Ch6: Wrong People Developing River In Tulsa?

[waterboy]

Just saw a ch 6 report about the development of the river at Jenks Riverwalk. After listening to the dog n pony report on v2025 the reporter excitedly stated "there is nothing different between the river at 11th to 21st and the river in Jenks that would keep this type of development from happening in Tulsa. It just needs the 'right people'." As the screen showed stock video of the seldom used amphitheatre they showed one of the old guard INCOG guys nodding his head in agreement. Puke time.

What a load of crap. Did these guys give him drinks before the taping?

Four things different (at least):
     1. THAT DEVELOPMENT WAS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY BY A PRIVATE BUILDER! No Parks Authorities or government entities to wrestle with. Almost all of the land from 11th to 21st is River Parks Authority land. No access to the river bank. McMichaels owns one segment but not the access to the river bank. This development was done by a homebuilder. You want the river in Tulsa developed? Sell the land to a builder like they did.
     
     2. THEY HAVE NO RESIDENTIAL AREAS ALONG THE RIVER AT 96TH STREET! No complaints about outdoor bands, parking problems, boats, motorcycles, landscaping, tree pruning or a host of other petty concerns by neighborhood associations and nimby's.
     
     3. THEY DON'T HAVE A VILLAGE OF HOMELESS PEOPLE LIVING WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE! Gee didn't see anyone living in tents along the river or in the bridge like at 11th street. Too far a way from social services I guess. Or no one's poor in Jenks.
     
     4. JENKS ACTUALLY GETS IT! THEY WANTED DEVELOPMENT AND LENT THEIR SUPPORT! They saw Tulsa kiss off the Aquarium and they weren't going to make the same mistake. Then, they didn't try to buy the privately held river front land when it became available to make it part of the River Parks empire and cut themselves in for a piece.

I am waiting patiently to talk to this reporter and the Incog crew at the Tulsa meeting Wednesday to see how they plan to overcome these obstacles.