Downtown OKC stories just outside the top 10

While significant, these items just missed out on inclusion on our top 10 downtown stories for 2010.

After doing a top 10 downtown stories for 2010 story on Sunday, there are bound to be people who might ask “What was the criteria?” or “Why didn’t you mention so and so?”

My answer to such questions is quite simple: the list is arbitrary. I start with the one story that is indisputably on the minds of many — the emergence of Devon tower — and I go from there.

So what other stories didn’t make the list? Here’s my bonus list of stories that were notable, but not enough to make the top 10 list in no particular order:

•OK CityScape moves from Penn Square Mall to the 1100 N Broadway. This incredible Lego recreation of some of Oklahoma City’s most notable architecture amazes young and old and the entrance fees go toward a great charity — the Educare school for at-risk youth in south Oklahoma City.

•Jim Cowan stuns the Bricktown Association and steps down as director. The association, consisting of merchants and property owners, was in danger of falling apart when Cowan, a longtime restaurant owner himself, took over and fixed its affairs. Cowan is now employed by developer and event promoter David Box, but remains passionate about the downtown entertainment district.

•Renewal of the downtown business improvement district nears completion. The first step of the renewal process recently passed through the city council and should be finalized by spring.

•Sage Cafe lives on, but the market closes. Kevin and Charifa Smith made a brave attempt at introducing a small grocery in the middle of Deep Deuce. It couldn’t generate enough business to stay viable.

•Devon Boathouse nears completion along the Oklahoma River. This story, more than any other, was the closest to making the top 10. But at the end of the day, it’s on the river, not really downtown, and the boathouse “opening” in October was for show only. It’s just now getting close to really being finished.

•The Oklahoma City Council rejects Grand Prix proposal. This one was another close call for the top 10 list. But with its potential impact in dispute, who is to say how big of a loss this was by not becoming a reality?

•Bicycle Alley closes. Terry Enos certainly worked hard to enhance retail options along Automobile Alley. But with another bicycle store down the street, questions emerged early on whether downtown could support two such operators within a block of each other.

•Hideaway announces plans to come to Automobile Alley. By all accounts, Hideaway is set to open on Broadway within a few months. But we also heard that a revival of Sammy’s Pizza was to open in Bricktown last spring. I fondly await the arrival of both restaurants.

•Laura Story resigns as an assistant city engineer, but continues to oversee Project 180. This arrangement ensures less stress for Story, but no disruption with implementation of Project 180. By all appearances, this is a story we call “a plane landing safely” in the news business.

Obviously there are stories and topics not making this list that others will insist were more noteworthy than those listed above or in Sunday’s top 10 list. I invite you to continue the discussion on my blog at www.okccentral.com.

<!– –>
<!– –>