In early January, Sinopec bought 1/3 of a play in south Texas....from Chesapeake. They definately have partners located here.

PLMcCord...I have no idea but think it might be very hard. And I'm not sure if the market exists for two tall vertical apt buildings on Classen. Would probably be easier and draw a different market to leave Classen building as offices and do a residential high rise downtown at a later date.

Then again, the Classen is fully leased and starting a wait list. Those go for $1500-$2300 a month. I don't know if the AF buildings would work as apartments, but there is demand.

But I do agree. I want to see something downtown. In fact, if you could plop something like the Classen downtown and have it be a more efficient and modern building with the same amenities, I'd call it home.

its seems that Sinopec is establishing a U.S. presence, and with major deals with CHK and Devon is stating they have good ties here in Oklahoma. Remember, Devon already stated they will help in recruiting companies to locate here.

International Company (check)
No U.S. Headquarters (check)
Oil & Gas Industry (check)
Relationship with Devon (check)
Money to pull it off (check)

If the streetcar follows the same pattern as other cities, demand will not be the issue - neighborhoods will be begging for it.

its seems that Sinopec is establishing a U.S. presence, and with major deals with CHK and Devon is stating they have good ties here in Oklahoma. Remember, Devon already stated they will help in recruiting companies to locate here.

International Company (check)
No U.S. Headquarters (check)
Oil & Gas Industry (check)
Relationship with Devon (check)
Money to pull it off (check)

Whatever! Keep thinking it is them......

Whatever! Keep thinking it is them......

Let him do that while you keep thinking it's not them....... =)

So we all knowa new building will be built.. wonder when we find out who, does anybody know of any future press conferences about new development in downtown

So we all knowa new building will be built.. wonder when we find out who, does anybody know of any future press conferences about new development in downtown

Guaranteed, we'll be the first to know.....

I appreciate and enjoy the speculation G. Walker! These haters need to get their panties out of a bunch.

*sorry for not providing any valuable input, I just wanted to support a poster that I enjoy reading which is what I typically stick to doing on this site.

G. Walker ...... Can you explain your Avatar picture?

It appears to look like the Mystery Tower?

G. Walker ...... Can you explain your Avatar picture?

It appears to look like the Mystery Tower?

I sent him a personal message asking him about that... he said he wished! My guess (since I have to squint at it) is that it's a new WTC design.

I sent him a personal message asking him about that... he said he wished! My guess (since I have to squint at it) is that it's a new WTC design.

I think it's a rendering of a building in San Francisco.

Yeah, I think it is the Millennium Tower

You are correct, Sid. I didn't know the name, otherwise I would have called it by name.

yea it is, besides Devon Tower this is my favorite new skyscraper...

yea it is, besides Devon Tower this is my favorite new skyscraper...

My favorite besides Devon is 1180 Peachtree in Atlanta. I have quite a few besides Devon that are new and I really like but that one stands out to me the most.

I just was told from a pretty good source that American Fidelity is going to build a tower. I am told that it will probably be on the corner of 5th & Broadway.

I just was told from a pretty good source that American Fidelity is going to build a tower. I am told that it will probably be on the corner of 5th & Broadway.

That's a great location!

That's a great location!

That's owned by Sandridge. They haven't shown any inclination to sell those and also it puts you out of the CBD. Doubtful that's the location.

That's a great location!

+1......

I need to drive by there but I believe they said that there was an old parlikg garage on the location.

I need to drive by there but I believe they said that there was an old parlikg garage on the location.

On the Northeast corner of 5th and Broadway there is a parking garage a half block away that is massive! I think the YMCA people use it.

I need to drive by there but I believe they said that there was an old parlikg garage on the location.

I wonder if it's actually the old chamber site ???? that's real close to where were talking here.

This may be why the city is 'scouting' where to build a new garage.....

I wonder if it's actually the old chamber site ???? that's real close to where were talking here.

that's what I was thinking

If that's the case, it's just a vacant field....with a few stacks of big industrial plastic pipe rolled up laying on it, saw it coming home after the game last night.

I think the southwest corner of 5th and Broadway is a surface lot owned by Sandridge. I believe the northwest corner is a large surface lot used by the YMCA. The other two corners don't seem to be likely candidates for a new building.

Parking garage is the former OPUBCO parking garage. It is a half-block east of Broadway on 5th. It was closed after the bombing but re-opened by some investors a number of years ago. It is barely used and would be a great resource for future development in the Automobile Alley district.

The land owned by Sandridge is on the west side of Broadway between 4th and 5th. They also own a similarly-sized lot on the EAST side of Broadway between 5th and 6th, just south of the (currently abandoned) Hale Photo building. Both of these parcels were part of the former Kerr McGee property that was included in the sale from Anadarko to SR through Chesapeake.

I would be surprised if you saw high-rise construction north of 4th on Broadway. It would be counter to the type of development encouraged along that part of that street. The Planning Department's guidelines there suggest buildings with an emphasis on horizontal rather than vertical construction, in keeping with the historic architecture of the district. Due to its proximity to the Pioneer Telephone Building and other taller structures, I could see it being a transitional mid-rise height, but would be surprised if you saw 30 stories or whatever is being guessed at.

Parking garage is the former OPUBCO parking garage. It is a half-block east of Broadway on 5th. It was closed after the bombing but re-opened by some investors a number of years ago. It is barely used and would be a great resource for future development in the Automobile Alley district.

The land owned by Sandridge is on the west side of Broadway between 4th and 5th. They also own a similarly-sized lot on the EAST side of Broadway between 5th and 6th, just south of the (currently abandoned) Hale Photo building. Both of these parcels were part of the former Kerr McGee property that was included in the sale from Anadarko to SR through Chesapeake.

I would be surprised if you saw high-rise construction north of 4th on Broadway. It would be counter to the type of development encouraged along that part of that street. The Planning Department's guidelines there suggest buildings with an emphasis on horizontal rather than vertical construction, in keeping with the historic architecture of the district. Due to its proximity to the Pioneer Telephone Building and other taller structures, I could see it being a transitional mid-rise height, but would be surprised if you saw 30 stories or whatever is being guessed at.

I think Steve knows, that is why he has disappeared the last few days!

One advantage to turning the AF buildings into housing -- it will create demand for streetcar extension up Classen from the CBD.

"What's old is new again." The ORIGINAL streetcar line went up Classen Boulevard, all the way to the Belle Isle power station which was essentially out in the country back then. That's the reason Classen Boulevard is divided - the rail lines were in the median.

Someone needs to start a tally and keep track of people and their speculating predictions. Especially the people that are saying they have a source, such as this latest with American Fidelity.

Just thought I'd throw this out there. Insurica and First Fidelity are sister companies to AF. Currently in the First Fidelity building on classen and NW Expressway, Insurica and First Fidelity might go right along with AF into their new tower if they decide to build one downtown. Insurica has been acquiring lots of agencies in Texas and California lately and are expanding very rapidly. Also I know that there was a partership between AF and Alcott HR Group back in 2008. I'm not sure if this was a partnership where AF would gain decision making power or it was simply an affiliation type partnership. Alcott is out of New York and employs roughly 4,000 people nationwide. However, I'm not sure if this partnership would be justification for Alcott moving its New York HQ's to OKC.

http://www.insurica.com/home/companyinfo/mediaroom/pressreleases/insurica-nearly-doubles-in-size

Great insight knightrider!

I had not made the First/American Fidelity connection even though they are both owned by the Cameron family and have similar logos. AF owns the First Fidelity building at 5100 N. Classen but they only paid $5 million for it and could easily sell/lease it, given the dearth of space in that area due to the Chesapeake expansion. Perhaps CHK would even buy it.

Here's that building; they also own the little "Classen Circle" property due east:

http://www.oklahomacounty.org/assessor/Searches/sketches/picfile/2630/R058856300001rA.jpg

http://www.oklahomacounty.org/assessor/Searches/sketches/picfile/2630/R058856090001uA.jpg


And thanks for the information about their other business relationships. If you combine all these things under one roof, you'd certainly need a big building and they would no doubt want lots of space for future growth.

"What's old is new again." The ORIGINAL streetcar line went up Classen Boulevard, all the way to the Belle Isle power station which was essentially out in the country back then. That's the reason Classen Boulevard is divided - the rail lines were in the median.

For that matter, many of the older streets with medians (Linwood, Exchange, NE 13th, Lottie, NW19th west of Penn), were streetcar lines.

More information about First Fidelity...

They have about $1.2 billion in assets, which isn't huge by any means, but also nothing to sneeze at.

MidFirst has about $10 billion.

The list of Cameron family companies include INSURICA, American Public Life, First Fidelity Bank, First Financial, Asset Services/InvesTrust and Alcott HR Group. Some of these companies are in the First Fidelity Bank Building some are in the AF HQ's . They may want to put all these companies under one building but I'm not sure they could currently fill 40+ stories. However, they may have a plan to aggressively grow over the next few years.

That's fantastic information, knightrider. Because these are private companies and the Camerons shun publicity, even those of us that try and stay on top of such things have difficulty.

I was reported in the media several years ago that American Fidelity was definitely interested in downtown and even considered buying what is now SandRidge Tower. They also expressed interest in the Core to Shore area.

Perhaps they have just been sitting back and watching things unfold and the economy continue to improve. It may be the time is right to make their move. If I was them, I wouldn't wait much longer.

Also, they clearly have the capital to finance a big development out of their own pockets. Plus, they may want the extra space to lease out as an investment. They clearly have lots of business interests.

With all these companies being talked about we might see 4-6 new towers downtown in the near future. I really like the idea of the Chinese Co. moving in. OKC is about to hit the BigTime! Are we gonna grow similar to Charlotte or Atlanta?


BTW,someone please plow the eyesore grain mill with the steel buildings that are in the view from the new westbound 1-40. I drove that stretch yesterday and what an eyesore that is for our city. It needs to be a top priority to get those fugly things bulldozed.

^^maybe I'm the only one who likes the grittyness the mill adds to the core?

With all these companies being talked about we might see 4-6 new towers downtown in the near future. I really like the idea of the Chinese Co. moving in. OKC is about to hit the BigTime! Are we gonna grow similar to Charlotte or Atlanta?



While it is exciting to think about more additions to the skyline, I am NOT looking forward to more vehicle traffic in the CBD.

^^maybe I'm the only one who likes the grittyness the mill adds to the core?

I don't mind it. I'd rather it stay than be grass or surface parking.

4-6 new towers, why stop there, why not 100! Let's move the Eiffel tower and Dubai here too. Manmade islands, indoor skiing, yachts!

I don't mind it. I'd rather it stay than be grass or surface parking.

I remember someone saying it would be tore down in a year or 2.

4-6 new towers, why stop there, why not 100! Let's move the Eiffel tower and Dubai here too. Manmade islands, indoor skiing, yachts!

Lol,while funny,remember this is also a SPECULATION thread!

4-6 new towers, why stop there, why not 100! Let's move the Eiffel tower and Dubai here too. Manmade islands, indoor skiing, yachts!

Metro, yooooou craaaaaazy!

4-6 new towers?Maybe not but 2-3 within the next few Years is not that far fetched!

indoor skiing

Now this I wouldn't mind!

Metro, yooooou craaaaaazy!

LOL it was an exaggerated post of how many on this thread sound.

4-6 new towers, why stop there, why not 100! Let's move the Eiffel tower and Dubai here too. Manmade islands, indoor skiing, yachts!

We are already getting indoor surfing in the new boathouse!!

SD owns the lots on the SW and NE corner of 5th and Broadway. Either way a tower might be out of place at that place. I'd rather see a 10 story building that filled the whole lot and interacted with AA better. Build the tower in the CBD. This is assuming it's at least 30 stories.

LOL it was an exaggerated post of how many on this thread sound.

Oh, I know. I hear it (you crazy) in my head from a movie but I just can't think of it...

4-6 new towers?Maybe not but 2-3 within the next few Years is not that far fetched!

Once the streetcar starts laying some track I can easily see multiple residential towers in the 10 to 20 story range being built. It was mentioned earlier but what are there height restrictions along the proposed streetcar route?

So 4-6 new towers downtown in the next 10 years is far fetched?

Don't think so... When a city starts to take off it doesn't just stop all of a sudden.

So 4-6 new towers downtown in the next 10 years is far fetched?

Don't think so... When a city starts to take off it doesn't just stop all of a sudden.

Depends on what we're defining as towers.

I think 4-6 400ft+ (~25 stories+) is probably a little ambitious to even be announced for the next 10 years. But if we're talking about including towers between 10 and 20 stories, I think that it's perfectly reasonable.

Depends on what we're defining as towers.

I think 4-6 400ft+ (~25 stories+) is probably a little ambitious to even be announced for the next 10 years. But if we're talking about including towers between 10 and 20 stories, I think that it's perfectly reasonable.

Well yeah if you think about it...

- Sandridge Ammenities Building - 4 stories
- Sandridge New Tower - 10-30 stories
- Bricktown Hotel next to Hampton - 11 stories
- Aloft - 7 Stories
- Convention Center Hotel - 15-30 stories
- Mystery Tower - 20-40 stories
- Possible 2nd Mystery Tower - 20-40 stories
- Hopefully Residential - 15-30 stories

i really think it is quite possible if you believe some of the rumors

Might be wishful thinking but we are already getting a bunch of infill and thats not including all the appartments goin in at midtown and deep duece

Maybe in 3 to 4 years a Continental Tower. They are growing at an insane pace! At the rate they are growing the will double in size every three years.

here is what I realistically see happening in the next few years:

ONE 40+ story skyscraper
27 story CC Hotel
25 story Sandridge Tower

I can see two towers over 500'ft tall being constructed within 3 years!Just my opinion!

I can see two towers over 500'ft tall being constructed within 3 years!Just my opinion!

constructed = finished or constructed = announced?

constructed = finished or constructed = announced?

announced and construction started!Like I said,I dont want to get people all rowled up,it's just what I see happening.

here is what I realistically see happening in the next few years:

ONE 40+ story skyscraper
27 story CC Hotel
25 story Sandridge Tower

I don't think anyone could be unhappy if this is "all we got." That would be amazing boost for downtown. Anything more than this is just gravy.