We know that someone was taking soil samples at the BofA site last week. Does anyone know who that was?

Well I heard a rumor a couple of weeks back that we would be hearing something about OG&E soon and I thought it was prob. the old bank Site. Well now we know where OG&E will be so now we look to this site for the mystery builder. If they are doing soil samples then someone def. has some plans. So this is the new mystery site for now I guess. Who is it? I really want to know!

So do we need to start a new mystery tower thread or is this one gonna be used for any tower speculation?

So do we need to start a new mystery tower thread or is this one gonna be used for any tower speculation?

I think we should keep this one, but I'm biased( check who started this thread)!

I think we should keep it but rename it to "Next Tower" or something to that effect...

We've still got the Preftakes block to speculate widely about. :)

We've still got the Preftakes block to speculate widely about. :)

That's the site the mother of all towers will be built. What should we name it? Preflakes tower?

From Steve over at OKC Central -

More Towers Are Coming* | News OK (http://newsok.com/more-towers-are-coming/article/3915397)

He's very positive about 2 or 3 more towers, and that some are already into the development stages...

This has to be the BOA block and Preftakes block.

Let's say for a moment that we are definitely getting 3 towers. You have the convention center hotel, presumably on the convention center block. You have a Devon expansion on the preftakes block presumably. Who is the third, presumably on the BofA site? From elsewhere in this forum, I'm under the impression Enable is staying put in Leadership, Continental is not ready to build yet, Sandridge isn't expanding any time soon, Chesapeake isn't coming downtown, AEP isn't coming downtown, Ward, Inc. isn't ready for a tower (but when they are they'd probably build on 4th/EKG), Midfirst is happy with buying up old Chesapeake space, OG&E is now accounted for, and American Fidelity is good with their new DOK digs. Who's left realistically?

(Would this be that long rumored out of state HQ relocation?)

^

New company moving in plus tons of demand for spec space.

Remember, the commercial lending market is finally coming back to life and OKC is viewed as a very safe bet these days.

Let's say for a moment that we are definitely getting 3 towers. You have the convention center hotel, presumably on the convention center block. You have a Devon expansion on the preftakes block presumably. Who is the third, presumably on the BofA site? From elsewhere in this forum, I'm under the impression Enable is staying put in Leadership, Continental is not ready to build yet, Sandridge isn't expanding any time soon, Chesapeake isn't coming downtown, AEP isn't coming downtown, Ward, Inc. isn't ready for a tower (but when they are they'd probably build on 4th/EKG), Midfirst is happy with buying up old Chesapeake space, OG&E is now accounted for, and American Fidelity is good with their new DOK digs. Who's left realistically?

(Would this be that long rumored out of state HQ relocation?)

A spec tower or housing is always a possibility. Who knows, AKM and Tom Ward love downtown, real estate, and partnered (kind of) to purchase the Kerr McGee Building, maybe they will partner for a spec or mixed use tower on the EK Gaylord and 4th location with Tapstone as a tenant. AKM wanted to office near CHK and loves to remind them that AEP is "Still Hiring" with billboards in and out of the CHK campus area...maybe Ward wants to do the same. That would be too funny..

Pete, agreed, but I presume when OG&E moves out that space gets renovated to Class A if it isn't already and goes on the market...

Let's say for a moment that we are definitely getting 3 towers. You have the convention center hotel, presumably on the convention center block. You have a Devon expansion on the preftakes block presumably. Who is the third, presumably on the BofA site? From elsewhere in this forum, I'm under the impression Enable is staying put in Leadership, Continental is not ready to build yet, Sandridge isn't expanding any time soon, Chesapeake isn't coming downtown, AEP isn't coming downtown, Ward, Inc. isn't ready for a tower (but when they are they'd probably build on 4th/EKG), Midfirst is happy with buying up old Chesapeake space, OG&E is now accounted for, and American Fidelity is good with their new DOK digs. Who's left realistically?

(Would this be that long rumored out of state HQ relocation?)

Pete, do you have any idea at all (I'll settle for your best guess) as to who the out-of-state relocation might be?

Pete, do you have any idea at all (I'll settle for your best guess) as to who the out-of-state relocation might be?

And so it begins :cool:

So, quick question, what is the address of the BofA block?

It's the 300 block of North Hudson... well, that's the parking lot. Not sure about the BofA structure itself.


Edit:
Bank of America‎
415 Robert S Kerr Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK 73102

Ahh, that makes more sense. My previous searching was turning up a location two blocks east of there that made zero sense for a new tower.

Here is that "B of A" parcel:

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

You think they would really take up the whole block?

Do we think the automotive shop would go bye bye if something is built on that block? Cause I could see this being the southern half and the NE quadrant...L shaped.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say the out of state relocation is going to be the International Olympic Committee.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say the out of state relocation is going to be the International Olympic Committee.

I smell sarcasm...

Yeah and they're going to build a tower with all that bribe money.

Pete, do you have any idea at all (I'll settle for your best guess) as to who the out-of-state relocation might be?

No, I really don't. This has all been strangely quiet.

Regarding the BofA lot, remember anything that gets built downtown has to provide it's own parking. And if it's going to be a tall building, they will need a lot.

No, I really don't. This has all been strangely quiet.

Regarding the BofA lot, remember anything that gets built downtown has to provide it's own parking. And if it's going to be a tall building, they will need a lot.

So, from your sources, do you feel like it's going to be another tower; or should we just continue to focus on Preftakes property, on your opinion?

Something is happening on that BofA property because we have photos of them taking a core soil sample last week.

It's the perfect site for an office tower.

Something is happening on that BofA property because we have photos of them taking a core soil sample last week.

It's the perfect site for an office tower.

It wouldn't surprise me to see this tower begin in the same time frame that the new OG&E tower does. I think it'd be dang cool to have 2 towers going up at the same time on the same block. Being next to the MOA, this is a prime location.

Steve had made the comment to look around at what is being done where, which I think is his reference to the main street parking garage construction. Which could play into either Preftakes or BOA sites.

It wouldn't surprise me to see this tower begin in the same time frame that the new OG&E tower does. I think it'd be dang cool to have 2 towers going up at the same time on the same block. Being next to the MOA, this is a prime location.

Steve had made the comment to look around at what is being done where, which I think is his reference to the main street parking garage construction. Which could play into either Preftakes or BOA sites.

In 2014 the official bird of downtown OKC is going to be the Construction Crane. Rarely seen in OKC over the last 40 years it has found a plentiful feeding ground. Downtown OKC Inc. should pick up on this. The cranes will stretch along Sheridan from Classen in the west to Lincoln in the east (a distance of 1.5 miles). Downtown will go from a few blocks of urban fabric to 1.5 miles.

If I were laying a bet on the table, I'd go with Continental Resources as being the next major tenant for a large tower that would rival Devon. I'd say in the next 5 - 7 years. This is just my own speculation on what will drive it, which will be their massive SCOOP and Bakken plays.

This is just my thoughts, I have zero information other than what I've read about their business.

I would have disagreed until I read the SCOOP news....

Yes, I believe they were originally interested in the Stage Center site but never bid on it. Timing just wasn't right.

But they are blowing and going and will soon be out of space, with very little available downtown.

I imagine they will do something similar to Devon: Build new and then sell or lease their existing building.

Yes, I believe they were originally interested in the Stage Center site but never bid on it. Timing just wasn't right.

But they are blowing and going and will soon be out of space, with very little available downtown.

I imagine they will do something similar to Devon: Build new and then sell or lease their existing building.

Any guesses on how many stories their new digs will be?

Any guesses on how many stories their new digs will be?

I'd say about 95 ....... J/K..

As far as anyone knows this could be several years down the road, just pure speculation at this point.

Given how the reaction to the Stage Center thread has been, maybe the emotional members should not be guessing about the height.

Given how the reaction to the Stage Center thread has been, maybe the emotional members should not be guessing about the height.

Well that would certainly spoil all of the fun for the posters and their detractors. LOL

Well that would certainly spoil all of the fun for the posters and their detractors. LOL

It would most certainly lead to mass suicide if their predictions did not become real.

It would most certainly lead to mass suicide if their predictions did not become real.

I suspect we have lost a few already. LOL

It would most certainly lead to mass suicide if their predictions did not become real.
If only they could find a building tall enough to jump from...

If only they could find a building tall enough to jump from...

They can hold hands and jump off the Holiday Inn Express in unison.

They can hold hands and jump off the Holiday Inn Express in unison.

Holiday Inn is not tall enough. We need a real skyscraper:D

But how would we get another 5600 posts on this thread?


Given how the reaction to the Stage Center thread has been, maybe the emotional members should not be guessing about the height.

They can hold hands and jump off the Holiday Inn Express in unison.
I remember when there was a 3 or 4 story Holiday Inn in Downtown. I
played some gigs there. I believe it's called something else right now,.

Maybe it's a kind of convention center.

I remember when there was a 3 or 4 story Holiday Inn in Downtown. I
played some gigs there. I believe it's called something else right now,.

Maybe it's a kind of convention center.

I believe you're thinking about the building on Main Street that is just west of the Montgomery (The old Montgomery Ward Store). I'm very sure that it was a Holiday Inn at one time but is taller than what you're thinking about.

I've always thought that the Stage Center was a monstrosity. I've gigged
in it many times and I can tell you that it of obsolete from the very
beginning. It should have been built AT LEAST 4x's as big be to be
anywhere near usable.

It's a waste. Take some photos, tear it down and build something useful
in it's place. Like a parking lot or a storm drain.

In 2014 the official bird of downtown OKC is going to be the Construction Crane. Rarely seen in OKC over the last 40 years it has found a plentiful feeding ground. Downtown OKC Inc. should pick up on this. The cranes will stretch along Sheridan from Classen in the west to Lincoln in the east (a distance of 1.5 miles). Downtown will go from a few blocks of urban fabric to 1.5 miles.

Not to seem dismissive, but how do you go from a few blocks to 1.5 miles with just a handful of projects, many speculative at the moment and most, from what I've seen, on the smallish side sans the stage center tower. 1.5 miles quite a distance, especially in development terms. The densest park of the south Strip in Vegas is about 1.5 miles and that took decades to build out and that includes multi-billion dollar projects like City Centre.

I'm genuinely curious about that proclamation.

I believe you're thinking about the building on Main Street that is just west of the Montgomery (The old Montgomery Ward Store). I'm very sure that it was a Holiday Inn at one time but is taller than what you're thinking about.
You are correct. It was Holiday Inn. I used to play there and swim as a child. One of my friends father was the general manager and the lived on site.

You are correct. It was Holiday Inn. I used to play there and swim as a child. One of my friends father was the general manager and the lived on site.

It was def. a Holiday Inn. Got kicked out of there one night for having a party and making too much noise. Mid-late 70s

It is this building:

Institute in Basic Life Principles (old Holiday Inn) - OKCTalk (http://www.okctalk.com/showwiki.php?title=Institute+in+Basic+Life+Princip les+old+Holiday+Inn&highlight=institute)

Was a Holiday Inn until sometime in the late 80's, early 90's.

It is this building:

Institute in Basic Life Principles (old Holiday Inn) - OKCTalk (http://www.okctalk.com/showwiki.php?title=Institute+in+Basic+Life+Princip les+old+Holiday+Inn&highlight=institute)

Was a Holiday Inn until sometime in the late 80's, early 90's.
I am surprised that it has not been sold and brought back to being a hotel. It is a good location. I have been in there a few times and it is in sound shape.

The current owners seem to make active use of it.

Parking lot always seems full with lots of people coming and going.

They bought it after the hotel closed doors in the midst of the oil bust.

They have some affiliation with promise keepers. They have youth groups that stay there from time to time. They also have a meeting space. I think that the Lions Club used it for their meeting for a while as well.

It was def. a Holiday Inn. Got kicked out of there one night for having a party
and making too much noise. Mid-late 70s
Hey, I was probably playing at that party.

It is this building:

Institute in Basic Life Principles (old Holiday Inn) - OKCTalk (http://www.okctalk.com/showwiki.php?title=Institute+in+Basic+Life+Princip les+old+Holiday+Inn&highlight=institute)

Was a Holiday Inn until sometime in the late 80's, early 90's.
That was the Holiday Inn decades ago. A former violin student of mine
lives there, now. I don't know when it changed. But I played there in
the 70's and early 80's.

Any updates on the Mystery Tower? Height, Location, etc?

I seem to recall Steve saying in his chat a few weeks ago that we'd not likely hear anything new until after the Festival of the Arts.

I seem to recall Steve saying in his chat a few weeks ago that we'd not likely hear anything new until after the Festival of the Arts.

...and when is the date for that event? Please remember that all of us are "from" OKC... and not there now. Thanks!

22-27 April

22-27 April

I'm liking your time keeping style... :)

I seem to recall Steve saying in his chat a few weeks ago that we'd not likely hear anything new until after the Festival of the Arts.

I'm sure he was talking about Stage Center Tower.

They have all the required permits and can demolish at any time. I'm sure they wanted to wait until after the festival for obvious reasons.

I'm liking your time keeping style... :)

That's what 17 years as a defense contractor gets you. My devices are using 24hr time as well.

That's what 17 years as a defense contractor gets you. My devices are using 24hr time as well.

It's easier.

I do all my dates and time the same way.