The majority of people working out of the AF offices have no problems with walking. This office isn't located in NW Okc or Moore and the employees that work there know this too. In fact many of the AF employees are seen regularly during their breaks, walking all over the area especially all throughout MP and HH neighborhoods.

American Fidelity is constantly at the top of the list for best places to work in Oklahoma City. I don't think their parking situation has been a problem.

If you want to discuss installing better crosswalks for the employees, I am sure they would be in favor of that.

...but they have no problem walking every aisle of a 150,000 sq foot WalMart. Go figure. Could it be that the average WalMart aisle is more appealing than the average OKC sidewalk?

No, its that the average Wal Mart aisle is wider than the average OKC sidewalk...

If I were an employee there, I would be mad to have to walk two blocks in the below freezing wind just to go to work!. Don't try that sob story on people who work in Bldg 3001 at Tinker!!

. Don't try that sob story on people who work in Bldg 3001 at Tinker!!

If I had to park in that lot I would bring a bike to work and bike from my parking space to the building - and that isn't a joke.

Maybe we'll soon be a world leader in personal bubbles, so that no one will ever be have to be hassled by the outside world, unappealing people, or the strenuous activity of walking. We certainly have a lot of demand for it. ; )

If I had to park in that lot I would bring a bike to work and bike from my parking space to the building - and that isn't a joke. :kicking: Great idea!! . . . but then you have to find a place to park/lock it up and most of the "cubes" aren't that large!!

You could have used the underground concourse for much of that walk.

http://www.downtownokc.com/Portals/0/PDF/UnderGround%20brochure%202010.pdf
There isn't one to CityPlace from the garage and I can't remember if they were all open in 1993 when I worked there. I think some sections were closed during that period. It was never bad enough to force me down there, OKC isn't Montreal in winter.

:kicking: Great idea!! . . . but then you have to find a place to park/lock it up and most of the "cubes" aren't that large!!

There are plenty of folding bikes that easily fit in a 'cube'. I see people with them all the time. Or I would get one of these:

arpkjAlSXP4 QNulS-1eRws

There are plenty of folding bikes that easily fit in a 'cube'. I see people with them all the time. Or I would get one of these:

arpkjAlSXP4 QNulS-1eRws

a mini-Segway!!. . .:dizzy:

I am fairly certain that AFA sold their buildings several years ago and leased back. Does anyone know if that is the case? Apologies to all for trying to get back on topic.

No, its that the average Wal Mart aisle is wider than the average OKC sidewalk...

... when a sidewalk even exists.

bump...

I am fairly certain that AFA sold their buildings several years ago and leased back. Does anyone know if that is the case? Apologies to all for trying to get back on topic.

There was definitely some shift in ownership according to the County Assessor's site but it could have been just an internal move; transfer from one entity to another for tax or other reasons. It doesn't show as a traditional sale.

AF is privately owned by the Cameron family and they have a bunch of little subsidiaries and satellite companies.

I know this is an older thread but I see where people were talking about where they might move and I know that in January they will be moving to Britton Rd off Broadway extension.

They bought the old OPUBCO properties and have already moved some staff there and are remodeling some of the floors in the tower.

OPUBCO can't completely vacate until their new space is finished in the Century Center, which will take at least a year.

Just learned this property is for sale for $25 million.

Although American Fidelity is scheduled to be completely out by late 2015 (they have already moved some employees to the former OPUBCO campus) they are still on the line for the entire property rental through December 18, 2017.

In addition to office space, the complex also features a fitness center and cafeteria.

See photos I added to the article above.

Yeah my wife moved in about 2 weeks ago. It ended up getting delayed a couple of weeks because it couldn't pass inspection. It was the marketing department that moved. She said they are starting on a new parking garage and daycare facility. Daycare will be located closer to the Thunder practice facility.

She said they are starting on a new parking garage and daycare facility. Daycare will be located closer to the Thunder practice facility.

They bought the old OPUBCO daycare which is right next to the Thunder practice facility.

Perhaps they are just remodeling it for their use or adding on?

http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/1697d1337526508-american-fidelity-buys-opubco-properties-opubco.jpg

They bought the old OPUBCO daycare which is right next to the Thunder practice facility.

Perhaps they are just remodeling it for their use or adding on?


She said building, but if they have one maybe they are just remodeling and adding on. I know they are going to do an on campus gym and a bunch of other stuff. Comments were made they are trying to mimic what Chesapeake did before they went into panic mode. They said they really want Opubco out including their printing machines. I'm pretty sure they still have a pretty long lease but I think long term plan is cafeteria and restaurants.

OPUBCOLAND? Will that be like Opryland, only more newspapery?

I am of the understanding AF bought the tower but did not buy the OPUBCO plant building north of the tower. (I assume they are still printing at least some of their run at this location? Contract printing too? ) I have no idea if they got the land south of the tower in the deal or not.

I am of the understanding AF bought the tower but did not buy the OPUBCO plant building north of the tower. I have no idea if they got the land south of the tower in the deal or not.

They bought everything shown in yellow above.

They are leasing back part of the tower to OPUBCO in the short-term and the plant in the longer term.

American Fidelity buys OPUBCO properties - OKCTalk (http://www.okctalk.com/showwiki.php?title=American+Fidelity+buys+OPUBCO+p roperties&highlight=opubco)

I see that ownership in the tax records at the link. Thanks.

Any idea how long the long term lease is for the plant? It would seem mighty strange to move or build a printing plant in today's newspaper print world. Maybe not or there's other things afoot.

I see that ownership in the tax records at the link. Thanks.

Any idea how long the long term lease is for the plant? It would seem mighty strange to move or build a printing plant in today's newspaper print world. Maybe not or there's other things afoot.

I believe they just signed a 5 year extension and then at the end of that they have the option for another 5 years.

Pete,

I asked my wife tonight about the daycare and she said that the daycare you show there hasn't been used in several years. AFA is doing some analysis to determine whether they want to reno that building, demolish and rebuild in that location, or doing something in their new building. The bet is that they end up just renovating the existing building because it's something they want up and running sooner rather than later. Apparently it's been a big want among employees and they want it done before they get everyone moved in.

Yeah, the daycare building most recently was the offices of Wimgo, which is now defunct.

Just learned this property is for sale for $25 million.

Although American Fidelity is scheduled to be completely out by late 2015 (they have already moved some employees to the former OPUBCO campus) they are still on the line for the entire property rental through December 18, 2017.

In addition to office space, the complex also features a fitness center and cafeteria.

See photos I added to the article above.

and a daycare center

and a daycare center

That was mentioned a couple times a few posts up.

That was mentioned a couple times a few posts up.

I see that. For some reason I made my comment a couple days earlier, but it posted delayed.........?

This seems to be getting downplayed, but the hole that AF is going to leave in the Uptown area of Okc will be felt. Having a top quality company that is very active in this part of the community up and leave.

^

Fortunately, their departure will be gradual over a couple of years and coincides with lots of other great things happening in the immediate area.

Also, given the extreme shortage of office space, I doubt this property will stay vacant for long.

It is For Sale or For Lease?

Definitely lots of great things and excitement in this area of Okc. But to lose an A+ company is huge and will be difficult to replace. They have done so many great things for the nearby neighborhoods and schools in this area of Okc.

Yes, I know AF will be missed in the area. Really wish they would have stayed in the core but you can't blame them for snatching up a great deal on the OPUBCO properties.

The property is for sale but I believe they are also hoping to lease out space as AF vacates.

The buyer is likely to be an investor, so cash flow is key to sale price.

I work security at American Fidelity. They're just now starting to move into a couple floors at the OPUBCO Building and are already starting to lease out space at their old buildings. They reportedly have a list of tenants waiting to move in. The first tenant is an engineering firm that mostly deals in transportation and mass transit. I can't remember their name though.

^^ That's good to know, especially the waiting list for new tenants.

A little update on the American Fidelity campus. Last year an engineering firm with about 15 employees moved into one of the floors in the south building. The floor above that firm is currently being renovated for a trucking industry related business with 70 employees. They should move in within a couple months

OKCTalk - Huge 5 building complex on Classen sells; upgrades planned (http://www.okctalk.com/content/148-huge-5-building-complex.html)

If structured parking is built on one of the lots, I really hope he develops the others.

More Dowell structured parking. In Mesta Park. Great.

The most logical area for structured parking would be the north lot so it can connect into the building. Then just redevelop all the lots on the east side of Western

This is disappointing. Outside of Randy Hogan, I can't think of an OKC developer whose work I detest more than Rick Dowell.

Why?

So by update the exterior, does he mean add pitched roofs with red clay Spanish tile shingles? He's doing it on one of his 6 story buildings in downtown Norman...

This guy has done some good downtown, but it's like he's just decided to throw all creativity out the window. At least I can count on my neighborhood to raise hell about anything he applies to build. It could end up being the one time I'm happy that they are so protest happy.

So by update the exterior, does he mean add pitched roofs with red clay Spanish tile shingles? He's doing it on one of his 6 story buildings in downtown Norman...


This has me genuinely nervous about what he's going to try to do with these three buildings.

This has me genuinely nervous about what he's going to try to do with these three buildings.

You and me both.

I kind of like them the way they are now.

How about adding some faux Romanesque stone treatments?

I like the way they look. When I was a kid I called them the alien language buildings because of the strange symbols. I hope they don't go so far as the Country Inn monstrosity on the NW Expressway.

The whole Classen BLVD. is the best drive in OKC because of the architectural strangeness.

Having worked there for over a year and a half I'm going to be interested in seeing what kind of changes they can make with the facade. Considering it's all concrete I don't know how much they can do. But clearing out some of the parking lots that take up way too much space will be a welcome change for the neighborhood.

The whole Classen BLVD. is the best drive in OKC because of the architectural strangeness.

Classen could be great, especially as the mid century stuff matures.

Maybe he can truck in some gray cinder blocks and they can stack them up the side of the concrete walls.

Pretty sure this entire area is outside any of the design districts, so he'll be able to do pretty much what he wants with the existing buildings.

Pretty sure this entire area is outside any of the design districts, so he'll be able to do pretty much what he wants with the existing buildings.

I was just thinking about this today(probably a topic for a different thread.) Why doesn't the entire urban core (I44-I235-I40, imo) have some kind of design overview?

Excited about the potential for residential on the surface lots but I hope he doesn't try to renovate the exterior of those buildings like he's doing to this one in downtown Norman...

Midtown Plaza Norman (http://dowellproperties.com/mid.html)

Oh my gosh...this man needs to hire an architect. He has no taste whatsoever!

I would bet it will look similar to the Fidellity building changes at 44/Classen. The same building is all over town in various white concrete forms and most have seen some change by now. Most of the "updates" involve stucco though....or in the case of Oil Center, ugly paint.

I would bet it will look similar to the Fidellity building changes at 44/Classen. The same building is all over town in various white concrete forms and most have seen some change by now. Most of the "updates" involve stucco though....or in the case of Oil Center, ugly paint.

Yep - OKC is tearing down all the wrong buildings.

When is OKC going to name a street or alley after Rick Dowell?

:wink:

These are from a friend who took these this past week.

Photo copyright 2015 CloudDeck Media LLC. All rights reserved.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/af050215a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/af050215b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/af050215c.jpg