Today's Quote:
"Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're going to get."
-- Tom Hanks, actor in "Forrest Gump"
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Small Companies Capitalize on Faulty Economy
By Andrew M. Sederaseder, The Times Leader
The ongoing recession has led to layoffs, shuttered storefronts and bankruptcies throughout the nation and the region, but some small business owners seem to be weathering the storm much better than large corporations. In fact, some have capitalized on the closings of competitors and taken their customers.
At a meeting of the Family Business Forum held at King's College last week, more than 45 owners and managers of local companies listened to ways to boost their business offered up by Bo Burlingham. The editor a large of Inc. magazine, who documented the successes of small businesses in his book "Small Giants: Helping Your Company Grow Better Rather Than Bigger," told them that in some ways the recession can be viewed as a positive event for their companies.
"There are companies that are going to fail. That's an opportunity for you," Burlingham said. Recessions can be a good time to start a business because costs are low and there's an eager workforce available, he said. But that could be a concern for existing businesses whose talent might be cherry-picked by startups or competitors.
"Try to keep your people," Burlingham advised, noting that layoffs might help a company's bottom line now but when the recession is over, the loss of experience and known-commodities will be felt and hard to replace.
Chuck Cohen, a third-generation owner of Benco Dental in Wilkes-Barre Township, said his company's philosophy is simple.
"We don't believe in layoffs," he said. With 1,200 employees, the company has done OK financially. He said Benco's challenge is to keep growing but remain a small business when it comes to the way attention is paid to employees and customers.
"You've got to keep in touch with the customers. As your business grows it gets harder and harder," Cohen said.
The forum was not only a chance for business owners to learn from Burlingham but from each other, too.
Participants discussed issues they're facing, ways they've been able to stay afloat and difficulties they've overcome.
Wayne Oplinger, owner of CPS Creative, a printing company in Nanticoke, said five of his top 100 customers went out of business the past 18 months, including two local car dealers. His employee ranks have dropped but he's been able to pick up new customers that were being served by now defunct printers. They're mostly small businesses and while the work is steady, it's not bringing in the money those other five were providing.
Oplinger said he was familiar with Burlingham's work and was excited to see him speak and pose questions to him. The two were able to discuss the tough times and how small businesses get through them.
Burlingham praised small businesses as being "building blocks, not just of our economy but of a whole way of life. … It shapes the communities we live in." He also said that often small businesses are able to adapt to changing economics and read the writing on the wall much earlier than Wall Street and Fortune 500 companies.
Bill Corcoran, owner of Corcoran Printing in Wilkes-Barre, agreed with that premise.
"We're more agile. We can react quicker," Corcoran said. He said low overhead allows his company to be more competitive in some instances too. And he's benefited from Wilkes-Barre's proximity to New York City. "It's very advantageous."
Forum participants came from Wayne, Lackawanna, Luzerne and Pike counties. The talk focused on making sure businesses grew in smart ways and not losing sight of what enabled them to succeed to begin with.
"You can't measure your greatness by the size of your profitability," Burlingham said.
Cohen, of Benco Dental, agreed.
"The people stuff is what it's all about," he said.
Read this article online at
www.timesleader.com.
Entrepreneurs Show Their Mettle
By Jennifer Wang, Entrepreneur.com
"What do you need MOST right now to stimulate your business?" This was last week's featured question on Entrepreneur Connect, and we got a lot of good responses. Confidence and certainty, some said. Sales and easier access to financing, said others. Clearly, things aren't right yet, but no one sounded defeated.
This might be because entrepreneurs who have made it through the low point earlier this year have come out stronger. They're "battle-tested," to use a great adjective I recently heard used to describe small business owners.
During a Business Matchmaking event in Orange County, Calif., I had a chance to speak with Hector Barreto, former head of the U.S. Small Business Administration; Ken Yancey, CEO of The SCORE Association; and Brian Burch, HP's director of SMB marketing. The overarching sentiment? Main Street will come out of the recession stronger than ever.
Barreto, SBA administrator between 2001 and 2005, even thinks that the recession may ultimately be thought of something that was good for small business. "It's a very sobering wake-up call," he said.
For instance, a few years ago, a conversation might go like this:
SBA: You can save money by doing this.
Biz Owner: Oh I don't care much about that.
SBA: But it's $100,000...
Biz Owner: Well, it's just too much trouble for me to change what I'm doing right now. I'm making money anyway, so thanks but no thanks.
"Nobody's saying that now," Barreto asserted. "If you come to someone with an idea of how to save $10,000, they want to know when to meet and where to sign. We don't know how long the recession will last, but it's not going to last forever. Business owners are going to prepare to come out of this stronger, smarter, better than ever, and maybe make decisions they know they should have made years ago. They can't postpone those tough decisions anymore, but the business will be better off for it."
Burch agreed. "Companies are learning by going from an environment where success came easy relative to now, and they're maturing in terms of heart and business sense. People are just so incredibly savvy and aggressive," he said, adding that business owners are feeling "gritty" determination. "They are committed to succeeding. We've never been here before, but it's a very dynamic time that will result in an even more battle-tested small business sector."
"It's back to basics," SCORE's Yancey added.
"Entrepreneurs are truly going to understand all the nuts and bolts of running their business, and they're going to be prepared to be successful and weather any other downturn better than they did this one." He also noted there would be a lot of "accidental entrepreneurs" from all walks of life who will consider this a great opportunity to start over and do something unique.
Burch is particularly excited by the idea. "I don't think there's ever been a flood of collective brainpower into the small business realm like there is now," he said. "And I don't think we've ever seen the environment for innovation that we're going to see. Many people are out of a job who are incredibly business savvy and with money and means to invest. When we come out of this, it could be a freight train."
He wrapped it up this way: "You could argue that these hard times are going to kind of be the flint and tinder to another big innovation explosion, because when you put smart people together in a room and they align around some sort of a problem or objective, amazing things happen."
Needless to say, I felt all motivated.
Read this blog online at www.entrepreneur.com.
Best Startup Markets for 2009
By Karen E. Spaeder, Entrepreneur.com
If you're looking to capitalize on the next big thing, it's all about
knowing where to look and how to treat your customers. Here are 4 booming markets to
keep an eye on this year.
When I first started my bamboo clothing company, Rain Frog Apparel, I knew it would allow me some entrepreneurial freedoms: flexible hours, the ability to apply philanthropic principles in a business setting and a new way to express my creative passions. What I didn't know about, or perhaps what I underestimated, was the massive wave of innovation, dedication, collaboration and pure genius that was sweeping through the green market--coming straight from entrepreneurs like me who were driven by their desire to make a socially responsible difference.
These green businesses are just one example of how entrepreneurs have identified a trend and then acted on it, not simply because they wanted to make money, but because they had a real passion to create something of their own within a burgeoning market.
That's why we've devoted some space in this issue to the hottest markets for 2009. One of them is the green market, but we've outlined three others that are worth consideration. So if one of these appeals to you, know that you're not alone--and that now is the time to act on your aspirations.
Green Market
The fact that the LOHAS, or Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability, market is currently worth $209 billion should be enough to get your attention. If it's not, then you'd probably be better off focusing your energies elsewhere.
If you're nibbling at the bait, however, it's important to note that there are multiple segments to choose from. From water and clean energy to the exploding organics segment, the possibilities are endless for entrepreneurs looking to make a difference while also making some green of their own.
"We're undergoing a significant environmental shift," says Jared Krause, 29, CEO of Santa Monica, Calif.-based Goodlife.com. The site, co-founded with Gunnar Lovelace, 31, and Summer Hoeckel, 36, is a newly launched online community, directory and calendar for goods and services in the wellness, green, spirituality, nonprofit and entertainment sectors. "There's a recognition that we're facing an environmental crisis the size of which humankind has never seen before."
The flip side to this grim outlook, Krause says, is that businesses and consumers alike are collaborating across geographical, social and political lines to bring about positive environmental change.
One such business is Numi Organic Tea, a $12 million organic and fair trade tea company in Oakland, Calif. Founded in 1999 by brother-and-sister team Ahmed and Reem Rahim, 40 and 42, respectively, the company sells its products wholesale to such national retail outlets as Whole Foods, Wild Oats and Safeway's Organic Marketplace, and also operates the Numi Tea Garden tea house in Oakland.
Reem, the company's chief marketing officer, notes that the company didn't always use organic tea in its products, but she and Ahmed recognized the importance after a few years in business. "As we got into it, we knew it was important to transition to organic," Reem says. "We saw our imprint in terms of what we were doing and how much we would purchase, and knew we had to make the transition."
One caveat about the green market: As consumers see more and more companies going green, they may grow weary--or even leery--of the message, no matter how noble the intentions. So focus on gaining media attention with an innovative product or service, and not only will you get free publicity, but you'll also be more likely to gain a loyal consumer following.
Millennials Market
Also known as Generation Y, "echo boomers" and the "net generation," Millennials--the 30-and-under set--account for a whopping $1 trillion in buying power and roughly 80 million Americans, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. You'll find Millennials everywhere, especially all over the web.
"There are more members of this generation than any other generation in the history of the world," says John Della Volpe, founder and CEO of SocialSphere, a Web 2.0 product and strategy company launched in 2007.
To understand this audience and where they're coming from, says Della Volpe, who is also director of polling at the Harvard Institute of Politics, you must understand the Millennial psyche. "If you want to work with, work beside or sell to Millennials, they need to like you," he says. And getting them to like you may mean you need to run a socially responsible business.
Consider this: "The 2006 Cone Millennial Cause Study" found that 61 percent of Millennials feel personally obligated to make a difference in the world, and a full 78 percent believe that companies have a responsibility to join them in this effort. This is also the 9/11 generation, one that wants to be active in social causes, and information technology has made it that much easier to connect with different causes around the world.
In addition to understanding their psyche, you need to understand their tremendous spending power. "They influence almost every kind of household purchase you can think of," Della Volpe says, from TVs and furniture to vacations and automobiles.
And 64 percent of them are creating content online, possibly about your product or service. "You don't own your brand and messaging; they do," Della Volpe says. "They have exquisite BS meters. They detect and detest corporate marketing."
That doesn't mean you can't advertise--you can, if you do it right. If your ad is entertaining and authentic, Millennials might just think it's clever enough that they'll want to buy from you. Back it up with solid customer service and a product or service that meets their high expectations, and you'll earn their repeat business.
Baby Boomers Market
On the other end of the spectrum, you'll find boomers, the 76-million-strong generation born between 1946 and 1964 that accounts for $2 trillion in annual spending. To market to this generation, think about life stages--empty nesters, singles, grandparents and so on--as opposed to their particular ages, as age is just a number to boomers.
Financial planning, travel and anti-aging products and services are just a few of the booming market segments to consider. New York City "image enhancement coach" Wendy Lewis, 49, estimates that entrepreneurs like her who help boomers navigate the anti-aging process will see unparalleled growth in 2009 and beyond. "People don't have time to do their own research," says Lewis, author of Plastic Makes Perfect: The Complete Cosmetic Beauty Guide. "They just want someone to sort through [the information] for them."
Lewis notes that boomers account for the largest portion of her clientele, including both men and women. Since founding her company, Wendy Lewis & Co. Ltd., in 1997, she's grown her client base to include a global community looking to America for their anti-aging needs--and willing to travel to get the results they want.
"The trend is toward noninvasive procedures," notes Lewis, who saw 20 percent growth in her business between 2006 and 2007. Boomers--and the generations following on their heels--want a fast recovery that won't keep them from their busy lives for too long. Better yet, they'll try to prevent the effects of aging altogether, by using anti-aging products before they have to deal with crow's feet. They also want to look natural and not distorted. Lewis says, "It's not about the extreme makeover."
Anyone who's ever watched a significant other merge with the couch during football season can attest that sports are big business. Add the internet to the mix, and you've got a billion-dollar market there for the taking.
OPENSports.com founder Mike Levy, a veteran sports entrepreneur who started SportsLine.com and later sold it to CBS after achieving revenues in excess of $100 million, recognized the growing popularity of online sports years ago. After his three-year noncompete agreement with CBS expired, Levy went on in February 2008 to start his Deerfield Beach, Fla., company, which consists of online fantasy leagues, video content, entertainment, and sports articles and information. Now 100,000 users strong, OPENSports.com is on track to reach sales and users in the millions over the next few years.
Levy's venture is well-capitalized: He raised $10 million from private investors to get the site started. "It would be hard to develop the right tech platforms and the marketing without having the [proper] capital," he says. Investors also want to see that you've thought far enough ahead to have an exit strategy in place. Levy plans to be retired from OPENSports.com within two to five years, saying the company will likely merge or be acquired.
Make enough money while you're in the game, though, and you can put your own retirement plan in place even before you open your venture's doors. Focusing on a niche like fantasy sports may help: The Fantasy Sports Trade Association estimates that upwards of 20 million (primarily male) North Americans participate in fantasy sports leagues, with a market size of more than $1.5 billion, including sponsorships, endorsements, contest management and advertising.
Once you've found your niche, it's critical to find ways to make your sports fan customers happy. Levy says of his OPENSports.com users, "These users are a dedicated bunch." And you don't even need to set out beer nuts to do it.
Karen E. Spaeder is the founder and CEO of Rain Frog Apparel, a bamboo clothing company in Southern California. she can be reached at info@rainfrogapparel.com.
Read this article online at www.entrepreneur.com.
Personal Income Falls in Oklahoma
By Laurie Winslow, World Staff Writer
Like most states, Oklahoma saw its personal income decline in the first quarter, according to information released Thursday by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, a branch of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
The state's personal income dipped 0.1 percent, a showing that was 15th best in the nation. By contrast, U.S. personal income fell 0.4 percent in the quarter.
Oklahoma joined 36 other states that saw drops in personal income. Hawaii's grew the fastest during the quarter, while Alaska's decreased the most.
Personal income is a comprehensive measure of the income received by all residents from all sources. In addition to wages and salaries, it includes employee pension and insurance funds, dividends and interest income, and other types of income, according to the BEA.
Oklahoma's first-quarter personal income totaled $135.3 billion.
As in the past, the oil industry was a major contributor to the state's personal income performance.
"The mining industry, which includes oil and gas extraction, contributed half a percentage point to the decline. That was offset by increases elsewhere, but the point is that that was the largest industrial (sector) to decline," said David Lenze, an economist with the U.S. Department of Commerce, in a phone interview.
The decline in Oklahoma's manufacturing sector was almost the same as it was in the mining sector, Lenze noted.
"Nationally, finance was a big drag on the economy, and also construction," he said. "Those declined in Oklahoma, but not nearly as much."
Places such as New York and Connecticut, with major concentrations in finance, saw their personal income pulled down by that industry.
Some sectors in Oklahoma experienced increases, including farming and government, which helped offset declines in other areas, Lenze said.
Retiree benefits were a major source of strength for the nation's personal income during the quarter as retirees receiving Social Security payments landed a 5.8 percent cost-of-living adjustment.
"Things would have been much worse without that boost in income to retirees," Lenze said.
Read this article online at www.TulsaWorld.com.
Will $3 Billion Federal Injection Cure State's Ills?
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act's impact on Oklahoma's economy waits to be seen.
By Randy Krehbiel, World Staff Writer
For most of us, $3 billion is a lot of money.
It's enough to hire 85,714 teachers, at $35,000 each, for one year.
Enough to buy 30 billion Pixie Stix, 1.5 million iPhones, or 120,000 American-built hybrid sedans.
But is $3 billion enough to put a jolt in Oklahoma's $146.5 billion economy? That's what we're about to find out.
Officially, Oklahoma has been allocated $2.6 billion of federal stimulus money under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, but that total does not include such things as $137.4 million being spent on state military bases - chiefly Fort Sill and Tinker Air Force Base - or $83.3 million allocated to Oklahoma Indian tribes through various federal programs.
It also doesn't include $70.8 million in Army Corps of Engineers projects in the state, $7.8 million being spent by the Department of Interior, or $3 million by the General Services Administration to replace all the windows in Tulsa's downtown Federal Building.
It also doesn't include Oklahomans' share of increased unemployment benefits - $15 million through May 31 - $288 billion in tax cuts and credits or individual participation in such things as a Small Business Administration loan program and a Defense Department program to help personnel and civilian employees sell their homes.
So, everything taken together, $3 billion seems a reasonable estimate for the recovery act's initial shot to Oklahoma's economy.
And what are we getting for $3 billion?
Hundreds of entities and perhaps more than 1,000 have been allocated stimulus money.
The list runs from $390.86 for disadvantaged students at Kildare Public Schools to $272.2 million for Medicaid.
Just about every item on it could be questioned - and justified.
There's $6 million to repair a dam at Fort Sill, $3.9 million for job-search assistance and $13,120 for the Roosevelt, Okla., Housing Authority.
The National Park Service is getting $41,000 to replace a fence at the Washita National Battlefield. Low-income Oklahoma college students will have an additional $85 million in Pell Grants available. Road projects, including those under the purview of the Corps of Engineers and Interior, total more than $550 million.
It's certain that all of this will have some economic impact, said Bob Ball, chief economist for the Tulsa Metro Chamber of Commerce. Measuring how much is something else entirely.
"There's no doubt stimulus money stimulates the economy," Ball said. "Whether, politically, people think we should be doing this is another issue."
Using the 18-month, $75 million Inner Dispersal Loop project as an example, Ball said, "The contractors hire workers, the workers buy groceries, the grocery stores hire more people. Does the effect last more than the 18 months? There is a carryover."
But, he said, it is impossible to know whether the workers would have been employed otherwise or what their earnings would have been.
Aside from concerns about the general effectiveness of the stimulus program are fears the money will not be spent as intended. Oklahoma Auditor and Inspector Steve Burrage is responsible for monitoring the $2.6 billion passing through state agencies.
"What I'm telling everyone is that they make sure they have the proper controls in place to be in compliance with federal requirements," Burrage said. "The governor had to personally certify the money would be spent properly."
Burrage said he is not as worried about outright fraud as he is having the agencies suddenly finding themselves responsible for a lot more money - and more accountability - than in the past. As a result, he has been giving presentations across the state about how to document stimulus money and how to ward off fraud and abuse.
"Without proper controls, you're inviting fraud," he said.
Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, federal agencies are required to publish weekly online updates of stimulus plans and expenditures, and all states face federal audits.
"Everybody spending this money needs to understand that if it is not spent the way it is supposed to be spent, it will be pointed out," said Burrage. "There will be federal auditors coming."
Read this article online at www.TulsaWorld.com.
Designer Takes Walk into Oklahoma City's Future.
Specialist offers opinions about what might await Oklahoma City
By Steve Lackmeyer, Daily Oklahoman
Consultant Jeff Speck recommends a redesign of the proposed new Greater Oklahoma City Chamber headquarters and the adjoining intersection.
Amongst downtown residents and new urbanists, Jeff Speck has quickly become something akin to a rock star. When he spoke recently at the Skirvin Hilton, the crowd overflowed into the hallway just to hear his thoughts on how to make downtown Oklahoma City a more vibrant place to work, live and play - and to do all that walking, above ground, place to place.
Speck is considered a pioneer in "new urbanism," and was director of town planning at Duany Plater-Zyberk & Co, the firm that designed new urbanist communities including Seaside, Fla., and Kentlands, Md.
He later served as director of design at the National Endowment for the Arts and co-authored "Suburban Nation: The Rise of Sprawl and the Decline of the American Dream."
Mayor Mick Cornett began talks with Speck during several visits to Washington, D.C. Cornett then led the council to hire Speck to provide a study on making downtown more walkable. Speck's report challenges several initiatives under way. Supporters and critics alike agree that if Speck's recommendations are implemented, they could dramatically alter downtown development for several years to follow.
Here's a look at his position and a few of the responses to some of Speck's suggestions:
Housing
Background: Downtown housing construction has gained momentum in recent years popping up in Deep Deuce, the Maywood Park area, the Central Business District and MidTown. But momentum has slowed following the economic crash in September. Several developers interviewed say creating a critical mass of housing in the Deep Deuce/Bricktown/Maywood Park area is essential for continuing downtown's revival.
Jeff Speck's observations: "Housing is the urban use that is most under-represented downtown. If the city wants to increase downtown walking in a meaningful way, it must direct resources towards the provision of this housing, so that the private market finds it profitable to do so. A remarkably large number of Oklahoma City suburbanites are very likely to relocate downtown if they can do so in a way that makes sense economically. The recent growth in Deep Deuce and Maywood Park manifests this appetite, as does the success of loft projects on Broadway. But any experienced developer will confirm that it simply takes more time and money to reinvest in existing neighborhoods than it does to create new subdivisions on the urban fringe, so cities that wish to invite more residents downtown must be willing to dedicate some of their own time and money towards this goal."
His recommendations: Remove or reduce any zoning impediments to housing provision. Create an expedited process for housing developers. Donate underused public land to housing developers that meet certain criteria. Create a public office that writes grants and otherwise coordinates fundraising from other public and nonprofit sources.
Ron Bradshaw, Maywood Park developer: "It does take more money to invest in old neighborhoods versus new ones. I think the city is doing a good job in reducing zoning impediments. The city manager and mayor would like to have an ombudsman to expedite the process but with the budget right now, there is no money. I've been at this for five years; I've got 20 acres, 20 brownstones and 55 lofts. And until I get all those sold, I'm not starting any more. If we go into Core to Shore, build a park and get housing started there, it's a danger to what we're doing. I do worry about us losing focus on what we having going on now."
Core to Shore
Background: Oklahoma City initially fought plans by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to relocate Interstate 40 several blocks south of downtown. They agreed to the project when Secretary of Transportation Neal McCaleb promised the state and federal government would replace the current alignment with a grand boulevard. City leaders envisioned the boulevard as a way to kick off development of several hundred acres of blighted land between the Oklahoma River and downtown and in 2006 Mayor Mick Cornett kicked off a series of planning sessions dubbed "Core to Shore." To date the city has spent about $6 million buying properties to make way for a large central park Cornett proposes to be the center of Core to Shore. Plans call for the park to be surrounded by a new convention center, retail, housing and offices. Transportation officials, however, have been vague about when the boulevard will be built. The project is not funded and is not yet on the agency's eight-year funding plan.
Jeff Speck's observations: "The Core to Shore plan is a top-notch long-range plan for the expansion of the city. There is little in it that could be improved in terms of encouraging walkability. But, as a long-range plan, it is looking 20 to 50 years into the future, and shows how to absorb a large amount of growth once the downtown is complete. Like Daniel Burnham's famous 'make no small plans' Plan of Chicago, this sort of document is necessary if a city is to grow in a healthy way. But, having a good plan for future expansion can also present a danger, if excitement for its development reallocates resources that would be better concentrated on the existing downtown. As will be argued in greater detail ahead, the center of Oklahoma City has yet to achieve critical mass from a walkability perspective, and public and private resources need to be further concentrated in key blocks if a tipping point is to be achieved."
His recommendation: "Not a penny be spent" on Core to Shore implementation until downtown achieves greater development and a critical mass.
Mayor Mick Cornett: "The timetable for Core to Shore is presenting itself as the I-40 relocation takes place. If the time frame stays as it is, the interstate in 2012 and the boulevard in 2014, the public elements of Core to Shore are pretty much laid out. I don't know that there is discretion in the timetable - we're working on ODOT's timetable. To me the boulevard has a distinct timetable that can't be altered ... the boulevard is the most important element of Core to Shore. The boulevard will become the address and allow for downtown retail to get a signature foothold. The park needs to open up at the time of the boulevard. Ideally, I'd like to see the park and boulevard open at the same time in 2014. I think this will be a catalyst for downtown momentum."
New Greater Oklahoma City Chamber Headquarters
Background: The Greater Oklahoma City Chamber in June, 2008 planned to build an $18 million, four-story headquarters at NW 4 and E.K. Gaylord. The project was put on hold after the stock prices began declining in September. Plans were approved by the Downtown Design Review Committee despite concerns by local design and planning professionals that the project was too suburban and that the chamber's efforts to change the intersection should have been given more consideration by city engineers.
Jeff Speck's observations: "In the traditional, walking city, buildings take rectangular or other nondescript shapes in order to give shape to the spaces they surround - the streets and squares. In the modernist city of the automobile, buildings stand apart as sculptural objects. Rather than shaping the spaces around them, they proudly declare their own shapes. As a result, the space between them - the public realm - becomes residual and poorly formed. There is a place for sculptural object buildings, but it is not in the city, except well above street level where the upper stories of a tower can cut back from the lot edges without eroding the street edge. The Stage Center is one example of an object building in Oklahoma City. The proposed Chamber of Commerce building is another."
His recommendation: Speck suggests the chamber building does not encourage walking and that its car drop-off area endangers pedestrians. He also notes the parking lots facing NW 3 and NW 4 make the links between downtown residential areas and the central business district less inviting than they are now to pedestrians. Speck recommends a possible redesign that would have parking surrounded by a U-shaped building. He also suggests following a plan first suggested by Blair Humphreys and Hans Butzer that would reconnect NE 3 and Robert S Kerr Avenue, straighten Broadway, and have E.K. Gaylord dead-end at NE 3. He also urges the city to narrow E.K. Gaylord and add curbside parking along both sides of the street.
Roy Williams, chamber president: "With regard to the streets, we have not advocated what should be done with it. We recognize that it is six lanes and not pedestrian oriented. We would like to see it more pedestrian oriented. We don't know from a technical standpoint how it should be. If there should be street parking, so be it. With regard to the building, you can move the building up to the street. But then you have all that space behind it and beside it. Then you don't have frontage on NW 4 and you've abandoned it. It's a two and one-half acre site. It will never be developed corner to corner to corner with buildings. We wanted to create some green space where people can gather and it can be used for multiple uses."
New Downtown Boulevard
Background: Plans developed in conjunction with Oklahoma City Beautiful and Core to Shore planning committees call for six lanes of through traffic plus left-hand two lanes with parking on both sides of the street. Actual street-scaping enhancements have yet to be finalized.
Jeff Speck's observations: "The reconstruction of Interstate 40 five blocks south presents an opportunity to replace its trajectory with a new boulevard that forms a beautiful edge to the heart of downtown and a park-like center for future high-value growth. A great deal of energy and ambition has gone into the design of this new thoroughfare, but its current plan unfortunately does not achieve the City's stated objectives."
His recommendation: Narrow the boulevard and create a wide park area in the median similar to Commonwealth Avenue in Boston.
Anthony McDermid, boulevard design consultant since 1999: "The boulevard is part of the I-40 relocation and as such it has to meet certain engineered parameters for moving traffic - and that is all linked with funding for the boulevard ... it had to under the environmental impact the statement carry a certain amount of traffic. As the boulevard evolved out of the Core to Shore steering committee process, many, many things were weighed ... including the option of a wide median. It was the decision of the steering committee that the big median idea would create a space that couldn't be used and had no practical use. The idea of going with no median - a Champs-Elysees - you have the cars moving next to each other in opposite directions. The conventional wisdom is that when you have cars moving next to each other in opposite directions, it has a calming effect. If you have a split road, the cars speed up."
Downtown Streets
Background: Over the past 30 years downtown's street grid was rebuilt with one-way streets, wide avenues and highway lane widths. The Oklahoma City Council asked staff to pursue conversion of some one-way streets to two-way traffic in 1999, but work was delayed by several years and wasn't started until Dennis Clowers took over as Public Works Director in 2005. Even then, some street reconstruction projects, most notably the street-scaping of Walker Avenue between Robert S. Kerr Avenue and NW 6, retained one-way traffic. Major one-way traffic arteries downtown include Walker, Hudson and Robinson Avenues. On Robinson Avenue, travelers encounter one-way signs between Sheridan and NW 6, two-way signs from NW 6 to NW 13, and one-way signs again between NW 13 and NW 18. Early on, Speck was critical of downtown's street widths and remaining one-way grid. He singled out the five-lane wide, one-way Hudson Avenue for some of his harshest criticism.
Jeff Speck's observations: "This network of many large streets has the capacity to handle much more traffic than is currently present, and therefore encourages speeding and unnecessarily endangers pedestrians ... any urban lane width in excess of 10' encourages speeds that can increase risk to pedestrians. Many streets in downtown Oklahoma City contain lanes that are 12' wide or more, and drivers can be observed approaching highway speeds when using them. Drivers tend to speed on multiple-lane one-way streets because there is less friction from opposing traffic, and because of the temptation to jockey from lane to lane. Whichever lane you are in, the other seems faster. In contrast, when two-way traffic makes passing impossible, the driver is less likely to slip into the 'road racer' frame of mind.
On-street parking provides a barrier of steel between the roadway and the sidewalk that is necessary if pedestrians are to feel fully at ease while walking. It also causes drivers to slow down out of concern for possible conflicts with cars parking or pulling out. On-street parking also provides much-needed life to city streets, which are occupied in large part by people walking to and from cars that have been parked a short distance from their destinations ... the lack of on-street parking capacity has contributed to the proliferation of unattractive surface parking lots."
His recommendations: Make all one-way streets two ways, including the recently rebuilt section of Walker Avenue. Narrow NW 4 in Deep Deuce and allow for parallel parking on both sides of the street. Eliminate center turn lanes on Reno and Sheridan and add parallel parking on one side of each street. Add angled parking on one or both sides of Broadway.
Public Works Director Dennis Clowers: "You can't have high traffic volume on your streets and expect people to walk, as well. Engineers have historically tried to get as much traffic through the system as possible. I think Walker where it's one way will be revisited. We've still got to have ways to get people in and out of downtown after events, but we could do this with better planning. I can see Sheridan and Reno going from five to three or four lanes each."
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