A collective voice for the interests of 39th St

by Robin Dorner
Editor in Chief

Nearly a year ago, Councilman Ed Shadid of Ward 2 approached then Pride President Jeremy Crites with an idea about city bond projects and 39^th Street beautification. After nearly a year of meeting, the 39^th Street District Association has officially formed, including the election of board members, some who will be temporary.

After many meetings with city officials, business owners and other interested parties, on July 30^th, The 39th Street District Association was incorporated as the 39th Street District, Inc., a not for profit corporation in the State of Oklahoma. Its purpose is that of a business organization to serve the community within these boundaries in the vicinity of NW 39th St. from Pennsylvania Ave. to Youngs Blvd.

“This board elected tonight will elect the executive team and schedule the regular board meetings,” said Kim Cooper-Hart, with the City of Oklahoma City Planning Department Urban Redevelopment Commercial District Revitalization. “Then they will decide on a budget.”

At the time of the meeting last month, Cooper-Hart also said the city was on schedule for the surfacing of the street and the striping. By the time of this printing, those projects will have been completed.

“She [Kim] literally came to my business and spent five hours talking to me about all this,” said John Gibbons, 39^th Street business owner and new member of the association’s board. “It’s going to be us brainstorming figuring out what to do to make this area better.”

“This area is really very unique – do you know how many people this can draw in from places like Wichita, Dallas? All over,” added Gibbons. “And [Councilman] Shadid, as I remember, has been to nearly all these meetings.”

Shadid has long been a supporter of the LGBT community and has been referred to as the “Architect of Oklahoma City anti-discrimination.” In fact, it was on November 15, 2011 that Shadid led the Oklahoma City Council in voting 7-3 in favor of a measure which would extend employment discrimination protections to gay and lesbian city employees.

Board members (and 39^th St. business owners or managers) for The 39th Street District Association are: Neill Spurgin, Expressions; John Gibbons, The Boom; Craig Poos, Phoenix Rising; Cammiell Rohn, Tramps; Robert Nichols, Habana Inn; Richard Tuohy, Muffler King; John Priebe, Auto Clinic; and Ginger McGovern,Herland Sister Resources.

For information, contact Kim Cooper-Hart, AICP City of Oklahoma City Planning Department at kim.cooper-hart@okc.gov or call (405) 297-2900.

The Gayly – November 17, 2013 @ 2:00pm