McAlester Mayor Steven Harrison held a special meeting Monday night to announce sweeping plans for a revitalized downtown which, in his words is overdue for a major facelift. “McAlester will have a new motto, ‘Heart Of The Great Choctaw Nation’. Disks featuring the the Choctaw seal will be replacing the prison rodeo statues which now greet visitors to the city.
Original Cover. Click to enlarge.
Choctaw Avenue, will be turned into a “Pedestrian’s Paradise” between Main Street, to the West, and Fifth Street to the East; encompassing the entire area between the historic Okla Theater and the Ice House.
Aptly named; the new Choctaw Center, the site will be paved in permeable brown colored cobblestone, and feature interactive fountains, raised green areas, and bench seating all around to provide rest and shade.
“Think Main Street Disneyland, with a Native American feel.” Harrison said. Vendor stands will dot the newly developed landscape, and restaurants with outside seating will be sprinkled liberally around Choctaw Center. “New multi story condos will be built on the site, and upper floors of historic buildings will also be retrofitted into luxury and affordable condos, all with shops on the ground floors.” the mayor added.
Future plans include a total overhaul and restoration of the historic Aldridge Hotel, with adjoining restaurant to accommodate the influx of tourism to the center. Plans also call for a fresher expanded Farmer’s Market in Choctaw Center. “Across from the new Farmer’s Market, a future train station will be built to accommodate high speed rail with links to Tulsa and Oklahoma City, sometime in late 2019, or early in 2020.”
“The new station will resemble a scaled down version of the former one which was torn down in the 1960’s as a part of ‘Urban Renewal,’ robbing McAlester of some of it’s most beautiful historic buildings,” the mayor lamented, “but the crown jewel of the new center will be the ‘Okla’, which is being turned into a conference center by day, and a performance art venue by night. “ he said. “The renovation will keep the original facade, but with a digital marquee.” “The expanded, ornate auditorium will be built as a secure storm shelter.”
Once finished, the Okla will seat 2,500 visitors. With Okla completion set for March of 2016, the site hopes to attract Carrie Underwood and Arlo Guthrie during the opening week. “Temporary parking for Choctaw Center will be angle in only, on closed adjacent streets; as well as parking at the former Farmer’s Market area, until a multi-storied parking garage can be built at that site.” the mayor said.
“The development will be a boon to attract much needed businesses, jobs, visitors, and revenue to the city.”
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I don’t agree with removing the prison memorabilia. It is still home of the walls. History should not be forgotten. The Aldridge is a sr housing what will happen to them?Also where will the farmers market go?
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A great idea this would be a great improvement and help McAlester grow.
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Start the conversation!
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Better parking? Where will I write all my tickets to reach my quota?
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You’d be riding a horse, maybe, and taking pictures with tourists.
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If they truly want to be successful I feel they need to model themselves after Main St. In Stillwater, Ok. Upscale dining, affordable dining, brunch. A couple of quiet lil places to enjoy a drink. A coffee house. Small business retailers. Main in Stillwater feels like I have went back in time with a small town atmosphere yet a few places to act like an adult with a beverage. Heck they have Brookylns restaurant with a wine cellar bar in it, also inside is Mercury Marine’s engineering department. They close down the street to traffic for local concerts and fairs during the day and evening. You can mix small town values and retail with forward thinking. Choctaw St. In Mcalester is one of the most beautiful, iconic strips in Oklahoma, and its underdeveloped landscape is a shame. Please take a look at Main in Stillwater and hopefully one day we can enjoy a beaming downtown on Saturdays like the folks in Payne County get to enjoy. Thanks for hopefully moving in the right direction.
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Knew I shouldn’t dream. April fools
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PLEASE DREAM!
Everything that IS
started as one!
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I would especially be excited about the high speed rail! Cobblestones, green areas and condos, oh my! It sounds just peachy.
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