Absolutely NOT Hertz.

Hertz has the equivilent of about 16 floors of a typical building in OKC combined.....plus they are cutting back on their reservation space.. they now have a lot of the agents operate out of their own house.Hertz also just announced their new HQ going to the Ft Myers area.

Yes - hence the consolidate their workforce issue. As for the Ft Meyers headquarter, they are building it with incentives which are also available to companies moving into downtown OKC, even if it is from suburban OKC. Also, Hertz just acquired a Tulsa workforce.

According the OKC Chamber Hertz has nearly 1700 local employees.

Guys, I just don't know if any other company fits the narrative that is unfolding.

OG+E is super spread out. Different corporate offices here and there, including the one by the METRO bus transfer at NW 5th and Harvey. Tons of technical workers in little metal warehouses near I-35 and SE 15th.

OG+E has been saving a ton of money on overhead in the last few decades. I guess they're ready to plan for the future and look more like a real company. I first started hearing about OG+E's very real efforts about 2-3 years ago, including from a friend in the energy sector who asked me if I knew anything, and then from a family friend at a funeral. My money has always been on OG+E.

So now let's roll... I would expect an announcement at the end of this week or next week. Pete, pardon me for such an elementary question... but is there a way for this alley ROW to be closed in a secret meeting? I know they can and will form an LLC to obfuscate what company needs it closed. It just seems like the tell-tale sign of announcement timing would be seeing the ROW closure appear on a docket.

Take my word, it's NOT Hertz, trust me on this one.

Don't think it's the Enogex/Centerpointe entity because I was told emphatically the Stage Center tower will be "a local company consolidating their operations" and would not represent new jobs for the area.

However, the second tower would involve new jobs so that could be the Enogex deal.

This is quite the mystery, I know we've been told NO....but is this Continental, consolidating their other 3 companies from Enid within a new HQ ?

If Hertz wants to move its Tulsa addition here, they have lots of ground to build on adjacent to their current building at QS. I believe they originally planned to expand it anyway. I can't see them building a new and more expensive tower.

Guys, I just don't know if any other company fits the narrative that is unfolding.

OG+E is super spread out. Different corporate offices here and there, including the one by the METRO bus transfer at NW 5th and Harvey. Tons of technical workers in little metal warehouses near I-35 and SE 15th.

OG+E has been saving a ton of money on overhead in the last few decades. I guess they're ready to plan for the future and look more like a real company.

Well, I stated in another post a long time ago my ex GF worked for them (now Enogex) and stated they were not renewing their leases on their current office space. But this was nearly a year ago.

The only reason I see that this is not OGE is as a public utility they are highly regulated. I have some doubts about how okay their stockholders and the OCC are in a public utility getting involved in a massive real estate development. But if they can make it work more power to them.

And you've had good inside info. about MidFirst in the past, such as them taking a run at the OPUBCO properties.

So, it sounds like it's not MidFirst. I guess we are down to OG&E?

So two sources saying it's not MidFirst. I'm still not willing to rule out Continential yet, so my guess would be down to them and OG&E

If Hertz wants to move its Tulsa addition here, they have lots of ground to build on adjacent to their current building at QS. I believe they originally planned to expand it anyway. I can't see them building a new and more expensive tower.

Hertz has 5 floors at the Data Center on NW EXPY. The last I heard, most of top floor of building 2 was empty...but that's been a couple of years ago.

Working this mystery tower riddle backwards, approximately how many employees would the speculated tower handle. Granted there are many things we don't know, but what is known is a 40 story tower approximately the same diameter as the Devon tower. Let's take away 1 floor for IT, 1 floor for lobby and perhaps a restaurant and 1 more floor for grins and giggles. So anyone care to speculate on how many employees a 37 story tower would accommodate?


To answer an earlier question CHK and Hobby Lobby are tied for number of employees at 4,000 each. Mid First is listed at having 1,150 employees, their mortgage department isn't listed as the survey seem to list those with a thousand and above employees.

Here is the link to the Greater OKC major employees list. Greater Oklahoma City Economic Development - Major Employers (http://www.greateroklahomacity.com/index.php?src=directory&view=employers)

OG+E is listed at 3,450 not sure how many of those work in the downtown office.

Of interest from that list is Farmers Ins Grp with 1500 employees, do they need to consolidate?

Farmers just built a new building like a year or two ago by rockwell & memorial

I asked OG&E via their Facebook Page if they are planning on building a tower downtown and they replied no. :) Take that for what it's worth with a huge 'ole grain of salt.

I highly doubt they're going to say "why yes we are!" to some regular Joe's like us lol.

Guys, I just don't know if any other company fits the narrative that is unfolding.

OG+E is super spread out. Different corporate offices here and there, including the one by the METRO bus transfer at NW 5th and Harvey. Tons of technical workers in little metal warehouses near I-35 and SE 15th.

OG+E has been saving a ton of money on overhead in the last few decades. I guess they're ready to plan for the future and look more like a real company. I first started hearing about OG+E's very real efforts about 2-3 years ago, including from a friend in the energy sector who asked me if I knew anything, and then from a family friend at a funeral. My money has always been on OG+E.

So now let's roll... I would expect an announcement at the end of this week or next week. Pete, pardon me for such an elementary question... but is there a way for this alley ROW to be closed in a secret meeting? I know they can and will form an LLC to obfuscate what company needs it closed. It just seems like the tell-tale sign of announcement timing would be seeing the ROW closure appear on a docket.

OG&E has an extremely good handle on the Corporation Commission. They would be building the HQ with their profits; I don't believe it would be considered contributed capital that would then go into rate making. The OCC would want to make sure that it doesn't impact their ability to fund activities on a day-to-day basis, but I think politically it's a defensible position.

The California easement is a City of OKC issue and I'm sure it's being handled behind closed doors.

At some point the final decision may need to take place at a public hearing, but I'm sure by then it would just be a formality.

The California easement is a City of OKC issue and I'm sure it's being handled behind closed doors.

At some point the final decision may need to take place at a public hearing, but I'm sure by then it would just be a formality.

It will be listed as 'Company X' more than likely.

The California easement is a City of OKC issue and I'm sure it's being handled behind closed doors.

At some point the final decision may need to take place at a public hearing, but I'm sure by then it would just be a formality.

Yeah. An easement has to go to Planning Commission (two hearings, I think - Intro and Final), and then City Council (same two hearings). But if they developers are smart, they work out all the political kinks before approaching the bodies, not after.

At almost every public meeting there are confidential items on the agenda.

The Planning Commission may have already looked this over.

At almost every public meeting there are confidential items on the agenda.

The Planning Commission may have already looked this over.

i don't think rezoning or the closing of easements can be done with confidential items ... i believe they have to be public hearings ..

i don't think rezoning or the closing of easements can be done with confidential items ... i believe they have to be public hearings ..

Correct. The name of the entity requesting it may be hidden (via LLC, etc), but the action itself cannot be done that way.

But couldn't it be discussed in private before formal action is taken? That's what I meant.

Surely it's OGE. Between the fact that sources have said no to CLR and MidFirst, and no source has outright said no to OGE (Only the assumption that the lot is too high-profile...and that is, in fact, an assumption) coupled with the probability that the 2nd mystery tower is likely the MLP, and that OGE and the MLP have a major connection and would ostensibly be benefitted by building on the same lot, it just seems so obvious that OGE is the company.

I'm going to wager on a July 3rd/4th announcement. Probably the 3rd, as it seems a particularly high-profile day to announce such a development, going into what will be a 4 day weekend for many.

But couldn't it be discussed in private before formal action is taken? That's what I meant.

Oh, yes, you are correct about that.

Surely it's OGE. Between the fact that sources have said no to CLR and MidFirst, and no source has outright said no to OGE (Only the assumption that the lot is too high-profile...and that is, in fact, an assumption)

Just to be clear, I had heard from someone who has been following this that OG&E ruled out the Stage Center site.

That may have changed, but it was for this reason that I had discounted them as a likely candidate to develop that site.

Surely it's OGE. Between the fact that sources have said no to CLR and MidFirst, and no source has outright said no to OGE (Only the assumption that the lot is too high-profile...and that is, in fact, an assumption) coupled with the probability that the 2nd mystery tower is likely the MLP, and that OGE and the MLP have a major connection and would ostensibly be benefitted by building on the same lot, it just seems so obvious that OGE is the company.

I'm going to wager on a July 3rd/4th announcement. Probably the 3rd, as it seems a particularly high-profile day to announce such a development, going into what will be a 4 day weekend for many.

I stated this same correlation in post #4277. It has to be OG&E.

A mystery within a mystery.

Just to be clear, I had heard from someone who has been following this that OG&E ruled out the Stage Center site.

That may have changed, but it was for this reason that I had discounted them as a likely candidate to develop that site.

Right. I think since this thread was started in 02/12, every entity has probably been believably ruled out at some point. But this close to an announcement, we haven't had anybody recently come out and say it's not OGE. I'm not sure when you heard it, but I would think that much has changed over the last year in terms of site location.

Plus, depending on the timeline of the MLP, OGE may have originally decided against considering this site, but reneged on that decision after the MLP's headquarters location was ostensibly determined to be in OKC. It seems like it would be a hard site for OGE to develop by itself, but with an $11B company as a co-tenant on the lot, that reality may have been negated.

While it would be nice to know WHO I have to say that part is much less interesting to me than the fact it looks pretty solid that we will be getting a pretty tall building on that site.

I'm pretty sure it's a local company so there is no real business / job news involved, so the real story is the building and development itself.

IF it is OG&E, I am curious how many people will complain that they are building a new HQ and not offering lower rates to their customers... I can see the newsok article comments now.

IF it is OG&E, I am curious how many people will complain that they are building a new HQ and not offering lower rates to their customers... I can see the newsok article comments now.

Yes. NewsOK comment section is the most predictable comment section on a website that I have ever encountered. I thought it may have gotten less extreme when they switched to facebook login - nope.

I say they just rename it the Suburban-middle-class-white-conservative-forum.

Teo, are you speculating that there will be two towers (eventually) to the west of the Myriad Gardens - one for OG&E (Mystery #1) and then another one for the MLP (Mystery #2)?

i don't think rezoning or the closing of easements can be done with confidential items ... i believe they have to be public hearings ..

That's what my question was trying to get to the gist of. Thanks cafeboeuf..

Another question, Pete: Do you have any idea if the ED talks behind locating another new headquarters (relocation from out of state) is still looking positive?

Teo, are you speculating that there will be two towers (eventually) to the west of the Myriad Gardens - one for OG&E (Mystery #1) and then another one for the MLP (Mystery #2)?

Pure speculation, yes. Everything seems to fit that narrative pretty well with what established sources have posted on this thread and information Steve has given us.

I wouldn't really bet money on it until I knew whether or not the MLP was going to be headquartered in OKC. But for OGE to change it's mind on considering the SC site surely something big happened to make that a possibility.

One thing's for sure -- Steve has been interestingly absent since Pete broke the Stage Center news.

He did tweet this today however...

Steve's OKC Central @stevelackmeyer

Good grief... I can't begin to explain how crazy downtown development is right now behind the scenes. Get ready...
10:46 AM - 11 Jun 2013

One thing's for sure -- Steve has been interestingly absent since Pete broke the Stage Center news.

He's on a self-imposed ban from OKCTalk. Hopefully he'll come back before too long.

One thing's for sure -- Steve has been interestingly absent since Pete broke the Stage Center news.

You need to go read the SpringHill Suites thread.

Jack a bunch of content from his blog with no credit. He will be back.


Just kidding :Smiley063

That's what my question was trying to get to the gist of. Thanks cafeboeuf..

Another question, Pete: Do you have any idea if the ED talks behind locating another new headquarters (relocation from out of state) is still looking positive?

My ED sources are saying that a company that is already here locally is bringing in other operations. Not sure if this is the mystery tower but this is definitely happening.

Pure speculation, yes. Everything seems to fit that narrative pretty well with what established sources have posted on this thread and information Steve has given us.

I wouldn't really bet money on it until I knew whether or not the MLP was going to be headquartered in OKC. But for OGE to change it's mind on considering the SC site surely something big happened to make that a possibility.

Twin towers, maybe? That would be something else.

He did tweet this today however...

Steve's OKC Central @stevelackmeyer

Good grief... I can't begin to explain how crazy downtown development is right now behind the scenes. Get ready...
10:46 AM - 11 Jun 2013

News at eleven. Nice tease.

He did tweet this today however...

Steve's OKC Central @stevelackmeyer

Good grief... I can't begin to explain how crazy downtown development is right now behind the scenes. Get ready...
10:46 AM - 11 Jun 2013

He also said there will be articles in the Oklahoman on new downtown development every day this week. Then this tweet later:

@stevelackmeyer: By the time this week is done, I will have written about more than $100 million in new downtown development. Ponder that.
6/11/13, 4:48 PM

I HOPE it's more than a hunnerd mil.

Whatever Steve is selling - I'm buying.

He did tweet this today however...

Steve's OKC Central @stevelackmeyer

Good grief... I can't begin to explain how crazy downtown development is right now behind the scenes. Get ready...
10:46 AM - 11 Jun 2013

I got goosebumps. I hope my brain explodes when the details come out!

I HOPE it's more than a hunnerd mil.

Had to laugh. I read that post and instantly flashed on Steve wearing silver and doing a Dr. Evil spoof.

After all, it wasn't all that long ago that one hun-dred millllllll-ion dollars was a big deal round these parts.

If Continental isn't building a tower anytime soon..where are they placing their employees as they have to be busting at the seams by now or soon to be within the next 12 months I would assume given their growth.

I'm excited to see who is the first company to make a big announcement about a tower soon as it seems someone is going to.

I've heard that Continental has put Crowe & Dunlevy on notice they will not be renewing their lease, which I believe expires in 2015.

C&D has four floors in the Continental building: 16 through 19.

Yeah cause $100 million is 7.5 times less what Devon dropped on their headquarters. He said that to tease anyone that thinks he's talking about a mystery tower. What he's talking about is probably small cookies and multiple properties that the average Joe is not aware of.

Steve is probably referencing Maywood Phase II, the East Bricktown development and House of Bedlam developments set to be shown at tomorrow's Bricktown Design Review Committee, and a couple of other things.

I hope some of it are projects not previously announced.

Yeah cause $100 million is 7.5 times less what Devon dropped on their headquarters. He said that to tease anyone that thinks he's talking about a mystery tower. What he's talking about is probably small cookies and multiple properties that the average Joe is not aware of.

I doubt he said that to tease anyone about the mystery tower. He doesn't tweet promos like that everyday, so for him to tweet that makes me think he's about to report some legit stuff happening downtown. Or what Pete said.

Maywood Phase II is going to be $15M+, and East Bricktown is estimated ~$75M, so there's definitely some room for several nice projects in there. Would like to hear more concrete plans about some things going on in MidTown.

Yes, something big is brewing with the MidtownR people and the empty lots they own north of 10th.

Looking forward to learning more as they do fantastic work and it will be very interesting what they come up with from a blank slate rather than renovation.

My ED sources are saying that a company that is already here locally is bringing in other operations. Not sure if this is the mystery tower but this is definitely happening.

Boeing ???

I wondered earlier today if it was Boeing. But I just don't think it is.

One thing's for sure -- Steve has been interestingly absent since Pete broke the Stage Center news.

Steve is probably busy already writing the articles for the newspaper..

Yes, something big is brewing with the MidtownR people and the empty lots they own north of 10th.

Looking forward to learning more as they do fantastic work and it will be very interesting what they come up with from a blank slate rather than renovation.

This may have already been confirmed, but the Dust Bowl/Fassler Hall concept is should be announced before too long along 10th street just east of Brown's. It's my understanding that it'll be new construction even though that's not characteristic of Elliot Nelson's previous developments. That'll be a great concept.

So who is it? If its not oge or Midfirst?

Bancfirst?
http://www.okcommerce.gov/Libraries/Documents/Oklahoma-Major-Employers_1238.pdf

And since it is just 100 million that means we still don't know whether the new 125 million GE Energy Research Center is going to be in Norman or OKC.

Is one of the seemingly guaranteed "towers" now in doubt?: Oklahoma City convention center hotel study put on hold | News OK (http://newsok.com/oklahoma-city-convention-center-hotel-study-put-on-hold/article/3844480)

Is one of the seemingly guaranteed "towers" now in doubt?: Oklahoma City convention center hotel study put on hold | News OK (http://newsok.com/oklahoma-city-convention-center-hotel-study-put-on-hold/article/3844480)

Has nothing to do with the towers. Hotel will still be built. The council just doesn't want to pay 100k on research they could probably have done for way less.

Well finally we might get to see the secret chamber document that said we need a 2-phase convention center and large hotel. To echo Shadid's comments in the article, the hotel and second phase were suppressed in the MAPS III discussions. In fact, even the tripling of convention business doesn't happen until phase 2 is done. It was a typical political smoke and mirrors operation where the best possible out-come was pitched but only 1/3 of the cost was revealed. At least the streetcar group was up front that the MAPS III streetcar was only a starter system (while still being fully functional if next phases never materialized).

Well finally we might get to see the secret chamber document that said we need a 2-phase convention center and large hotel. To echo Shadid's comments in the article, the hotel and second phase were suppressed in the MAPS III discussions. In fact, even the tripling of convention business doesn't happen until phase 2 is done. It was a typical political smoke and mirrors operation where the best possible out-come was pitched but only 1/3 of the cost was revealed. At least the streetcar group was up front that the MAPS III streetcar was only a starter system (while still being fully functional if next phases never materialized).

I don't have the research to back it up, but I do remember hearing that the convention center would be phase 1 of 2 and that a hotel would be need to be subsidized after the initial proposals and before the vote actually happened. I voted yes knowing all of those things.