I think Stage Center is an important key in all of this. It is a large piece of real estate that will be easily re-developed after demolition. Plus, there seems to be a quiet, yet powerful push to get rid of it. My guess is that it will be the site of one of these new towers.

I'm glad they're taking the proper time. A lot goes into building skyscrapers and they will stand in place for the life of the city.

Well, maybe not. Can anyone say Biltmore Hotel?

And there was another one begun in the mid-30s at Park and Walker, where the library stands today, that got its steel framework up to four stories before the builder went broke. Only the ground floor was ever finished, and for years housed a florist and other retail while the bare skeleton reached into the sky. Not all skyscrapers that are started ever get topped out! Might be an interesting story there for someone to dig up. Steve???

Hudson and Park? Was this before the YWCA was built?

Doug Dawgz Blog: The Gladish Building -- What? (http://dougdawg.blogspot.com/2008/04/gladish-building-what.html)

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/downtown_misc/5_12_46_2_gladish.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/Old%20Oklahoma%20City/YWCA/21412-B132-4BarneyHillermanCollection-Photographs-Box2YWCABUILDING-320NW1STSTREETOKLAHOMACITYOK.jpg
On the right

Just found this pic from the OKCMOA website:

http://www.okcmoa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/IMG00076-20110607-1333.jpg (http://www.okcmoa.com/2011/06/10/a-view-from-the-new-devon-tower)

This is a view from the 41st floor of Devon Tower, taken back in June 2011. So a little bit out-of-date, but not much.

It's interesting comparing the old park in front of the Civic Center to the new one. Nice mature trees back then, but the arrangement is definitely more chaotic -- nowhere as slick as the new layout.

This has a good aerial view of where the new parking garage on Main will go. Another thing I notice is how interesting the OKCMOA building looks from this high vantage point -- like a big Mississippi steamboat. I think it actually looks better from aerial shots than at ground level.

But the main thing that grabs me is the lots immediately to the west and immediately to the north of the museum. These two spots seem to be screaming for some kind of development. Ok, not 700 foot skyscrapers. But something.

Doug Dawgz Blog: The Gladish Building -- What? (http://dougdawg.blogspot.com/2008/04/gladish-building-what.html)

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/downtown_misc/5_12_46_2_gladish.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/Old%20Oklahoma%20City/YWCA/21412-B132-4BarneyHillermanCollection-Photographs-Box2YWCABUILDING-320NW1STSTREETOKLAHOMACITYOK.jpg
On the right

Is this the Mystery thread or the History thread? I'm confused...

Just found this pic from the OKCMOA website:

http://www.okcmoa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/IMG00076-20110607-1333.jpg (http://www.okcmoa.com/2011/06/10/a-view-from-the-new-devon-tower)

This is a view from the 41st floor of Devon Tower, taken back in June 2011. So a little bit out-of-date, but not much.

It's interesting comparing the old park in front of the Civic Center to the new one. Nice mature trees back then, but the arrangement is definitely more chaotic -- nowhere as slick as the new layout.

This has a good aerial view of where the new parking garage on Main will go. Another thing I notice is how interesting the OKCMOA building looks from this high vantage point -- like a big Mississippi steamboat. I think it actually looks better from aerial shots than at ground level.

But the main thing that grabs me is the lots immediately to the west and immediately to the north of the museum. These two spots seem to be screaming for some kind of development. Ok, not 700 foot skyscrapers. But something.

I understand that the loss of those great, old trees was sad, but I really like the layout of the new park. I think it really turned out well, and one day, these trees will be old too. I drove by today and noticed that they're redoing most of the pavers in the park and doing it right, since they hurried to get it finished for the celebration.

The first thing that grabs me is the nice view of "The Legacy".

The first thing that grabs me is the nice view of "The Legacy".

HAHA, that was what I noticed first as well. That fake, white stucco exterior is truly nauseating.

It's better than most blocks.

All I are surface lots and potential for major infill!

Just found this pic from the OKCMOA website:

http://www.okcmoa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/IMG00076-20110607-1333.jpg (http://www.okcmoa.com/2011/06/10/a-view-from-the-new-devon-tower)

This is a view from the 41st floor of Devon Tower, taken back in June 2011. So a little bit out-of-date, but not much.

It's interesting comparing the old park in front of the Civic Center to the new one. Nice mature trees back then, but the arrangement is definitely more chaotic -- nowhere as slick as the new layout.

This has a good aerial view of where the new parking garage on Main will go. Another thing I notice is how interesting the OKCMOA building looks from this high vantage point -- like a big Mississippi steamboat. I think it actually looks better from aerial shots than at ground level.

But the main thing that grabs me is the lots immediately to the west and immediately to the north of the museum. These two spots seem to be screaming for some kind of development. Ok, not 700 foot skyscrapers. But something.
wow there is a lot of parking lots!!!!

In order to know where we are going, let's take a step back, enjoy:

January 27, 2011: Economic development officials try to lure next big catch to Oklahoma City | NewsOK.com (http://newsok.com/economic-development-officials-try-to-lure-next-big-catch-to-oklahoma-city/article/3535769)

July 17, 2011: Office market thriving in downtown Oklahoma City, observers say | NewsOK.com (http://newsok.com/office-market-thriving-in-downtown-oklahoma-city-observers-say/article/3586245)

July 17, 2011: New public parking cited as downtown challenge | NewsOK.com (http://newsok.com/new-public-parking-cited-as-downtown-challenge/article/3586246/?page=2)

February 8, 2012: Downtown Oklahoma City office market shines compared to U.S. | NewsOK.com (http://newsok.com/downtown-oklahoma-city-office-market-shines-compared-to-u.s./article/3647036#ixzz1llRCeEZp)

February 14, 2012: Downtown Oklahoma City skyline is set for more growth | NewsOK.com (http://newsok.com/downtown-oklahoma-city-skyline-is-set-for-more-growth/article/3648714)

August 10, 2012: Office space is getting tight and tighter in downtown Oklahoma City | NewsOK.com (http://newsok.com/office-space-is-getting-tight-and-tighter-in-downtown-oklahoma-city/article/3699962)

October 21, 2012: Oklahoma City's downtown skyline is set for more growth | NewsOK.com (http://newsok.com/oklahoma-citys-downtown-skyline-is-set-for-more-growth/article/3720969)

July 9, 2020: Streetcar has been a huge success, Time for Commuter Trains (sorry, no link available)

July 9, 2020: Streetcar has been a huge success, Time for Commuter Trains (sorry, no link available)By 2020 Hopefully, it will be more like the Street Cars huge success leads to the approval of a Light Rail system across the metro ;)

In order to know where we are going, let's take a step back, enjoy:

January 27, 2011: Economic development officials try to lure next big catch to Oklahoma City | NewsOK.com (http://newsok.com/economic-development-officials-try-to-lure-next-big-catch-to-oklahoma-city/article/3535769)

July 17, 2011: Office market thriving in downtown Oklahoma City, observers say | NewsOK.com (http://newsok.com/office-market-thriving-in-downtown-oklahoma-city-observers-say/article/3586245)

July 17, 2011: New public parking cited as downtown challenge | NewsOK.com (http://newsok.com/new-public-parking-cited-as-downtown-challenge/article/3586246/?page=2)

February 8, 2012: Downtown Oklahoma City office market shines compared to U.S. | NewsOK.com (http://newsok.com/downtown-oklahoma-city-office-market-shines-compared-to-u.s./article/3647036#ixzz1llRCeEZp)

February 14, 2012: Downtown Oklahoma City skyline is set for more growth | NewsOK.com (http://newsok.com/downtown-oklahoma-city-skyline-is-set-for-more-growth/article/3648714)

August 10, 2012: Office space is getting tight and tighter in downtown Oklahoma City | NewsOK.com (http://newsok.com/office-space-is-getting-tight-and-tighter-in-downtown-oklahoma-city/article/3699962)

October 21, 2012: Oklahoma City's downtown skyline is set for more growth | NewsOK.com (http://newsok.com/oklahoma-citys-downtown-skyline-is-set-for-more-growth/article/3720969)

Thanks for reading!

Just found this pic from the OKCMOA website:

http://www.okcmoa.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/IMG00076-20110607-1333.jpg (http://www.okcmoa.com/2011/06/10/a-view-from-the-new-devon-tower)

This is a view from the 41st floor of Devon Tower, taken back in June 2011. So a little bit out-of-date, but not much.

It's interesting comparing the old park in front of the Civic Center to the new one. Nice mature trees back then, but the arrangement is definitely more chaotic -- nowhere as slick as the new layout.

This has a good aerial view of where the new parking garage on Main will go. Another thing I notice is how interesting the OKCMOA building looks from this high vantage point -- like a big Mississippi steamboat. I think it actually looks better from aerial shots than at ground level.

But the main thing that grabs me is the lots immediately to the west and immediately to the north of the museum. These two spots seem to be screaming for some kind of development. Ok, not 700 foot skyscrapers. But something.

As much as I love the idea of us getting 3-4 new skyscrapers downtown, what I think we really need are another 50 buildings like the Hightower (very bottom left red brick). Nice looking buildings with relatively small footprints between 6 and 10 stories tall, to replace all those parking lots. The biggest barrier to the kind of downtown we all want is all the empty space. And while 40 story office towers require massive investment by huge companies, I think smaller developments like this are much easier to fund. There are a lot more entities in this city who can afford to build projects like those.

It's just a matter of attracting those entities to invest in downtown rather than where they are. What would be the benefits of being downtown rather than say in the suburbs or further out? I'm sure there are folks here who know, but why did all the developments pop up out on NW Expressway rather than downtown? Was it because of the busts in previous decades?

All I are surface lots and potential for major infill!

Yeah, but the reality is that we'll probably see more demolition before anything is ever built on those lots.

Back to these Mystery tower(s). I noticed in the January 2011 article that a major International company was being courted. It's been almost 2 years, anyone figure that it might have come and gone ? Or could it still be in the mix as one of the three options ?

I'm sure there are folks here who know, but why did all the developments pop up out on NW Expressway rather than downtown? Was it because of the busts in previous decades?I don't know, but my best guess is it was because that was where most of their potential customers (or employees) were, thanks to the federal incentives that encouraged our sprawl. I'm not sure how many of the folk following this thread know it, but in the late 1950s OKC was in an actual, acknowledged, competition with Houston to become the largest city (in land area) in the nation. That was when we extended the city limits into Pottawatomie County, and northwest past Okarche. Every time the lead changed hands, it would be a front-page story (albeit not the lead piece) for The Oklahoman... As residential development followed, retail and office space came right along on its trail.

Not everyone finds the compact urban residential experience to be their cup of tea. When I moved from the Cleveland Neighborhood near Shepherd Mall to my present home 30 years ago, the new location was well out into the boonies, less than a mile from the Canadian County line and just over four miles south of Edmond Road. We chose it specifically to get away from having our neighbors crammed up against our back yard, even though the closest supermarket was more than two miles away, and the only retail closer than that was a small convenience store. We still prefer it to the more compact urban approach, although it would be nice to have a bus stop closer than five miles from the house...

I asked a co-worker what he thought of Steve's latest article on the possibility of 3 new headquarters being built downtown. He told me that he used to work for ConocoPhillips and that he still has friends who work for ConocoPhillips, and they told him that they heard rumblings in Houston that ConocoPhillips were splitting up and Conoco was moving its headquarters to Oklahoma City, just thought I throw that out there.

I asked a co-worker what he thought of Steve's latest article on the possibility of 3 new headquarters being built downtown. He told me that he used to work for ConocoPhillips and that he still has friends who work for ConocoPhillips, and they told him that they heard rumblings in Houston that ConocoPhillips were splitting up and Conoco was moving its headquarters to Oklahoma City, just thought I throw that out there.

I love these types of rumors :-)

ConocoPhillips split was official May 1.

I guess no announcement from Devon today.

Amazing how many towers we are tracking right now.

Awhile ago I said the "rumors" I heard of what mystery corporation was looking to relocate to OKC would make people's jaws drop if it came to fruition. ConocoPhillips was the corporation I was referring to, or at least one of the split portions of the corporation. I thought it would be announced by now, but the fact that it hasn't makes me wonder if the plans are off or are delayed (or on schedule and I was just led to think it would happen sooner). I know people were skeptical at the time that any part of CP would move from Houston, but my information came directly from someone involved in the talks for relocation, so at the very least the idea is not as absurd as some thought.

I assumed that Phillips was perhaps one of the major corps because they were looking for a new home. But they settled for Houston.

Phillips 66 plans Westchase headquarters - Houston Chronicle (http://www.chron.com/business/energy/article/Phillips-66-plans-Westchase-headquarters-3861181.php)

Yep, very interesting. I know for a fact the Chamber and other important state leaders were in intense negotiations with CP for relocation. At the time I spoke to them, they were very optimistic. So, who knows?

We need more merged corporations to divorce each other ;-)

Does this Phillips move good or bad then?

I'm not sure since I wasn't told which portion of the company was negotiating to move here. But on the surface that story doesn't look good since it appears Phillips was definitely moving--and they chose somewhere else.

My co-worker told me it is Conoco, Inc. wanting to move back to Oklahoma and they never wanted to move to Houston in the first place when they merged, but Phillips pushed relocating to Houston. But it looks like Conoco wants to come back, and I wouldn't be surprises if Devon has their hand in it...

My co-worker told me it is Conoco, Inc. wanting to move back to Oklahoma and they never wanted to move to Houston in the first place when they merged, but Phillips pushed relocating to Houston. But it looks like Conoco wants to come back, and I wouldn't be surprises if Devon has their hand in it...

Ok, I figured it out...Even though Phillips demerged from ConocoPhillips, ConocoPhillips is still keeping the same name, and Phillips goes by Phillips 66 now. So ConocoPhillips is probably looking to relocate to OKC, as Phillips 66 is staying in Houston.

Anyone know anyone who works at their regional office in OKC? If something were happening I'm sure the rumors would be flooding at the regional office?

Does this Phillips move good or bad then?

If either ConocoPhillips or Phillips 66 were going to move here, I wouldn't think it would make much sense for Phillips 66 (the downstream, refining end) to move here when the majority of their business (refineries they operate, other refineries, other refining companies, and other downstream stuff) are in and around Houston. It would seem that they would really have no reason to move here.

ConocoPhillips on the other hand is the exploration and production spinoff and would have a great deal in common with the exploration and production companies in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. In addition, OKC is fairly centrally located between all of their North American assets. At one point someone said that a "multinational company" was looking to move their North American HQ to OKC. CP is classified as a multinational company and operates in North America as well as offshore and in many countries all over the world. Maybe, in the spirit of fitting CP into this situation, because CP is still massive even after jettisoning downstream operations, they are looking to further divide the company location wise, leaving their international HQ in Houston to manage international and offshore operations and moving their North American HQ to OKC to manage on-shore North American assets. Houston would still be better as an international hub given it's international airport and near coastal situation, but OKC/Will Rogers has become very accessible from most cities within the US and as I said before, OKC is fairly Central to CP's NA assets. CP already has a large presence in Bartlesville, and I would be interested to learn what properties the Bartlesville office manages. Maybe they are interested in consolidating management of all North American assets to OKC.

That is all completely speculation but intriguing none the less. Still seems farfetched but looking at it from that standpoint, it almost makes sense. I've attached maps of CP's North American Ops and Worldwide Op Locations.

2768
2769

To add to that. One of their largest emerging play acreage positions is in the Williston Basin (Bakken Shale). Who is the largest producer in the Bakken Shale and just moved to OKC? Continental Resources. They also have large acreage positions in the Fort Worth Basin (Barnett Shale), the Permian Basin in West Texas, the San Juan Basin in NM, and general OK area plus the TX panhandle. A move to OKC would bring them closer to all of these plays/areas as well as anything else they own in the Rockies and Arkansas. They would be moving further from large southern Texas plays, such as the Eagle Ford Shale, and Southern Louisiana and it wouldn't make much distance difference between Northern Lousiana plays, but it seems like OKC is definitely more central to the majority of their NA operations. Follow the link below for an explanation of their Lower 48 operating areas.

Lower 48 (http://www.conocophillips.com/EN/about/worldwide_ops/l48-la/Pages/Lower48.aspx)

I hope we snag a corporation that has nothing to do with energy for diversity. To many looking at our city, it may seem that it's just another energy bubble and a short-term boom with all the energy corporations here.

I hope we snag a corporation that has nothing to do with energy for diversity. To many looking at our city, it may seem that it's just another energy bubble and a short-term boom with all the energy corporations here.

Me too...

In the mean time, I'll take any and every energy company that wants to move this direction...

Are they also a "Sandridge Affiliate?

That was the first thing that came to my mind when I saw the Conoco name.

That was the first thing that came to my mind when I saw the Conoco name.

When I think affiliate, I think of subsidiary companies or companies otherwise under the same ownership, So I don't think They would be considered an affiliate. However as it pertains to the 4th and Gaylord property, an LLC owned by SD could have bought the property as a holding group for CP or another entity. Chesapeake did something similar for Riata/Sandridge and Devon sold its old tower to Harorld Hamm's holding company. While it wouldn't be exactly the same or likely, similar things have happened.

So say Conoco does indeed move up here...How many people are they bringing? That would seem to me to be a huge factor in determining what kind of space they need...if downtown is likely etc.

Does Conoco have the cash to buy Chesapeake? If so, would a purchase and consolidation/relocation simply mean CHK's campus balloons?

No one wants to step into cheasapeakes mess unless cheasapeake is really close to bankruptcy and stock gets to about half of what it is now. Thier contracts and debt make it very prohibitive to take over at anywhere near its current market valuation.

OK, no matter what half of ConocoPhillips moves here, I can see it creating a HQ that would require new diggs, but remember, there are energy companies like Gulfport (Top 5 business in the state of Oklahoma for the past couple of years) that don't require massive amounts of space or require a skyscraper. Don't get me wrong, I hope we see this "North American Headquarters", albeit CP or whoever, come in and take care of business.

I'd like to see something in the 500 foot range but resembles something like Mid-Continent Tower in Tulsa. Since that was added in the early 80's, it's possible to still construct something new but harkening back to hundred year old architectural styles. I guess I just wished they had never ruined the Petroleum Building (Dowell Center).

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/Old%20Oklahoma%20City/Petroleum%20Building/petroleumbuilding1947.jpg

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j286/UnFrSaKn/Old%20Oklahoma%20City/Petroleum%20Building/petroleumbuilding1953-3.jpg

Of course something 21st Century modern is fine too but I'd hope it's iconic either way.

Not to upset the apple cart, but if Conoco wants the Stage Center site, I don't see how anyone could complain about that. That would be a better and higher use for that location.

Actually ConocoPhillips was first brought up in post #16 on this thread.

I'm in town and on the prowl...

Hopefully after some meetings this week I can throw some gas (as opposed to cold water) on the fire. :)

Some.....Natural Gas?

Enjoy your stay Pete!

If ConocoPhillips does relocate to downtown Oklahoma City consolidating its operations, and building a new skyscraper, it would be a game changer for downtown Oklahoma City, maybe more than Devon's impact. The reason I say that is because to have a major Fortune 500 company relocate from Houston to Oklahoma City, says a lot more about Oklahoma City's and Oklahoma's economy, rather than a local company building a new headquarters. However, Devon could have a hand in ConocoPhillips wanting to relocate here anyways...lol

I would love for this I happen...but I can't see them moving. I would love to be wrong though.

Also I believe Phillips66 has already annouced building plan for new HQ in Houston.

I would love for this I happen...but I can't see them moving. I would love to be wrong though.

Also I believe Phillips66 has already annouced building plan for new HQ in Houston.

Exactly, Phillips 66 demerged from ConocoPhillips, and Phillips 66 is staying in Houston, but the million dollar question now is ConocoPhillips relocating to Oklahoma City?

... but the million dollar question now is ConocoPhillips relocating to Oklahoma City?

Probably more like a "billion dollar question"!
:eek:

Does anyone know what went on at the Devon ceremony this week? Any ConocoPhillips people in attendance? For some reason I have a hunch that Devon's deal this week holds the key to a lot of this.

By the way, who wants to guess what architecture firm designed CP's current Houston HQ...

I'm in town and on the prowl...

Hopefully after some meetings this week I can throw some gas (as opposed to cold water) on the fire. :)

Hey Pete I sent a PM.

Does anyone know what went on at the Devon ceremony this week? Any ConocoPhillips people in attendance? For some reason I have a hunch that Devon's deal this week holds the key to a lot of this.

By the way, who wants to guess what architecture firm designed CP's current Houston HQ...

Pickard Chilton

For something like this to happen, you'd need to look for a fairly large block of space for temporary digs for C/P.

That's where Beffort comes in and why he would be in the know. Where is there a fairly large block that would be readily available ?

For something like this to happen, you'd need to look for a fairly large block of space for temporary digs for C/P.

That's where Beffort comes in and why he would be in the know. Where is there a fairly large block that would be readily available ?

it wouldn't have to ... the announce a move .. start building and move into the new office in 2 years ... and just have some limited space for a transition team in the mean time

it wouldn't have to ... the announce a move .. start building and move into the new office in 2 years ... and just have some limited space for a transition team in the mean time

They actually have a regional office on 63rd and Broadway extension. But remember how Continental leased space in the Corporate tower for a group of lawyers etc to get it started.

Just curious.. On a scale of 1-10, how likely is this????(Conoco Phillips relocation)

Just curious.. On a scale of 1-10, how likely is this????(Conoco Phillips relocation)

-1.

-1.

Not according to some people apparently "in the know" here.