Doug Dawgz Blog: Hugging Our SandRidge Buildings

Tuesday, May 04, 2010

Hugging Our SandRidge Buildings

Updated May 11, 2010, to name a few names and to give contact information if you want to send a letter or e-mail to the Board of Adjustment prior to the May 20 1:30 p.m. hearing

On Monday, May 3, 2010, after about a week's notice, about 50 or so die-hard historical preservationists brandished T-shirts given away by Keep Downtown Urban at the northeast corner of Robinson & Kerr to let everyone know how they felt about SandRidge's plan to scuttle a major portion of the properties it owns downtown in favor of a newer park-oriented space which would showcase its own presence downtown.

A nice video and story describing the event can be seen at the KFOR-TV website, including an interview with Barrett Williamson, architect, one of the leaders of the coalition formed to oppose SandRidge's demolition plans. The group's Facebook page is here.

These people don't exactly see the buildings which would be destroyed by SandRidge's plan as being just owned by SandRidge — they see the properties as being part of a collective ownership — a citizen based ownership which claims a stake, a share, in our city's downtown — hence the "our" in this article's title.

Right: Katie Friddle, Executive Director, Preservation Oklahoma

They view their status as being preservationists who would have, for example, protested the demolition of the Criterion Theatre, the Baum Building, and many other downtown legacies destroyed during the the 1960s-1970s Urban Renewal period.

Of course, whether they actually do have some "say" and/or the strength of their opposition status will be determined by the Oklahoma City Board of Adjustment at the hearing presently scheduled for May 20, 2010, at 1:30 p.m. as is more particularly described here.

Do you want to have a say, pro or con?
Sure you do. Email or, better, send a letter before May 20, 2010, to:

Kathe Casula
Board of Adjustment Clerk
Development Services Department
420 West Main Street, 9th Floor
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
Email: kathe.casula@okc.gov

Below are several pics of the May 3 "hug-in." Click on any image for a larger view.


	Marva Ellard President, Criterion Group Owner & Developer, Sieber Hotel
	Katie Friddle, Executive Director Preservation Oklahoma
Right: Lisa Escalon, Overholser Mansion Museum Coordinator; Left: Tori Ledue, Intern, Preservation Oklahoma	Barrett Williamson, Architect
Suzette Hatfield Preservation Oklahoma Board Member