I would kill to see the view of this from the NW, with downtown in full view in the background. The NewsOK article had a marketing pic for "2000 Classen" (btw should probably change the thread name now?) but the aerial was 1 or 2 years old, with The Edge still u/c and missing lots more. The views from this project above the 2nd floor should be stellar.

Really I am itching for any and all updated downtown aerials these days.

I would kill to see the view of this from the NW, with downtown in full view in the background.

Ask and ye shall receive:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/af050415.jpg

After seeing these great photos, I hope Dowell will notice the amount of land that is being used for just parking. I can see him building a parking garage so that the wasted space can be used in a better way.

Please no, don't let him build a parking garage!!!

Please no, don't let him build a parking garage!!!

Yeah, his last one is an eye sore, but so are all these cars. This area is growing and the last thing we need is giant parking lots everywhere!

Highest and best use would be parking garages along Classen with ground floor retail and then housing on the big lot closest to Mesta Park.

Serious question: are there mechanisms in place that would block a duplicate of what he built downtown?

Serious question: are there mechanisms in place that would block a duplicate of what he built downtown?

This area falls completely outside any design review committee.

Of course, the one downtown fell within one, and that didn't seem to matter much.

Serious question. On previous projects, did Dowell hire architects or were the designs all in house?

Serious question. On previous projects, did Dowell hire architects or were the designs all in house?

Dowell has an in-house architect and also serves as his own general contractor all his projects.

Had a long conversation with Rick Dowell about this property and his other long-term plans.

He said they are still working on final designs, but here are the general plans:

Build a parking structure in the lot north of the buildings along Classen
Put up an iron fence and landscaping around all the parking lots
Long-term would be to develop the east lot(s) into housing
The small building in the middle of the other three taller structures will get a renovation to the exterior
The taller buildings will only get some sort of new cap along the top to conceal the HVAC equipment on the roof


http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/6590d1391710705-american-fidelity-campus-2000classen6.jpg


Also, I was incorrect that I stated Dowell always self-finances. He does put down a lot of cash but in this case did take out a loan for a few millions as well.

Had a long conversation with Rick Dowell about this property and his other long-term plans.

He said they are still working on final designs, but here are the general plans:

Build a parking structure in the lot north of the buildings along Classen
Put up an iron fence and landscaping around all the parking lots
Long-term would be to develop the east lot(s) into housing
The small building in the middle of the other three taller structures will get a renovation to the exterior
The taller buildings will only get some sort of new cap along the top to conceal the HVAC equipment on the roof


http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/6590d1391710705-american-fidelity-campus-2000classen6.jpg


Also, I was incorrect that I stated Dowell always self-finances. He does put down a lot of cash but in this case did take out a loan for a few millions as well.

I can't say I really like the sound of this, especially "capping" the taller buildings. That probably means a pitched roof. Maybe we will all be surprised.

Please no spanish tile. Please. No.

Did he say or indicate what "long-term" meant for future housing? Or if he was going to sell that property or develop it into housing himself?

Did he say or indicate what "long-term" meant for future housing? Or if he was going to sell that property or develop it into housing himself?

He develops everything himself.


And BTW, I don't think he's going to put a peaked roof on those taller buildings. He was describing some type of mansard/banding, not a new roof.

Anything better than crappy will make me......less sad. Not getting my hopes up for "happy".

What's the update on this? AF has completely moved to the property on Broadway Ext.?

Relax baby we're on a Rick Dowell timeline...

Oh. I didn't realize this was his deal. That sucks.

What's the update on this? AF has completely moved to the property on Broadway Ext.?

Nope AFA doesn't completely move out till sometime next year I believe. Might not be till 2017.

I no longer work security at AF, but from my understanding they should all be out of there sometime next year. If it does extend into 2017 it won't be that many. If you drive by on a week day you'll see that there aren't that many working there anymore.

Oh. I didn't realize this was his deal. That sucks.

I think he takes about 5-10 years usually.

Found this rendering that shows a look at the potential remodeling plans.

When I spoke to Rick Dowell about this some time ago, he specifically mentioned liking the way a similar building at 5100 N. Classen (First Fidelity) was renovated.



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/2000classennewest.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/5100nclassen.jpg

I do really like what they've done with 5100 N Classen. I hope Dowell does a nice job with something similar. I won't get my hopes up though because his design choices elsewhere have been pretty bad.

American Fidelity is just about completely moved out of 2000 Classen and tenants are filling up the spaces. I like the idea of changing the roofs and adding a cap like that to each building. Is there any timeline they're looking at?

I've never been a big fan of that metal roof cap on the First Fidelity building. Does it serve a purpose? If so, is there a better-looking alternative?

I don't mind the roof caps. I like that they hide all the air handling equipment on the roof. May not be very stylish but it beats seeing mechanical equipment.

I don't mind the roof caps. I like that they hide all the air handling equipment on the roof. May not be very stylish but it beats seeing mechanical equipment.

Somebody needs to tell this to New York City.

http://i.imgur.com/JqneR0C.jpg

ODMHSAS moving to space being vacated by American Fidelity

By: Molly M. Fleming The Journal Record October 10, 2016

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services is moving its office staff to a more central site in the city.

The agency is leasing six floors that measure 68,711 square feet in the eastern 2000 N. Classen building. Owner Rick Dowell said the ODMHSAS will move in as the floors are remodeled, but he expects them in the space by Dec. 1.

Dowell said the agency will save money on its operations by having one main office.

“(Dowell Properties) gave them a really good deal to move into the building,” he said. “We bought that building at a pretty low price. We’re very competitive on rents.”

Dowell paid $14 million for the four 2000 N. Classen buildings and a retail center in April 2015. He has a triple net lease with American Fidelity Assurance Co. American Fidelity has to be out by April 2018. As the company moves into its Britton Road office, Dowell is able to lease the space.

The 2000 N. Classen property was built in 1962. It has been occupied by American Fidelity for more than 20 years.

Two of the white towers are seven stories; the third is 10 stories. Among the three white towers is a 15,000-square-foot, two-story building. Dowell said he’s leased 125,000 of the 354,000 square feet of leasable space.

“We’re hoping to have the buildings at least 70 percent occupied by the time (American Fidelity) moves out of there,” he said.

The Department of Mental Health’s move will create a shift in the Oklahoma City office market. The agency leases 23,499 square feet at the Shepherd Mall Office Complex. The department has 51,160 square feet at 1200 NE 13th Street.

The department’s communications director, Jeff Dismukes, said money will also be saved by not having to maintain a 100-year-old building.

Oklahoma Office of Management and Enterprise Services Public Affairs Director John Estus said the mental health department could lease its old building but has not heard what will happen with the property.

Dowell said he is planning renovations to the four Classen office towers. He plans to go before the city’s Downtown Design Review Committee next month with plans for a fence and landscaping around the parking lot.

He is also working on the Dowell Center building on N. Robinson Avenue in downtown. He said the building is almost completely gutted. He is planning to update the building’s exterior next, and expects to take those plans to the November DDRC meeting as well.

“We will start leasing there pretty quickly,” he said. “Each suite will have its own heat and air system.”

The City is putting in medians and new sidewalks for the area between NW 18th and 22nd along Western.

This stretch has a lot of parking on the west side and tons of office/commercial on the east. You can see it's already made a big difference in people need to walk up and cross Western.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/western110517a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/western110517b.jpg

It's a little bit late in a sense, I bet American Fidelity would have loved this....

Man, so much potential right there. Though, I can imagine the NIMBYism would be out-of-control.

I worked in that building in 1985 for a mechanical and electric engineering firm. We were on the first floor, I had a nice view of the main natural gas pressure regulator.