roy williams is giving a Chamber update at tomorrows council meeting ... it should be interesting

Hopefully he doesn't tell us about MAPS, he tends to be on auto-pilot.

I'm not stupid, of course the IT people themselves didn't move, just the data center. That's not what I said....not even close. Good lord.

I'm not stupid, of course the IT people themselves didn't move, just the data center. That's not what I said....not even close. Good lord.

wasn't responding to you ..

I know this will sound self-promoting, and there's not much I can do about it, but for those of you who found "OKC Second Time Around" a great look behind the scenes at how downtown redevelopment really takes place, there's a book Jack Money and I will have coming out later this year, also to be published by Full Circle Press, that provides the same sort of in-depth look at the planning, development, design and construction of Devon Energy Center. I think it will be a great help in better understanding how these projects proceed from conception to reality....

I know this will sound self-promoting, and there's not much I can do about it, but for those of you who found "OKC Second Time Around" a great look behind the scenes at how downtown redevelopment really takes place, there's a book Jack Money and I will have coming out later this year, also to be published by Full Circle Press, that provides the same sort of in-depth look at the planning, development, design and construction of Devon Energy Center. I think it will be a great help in better understanding how these projects proceed from conception to reality....

"Jack Money" is one awesome name.

I know this will sound self-promoting, and there's not much I can do about it, but for those of you who found "OKC Second Time Around" a great look behind the scenes at how downtown redevelopment really takes place, there's a book Jack Money and I will have coming out later this year, also to be published by Full Circle Press, that provides the same sort of in-depth look at the planning, development, design and construction of Devon Energy Center. I think it will be a great help in better understanding how these projects proceed from conception to reality....

Do you have a release date set yet?

Tentatively this fall.

Awesome. I will be back in OKC before then. Perfect excuse to pay a visit to Full Circle. Starting to accumulate OKC history books. Now all I need is a historical wall map of OKC.

roy williams is giving a Chamber update at tomorrows council meeting ... it should be interesting
How did Roys update go? Anything of note, or the same ole cheerleading speech?

"Jack Money" is one awesome name.
Almost as good as "Creflo Dollar".

M favorite name is OU alum - EZ Million


Elmer Zen "E.Z." Million | Visit Guest Book


Elmer Zen 'E.Z.' Million, a multifaceted activist who pushed hard for the Oklahoma-Texas football game to be played in Norman every other year, died Saturday in his Norman home. He was 68. A graduate of Weatherford High School, Million became a Norman resident in 1957 and earned his bachelor's degree in mathematics and master's degree in engineering from OU. He ran for public office on numerous occasions, but never won. Published in The Oklahoman from October 26 to October 31, 2009

Nothing new? getting second thoughts on all this...

I think we won't hear anything this week with the Devon people moving in. That is probably the big news for the Chamber for this week. Maybe after that we may hear something. I think the people in the know don't want to step on anyone's toes and give them the credit they deserve for an incredible feat for OKC.

I am wondering if we will hear about those two companies looking at OKC? If the word on the street is right we should hear by mid April on if they chose OKC. I doubt they would be building a tower, but they may fill some of the office space Devon is leaving behind.

I know this will sound self-promoting, and there's not much I can do about it, but for those of you who found "OKC Second Time Around" a great look behind the scenes at how downtown redevelopment really takes place, there's a book Jack Money and I will have coming out later this year, also to be published by Full Circle Press, that provides the same sort of in-depth look at the planning, development, design and construction of Devon Energy Center. I think it will be a great help in better understanding how these projects proceed from conception to reality....

Thanks for the heads-up, Steve. I've bought "OKC Second Time Around" and "Skirvin" and both books are such great reads. Thanks for what you've done so far; I'm definitely looking forward to future books.

HELLO....HELLooooo....... Helloooooooooo.....

Hey, anyone here with a connection at Baker Hughes?

They are doing a lot of hiring in OKC it looks like: http://jobs.bakerhughes.com/oklahoma-city-jobs

They are building a large field ops facility over near El Reno. Supposed to hire several hundred. Also, a couple of other O & G servicing companies are doing the same between El Reno and Yukon. An article a couple of months ago was out that 1,500 jobs would be added over the next year or two.

I worked for Baker Hughes in Tulsa for a couple of years, now I work for a competitor. They have a couple small facilities
in S.E. OKC near sooner and 59th.

Hey, anyone here with a connection at Baker Hughes?

They are doing a lot of hiring in OKC it looks like: http://jobs.bakerhughes.com/oklahoma-city-jobs

i work for bj's largest competitor. we are building a bigger yard in el reno. they said they wanted to hire 200 more people by summer. don't know if that is going to happen seeing they are cutting people right now. drilling is already down some because of gas being in the crapper and i suspect it could get worse for us.
bj wouldn't be building a large tower, tho.

I worked for Baker Hughes in Tulsa for a couple of years, now I work for a competitor. They have a couple small facilities
in S.E. OKC near sooner and 59th.

Also, looking at the jobs posted, they align pretty well to the technology they work at in those facilities. Baker Hughes has about 10 distinct product lines each with their own HQ, one is in Claremore, OK the rest are all in Houston/surrounding areas, corporate HQ is also in Houston. Many of the big wigs in the company don't like having the one rogue product line up in Oklahoma as it is, so I doubt any sort of Baker Hughes HQ would be moving to OKC in the near future.

Good to see that they are hiring though.

Also, looking at the jobs posted, they align pretty well to the technology they work at in those facilities. Baker Hughes has about 10 distinct product lines each with their own HQ, one is in Claremore, OK the rest are all in Houston/surrounding areas, corporate HQ is also in Houston. Many of the big wigs in the company don't like having the one rogue product line up in Oklahoma as it is, so I doubt any sort of Baker Hughes HQ would be moving to OKC in the near future.

Good to see that they are hiring though.

I can assure you they aren’t hiring in OKC at the moment… They are pretty much at a hiring freeze now. *Even the positions posted in March on their site now say “No longer available” when you try to add to job cart. *There may be a few random positions that need to be filled in the office or something, but word is they may actually be starting layoffs soon (especially for field guys)… Oh and back to the mystery tower info!

I can assure you they aren’t hiring in OKC at the moment… They are pretty much at a hiring freeze now. *Even the positions posted in March on their site now say “No longer available” when you try to add to job cart. *There may be a few random positions that need to be filled in the office or something, but word is they may actually be starting layoffs soon (especially for field guys)… Oh and back to the mystery tower info!

exactly what i was saying. my company is doing the same.
if an energy company was thinking about building downtown i dont think its happening now...and chesapeake? forgetitaboutit.

On the agenda for today's Economic Development Trust meeting, the posted agenda stated: "One or more files are marked confidential and are hidden".

This group is the one that deals with incentives for employers to move downtown and/or drastically increase hiring in the next several years.

They also function as the modern-day OCURA, negotiating deals for development of city-owned properties.


Obviously, this item could be almost anything but something is brewing and this is the first time I've ever seen anything on their docket marked confidential.

This has grabbed my attention again.

On the agenda for today's Economic Development Trust meeting, the posted agenda stated: "One or more files are marked confidential and are hidden".

This group is the one that deals with incentives for employers to move downtown and/or drastically increase hiring in the next several years.

They also function as the modern-day OCURA, negotiating deals for development of city-owned properties.


Obviously, this item could be almost anything but something is brewing and this is the first time I've ever seen anything on their docket marked confidential.

This is why I love OKCTalk....on it like a hawk!!

I can assure you they aren’t hiring in OKC at the moment… They are pretty much at a hiring freeze now. *Even the positions posted in March on their site now say “No longer available” when you try to add to job cart. *There may be a few random positions that need to be filled in the office or something, but word is they may actually be starting layoffs soon (especially for field guys)… Oh and back to the mystery tower info!

Not that it means anything, but driving by Deep Fork tonight, the following was on their sign in the parking lot: "Welcome Baker Hughes." It was actually on both sides of the sign. Again, it's not really a big deal that Baker Hughes execs are dining at Deep Fork, but I found it interesting in light of the discussion about them upthread.

On the agenda for today's Economic Development Trust meeting, the posted agenda stated: "One or more files are marked confidential and are hidden".

This group is the one that deals with incentives for employers to move downtown and/or drastically increase hiring in the next several years.

They also function as the modern-day OCURA, negotiating deals for development of city-owned properties.


Obviously, this item could be almost anything but something is brewing and this is the first time I've ever seen anything on their docket marked confidential.

Now we have a Mystery File and a Mystery Tower.

They could be one and the same or they could have no connection.... So many Mysteries!

On the agenda for today's Economic Development Trust meeting, the posted agenda stated: "One or more files are marked confidential and are hidden".

This group is the one that deals with incentives for employers to move downtown and/or drastically increase hiring in the next several years.

They also function as the modern-day OCURA, negotiating deals for development of city-owned properties.


Obviously, this item could be almost anything but something is brewing and this is the first time I've ever seen anything on their docket marked confidential.

I <3 Pete

I <3 Pete
I concur. He does so much for us and I totally appreciate it!

Read the last 15 posts, and its a great example on how a thread dies.:boxing2:

From over a month ago. :gossip:

The Mystery Tower will never die until it is built.

Any bets on the quarter/year that the announcement will come?

Just to stoke the embers a bit, the word I'm hearing on the street is MidFirst/Midland. Given the way Chesapeake is growing, it makes more sense than ever.


And American Fidelity was definitely poking around but not sure if that is still active.

The crystal ball says it will be someone deeply involved in natural gas, and perhaps partnered with T. Boone Pickens, or a consortium he might conjure up.

T. Boone would have something in Dallas (or might lavish Stillwater with something).

A 100-story skyscraper on the OSU campus.
Making Stillwater look like Pyongyang! :bright_id

A real pointy one!

A 100-story skyscraper on the OSU campus.
Making Stillwater look like Pyongyang! :bright_id

A real pointy one!Lol

Just to stoke the embers a bit, the word I'm hearing on the street is MidFirst/Midland. Given the way Chesapeake is growing, it makes more sense than ever.


And American Fidelity was definitely poking around but not sure if that is still active.

You guys will crucify men, but who is Midland?

I think American Fidelity will make more sense when a streetcar line is proposed for Classen, because then that land could possibly bankroll the new tower.

You guys will crucify men, but who is Midland?

I think American Fidelity will make more sense when a streetcar line is proposed for Classen, because then that land could possibly bankroll the new tower.

MidFirst Bank and Midland Mortgage and sister companies that each own/occupy office buildings at the south end of the Chesapeake properties, along I-44.

American Fidelity no longer owns the buildings they occupy. They sold them to investors several years ago, and lease them back.

You guys will crucify men, but who is Midland?

I think American Fidelity will make more sense when a streetcar line is proposed for Classen, because then that land could possibly bankroll the new tower.

Wow Spartan! Where have you been? Midland Mortgage is one of/is the largest privately held mortgage company in the US. Midfirst owns Midland Mortgage.

Wow Spartan! Where have you been? Midland Mortgage is one of/is the largest privately held mortgage company in the US. Midfirst owns Midland Mortgage.
Not to get too technical, but MidFirst and Midland Mortgage are actually sister companies (i.e. one doesn't own the other); both are owned by privately-held Midland Financial Company.

Actually that is incorrect. Midland Mortgage is a division of MidFirst Bank.

Right, I assumed that the "mid" theme was meaningful somehow. The question I have, does MidFirst considered themselves "invested" in the area around Grand and Western? Granted, they've expanded a LOT since they built the office building they currently occupy, but the "flagship branch" they have on Western is pretty nice inside.

I also didn't realize American Fidelity sold their buildings to investors. They're good as gone, that just makes too much sense. I also agree that that CHK taking over MidFirst's offices makes too much sense, considering A, how much office space they have along Grand (outside the periphery of their main campus), and B, the purchase of the Enogex/BCBS buildings on Lincoln.

Those both seem like very solid possibilities. Also, take into consideration that MidFirst wanted the naming rights of the Chesapeake Arena really bad. They want a downtown icon with their name on it.

As a reminder, here are the Mid* properties in relation to the CHK holdings. MidFirst owns that acreage due north of their building.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/chk1a.jpg

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

Nvm, read map wrong.

So the purple highlighted areas are those that MidFirst doesn't own?

:)

Purple is all CHK.

this is the longest, most painful tease i have ever been apart of.

this is the longest, most painful tease i have ever been apart of.

Try dating Swedish girls.

Try dating Swedish girls.

Good thing you are back to the easy girl in Canada!

Not as easy as Okie girls, where all you need is a nice set of wheels (pref a truck) and some swag...grease lightning! lol. (but you all know it's true)

Okie girls are definitely the easiest. Just need a cowboy hat and a Ford F350 King Cattle Ranch Super Powerstroke Diesel Tri-ton Dully with a 8" lift kit and a cattle guard and you can get just about any girl in Oklahoma. There is something in our water, it's not like this in any other state I have been to. I did well for myself despite not having a cowboy hat and the fact that I drive a small sedan....I am one of the lucky few

Okie girls are definitely the easiest. Just need a cowboy hat and a Ford F350 King Cattle Ranch Super Powerstroke Diesel Tri-ton Dully with a 8" lift kit and a cattle guard and you can get just about any girl in Oklahoma. There is something in our water, it's not like this in any other state I have been to. I did well for myself despite not having a cowboy hat and the fact that I drive a small sedan....I am one of the lucky few

Wow. Where did you guys grow up? This crap didn't fly in Tulsa. There were about 2 people in my school of almost 2,000 who wore a cowboy hat and they were pretty unsucessful. While these stereotypes that Okie girls undress if they see Garth Brooks may be true in your experiences, the fact that you're bragging about it on a message board makes me a little skeptical. Either way, TMI!

Wow. Where did you guys grow up? This crap didn't fly in Tulsa. There were about 2 people in my school of almost 2,000 who wore a cowboy hat and they were pretty unsucessful. While these stereotypes that Okie girls undress if they see Garth Brooks may be true in your experiences, the fact that you're bragging about it on a message board makes me a little skeptical. Either way, TMI!

I grew up in OKC! All of my girlfriends friend's go crazy if they see guys in cowboy hats ... one of her friends will only go out with a guy if he has a big truck. Maybe it's just a OKC thing. I do see far fewer trucks in Tulsa than OKC, that's for true...

I don't know about Tulsa, but try growing up and going to Westmoore High School..

How about a back on topic movement here.....

How about a back on topic movement here.....

Do you have any news to share?

Do you have any news to share?

Yes, 2.00 per thousand NG prices are slowing things down.

Yes, 2.00 per thousand NG prices are slowing things down.

Well that's a buzz kill. We'd rather just talk about the easiness of...well nevermind.

Well that's a buzz kill. We'd rather just talk about the easiness of...well nevermind.

You could say that CHK would be easy right now, not many buyers....

You could say that CHK would be easy right now, not many buyers....

This is true, and I hear they do tend to go for guys with big trucks...

This is true, and I hear they do tend to go for guys with big trucks...

As long as they buy NG.

As long as they buy NG.

That's CNG......lol

I guess we'll hear something when the powers that be lets it out.