I will also say that the fact none of these properties have been improved -- especially assuming Devon's huge resources are behind all this -- is very telling.

Preftakes has owned some of those buildings for over six years.

I agree, but why would the bus station be the property that is rehabilitated if the rest of the block is scraped?

I agree, but why would the bus station be the property that is rehabilitated if the rest of the block is scraped?

If they were going to agree to a rehabilitation that may be demolished later the bus station is one of the smaller properties and more likely a condition of the seller, thus indicating they tried for legal reasons.

Oh, I wouldn't doubt that it was a condition of the seller--and I think it would be successful in keeping the building standing.

I am probably the least optimistic person about this whole mystery tower, I'll beleive it when I see it. But a crazy thought; since they say "Ford is the best in Oklahoma" wouldnt it be great if they relocated here.

I am probably the least optimistic person about this whole mystery tower, I'll beleive it when I see it. But a crazy thought; since they say "Ford is the best in Oklahoma" wouldnt it be great if they relocated here.

They do the same advertising in every state, and for products that match the demographics. So in Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, North Florida, etc. They push their trucks and how they are the best in Oklahoma. In states with less of a pickup mentality, they push their cars, and how they are the best in XXXXXXX.

bump for the mystery of the mystery tower

Lets go back to the quote, "a new headquarters will be built downtown starting this year..." This is the quote that gotr this all started...now what has happened to that? Was that all just an assumption, or is it actually a true statement. The fact that Beffort said this makes us all think it's legit, but could it very well be wrong? I would think he would've said something else by now...

Lets go back to the quote, "a new headquarters will be built downtown starting this year..." This is the quote that gotr this all started...now what has happened to that? Was that all just an assumption, or is it actually a true statement. The fact that Beffort said this makes us all think it's legit, but could it very well be wrong? I would think he would've said something else by now...

That quote has been quite the source of consternation and now seems to have been nothing but wishful thinking.

in the fwiw category ... today is merely May 18. That leaves a whole lotta potential start days remaining.

in the fwiw category ... today is merely May 18. That leaves a whole lotta potential start days remaining.

+1

in the fwiw category ... today is merely May 18. That leaves a whole lotta potential start days remaining.

I was just thinking this. We still have more than half a year left.

I was just thinking this. We still have more than half a year left.

...and what was it, a year and a half between Devon's official announcement and actual construction?

I see the collective OKC Talk ADD is kicking in.

I moved all the posts about American Fidelity and OPUBCO to a new thread: http://www.okctalk.com/showwiki.php?title=OPUBCO

I moved all the posts about American Fidelity and OPUBCO to a new thread: http://www.okctalk.com/showwiki.php?title=OPUBCO

So, have the mystery two companies looking at OKC opt out and decide not to move here. It was two months ago we starting hearing stuff. I have no hope for this tower now after the AF news. They were our best hope besides the outsided chance of a new company. Midfirst is still a 5% chance. With Preftakes taking a different stance on their property. I don't see much hope for a new Mystery Tower.

The only tower in the future will be the convention center hotel, and small chance for a residential tower.

I think lasomeday is right.

Me too. I suspect AF was thinking about building downtown, which started all the rumors, and went for existing space instead.

MidFirst is still very much a possibility.

MidFirst is still very much a possibility.

How is Chesapeake going to play into this? Will they still be able to buy MidFirst's existing properties or will it not matter?

Chesapeake is still splashing out plenty of cash for real estate.

Just in the last few months they have spent millions for building permits to renovate the Central Park and Atrium Towers buildings, bought a bunch of land north of their campus, announced a big development at 50th & Western, had plans approved to expand Classen Curve, started renovation of Nichols Hills Plaza, continued construction on about half a dozen major campus projects, etc., etc.

But if I was MidFirst, I would take CHK's offer sooner rather than later.

Looks like AF is out of the running for the Mystery Tower, or were they even there to begin with? Not many prospects left...this speculation is slowing fading...maybe some posters were right, we are not getting new tower anytime soon...

AF was definitely in the hunt, but now completely out.

MidFirst is still a very real possibility.

This seems like a big blow to midtown/uptown areas. Losing a big tenant like that to the 'burbs is a bummer.

This seems like a big blow to midtown/uptown areas. Losing a big tenant like that to the 'burbs is a bummer.

Like

And what a drag for the AF employees. So many of them live in Heritage Hills, Mesta Park, etc. Now they have to do the reverse commute to nowhere.

how far of a move is this for AF?... i was thinking in my mind like 6 miles, right?

And what a drag for the AF employees. So many of them live in Heritage Hills, Mesta Park, etc. Now they have to do the reverse commute to nowhere.

Not to mention, they are now going to have to deal with the 8 year plan of the I-44/Broadway Extension interchange...have fun!

At least we still have MidFirst to hope for, but if they move somewhere other than downtown, then we maybe out of luck for a new tower in the near future.

FWIW I heard from a friend of mine at Flintco the OG&E was considering building downtown.

FWIW I heard from a friend of mine at Flintco the OG&E was considering building downtown.

It would be nice, but they have already moved all their offices downtown. It would be great if they sold their current building and built a tower. I don't know if it would be soon because they just moved their offices from over by CHK to Leadership.

Still don't have a strong feeling that Midfirst will build. They are not known for having quality workspace for their employees. I don't see them making a push to build a nice new tower. It would be a serious PR and employee perk for them to build a new nice building instead of the sub par offices they have for most of their employees in converted old Wal-Marts.

Jeff Records has held the same two lots in Nichols Hills for years without building on them. Maybe it takes him a long time to make decisions. Regardless, I agree that it's as likely Midfirst won't build a tower as that they will.

MidFirst made on offer on the OPUBCO property and they are very much out of space in their current locations. And we all know Chesapeake really wants their two buildings and land.

I've heard that Records wants a fortune for those properties; that Chesapeake's typical 2 to 5 times market value might not even be enough.

However, I believe CHK's days of extravagant spending are about to come to a quick end and that will leave MidFirst without an obvious buyer.

It would be nice, but they have already moved all their offices downtown. It would be great if they sold their current building and built a tower. I don't know if it would be soon because they just moved their offices from over by CHK to Leadership.

It could just be temporary, it does take 2-3 years to build a good size tower.

It could just be temporary, it does take 2-3 years to build a good size tower.

G,

OG&E is not growing as fast as other companies. I see Continental running out of space before them and OG&E leasing more office space in Leadership.

FWIW I heard from a friend of mine at Flintco the OG&E was considering building downtown.

I overheard this exact same rumor last week. Asked Pete and Steve about it and it was news to them. OG+E is a weird company...

I still say don't hold your breathe on MidFirst. They really haven't been given any reason to move. And for a bank to move, is a real total horrible pain the rear. If they use PO box addresses (which can still be delivered to the business' address...we do it every day to our office), then it's not as big of a deal.

Anyone know if they have a data center on-site? If they do, it's an opportune time to move it out to a hosted facility. It makes it easier to be more "mobile" in the future as well.

But we interact with the business side of MidFirst daily and if they are planning anything at all, they sure aren't telling their employees. That's not typical these days though. Most folks with get some information about things like that at an early point in the process. They might not know the minor details, but they would know about a move in the works. The smart companies figured out long ago, that when you keep secrets from your employees, it only harms your relationship with them. But if you allow the general employee base to knows general plans (like a masterplan), it can often turn from being "problematic" to enthusiastic...just by telling them upfront and openly. What could be "those corporate so-and-so are gonna make me drive twice as far now", turns into "'im going to get a whole spanking new office, which makes a little bit longer drive worth it".

I had a lunch meeting with a group of architects today and they were talking about Cemex coming to Oklahoma City. None of them had any specific details. I remembered that I had seen the name kicked around on this thread and thought that it was worth mentioning again.

I had a lunch meeting with a group of architects today and they were talking about Cemex coming to Oklahoma City. None of them had any specific details. I remembered that I had seen the name kicked around on this thread and thought that it was worth mentioning again.

They must be confusing 'Cemex' with Centex, the British oil field service company..

Isn't Cemex taking up space in One Place in Tulsa?

They must be confusing 'Cemex' with Centex, the British oil field service company..

They were specificaly talking about cement companies when the mentioned Cemex. I know someone at Centek. They manufacture a collar use on oil wells. It sounded like Cemex was going to open a plant here. I just remembered seeing them mentioned in this string and found it interesting.

Isn't Cemex taking up space in One Place in Tulsa?

Cimarex - O&G firm based in Denver.

They were specificaly talking about cement companies when the mentioned Cemex. I know someone at Centek. They manufacture a collar use on oil wells. It sounded like Cemex was going to open a plant here. I just remembered seeing them mentioned in this string and found it interesting.

I think Cemex has been covered pretty thoroughly, US base in Houston, headquartered in Monterrey Mx.

Isn't Cemex taking up space in One Place in Tulsa?

No, you are thinking of Cimarex Energy, that is based in Denver, CO. Who has offices in Tulsa. They are leasing the majority of the new One Place Tower, that is why its being called Cimarex Tower.

The rumors about Cemex moving to Oklahoma City started about a year ago, this was one the first company names thrown around the rumor mill, when the speculation of a new headquarters in Oklahoma City started...so we will see...

So those rumors sound like someone getting the names confused then. I'd call bunk on that one.

Bomber... sigh... these are all rumors, they begin their life as bunk, and then we'll see what comes to fruition.

So those rumors sound like someone getting the names confused then. I'd call bunk on that one.

Actually it sounds like the person talking about the Cemex rumor is the one person that knows exactly what he's saying... it's everyone else that is confusing the issue.

looks like the mystery is dead.. for now at least.

I wish someone would announce something, so we would have something to look forward to... SOMETHING! ANYTHING!!

looks like the mystery is dead.. for now at least.

This.

This.

That.

The other.

I'm afraid the mystery tower may be dead as well.

I know there was something happening on this front but everything seems to have cooled down, especially with the American Fidelity purchase of the OPBUCO properties.

Then I wonder what Beffort/Lackmeyer were talking about? I wish we could get some type of update or something.

I think they both were talking about AF and/or MidFirst.

MidFirst may still happen but frankly I think the changes at Chesapeake will result in a domino effect wherein MidFirst will no longer be able to parlay their existing properties into enough cash to make it worth their while to build new -- at least downtown.

Being that our most reliable sources like Steve/Unfraskn/Metro have been pretty absent from this thread in months is kinda fishy....

Oh C'mon...... Grasping at straws now G. Walker.

Steve & I have pretty much the same information.

184818491850 I'm sorry but I like to dream little ;)