The American Institute of Architects SDAT (Sustainable Design Assessment Team) group who visited Oklahoma City in November 2005 has completed its report outlining possibilities for sustainable development on East Reno Avenue.

Special appreciation goes to the East Reno area land and business owners for meeting with the AIA SDAT team and listening first hand to the results of our exploration in their area of the city.

Here is a summary of the topics covered in the report and an update on any recent activities; the full AIA report is available here.

Land use and development: The SDAT area, East Reno Avenue and NE 4th, is primarily in private ownership. Landowners could look further into the possibilities for developing commercial frontage along East Reno.

Map of study area

The NE 4 area in particular should anticipate positive influences from expansion of the adjacent Oklahoma Health Center (OHC). OHC recently hired the HOK Planning Group to develop a 15-20 year master plan, which is still in the conceptual phase. OHC’s master plan concepts will be shared at public meetings to be held later in the year. The City will facilitate the public meetings to discuss the Health Center’s expansion plans, along with updates to the Harrison Walnut Urban Renewal Plan and Eastside Reinvestment Area Study. Robbie Kienzle, Urban Redevelopment Specialist, is the Planning Department contact and she can be reached at 297-1740, and robbie.kienzle@okc.gov

The American Indian Cultural Center and Museum site is on the south of the Oklahoma River west of MLK/ Eastern (now American Indian Cultural Center Boulevard). The Center is targeting its opening for Spring 2009 and estimates approximately 300,000 visitors the first year. Visit the Center’s website to see the site’s plans and get contact information at http://my.nacea.com , or you can contact Gena Timberman Howard at 815-5153.

Brownfields: The Planning department recently added a new Brownfields Program Coordinator, Jimmie Hammontree, to oversee Brownfield assessment, cleanup and redevelopment. The EPA recently awarded the City a community-wide petroleum assessment grant and a site-specific cleanup grant for the Bricktown fire station at the SE corner of Lincoln and Sheridan. For questions about Brownfields and other environmental issues with property contact Jimmie Hammontree at 297- 1639 and jimmie.hammontree@okc.gov.

Street improvements and coordinated
development will help make East Reno very
attractive for commercial development.

Transportation: The Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority, COTPA, completed Fixed Guideway Study (FGS) for the metro area in April 2006. The FGS website is at: http://www.okfgs.org/ . Maps shown on this site outline proposed ideas based on the study data. One of the maps for the Central Corridor shows a potential Rapid Transit Bus route on Reno.

The I-40 Realignment Planning Area Study is planned to begin in July 2006. You can review the background and study area here.

Water resources: A group of developers and agencies has recently come together to discuss the ground water issues that come up during development. Mary Jane Calvey, who attended SDAT, convenes these discussions. Mary Jane is a trained toxicologist, previously with DEQ, and now assists owners of contaminated properties in the development process. She is very familiar with the East Reno area and can be reached at (405) 401-4443 and mjcalvey@swbell.net

Ecological Economics: The City has three small business revolving loan fund programs for local economic development in the Empowerment Zone: Empowerment Zone Small Business Revolving Loan Fund, Section, Section 108 Revolving Loan Fund, and Economic Development Agency Revolving Loan Fund. Paul Newmark manages these loan programs at the City and can be reached at 297-3838 and paul.newmark@okc.gov. In cooperation with the City, these loans are administered by local non-profit agencies. The Community Action Agency of Oklahoma City and Oklahoma and Canadian Counties administers the Empowerment Zone and Section 108 loans. For more information on CAA's programs, contact Bonnie Schwartz at (405) 232-0199 x 3205 and bschwartz@caaofokc.org, and preview CAA's website at http://www.caaofokc.org/economic.htm . The Economic Development Agency fund is administered by Oklahoma City Northeast (OCNE). For more information on OCNE's programs, contact Marjorie Young, Executive Director, at (405) 235-0415 and ocne@coxinet.net

Environmental Justice: Preservation of heritage, community health, and access to healthy food and transportation are part of this complex and important topic.

The City and Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce are actively recruiting downtown grocery store developers. Residents in the northeast area can contact Ward 7 in the City Council at 297-2569 and ward7@okc.gov

Preservation of heritage is growing at the new Oklahoma History Center at NE 23rd & Laird. The Center’s Research efforts include an exhibit called “Timeline of the African American Experience,” and a comprehensive compilation of all African American resources in the Center onto a CD.

The city’s transportation system is very automobile focused. The Fixed Guideway Study mentioned above proposes non-automobile options throughout the metro area. The trails along the river are a recent addition to open space and active living less than a mile from NE 4th Street. The OKC trails network is mapped out here.

For more information on the AIA SDAT study, contact Kim Cooper-Hart at 405.297.2900 or kim.cooper@okc.gov.