A community hearing over the fate of the historic Classen Circle in Oklahoma City will be at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 18 at Crown Heights Christian Church in the city.
According to The Oklahoman newspaper, city councilman Ed Shadid announced the meeting late last week. The Braum’s Ice Cream & Dairy chain had promised such a meeting after news of its plan to demolish Classen Circle sparked an uproar from preservationists and fans of the businesses there.
Braum’s filed a rezoning application in July that would allow it to raze the site to make way for one of its stores. The main building at the site holds the Hi-lo Club, Charlie’s Records. The Drunken Fry and a few apartments. A nearby building on the site holds the Classen Grill.
Because of protests, Braum’s agreed to delay the zoning hearing from late August to Sept. 28.
Shadid, who opposes the project, said a city planning commissioner, traffic commissioner and Braum’s representatives will be at the Sept. 18 meeting.
Crown Heights Christian Church is at 4020 N. Western Ave. (map here).
A Change.org petition to stop the demolition of Classen Circle had garnered more than 13,000 supporters. A Save Classen Circle page on Facebook drew more than 850 fans.
According to Jim Ross’ “Oklahoma Route 66” book, Classen Circle sat on a 1950s alignment of Route 66. Current-day Oklahoma Highway 66, overlaid onto Interstate 44, also sits nearby. Several businesses at Classen Circle date to the 1950s.
(Image of Classen Circle in Oklahoma City via Change.org page)
Let’s hope “Big Business” does not get its way again.