Consultants for the downtown master plan in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, are advocating for significant changes, including rerouting highway traffic from Dewey Avenue (aka Route 66) and narrowing it to two lanes from four.
The Sapulpa Times reported that consultants Ken Boone and Taylor Plummer of Ochsner Hare & Hare said the plan “is an articulation of the community leaders’ goals for downtown Sapulpa over the next 10-20 years.”
So it’s not going to happen right away. But here’s the gist:
For example, some of the broader suggestions include rerouting highway traffic away from Dewey from Main to the railroad tracks near Merrifield Office Supply, taking that section of Dewey down to two lanes of traffic to provide angled parking spaces, better walkability and bike-ability for pedestrians, and outdoor dining space, and infilling vacant lots along the streets in the defined target area. […]
Parking lots can be put in the middle of city blocks so they are both easily accessible for visitors but not a highlight of the streetscape. The “net effect” of the plan is more parking, just not necessarily on “the main drag. We have a chance to create an identity that shows a really great view of downtown,” said Boone.
Another example of the broad scope of the plan is creating more living space downtown — these residents would naturally increase commerce and business on a regular basis. […]
The more detailed parts of the plan include appropriate plants and flowers for the “preferred landscape palette,” public art installations, building facades and styles, ideas for public events, and many more.
Here’s a particularly relevant part of the report:
One of the most important and more complex parts involves transferring ownership of the downtown section of Route 66 from ODOT to the City of Sapulpa. This will give the city more local control of the street. It will always remain “Historic Route 66,” and OHH believes that the benefits to the transfer will far outweigh any costs the City would have to assume.
The consulting firm will hold another open house Wednesday to gather more opinions from residents about the plan. The entire 149-page plan can be perused here.
Whether any of these ideas will come to fruition is anyone’s guess. The big sticking point always will be money or the lack of it. Regardless, Sapulpa seems to be well-positioned to take the plunge into the redevelopment — if it wants to do so.
(Excerpted image from the proposed downtown Sapulpa redevelopment plan)