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-shootings-lawmakers-suspect-21b2165404bc66f77dd5e0e36efeb065
Vance Luther Boelter, 57, is accused of impersonating a police officer and gunning down former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, in their home outside Minneapolis. Democratic Gov. Tim Walz described the shooting as "a politically motivated assassination." Friends and former colleagues interviewed by AP described Boelter as a devout Christian who attended an evangelical church and went to campaign rallies for President Donald Trump. Records show Boelter registered to vote as a Republican while living in Oklahoma in 2004 before moving to Minnesota.
https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-shootings-lawmakers-suspect-21b2165404bc66f77dd5e0e36efeb065
#7
Development & New Businesses / Re: Rumored Facebook AI center
Last post by dbacksfan 2.0 - June 07, 2025, 05:23:17 PMQuote from: swake on June 07, 2025, 04:58:19 PMThe Meta data center is the one going in east of Tulsa off of US-412. With Google in Pryor, what's the north Tulsa DC going to be? Apple? Amazon? The site isn't far from Amazon's cluster of warehouses by the airport.
Got them backwards. As a guess I would go with Amazon.
Although Apple is making a big play with their joint venture with TSMC in Arizona so Apple can produce their own chips in the US.
https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/apple-plans-new-ai-server-factory-as-part-of-500bn-us-manufacturing-push/#:~:text=DCD%20reported%20in%20December%20that,of%20dollars%E2%80%9D%20in%20the%20US.
#8
Development & New Businesses / Re: Rumored Facebook AI center
Last post by swake - June 07, 2025, 04:58:19 PMQuote from: dbacksfan 2.0 on June 07, 2025, 01:59:31 PM
https://www.abc15.com/news/region-southeast-valley/mesa/meta-boasts-companys-dedication-to-community-as-mesa-data-center-goes-online
While there will be good paying construction jobs in the beginning, there will most likely only be ~200 permanent jobs to maintain the servers and the facility over two or three 24/7 shifts.
Most of the people working there will make about $25.00/hour according to InDeed.com website
https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Serverfarm/salaries/Data-Center-Technician?from=acme-salaries-v2
The Meta data center is the one going in east of Tulsa off of US-412. With Google in Pryor, what's the north Tulsa DC going to be? Apple? Amazon? The site isn't far from Amazon's cluster of warehouses by the airport.
#9
Development & New Businesses / Re: Rumored Facebook AI center
Last post by dbacksfan 2.0 - June 07, 2025, 01:59:31 PM
QuoteThe data center announced Thursday that it is now serving traffic and is connected to global infrastructure and technologies.
At an event Thursday, the business stressed its dedication to playing an active role in the community.
Meta said it will provide financial support for Mesa Community College students to pursue STEM certificates. They also helped create a new multimedia center at Desert Ridge Junior High School in Gilbert, helping students learn about animation, video game design, digital art, and music production.
https://www.abc15.com/news/region-southeast-valley/mesa/meta-boasts-companys-dedication-to-community-as-mesa-data-center-goes-online
While there will be good paying construction jobs in the beginning, there will most likely only be ~200 permanent jobs to maintain the servers and the facility over two or three 24/7 shifts.
Most of the people working there will make about $25.00/hour according to InDeed.com website
https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Serverfarm/salaries/Data-Center-Technician?from=acme-salaries-v2
#10
Development & New Businesses / Re: Rumored Facebook AI center
Last post by patric - June 06, 2025, 10:01:20 AMA developers reassuring words:
The city's planning commission on Wednesday unanimously approved the land use for Project Clydesdale, which would put a data center near East 76th Street North and North Sheridan Road.
Data centers are known to use significant amounts of water and electricity. But Project Clydesdale applicant Lou Reynolds told the planning commission the center would not negatively impact the area's water or electricity.
"(The area is) served by a rural water district, but this project — we will purchase our water from the rural water district, but we'll be directly tapped into the city of Tulsa's water lines," said Reynolds. "We're not going to affect anyone's water pressure."
"To the extent that you've got any comments in respect to electrical service, they're only going to improve as we're going to bring our substation here," he continued.
https://www.publicradiotulsa.org/local-regional/2025-06-05/two-data-centers-in-the-works-for-tulsa-area
Its like saying "no we wont hurt you but we will break your legs."
The city's planning commission on Wednesday unanimously approved the land use for Project Clydesdale, which would put a data center near East 76th Street North and North Sheridan Road.
Data centers are known to use significant amounts of water and electricity. But Project Clydesdale applicant Lou Reynolds told the planning commission the center would not negatively impact the area's water or electricity.
"(The area is) served by a rural water district, but this project — we will purchase our water from the rural water district, but we'll be directly tapped into the city of Tulsa's water lines," said Reynolds. "We're not going to affect anyone's water pressure."
"To the extent that you've got any comments in respect to electrical service, they're only going to improve as we're going to bring our substation here," he continued.
https://www.publicradiotulsa.org/local-regional/2025-06-05/two-data-centers-in-the-works-for-tulsa-area
Its like saying "no we wont hurt you but we will break your legs."