Not exactly an open meeting at the TMAPC...

[PonderInc]

Yesterday, I planned to attend the TMAPC meeting.  Checked the agenda, and it said the meeting was at the Francis Campbell City Council Room.  I went to old City Hall and found this:


So I went to new City Hall.  The security guards didn't know what I was talking about, but they sent me up to the 4th Floor.  There, I could see the meeting on TGov and recognized that it was, indeed, at the old City Hall.  

So I went back to the old City Hall and tried another entrance.  It, too, said: "City Hall closed: All City of Tulsa offices and services have moved..."  

I had to bang on a door until a security guard finally let me in.  I was told there was one entrance that was open to the meeting.  (I never found it.)

There were only a handful of people in the audience.  I think this might be why!

[Double A]

Tulsa Now sent out emails encouraging people to support the move to Kathy's Krystal Kastle. You all wanted this. Be careful what you wish for.

[cannon_fodder]

I was looking at the old city hall as I left the Courthouse today, it occurred to me that if it was a private building the city would probably enforce their abandoned and blighted policy and demand it get fixed up.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

I was looking at the old city hall as I left the Courthouse today, it occurred to me that if it was a private building the city would probably enforce their abandoned and blighted policy and demand it get fixed up.

Or torn down.

[MDepr2007]

Got to set it on fire first []

[RecycleMichael]

I think they should sell raffle tickets for the right to push the implosion button that brings down the building.

What would you pay to blow up city hall?

[Wrinkle]

Raffle, heck, small stuff. I took a vote here and have been fining them $1,000/day for over two weeks now. I sent a letter to the owner's record address, but no response yet. If it doesn't get paid in 30 days, I'll go to court and get a lien, then aucton it to pay the bill.

[Hometown]

Why stop with City Hall.  After you've destroyed that piece of history you might as well march over to the Philtower and demolish it so that we can put up something shiny, new and of lesser quality.

The day will come when we realize what we have let slip through our fingers.  Our old City Hall is a fine example of Mid-Century Modernism.

Check out this information from the web.

"Who Is The Mid-Century Modernist?

If good design is a balance of aesthetics and utility, the craft peaked in the years between 1940–1970. This era of modernism hit the design sweet spot: functional beauty. Finding harmony between the natural and the manmade, designers like Bertoia, Braakman, Deam, Eames, Ekselius, Heywood-Wakefield, Jacobsen, Juhl, Kagen, Kjaerholm, Knoll, Loewy, McCobb, Noguchi, Nelson, Paulin, Prouvé, Pucci, Risom, Saarinen, Schultz, Van der Rohe, Vignelli, Vodder, Wegner, and Wormley created objects that were not merely easy on the eyes, but appealing because they served their purpose with organic grace.

The Mid-Century Modernist is dedicated to this movement, as both a historical milestone and a living, breathing ideal, reflected in much of today's design. Here you'll find tips and ideas for the home and office, links to furniture for sale (both old and new), information on designers and suppliers, and hot spots around the world where mid-century modern design is celebrated.

http://www.midcenturymodernist.com/about_this_site/index.html

Preservation of Mid Century Modernism

Although relatively young, works of Modern architecture may be lost because of demolition, neglect, or alterations. While an awareness of the plight of endangered Modern buildings is growing, the threats continue. Non-profit groups such as the World Monuments Fund, Docomomo International and the Recent Past Preservation Network are working to safeguard and document imperiled Modern architecture. In 2006, the World Monuments Fund launched Modernism at Risk, an advocacy and conservation program. Since Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans modernist structures have been increasingly slated for demolition. Currently plans are underway to demolish many of the city's modernist public schools, as well as large portions of the city's Civic Plaza. FEMA funds will contribute to razing the State Office Building and State Supreme Court Building, both designed by the collaborating architectural firms of August Perez and Associates; Goldstein, Parham and Labouisse; and Favrot, Reed, Mathes and Bergman. The New Orleans Recovery School District has proposed demolitions of schools designed by Charles R. Colbert, Curtis and Davis, and Ricciuti Associates. The 1959 Lawrence and Saunders building for the New Orleans International Longshoremen's Association Local 1419 is currently threatened with demolition although the union supports its conservation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_architecture

Our imminent remodeling of the Maxwell Convention Center will also all but ruin it's historic value.

I don't enjoy having to play Casandra and deliver this message to a city with little appreciation for historic structures.  I hold the TulsaWorld accountable for creating a "tear it all down and building something new" mindset.

We sure could use a competing newspaper with alternate point of view.

[Ibanez]

Just because something is old doesn't make it worth saving.

[Hometown]

Chances are very good that something built in Tulsa today will not be of the same quality as Tulsa's older buildings.  Think of the old Delman Theatre and the engineer-designed Walgreens that sits in that spot today.  That's pretty typical of the redevelop that has happened here.  Slowly but surely Tulsa is loosing its charm.

The BOK arena is an exception to that trend.  Look what it took to get a quality building put up now.

[MichaelBates]

quote:Originally posted by Hometown

Our old City Hall is a fine example of Mid-Century Modernism.

There are many fine examples of Mid-Century Modernism in Tulsa. The KJRH studio on Peoria is one of them. Central Library is one of them.

City Hall is not one of them. It is, at best, plain as a mud fence.

[Hometown]

I worked as the architecture critic for the largest daily newspaper in Texas and I disagree with you.  

It is not a great example but it is a good example of Mid-Century Modernism and given its central role in our Mid-Century Modern Civic Center we would be wise to restore it and keep it.

[unknown]

I don't think you are going to find too many people that do argee with you Hometown. I don't see anything special or unique about it... the area could be put to better use.

[Hometown]

Like I said -- "Casandra."

There is next to no support for historic buildings in Tulsa's mindset.

THANK YOU TULSA WORLD.

[Gaspar]

I think it's very ugly.  

Inside and out.  But, beauty is in the eye of the beer holder, and I haven't made it out to Octoberfest yet!

Captain Segway to the rescue.