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OSU needs to look at what Colorado State University is doing with their planned urban campus north of downtown Denver.  CSU is very similar to OSU in a lot of ways but sees the value of building an urban campus and research center. 

As part of the National Western Center – a redevelopment project in north Denver on the grounds of the historic National Western Stock Show – the CSU System will construct three buildings at a main crossroads in Denver.

“The global education leadership goal of the National Western Center is a powerful one, particularly given the center’s focus on food, water, and health,” said Becky Takeda-Tinker, president of CSU Global. “CSU Global looks forward to contributing its expertise in asynchronous online education delivery, allowing the impact of the center to have a continual and expanded reach with stakeholders around the world.”

Bringing university research and work to life for the community is a core tenet of the new Denver presence.

https://source.colostate.edu/csu-system-to-break-ground-on-planned-urban-campus-in-2020/

I’m just hoping a local investment group can gain control that has the long-term vision of repurposing the mall into a mixed use development.  Unlike Eastland Mall this site is on two main arterial streets, within a half mile of I-44 and across the street from OU-Tulsa.  Some of the highest income neighborhoods in the city are to the northwest. 

It’s a drain on that area now but could be a catalyst to revitalizing the whole area around 41st & Yale.  Look no further than OKC to what they have planned for the 50 Penn site, mixed-use retail with office and housing.  That’s what is needed here.

A major medical research facility?

I’m just hoping a local investment group can gain control that has the long-term vision of repurposing the mall into a mixed use development.  Unlike Eastland Mall this site is on two main arterial streets, within a half mile of I-44 and across the street from OU-Tulsa.  Some of the highest income neighborhoods in the city are to the northwest. 

It’s a drain on that area now but could be a catalyst to revitalizing the whole area around 41st & Yale.  Look no further than OKC to what they have planned for the 50 Penn site, mixed-use retail with office and housing.  That’s what is needed here.

https://www.tulsaworld.com/news/contract-awarded-for-gilcrease-expressway-west-loop-work-to-start/article_83e162e6-a63f-51c2-bcec-9f044964607b.html

OKLAHOMA City — The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority on Tuesday set in motion a nearly $261 million project for construction on the west loop of the Gilcrease Expressway.


The contract was awarded to a partnership involving AECOM, an engineering and construction firm based in Los Angeles, and Duit Construction Co., based in Edmond.


Work is expected to start by the end of the year, said Jack Damrill, an OTA spokesman


It is expected to be finished in February 2022, said Tim Gatz, OTA director and transportation secretary.


The toll road will include a bridge over the Arkansas River.


The project consists of construction of a new, four-lane highway beginning where the existing Gilcrease Expressway connects to Interstate 44 just south of West 51st Street South and ends just north of U.S. 412 at Edison Street.


It is part of the Driving Forward program, a turnpike expansion and improvement initiative for six roads.


“I look forward to getting the project under construction,” Gatz said.

[Thunder New Release: https://www.nba.com/thunder/news/release-coachingstaff-190723]

Thunder Announces Coaching Staff Updates

OKLAHOMA CITY, July 23, 2019 – The Oklahoma City Thunder has named David Akinyooye, Dave Bliss, Mark Daigneault, Brian Keefe and Mike Wilks assistant coaches, it was announced today by the team. They join current Thunder assistant coaches Maurice Cheeks and Vin Bhavnani along with director of quality control Billy Schmidt on Head Coach Billy Donovan’s staff.

“Each of our coaches on this year’s staff has a unique perspective on Thunder basketball that we believe will be a great benefit to our players,” said Donovan. “We are thrilled to welcome Brian Keefe back to the program, and seeing Dave, Mark, David and Mike all rise through our ranks to these positions on our staff is a testament to their hard work and dedication. With Mo, Vin and Billy Schmidt also back for next season, I couldn’t be more excited to get to work with this group.”

Akinyooye (ah-kin-YO-yay) joins the Thunder after spending the last four seasons as an assistant coach with the Oklahoma City Blue. Akinyooye came to Oklahoma City in 2015 following a one-year stint as an assistant coach in Lyon, France with Asvel Lyon-Villeurbanne Basket.

Prior to his time in Lyon, Akinyooye served as a player development quality assurance assistant with the San Antonio Spurs during their 2013-14 NBA championship season. He began his coaching career in 2012-13 with the New York Knicks in the role of coaching workout associate.

Bliss has been elevated to an assistant coaching position after spending the 2018-19 season as a senior player development coach for the Thunder. Bliss returned to Oklahoma City in 2018 after spending the three previous seasons with the New York Knicks as a player development coach. He previously worked with the Thunder as video analyst/player development coach from 2010-15 and this past month Bliss served as the head coach of the Thunder’s summer league team.

He began his coaching career as a volunteer assistant at the University of Georgia before transitioning to Virginia Commonwealth University to work as a graduate assistant. Bliss worked under Head Coach Shaka Smart during his time at VCU, helping the team to a 27-9 record. A four-year starter at Georgia, Bliss played a key role as the Bulldogs won the school’s second SEC Conference Tournament Championship in 2008.

Mark Daigneault (DAYG-nalt) joins the Thunder sideline after spending the past five seasons as head coach of the Oklahoma City Blue. He led the Blue to four playoff appearances and holds a career 143-107 (.572) record. Daigneault also served as head coach of the Thunder’s summer league team for three consecutive years (2016-2018).

Under Daigneault’s watch the past five seasons, the Blue has seen eight players called up to NBA rosters and four players signed to Two-Way Contracts. During the 2015-16 season, Daigneault joined Donovan’s Thunder coaching staff midseason after Cheeks was sidelined due to hip surgery. Daigneault came to Oklahoma City after spending his previous four years working under Donovan at the University of Florida, where he most recently held the position of assistant to the head coach. Throughout his four years at Florida, the Gators totaled a record of 120-30 (.800), won three SEC titles and advanced to the Elite Eight each year.

Keefe returns to the Thunder sideline for the 2019-20 season after serving previously in the same capacity for five seasons in Oklahoma City (2008-2013). During Keefe’s previous tenure with the Thunder, Oklahoma City advanced to the postseason five straight seasons, including a trip to the NBA Finals in 2012.

Entering his 15th NBA season, Keefe spent the last three seasons as an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Lakers. Before originally joining the Thunder, Keefe spent two seasons (2005-07) as assistant video coordinator for the San Antonio Spurs, winning an NBA Championship as part of Gregg Popovich’s staff during the Spurs’ title run in 2007.

Wilks moves to the Thunder’s bench after spending the previous seven seasons with Oklahoma City as a senior pro evaluation scout. Wilks becomes the second former Thunder player (Royal Ivey) to join the team’s coaching ranks. 

He enjoyed a seven-year NBA playing career where he appeared in 233 games with ten different NBA teams. He holds career averages of 2.5 points, 1.2 assists and 1.0 rebound in 9.6 minutes per game.


Thunder New Release:  https://www.nba.com/thunder/news/release-coachingstaff-190723

So what gives?  If I were the court I would say "Heck no, you knew what you were getting into and you knew what was likely to happen to the mall, how it could damage the area it is in, the jobs of the people who worked there, etc. and you didn't care!" thats immoral. If I could I would seize the mall, sell it to a reputable company, and turn around and fine the company that made the loan on top of what they are losing in order to teach them a lesson.

I’m not sure I follow your point or your solution.  It appears that the owner of Promenade is a real estate bottom feeder - buying distressed or struggling properties and attempting to squeeze whatever profit is left out of them.  Ready Capital loaned them money to do so and knowingly took a risk with such an operator.  Ready will likely take a hit and not recover all it’s owed - which is its just deserts for loaning money to such a company in the first place.  Neither should get a Rotarian award for contributions to the Tulsa community, but both were doing what they do - trying to make a buck in a turbid niche real estate market.

The sooner the foreclosure process plays out, the sooner this property can be put on the market and start looking for a new owner.  Again, it’s unlikely anything will happen fast, but up to now this property has been stuck in limbo with an owner that isn’t going to invest in it to turn it around.  This is actually good news for Tulsa, even if it comes disguised as bad.

[Thunder Unveils New Uniform in Partnership with Oklahoma City National Memorial]

                                            Thunder Unveils New Uniform in Partnership with Oklahoma City National Memorial

                                                 City Edition is one of four new Thunder uniforms to debut in 2019-20 season

Oklahoma City, Tuesday, July 23, 2019 –The Oklahoma City Thunder today unveiled four new uniforms for the 2019-20 season. The lineup includes a new City Edition designed in partnership with the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. This City uniform aligns with the upcoming 25th anniversary of the April 19, 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City. The Thunder and the memorial worked closely with Nike to embody the spirit of resilience and remembrance to pay respect to the lives lost and all those impacted by the bombing. It also captures the memorial’s mission of educating current and future generations about the Oklahoma City community’s response to the tragedy, with a focus on the Oklahoma Standard of service, honor and kindness.

“April 19th, 1995 changed our city forever. The Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum serves our community by helping us remember those lost, yet also tells a story of a city that comes together with compassion,” said Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti. “The Thunder is honored to continue to strengthen our relationship with the Oklahoma City Memorial with this endeavor. Additionally, the chance to help further the memorial's efforts around the Oklahoma Standard expands our support beyond that of the uniform. Although the Oklahoma Standard means something unique to everyone individually, raising awareness of its importance and ultimate evolution alongside that of our city is essential. Any progress we can make to help preserve and ultimately further articulate the simple acts of service, honor and kindness that have helped contribute to Oklahoma's community identity is a pivotal aspect to the broader civic impact we envision.”

[/cemter]

As part of the Thunder’s partnership with the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, the team will underwrite a new permanent exhibit, which will emphasize and highlight examples of the Oklahoma Standard and provide valuable learning tools to deliver that message to local, national and global audiences. To honor the partnership, the Thunder will fund free admission to the National Memorial Museum once a month for the year 2020.

The uniform design features symbols that represent elements of the memorial. Across the chest, “Oklahoma City” appears in gold-lined letters, with the twin Gates of Time spanning down the side of the jerseys that carry into the shorts. The times 9:01 and 9:03 appear within the vents of the shorts. They reflect the innocence of the city at 9:01 before the attack, followed by the time the city began to come together and heal at 9:03. The white on the side of the shorts represents the Reflecting Pool, a shallow depth of water that provides comfort and peace. “Service,” “Honor” and “Kindness” appear above the jersey’s tag – reflecting the ideals of the Oklahoma Standard, and the manner in which Oklahoma citizens treat one another and their community.

The Survivor Tree, a 90-year-old American elm at the site of the memorial, is also depicted in full color on the belt of the uniform’s shorts. The tree serves as a symbol of human resilience and strength as it withstood the force of the 4,000 pound bomb. Inside the jersey, a blue ribbon is layered with the words, “We Remember Those Who Were Changed Forever, April 19, 1995.” Along the back of the neck, Thunder blue, navy, yellow and sunset stripes tie the uniform to the team’s traditional colors and represent the many gifts of remembrance that visitors left on the fence at the original site and continue to leave at the memorial today.

”Our partnership with the Thunder has continued to grow stronger. For more than a decade, every player experiences and comes to understand the Oklahoma Standard by visiting the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum,” said Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum Executive Director, Kari Watkins. “We have been working together on this meaningful uniform for months. This is a unique way to expand our mission to a global audience and to remember all those impacted. This uniform has many important symbolic elements that are reflective of this sacred site.”

“We are excited about taking our partnership with the Thunder to a whole new level,” said Kim Neese, survivor and chair, Memorial Conscience Committee. “As the 25th Anniversary of the bombing draws near, having Oklahoma City’s team wear this inspirational uniform continues to honor and remember the 168 people who were killed and all those who were changed forever.”

The City Edition uniform is one of four new uniforms the Thunder will wear next season, including refreshed Icon (blue) and Association (white) uniforms, and a new sunset Statement uniform.

“Refreshing our uniform lineup allows us to put a new twist on the classic Thunder image,” said Thunder Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Brian Byrnes. “These updates keep us true to our roots, but allow us to modernize and embolden the Thunder Basketball uniform portfolio as we continue to evolve our brand to proudly reflect our state and city.”

Like the blue Icon uniform before it, the team’s white Association uniform will now have “Oklahoma City” across the chest in sunset and Thunder blue, with a state outline of Oklahoma on the belt of the shorts. The uniform also has matching neck and arm striping with the primary team logo on the front left leg. This marks the second time the state outline has appeared on a Thunder uniform, as it was also featured on the team’s 2017-18 City Edition uniform.

On the Thunder blue Icon uniform, the chest now reads “Thunder” on the chest in sunset, with matching neck and arm striping. The blue uniform also features the primary team logo on the front left leg with increased tape striping on the arm and neck. Both uniforms boast a rich color palette, elevating the contrast of the team’s current brand profile. The Icon and Association uniforms will both be worn at home and on the road starting next season.

The team’s 2019-20 Statement Edition brings a fan favorite color scheme back to the Thunder’s uniform lineup with a bold sunset design. It marks the first time Thunder blue and sunset have appeared together on a uniform, with a staggered “OKC” in Thunder blue across the chest and gradient tonal sound waves down the back.

Thunder News Release:  https://www.nba.com/thunder/news/release-uniforms-190723

I believe if you will check with the courts and the Taser industry, no Taser use has ever been proven to cause death.  Much to the dismay of the media who likes to put in headlines like "Man Dies After Being Tased." 

Its been years since Ive heard anyone use the contrived term "excited delirium" to justify in-custody deaths.

Deputies 'acted justifiably' to subdue motorist who died after fight, Wagoner County DA says
Both deputies deployed their stun guns, but attempts to subdue Krueger were “completely ineffective.”  Shortly thereafter, law enforcement officers discovered that he was not breathing normally; he was quickly taken to Wagoner City Hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arriving.
“The preliminary finding, absent toxicology results, is that Krueger died as the result of excited delirium.”

https://www.tulsaworld.com/news/state-and-regional/deputies-acted-justifiably-to-subdue-motorist-who-died-after-fight/article_b459c4e2-06b9-5abd-aadf-11fad8f54e5c.html

The only surprise in any of this is that the property was appraised for $25.9 million in 2016.  That is absurd, particularly when you consider that the Dillard’s and Macy’s buildings and the southside parking garage have separate ownership.

Unfortunately, this day has been obvious in coming for years.  Prying this property out of the hands of the current owner is the only way to have any hope that this dying mall can be repurposed into a modern use.  However, even if the receiver gets appointed and the foreclosure occurs quickly, I wouldn’t get any hopes up that anything meaningful will happen in the foreseeable future.  It sounds like the capital for just the deferred maintenance will eat up all the revenues for years and a new buyer with a plan and a lot of money will have to be found.

Maybe now that the folks that transformed the old Eastland Mall have sold it, they are interested in tackling another Tulsa project….

From Tulsa World Article....  https://www.tulsaworld.com/business/promenade-mall-s-mortgage-holder-seeking-foreclosure-on-the-property/article_7a9d7f3b-cf7c-5493-b235-00be8a87a49a.html?fbclid=IwAR2gRdM-LhjfrSl9XpDhD6frGd4dcZCdDkmy5CmmS3kjK4vnoGqkBCBabPA


"The holder of Promenade Mall’s mortgage is seeking to foreclose on the loan, according to documents filed with Tulsa County District Court last month.

Ready Capital Corp., the original lender and current holder of the loan, alleges in court filings that the mall’s owner — a Delaware limited liability company — has defaulted on the loan by failing to make payments from March 2019 forward.

Ready Capital Corp. also alleges that its collateral interest in the property is diminishing as a result of the mall owner’s failure to maintain the property and a suspected failure to direct all rents to the designated “lock box.” Court filings claim the property’s value has seen a three-year plunge from $25.9 million in a 2016 appraisal to $4.5 million per a recent estimation by NAI Farbman...."


I almost wonder if there was something to gain by the Mortgage Holder by loaning the money to these people that are known bad actors and "Mall Killers" ?   Like people who can get a tax write off from devalued property? 

All anyone has to do is look the company up online to find horror story after horror story....
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kohan_Retail_Investment_Group?fbclid=IwAR2GVoqL7jf1C1ChZCPIBaUdobqVM9aP2qjOp_9pYH_w1K_XfsWe_FK0owU


Kohan lost the Jamestown Mall in late 2011 due to foreclosure, but retained some ownership in late 2012.[1][10] The mall had previously declared bankruptcy in August 2011.[1] After purchasing Woodville Mall in 2009, it was closed in December 2011 by court order, and demolished by Northwood, Ohio in March 2014 due to its poor material condition.[32][33] Lincoln Mall suffered from serious material condition issues during Kohan's ownership and in August 2013 went into receivership.[15][34] Matteson, Illinois took over ownership in June 2014 and it closed in January 2015 after running out of money.[35][34][36] At the malls closure, over $10 million in fines and taxes was owed to Matteson by Kohan.[34] Lincoln Mall was demolished starting in May 2017.[37] During a 2013 police drug search, serious issues were discovered in Northland Mall's former Kmart that included mold, roof damage, and other major issues. Ownership also owed $141,081.61 in taxes to Nobles County, Minnesota.[38][39] The mall had serious material condition issues in April 2014 that Worthington, Minnesota took action on.[40][41] Worthington won a court decision about the former Kmart in June 2014, and demolition began in February 2015.[42] The mall was sold to 7&41 LLC in May 2015.[43]

Due to lack of payment on a $300,000 bill, Rotterdam Square Mall lost power on February 12, 2015.[2][44] The mall was later sold to ViaPort USA for $9.25 million.[45] Since its purchase, Berkshire Mall has suffered from serious tax issues with many payments being missed. Kohan has been taken to court several times over these issues and has narrowly avoided Berkshire's seizure.[24][46] Berkshire has also suffered from a series of power outages.[8] Kohan owed $627,789 in property taxes on the Washington Square Mall in 2017, and the mall was put up for tax sale.[21] The malls outstanding taxes were paid off in October 2018 for $1.1 million.[8] VF Factory Outlet Mall closed in October 2017.[33] Indian River Mall almost lost power in December 2017 due to unpaid electric bills and bounced checks totaling $428,175. The bill was paid the day electric was to be shutoff.[47]

Mayberry Mall was almost closed on February 1, 2018 by local government officials due to roof and mold issues. It was sold to WRS Inc. Real Estate Investments in 2019.[48][49] In August 2018, Kohan sued Clay, New York for a reduction in the Great Northern Mall's taxes, while owing $1.53 million to county government.[50] Due to the roofs poor condition, Effingham City declared Village Square Mall unsafe in August 2018.[51] Due to Kohan not paying Lycoming Mall's PPL electric bill, it lost power in late August 2018.[52] In September 2018, Southbridge Mall was sued by Cerro Gordo County for $177,324 in back taxes.[26][53] Those taxes were paid off in December 2018, with three of the previous four checks sent to the county bouncing.[54] Kohan owed around $550,000 on The Orchards Mall in various taxes before its sale in late 2018.[19]

Lycoming County Water and Sewer Authority placed Lycoming Mall on the February 2019 sheriff's sale list due to unpaid bills.[55] Kohan made a partial payment to stop the auction.[8][22] Chapel Hill Mall almost had power disconnected by Ohio Edison due to unpaid bills in April 2019.[7]




So what gives?  If I were the court I would say "Heck no, you knew what you were getting into and you knew what was likely to happen to the mall, how it could damage the area it is in, the jobs of the people who worked there, etc. and you didn't care!" thats immoral. If I could I would seize the mall, sell it to a reputable company, and turn around and fine the company that made the loan on top of what they are losing in order to teach them a lesson.