Comprehensive plan incorporates abandoned buildings
May 1—Abandoned commercial buildings might be considered a blight and a stumbling block to a town's economic development, but the city's comprehensive plan has a place for them.
"My Tahlequah 2040 Comprehensive Plan" addresses these empty buildings in one of the three scenarios presented in the community-conceived plan.
The steering committee members who helped create the plan were from city government, small businesses, organizations, Cherokee Nation, elected officials and other groups. The data was collected in 2017-2018 and the document was adopted Jan. 7, 2021.
Three scenarios were arrived at: "Baseline/Status Quo," "Re-create" and "Refocus." The matter of dealing with empty commercial buildings is addressed in "Refocus."
"Focus on reinvestment in existing properties by filling in the spaces between existing buildings and businesses, as well as potential developable sites near downtown that might be underdeveloped or abandoned," states the plan. "Maintain the historic character of downtown by adopting design and development standards that follow a common urban form."
A historic automotive body shop located at 510 S. Muskogee Ave., is owned by Sherry and Bill John Baker. The blue building was vacant for many years and needs exterior work. Sherry said the interior has been redone and work on the exterior is in process.
The restoration of this building, and the remodeling of the home next door, fits the attributes of the "Refocus Scenario."
A zoning change for a boutique hotel and event center that incorporates a historic Baptist Church, follows this same scenario. By incorporating the church into the design of the project, its historic character is maintained.
Mark Seibold, the architect and partner in this development, worked for Crafton Tull when that architecture firm created the framework for the comprehensive plan. At recent public meetings, Seibold — who now works for Inventure Designs — said the parking design for the hotel followed the concepts adopted in the plan.
Flexible parking linked by sidewalks and street lighting is an attribute for the "Refocus Scenario."
The demolition of the former laundromat on Spring Street to build a parking lot falls within the scope of the plan for creating code-required spaces for future developments in the downtown area.
The car wash at 435 S. Muskogee is owned by Terry Bigby, an attorney whose office is next door to the property. The business operated in the early '70s as Magic Spray Car Wash. If Bigby decides to develop the lot, it would fall within the scope of infilling and revitalization of deserted properties.
"For safety reasons, it was dismantled, leaving only bricked walls," Bigby said. "Hopefully, as the business climate improves, we will be able to redevelop this location."
A stormwater study the city has hired a firm to complete; American With Disabilities Act features built into new sidewalks and crossing signals; and lighting along Muskogee Avenue — are all projects in process that fall within the vision of the plan.
"These three scenarios set the stage for, 'Now where do we go?" Tannehill said. "These scenarios, except for baseline/status quo, became the final 'Framework Plan.'"
Tannehill said the comprehensive plan is not adopted as law, but serves as a guide for the governing body to make decisions for the city. The purpose was to give the community a voice and create a plan with goals and objectives.
"Decisions made by the governing body can reflect back to five years ago when the community said they wanted more sidewalks or trails, for example," Tannehill said.
A five-year review of the plan is required and a major update in 20 years, Tannehill said.
The plan is online at www.cityoftahlequah.com/531/My-Tahlequah-Comprehensive-Plan and hard copies can be checked out at the Tahlequah Public Library, Tannehill said.
What's next
A second article in the May 5 paper details more attributes in the plan and how they relate to the way the city operates.
