Knock on wood, but the OKC metro area has yet to even have a tornado watch this year....

oh great now you gone and done it
:wink:

Knock on wood, but the OKC metro area has yet to even have a tornado watch this year....

Technically, OKC has been in one tornado watch in 2014.

If you live in Oklahoma, you are always on tornado watch, lol.

If you live in Oklahoma, you are always on tornado watch, lol.

I did a search on tornados the other day. From 1950 to 2011, Denver, Miami and St. Petersburg, Florida each have had more tornados than OKC. Hard to believe but it's true.

We've replaced our tornadoes with earthquakes.

DowntownOKC Inc. even supports them.

They posted a photo on instagram several weeks back praising them.

If the people who socially promote walkability and urban design don't "get it" then I don't think anyone in power will.

Just more stuff my generation will need to tear out when it's our time to be in charge. 2 steps forward and 2 steps backward in this city on walkability issues.

Downtown OKC Inc. is not an independent agency. Just look at their board. Other than fluffy, feel-good PR, any opinions expressed by them should be taken with a grain of salt.

Expect a mystery tower(s) story by Steve for Tuesday's paper.

Expect a mystery tower(s) story by Steve for Tuesday's paper.

This is par for the damn course. On vacation starting Wednesday to Pacific Northwest, Canada & Alaska. Guess i'll just have to wait.

This is par for the damn course. On vacation starting Wednesday to Pacific Northwest, Canada & Alaska. Guess i'll just have to wait.
We have internet here.

haha, yep sure do.

It's up now

Between two and six more towers? I would be in skyscraper heaven!

Oklahoma City's report of two new downtown towers may prove to be conservative | NewsOK.com (http://m.newsok.com/oklahoma-citys-report-of-two-new-downtown-towers-may-prove-to-be-conservative/article/5297490)

We have internet here.

I bet there is, and good internet at that. I just hate to waste time on the hotel computer when we've got other plans......

Oklahoma City's report of two new downtown towers may prove to be conservative | NewsOK.com (http://m.newsok.com/oklahoma-citys-report-of-two-new-downtown-towers-may-prove-to-be-conservative/article/5297490)

Nice little tease here.

More, more, more!!!

We should see the OG&E and Clayco plans in early October and I'm really hoping plans will break for Main & Hudson before the end of the year.

Expect a mystery tower(s) story by Steve for Tuesday's paper.

Oh crap.... I don't leave till Wednesday... life is wonderful !

omg, up to six more towers in downtown. Boomtown!

Steve just said on twitter people might be pleasantly surprised by the height of the OG&E tower when it is announced!!!!!

and I LOVE the 'and may be higher when built' reference to the mid-rise tower for OGE Corp.

Steve just said on twitter people might be pleasantly surprised by the height of the OG&E tower when it is announced!!!!!

I'd guess this goes back to Clayco saying they realize height is important.

Considering that Class A office space is still an issue downtown, I don't see the market being an issue.

Will any of this push Cotter to renovate his building? I know people say he's cheap but it seems he's on the verge of being left behind.

I'm not worried about Cotter as much as I am Dowell. Have you seen that guy's garage? No telling what his residential tower is gonna look like...smh.

I'm not worried about Cotter as much as I am Dowell. Have you seen that guy's garage? No telling what his residential tower is gonna look like...smh.

It'll make Soviet architecture look inspiring...

The full article also mentions this about the Main and Hudson location.


Several sources have confirmed to me this tower is likely to be developed as office space, with the tenants including one major company seeking to lease additional space while another tenant might end up consolidating its downtown and suburban operations in the same building.

He also talks about the First National Bank Drive-In site and the possible Dowell residential tower at 5th and Dewey.

http://www.oklahoman.com/article/5297490?embargo=1

I'm not worried about Cotter as much as I am Dowell. Have you seen that guy's garage? No telling what his residential tower is gonna look like...smh.

Honestly... that doesn't bother me. Having a few ugly towers downtown will just make the pretty ones look nicer. I think each building has its own sort of charm.

If you gave me my choice, and Dowell was going to add a half dozen of these to the city, I'd say go for it. I'd be happy as can be.

http://architecturestyles.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/copy-of-p4040002.jpg

or this

http://photos.wikimapia.org/p/00/00/46/23/86_big.jpg

As long as it interacts with the street well (curse you, JTF for making me look at that), I'll be happy.

When is the height of OG&E Tower supposed to be announced?

I so cannot wait for all the doom-saying about the OG&E tower to come to nothing.

The best part of the whole article is the likelihood that the OG&E Tower will end up taller than originally projected, all the other office tower mentions are still up in the air.

I so cannot wait for all the doom-saying about the OG&E tower to come to nothing.

Or maybe the out crying & disapproval led OGE to reconsider their plans regarding height?

I love to chew the fat on this board as much as anybody, and I agree that folks on here have influenced some projects - for instance Guyutes - through actions. But I'm sorry...do you really think a few people whining about building height on a message board are going to cause a publicly-traded corporation to make height alterations to their headquarters, resulting in tens of millions if not more in additional expense? If they are adding height it is because a pro forma told them to.

To be honest, I always suspected (and hoped) the initially-announced height was intentionally kept low so that the developers could under-promise and then over-deliver.

I love to chew the fat on this board as much as anybody, and I agree that folks on here have influenced some projects - for instance Guyutes - through actions. But I'm sorry...do you really think a few people whining about building height on a message board are going to cause a publicly-traded corporation to make height alterations to their headquarters, resulting in tens of millions if not more in additional expense? If they are adding height it is because a pro forma told them to.

To be honest, I always suspected (and hoped) the initially-announced height was intentionally kept low so that the developers could under-promise and then over-deliver.

Lol no, I don't. But I like to think my time here isn't completely wasted even though it mostly is. But I do think a company who is looking to invest in Oklahoma City & downtown would keep a pulse on the public perception. And this is the best place to do that.

I love to chew the fat on this board as much as anybody, and I agree that folks on here have influenced some projects - for instance Guyutes - through actions. But I'm sorry...do you really think a few people whining about building height on a message board are going to cause a publicly-traded corporation to make height alterations to their headquarters, resulting in tens of millions if not more in additional expense? If they are adding height it is because a pro forma told them to.

To be honest, I always suspected (and hoped) the initially-announced height was intentionally kept low so that the developers could under-promise and then over-deliver.

If this board reflects the opinions of the community at all, perhaps OG&E saw dissatisfaction with other people as well.

Pete or anyone else, could you do some digging on what you think the height might end up being? I am going to say 26 stories and 450 feet. Also, with what was announced could someone photo shop some buildings that you think might apply with what we will end up with so we can get a better picture of what our skyline will look like in a few years. Please include the Convention Center and a 25 story hotel.

If this board reflects the opinions of the community at all, perhaps OG&E saw dissatisfaction with other people as well.
Yeah...I still don't think they (or their developer) make a decision regarding tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars in additional expense based on any reasons other than financial/business projections.

Yeah...I still don't think they (or their developer) make a decision regarding tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars in additional expense based on any reasons other than financial/business projections.

I think guys listen to their wives, even when it comes to hundreds of millions of dollars. I'm sure OKC's tight market for office space couldn't have hurt.

We don't even know that they're going to release plans for a taller building, we're just guessing. My guess is the next proposal we see may not increase the square footage of the building all that much, but it's more of a traditional tower. It will be taller, with a smaller base. This would allow for a potential second tower in the same space as the original design. It doesn't cost OG&E any more money, and it satisfies people who want height.

Maybe they can learn from Devon, who made certain projections about their growth, which turned out to be too conservative and now they need more space, just two years later?

I think guys listen to their wives, even when it comes to hundreds of millions of dollars.

I've heard the way to get otherwise low-priority things done at Tinker is to get in good with the ABW commander's wife and/or her circle of friends...

Somebody said yesterday Steve is to have a mystery tower article Tuesday. Today is Tuesday....are we still looking for an article from Steve?

Did you even look at newsok?

Somebody said yesterday Steve is to have a mystery tower article Tuesday. Today is Tuesday....are we still looking for an article from Steve?

Nope, it's there, you just have to access it through mobile, not the website unless you have access which it feels like so few people on the website do.

The story is just more of the same. No specifics and generalizations that something "MIGHT" be coming. Pretty similar to the story from two years ago. I hope something comes but it is hard to get excited anymore.

Oklahoma City's report of two new downtown towers may prove to be conservative | NewsOK.com (http://m.newsok.com/oklahoma-citys-report-of-two-new-downtown-towers-may-prove-to-be-conservative/article/5297490)

^ Tuesday's article.

The story is just more of the same. No specifics and generalizations that something "MIGHT" be coming. Pretty similar to the story from two years ago. I hope something comes but it is hard to get excited anymore.

You won't get specifics until there is an official announcement. Other than the first go around for OGE, there haven't been any announcements.

He's pretty much confirmed the Main & Hudson location and Hudson from Reno to Sheridan block.

OK, that is what I thought, Tuesday's article came out Monday. Yes, same stuff that we have been hearing
for years.

Of course not. I really really hope for something and I am not saying there won't. I am just saying that after two plus years of "a good source" here and a "reliable source" there. I personally have a tough time getting excited about it.

There will be specifics revealed on Oct. 6th when OCURA reveals all the responses to the RFP for the land south of the proposed OG&E Tower.

Since Clayco will be one of those submitting plans and they have publicly stated they want to tie into the OG&E development, you can almost be assured that more solid plans for that property will be revealed as well.

Also, the Main & Hudson tower is almost certainly going to happen, it's just a matter of when they release the details. I really do think it is coming soon.

Hopefully all that will be enough for us to chew on while some of these other projects continue to percolate.

Sounds great! Thanks.

The story is just more of the same. No specifics and generalizations that something "MIGHT" be coming. Pretty similar to the story from two years ago. I hope something comes but it is hard to get excited anymore.

I agree, we can almost guarantee that they will be a "office towers coming soon" article from Steve at least once or twice a year, lol:

Downtown Oklahoma City skyline is set for more growth | News OK (http://newsok.com/downtown-oklahoma-city-skyline-is-set-for-more-growth/article/3648714)

http://newsok.com/steve-lackmeyer-announcement-of-new-downtown-okc-tower-may-come-in-the-next-30-days/article/3760305

Hmmm.... I guess I just don't see the problem.

Steve posted articles saying OKC is getting more office towers. Doesn't give a date just says we will see them soon and he is right. So when we do see them, you can't say we weren't warned. So what is the problem?

It's quite simple actually :when you see an article that says our skyline is set for growth or we are getting some office towers soon, don't read it. When you see an article that says ONE tower plans revealed 500+ft...... Click and read it

I agree, we can almost guarantee that they will be a "office towers coming soon" article from Steve at least once or twice a year, lol:

Downtown Oklahoma City skyline is set for more growth | News OK (http://newsok.com/downtown-oklahoma-city-skyline-is-set-for-more-growth/article/3648714)

Steve Lackmeyer: Announcement of new downtown OKC tower may come in the next 30 days | News OK (http://newsok.com/steve-lackmeyer-announcement-of-new-downtown-okc-tower-may-come-in-the-next-30-days/article/3760305)

You all act like this is the same as building some tract home.

We are talking about 10's of millions of dollars at stake in what is still a shaky lending market.

You want the "behind the scene" look. You got it. Don't complain when you don't like what you see.

Things are definitely firming up.

Even though we live in the right-now information age, skyscraper projects still take years.

The good news is that between Steve and OKCTalk, you can be assured of getting renderings and solid info. as soon as humanly possible.


As has been stated many, many times: If you are frustrated with speculation stay off this thread. Concrete data will be posted to the appropriate threads when available.

I am sorry guys for throwing in the sarcasm or lack of confidence in my post. I don't want my post to start a trend of negativity. I am cautiously optimistic we'll hear something soon. I do appreciate the information people provide on here.

I think many on here underestimate the complexity of building a skyscraper in today's world.
So lots of ideas get shot around constantly, people demand to know all the rumors. So Steve tracks them down and reports them. However, as always, some don't pan out, so people get mad at Steve for reporting it in the first place? :facepalm:

I do find that if both Steve and Pete are reporting similar vague things, it's probably going to come to fruition.

I so cannot wait for all the doom-saying about the OG&E tower to come to nothing.

If the tower is taller but the development of that site still only comes in at $100M, I won't particularly be much happier with the proposal. I never thought it was awful to begin with, just that it wasn't the greatest. $100M for the best (currently available) lot in downtown would be disappointing no matter what.

$250M would still be a 1/3 of Devon's cost, but a lot easier to swallow to say good-bye to Stage Center.

There will be specifics revealed on Oct. 6th when OCURA reveals all the responses to the RFP for the land south of the proposed OG&E Tower.

Since Clayco will be one of those submitting plans and they have publicly stated they want to tie into the OG&E development, you can almost be assured that more solid plans for that property will be revealed as well.

Also, the Main & Hudson tower is almost certainly going to happen, it's just a matter of when they release the details. I really do think it is coming soon.

Hopefully all that will be enough for us to chew on while some of these other projects continue to percolate.

Question - how little can they possibly get away with providing?

I've never done an OKC RFP myself but we know proof of financing isn't required. What kind of plans do they want? The 80% complete or just schematics? And I'd even argue you want some wiggle room bc once you've already spent your design budget... You've spent your design budget. The more predevelopment financing you roll into these projects the more it complicates construction financing, etc.

I think it is better to go to the public boards with just a concept so that you set yourself up to actually integrate feedback.

I agree, we can almost guarantee that they will be a "office towers coming soon" article from Steve at least once or twice a year, lol:

Downtown Oklahoma City skyline is set for more growth | News OK (http://newsok.com/downtown-oklahoma-city-skyline-is-set-for-more-growth/article/3648714)

Steve Lackmeyer: Announcement of new downtown OKC tower may come in the next 30 days | News OK (http://newsok.com/steve-lackmeyer-announcement-of-new-downtown-okc-tower-may-come-in-the-next-30-days/article/3760305)

My favorite is the one that comes out every few months with a headline like "Actually 6 new skyscrapers may be conservative!"

And so what? Downtown development is a GOOD thing to sensationalize. I love the work that Pete and Steve have done even if I do appreciate the occasional mystery tower wise crack. 3 story mixed use and historic buildings don't capture an entire city's imagination - the only danger is that we put silly dreams ahead of the building blocks we do have and do need.

The great thing about RFP responses is that they are designed to impress the recipients, which means they usually go all out with detailed renderings and plans.

And, after Oct. 6th, all the applications are in the public domain.

We will see very detailed plans for the south parcel and in Clayco's case, I'm pretty darn sure we'll see a lot more detail for the OG&E development as well. Might even included another tower that Clayco is developing, as Rainey Williams had said he wanted to flip at least one and perhaps two parcels.

Keep in mind that Clayco had already approached the City with a development plan for the south parcel but then it was decided -- rightfully so -- that the property should be put out to RFP so others could bid in pursuit of the highest and best use. All this means that Clayco was ready to buy a couple of months ago, so you can bet they've had a pretty clear idea of what that want to do.

They have their own in-house architecture and construction firms, so come October I expect a great presentation from them. And keep in mind, one of their main principals is Frankfort who took a run at Stage Center before he joined Clayco.

Pretty sure there will be at least one other serious submission as well.


I expect that come October 6th we'll see plenty of pretty pictures.

I don't think Steve would be bringing up 6 potential towers unless he had a pretty good idea that we would be getting several of them. I don't think anyone can reasonably expect all 6 to come to fruition, there are too many variables and unknowns for that. We know we're getting one for sure, and another almost for sure, with proposals due on a third. Those three should make us very happy, and if we get more than that, I'll be ecstatic.

Steve has a pretty solid repuation as far as I'm concerned, and he wouldn't be saying 6 towers unless he had 6 different groups telling him about towers. While I love OKCTalk, and we get all the news here first, we also get a lot of speculation first. Somebody can hear a rumor and it's posted within 30 seconds. But there's also no fallout for being wrong. If Pete posts that he heard from a good source that XYZ was happening, and then it doesn't, no harm no foul. Most of us understand that is the nature of message boards and the price of instant updates. But I expect a full published news article to be backed up by facts in a way that a message board post (even by a well-connected poster with good sources) isn't.