Oklahoma City planner objects to chamber building plan

A city planning staff report recommends the Downtown Design Review Committee deny approval of plans for a new Greater Oklahoma City Chamber headquarters because of the building's setback from the street. Provided By The Greater Oklahoma City Chamber

believe in the merits of our proposal in creating a dynamic new public space on this very unique downtown site.

"The city staff makes recommendations to the committee, based on whether the proposal strictly meets the criteria of the downtown design ordinance. The staff also provides alternatives to the committee. It is important to note that their recommendations do not reflect a decision of the committee. We look forward to making a formal presentation of the project at Thursday's meeting.”

Setback is main issue

The chamber headquarters is the first new Central Business District construction to be considered by the Downtown Design Review Committee since it was formed almost two years ago.

"The only big issue we have is the setback,” Montgomery said. "That's something we can't modify or exempt. The ordinance was written with the downtown fabric in mind — that a building be at street level and pushed to the streets so that there is interaction between pedestrians and buildings. It's supposed to be typical of our downtown area.”

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