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That that OKC:D
Tulsa Arkansas River Channel: A vision runs through it
By P.J. LASSEK World Staff Writer
8/31/2006
Tulsa residents will unveil an imaginative plan for development of the Arkansas River.
A bold plan to develop the Arkansas River with self-contained, livable islands will be publicly unveiled next week by six Tulsans.
The development possibilities being proposed by the group begin with the construction of a dam that would create a 10-mile lake and three islands in the river channel that would house a mixture of residential, commercial, hospitality, cultural and public uses.
The major focus of the development would be between the 21st Street and 11th Street bridges.
The group envisions a public-private funding partnership and the creation of a public-private trust to manage the development, much like what Vision 2025 has done.
Although the group would not confirm a projected price tag, sources say it is likely to be $500 million in public funding with $100 million in private funds.
John-Kelly Warren, president of the W.K. Warren Foundation, and his wife, Margie; Tom Cooper; Scott and Chris Lambert; and Rusty Patton have formed a nonprofit group called Tulsa Stakeholders Inc. to lead the river development effort.
Some time ago, the six individuals were sitting around a kitchen table discussing
how Tulsa wasn't doing what it needed to do to be competitive, said Ryan Rex, owner of Rex Public Relations, which is representing the group.
"They decided that instead of just griping and talking about it, they were going to do something about it," Rex said.
Rex said the group started looking at all the possibilities to improve the city.
But after realizing that all the issues crippling Tulsa are just symptoms of a larger issue, the group concluded that the underlying solution is to create a quality of life that attracts and retains young professionals and businesses.
"If you create a quality of life like that, then you can begin to address all those other issues," he said.
Rex said the group wants the process involved with its development proposal to be as transparent as possible with public involvement. He said the group has purposely not solicited developers.
"These six individuals are undertaking this nonprofit project because they care about the future of Tulsa," he said. "The group and anyone that contributes to the private funding of this project are not going to profit from this endeavor. The only ones to benefit are the citizens."
The group has held small, private meetings with public officials in Tulsa and throughout Tulsa County and with some neighborhood leaders to explain the plan. Those attending the meetings were asked to sign a nondisclosure document.
On Wednesday, the group plans to take the proposal public. The time and place will be announced next week.
The public-private partnership will fund the construction of an environment that allows private development to occur, Rex said. The first phase includes an impounding dam under the 21st Street Bridge, reconfiguring the east and west banks of the river, and building the islands and two access roads from the east. The dam will provide about 20 miles of shoreline that can be developed into Sand Springs.
Possible future phases would target development along the west bank.
Among its features, the development would take advantage of natural energy supply sources by using wind power from turbines, electricity from solar panels and hydro power from the dam.
River development expert Bing Thom was commissioned by the group to design a proposal. Rex said Thom stressed that to create such an island neighborhood would require certain percentages of residential, commercial, retail, institutional, educational, culture and public developments.
Bing also has been commissioned by the George Kaiser Family Foundation, which has provided a $10 million grant for Arkansas River public beautification and enhancement projects.
Rex said the development concepts that the public will see in the unveiling aren't concrete -- "It is what could be."
Rex said the island will be owned by a public-private trust. But if public funding is approved, the public will have input on the land uses.
"This will take serious investment of time, energy and dollars," Rex said. "The private sector has stepped up to the plate to provide a bold vision to develop the Arkansas River and looks forward in engaging the community in that dialogue."
Tulsa County Commissioner Randi Miller said she thinks the plan "is out-of the-box visioning. It's the most magnificent plan that I have seen on any river. This is something that will bring Tulsa to the forefront of the cities in the country where Tulsa needs to be."
Miller said this is the very thing she has thought needed to happen -- "six private citizens that have a vision and are willing to act on their visions to make this happen for Tulsa."
Miller said she is willing to support public funding, which would have to be voted on by the public, to help make the project become a reality.
In 2003, county voters approved an $885 million Vision 2025 sales tax package, which was later reduced to $535 million, when a $350 million proposition to lure Boeing Co. to build a plant in Tulsa didn't materialize.
Only six-tenths of the originally proposed one cent sales tax is currently being collected.
Mayor Kathy Taylor said she always knew it would be important to have private investment "and I think it is great to have private leadership."
"This group has done what any citizens could do and that is dream about what they want the citizens to do and then actually outline plans that might be used," she said.
"It's no different than the citizens that created our airport or the Port of Catoosa. People see a need in the community and they know government can't do it all."
Taylor said whatever public funding is sought, it will be up to the voters to make a decision.
"I'm most interested in a plan for the river, setting a timetable, and then executing that plan," she said. "The river is an asset that the citizens use and want to see developed. I want to see appropriate good development."
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P.J. Lassek 581-8382
[email protected]
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The Idea
Six Tulsans – John-Kelly and Margie Warren, Tom Cooper, Scott and Chris Lambert and Rusty Patton – have formed a nonprofit group to lead the development of the Arkansas River.
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The Project
The development includes a 10-mile lake with three islands between the 21st and 11th street bridges. The islands will be owned by a privatepublic trust and feature cultural, shopping and residential opportunities.
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The Need
The group believes that the city needs to improve its quality of life to attract young professionals and businesses. From there, other issues in the city could be easily addressed.
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The Cost
The project is estimated to cost $600 million, $100 million of which would be privately funded. The group intends to make its development plans public on Wednesday.