Not a lot of noticeable exterior progress...

10368

Thanks for all the photos, Dan.

New windows should be going in here soon and that's when we'll really see a difference.

More badassery:

OKCTalk - Plow building to add reproduction water tower and sign (http://www.okctalk.com/content.php?r=153-Plow-building-to-add)

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/plow050715a.jpg

That water tower addition is going to be awesome. That building has always been one of my favorites in bricktown, I am glad it is coming alive.

Because it will be built on a high platform on top of the building, the tower/sign should be highly visible.

I love this!.. it will look great.. other should take notice!

That is simply fantastic.

Very cool, seems like a top-notch rehab.

That's stellar. This is how Bricktown will regain some character. I'm very optimistic about Bricktown's new direction, despite how I rag on it sometimes (only because I have very high expectations for Bricktown).

From @_Bricktown (https://twitter.com/_Bricktown) on Twitter: https://twitter.com/_Bricktown/status/598492176289435649


Bricktown Urban Design approves proposal for reproduction of a water tower on the roof of The Plow at 29 E Reno.

The windows are in on the front/south side. It makes a huge difference. In some ways, it makes the building look "too new", even with divided light windows, but that's probably just me needing to get used to the new look.

That's stellar. This is how Bricktown will regain some character. I'm very optimistic about Bricktown's new direction, despite how I rag on it sometimes (only because I have very high expectations for Bricktown).

You're not the only one, I truly think deep down this is how most of us feel sometimes.
BT's potential is passed the sky at this point, there are still several areas, buildings, etc. in need of tenants or some type of new use and purpose.

Do I daresay that if ever fleshed out to it's fullest, can BT rival the likes of, say, The French Quarter? Or even The Fremont Experience (which, I think is a little overrated)?

Someone bring me back down if those suggestions are too lofty. But, honestly, BT is still in it's infant/toddler stage, if you ask me. Lots of spots to fill in, either old or new. On top of the additional retail/entertainment/food/bar scene that continues to populate, legitimate neighborhoods are not far away from being a big catalyst and integral part of fusing BT with surrounding districts.

This building has most of it's new windows in now and looks fantastic (from https://twitter.com/WhyDanielWhy):

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CE9uGUTUEAAVkSg.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CE9uGUTUkAA6oRX.jpg

A+

Such an improvement. It makes me wish even more that the Spaghetti Warehouse people would play ball.

http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x378/KerryinJax/OKC%20Stuff/CAM03760_zpscmcojl9j.jpg (http://s1178.photobucket.com/user/KerryinJax/media/OKC%20Stuff/CAM03760_zpscmcojl9j.jpg.html)

Awesome...especially since this building was just a minute away from the wrecking ball at one time.

Looks like all the windows are pretty much in.

Also, the interior has come a very long way (not shown but noticeable when you walk by):

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/plow052315.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/MagdehK.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Je7Frpi.jpg?1

Plowing ahead: Developer adds office space in 107-year-old Bricktown building
Despite higher prices, cool-factor keeps people coming
By: Molly M. Fleming The Journal Record July 13, 2015 0

OKLAHOMA CITY – When developer Richard McKown first evaluated the Rock Island Plow Building, he said, he thought it would be a residential space with luxury apartments on the top floor. He even considered putting in a restaurant with an attached beer garden on the first floor, taking advantage of the west side’s existing awning.

McKown’s plans didn’t seem to matter to the 107-year-old brick structure.

“It wanted to be an office building,” said McKown, lead developer with City Center Properties.

Turning the old building into a collaborative office space will help relieve some of the demand in the Central Business District, said Derek James, broker at Price Edwards & Co. He said that since his company started leasing the Glass, Confectionary and Baden Building, it has added nearly 3,000 square feet to help meet customers’ needs.

“I still see there is a continued demand for Class A space in Bricktown,” James said. “It’s a ‘If you build it, they will come’ scenario.”

That’s exactly what McKown is expecting. He’s spending more than $11 million to take the once-nearly condemned structure and make it attractive to office tenants. Preliminary construction will conclude by September, and then tenant build-out will begin. He said customers will move in by year’s end.

The five-story building measures 48,640 square feet, with 36,000 square feet of leasable space. McKown said he has three tenants now, and could have a fourth soon, but he couldn’t release any company names yet. The prospective tenants will lease from 2,000 square feet to 5,000 square feet. The floors are designed as collaborative office spaces, with large windows on three sides. The bathrooms, kitchen area and stairs are on the west side, since there are no windows there.

As with any historical renovation project, the task has had its challenges. The first was to overcome the high-set windows and rotted floors. McKown’s architect, London-based firm Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, was able to add a steel system above the existing wooden beams, which raised the floors and allowed them to be poured as concrete. When the floors went up, the windows seemed to go down and allowed more light to come into the space.

“The National Park Service (which oversees the implementation of federal historic tax credits) loved what we did with the windows,” he said. “A lot of times developers will try to cut them lower.”

The old building was given modern office touches, such as individual bathrooms rather than a large bathroom with stalls. The stairs will have a string of lights to make them more inviting. On the fifth floor, the original wooden roof had previously been replaced, but the wood didn’t help brighten the area. McKown said he didn’t want to paint it, so he added skylights.

But the space hasn’t lost its historic look, either. Around the building are little touches of its past that McKown has kept, such as the original coal room covers. The second floor has the existing safe door, bearing the name, “The Rock Island Plow Company.” Exposed brick and wooden trusses help show the building’s history.

“We’re not a company that likes to do fake old,” he said.

McKown also had to deal with a modern problem – parking. But across the street, the parking lot with the Lower Bricktown shops is nearly vacant during the day. He said he’s working on a deal for his tenants with lot owner Randy Hogan.

Newmark Grubb Levy Strange Beffort broker Zach Martin said he thinks the parking issue often keeps people from officing in the district, but there are plenty of vacancies.

“One of the great things about Bricktown is you can park next to your building,” he said.

He said the area has become attractive to people who want to be downtown, but the 98-percent occupancy rate is keeping them from finding space. He said the rates in Bricktown are a little higher per square foot than in a downtown building.

“But that’s only because the buildings are so cool,” he said.

Bricktown District Manager Mallory O’Neil said that cool factor has made it a great experience to the companies that office in the area.

“People like that they can walk to lunch, and then be there for after-work happy hours,” she said.

With an abundance of tall buildings, O’Neil said the district’s buildings are a perfect fit for office space.

“That’s harder to occupy with retail,” she said. “I hear nothing but positive things from people that choose to office in Bricktown, and I think that growth will continue.”

He even considered putting in a restaurant with an attached beer garden on the first floor
“That’s harder to occupy with retail,” she said. “I hear nothing but positive things from people that choose to office in Bricktown, and I think that growth will continue.”

So does this mean they are not looking to add a restaurant on the first floor anymore?

I was just down by here last night did not get any pics but they have the fencing down now and the building looks really nice!

With thanks to David:



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/plow072415a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/plow072415b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/plow072415c.jpg

Can we get a side-by-side before and after pic of the first one posted. Looks incredible.

Wow, that's looking amazing so far! Can't wait to see this one when it's fully finished, with the replica water tower and all!

With thanks to David:



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/plow072415a.jpg


https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8032/8054641478_42cf1a9335_b.jpg

https://www.flickr.com/photos/williamhider/sets/72157631693033546


With thanks to David:




http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/plow072415b.jpg

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8313/8054689668_746b8eccae_b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/plow072415c.jpg

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8029/8054674725_2ea6f1c862_b.jpg

Drove by yesterday, didn't have time to take a pic but this building was really looking great.

Especially at night with the lights and windows... wow.

Wowee kazowee this place is gorgeous in person.

That last shot is the first floor from the main entrance.



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/plow092415a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/plow092415b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/plow092415c.jpg

How large are those floor plates? They look bigger than I would've thought (like 5,000 sf).

9,675 square feet per floor.


BTW, I was just down there and they have these cool LED lights in each windowpane on south, east and north sides.

It's a vertical tube on the right hand side of each window opening. Pretty cool.

An update by Steve, as only he offers, with a great video featuring interviews with Richard McKown and Wade Scaramucci.

Developer negotiates business leases for reconstructed Rock Island Plow Building in Bricktown | NewsOK.com (http://m.newsok.com/plowing-ahead-developer-negotiates-business-leases-for-reconstructed-rock-island-plow-building/article/5451511)

New sign is up:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/plow122015b.jpg

So cool. I love the lighting. So glad to see live come to this building.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/plow050716.jpg