Route 66 Museum on Riverside

[sgrizzle]

Is the white box adjacent to the red bridge part of the project or "future development"?  It's the same color as the existing townhomes on Lawton Ave.

Part of the project. This is basically a pencil sketch.

[patric]

From the Whirled:

Senate Bill 839 by Senate President Pro Tem Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa, failed 44-49 in the House of Representatives two days after narrowly passing in the Senate. To pass in the House, 51 votes would have been needed.

The measure would have provided $25 million in state-backed bonds to pay for the $40 million structure proposed for Archer Street and Boston Avenue.

The vote came hours after the Senate approved and sent to the governor a $25 million bond issue to finish the American Indian Cultural Center in Oklahoma City.

[Townsend]

From the Whirled:

The vote came hours after the Senate approved and sent to the governor a $25 million bond issue to finish the American Indian Cultural Center in Oklahoma City.[/font]

That is certainly bothersome.  Where's that guy that always sues to get things like this reversed?

[DTowner]

Tulsa area lawmakers got played for suckers by OKC, yet again.  More money for the OKC museum and none for OKPOP was the absolute worst outcome possible.

Tulsa’s leaders now need to put the OKPOP money in the Vision package.  It sucks that Tulsans have to pay for this with no contribution from the state, but that is better than losing this opportunity.   When it is completed, some local “artist” should paint a mural on a west facing wall giving the middle finger to the state capitol.

[Townsend]

Tulsa area lawmakers got played for suckers by OKC, yet again.  More money for the OKC museum and none for OKPOP was the absolute worst outcome possible.

Tulsa’s leaders now need to put the OKPOP money in the Vision package.  It sucks that Tulsans have to pay for this with no contribution from the state, but that is better than losing this opportunity.   When it is completed, some local “artist” should paint a mural on a west facing wall giving the middle finger to the state capitol.

Decision was reversed and the museum has jumped another hurdle.  Let's see what happens next.

As for the finger mural...William?  Got some spare time?

[TheArtist]

Decision was reversed and the museum has jumped another hurdle.  Let's see what happens next.

As for the finger mural...William?  Got some spare time?

For that I would make time lol.  But perhaps a billboard on the turnpike coming into Tulsa from OKC would be more fitting.

[sgrizzle]

Is the white box adjacent to the red bridge part of the project or "future development"?  It's the same color as the existing townhomes on Lawton Ave.

Inquired on this. It's a parking garage.

[SXSW]

Inquired on this. It's a parking garage.

So there is a multi-story parking garage and surface lot?  Seems like they could get away with just the surface lot.  There is ample street parking on Riverside.

[sgrizzle]

So there is a multi-story parking garage and surface lot?  Seems like they could get away with just the surface lot.  There is ample street parking on Riverside.

No there isn't, just ask cabbage.

[DowntownDan]

Would it be ironic to complain about too much parking and car-centric culture at a museum that is dedicated to one of the first highways that led to the car-centric culture of pretty much every city west of the Mississippi?

[Tulsasaurus Rex]

City council members approved a measure that could spruce up the area around Cry Baby Hill.

Many Tulsans mark their calendars for the next opportunity to wear themed outfits, clang their cowbells and cheer on cyclists as they take on one of Tulsa Tough’s most treacherous bike races, and soon it could look a little different.

Those attending the event could see some significant change in the area that would be designed to attract more tourists.

The plans that were approved Thursday want to add concrete seats, more trees and new walkways.

http://www.kjrh.com/news/local-news/tulsa-city-council-members-approve-plans-to-spruce-up-area-near-cry-baby-hill

This will complement the new Route 66 museum well.

[SXSW]

Are they still fundraising for the Route 66 Museum?  This would be a cool backdrop for Cry Baby Hill during Tulsa Tough.  



Also really wish someday the Avery Bridge could be rehabbed at least for pedestrian/bike use.  A Tulsa version of the High Line with some landscaping would be awesome it's such a cool old structure.

[cannon_fodder]

I looked into it, and I'm not sure.  There was some good press mid-summer when plans were unveiled with a $19.5mil price tag. The plan was for it to be built "eventually" per the article.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/downtown/million-route-museum-for-tulsa-is-announced/article_fb8e3a26-9aa5-5f2a-a26c-7e0a4d590581.html

This article says it will open in 2018 with a ground breaking in Summer of 2016 (this is also stated on the rt66exp.com website). In that the 2016 groundbreaking didn't happen, I'm guessing the 2018 opening is seriously in doubt:
http://www.route66news.com/2015/05/20/tulsa-route-66-museums-opening-finally-has-a-date/

The group behind it launched a new website in July, which drew some more attention and saw the plans reviewed by some RT66 buffs:
http://www.route66news.com/2016/07/06/route-66-experience-website-inside-look/

The group, headed by Ken Busby, is the Route 66 Alliance:
http://www.route66alliance.org/

They have a website for the museum, which is the RT66 Experience:
http://www.rt66exp.com/

But I don't see that either website has been updated since ~ August.  But the Facebook page for the Route 66 Alliance is still active, and December 1st was just declared Route 66 day in Tulsa:


If you'd like to learn more, call Mr. Busby:

Ken Busby
Executive Director & CEO,
Route 66 Alliance
918-629-2984
culturalczarok@gmail.com

[Tulsasaurus Rex]

What's the latest on this?

[sgrizzle]

What's the latest on this?

Still fundraising, still not quite there.