I'm surprised the city can't find someone who will go up and get that AT&T equipment if they get the salvage/scrap rights to it. I mean, there's gotta be some copper in there, right?

I got some clients who will do that for free.

Maybe they should take care of this guerilla style. You think AT&T would mind it "disappearing"?

I got some clients who will do that for free.

Are you a public defender?

Are you a public defender?

Yes sir.

8220

Like!

+1

Nice to see outside investors on this project.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S5

Nice to see outside investors on this project.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S5

Why exactly? So the money isn't circulated back in to our state?

Not that I'm complaining about this project, because I love it. I just don't see the benefit of out of state developers doing this project.

Why exactly? So the money isn't circulated back in to our state?

Not that I'm complaining about this project, because I love it. I just don't see the benefit of out of state developers doing this project.

Well it depends on the local developer but out of state developers seem to bring a new perspective on high quality urban design that some of ours lack. MidtownR = great, but others, including major offenders Randy Hogan, staybridge suites bro, and chris Johnson (though improving) obviously kinda suck. I'm not that knowledgable on urban design etc.. though so that is just my opinion.


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Well it depends on the local developer but out of state developers seem to bring a new perspective on high quality urban design that some of ours lack. MidtownR = great, but others, including major offenders Randy Hogan, staybridge suites bro, and chris Johnson (though improving) obviously kinda suck. I'm not that knowledgable on urban design etc.. though so that is just my opinion.


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That's a good point. But another aspect of it is, investors are always watching each other. If someone seems to be making good money; other investors ears perk up. If this is successful for Bomosada (Which I anticipate it will be); other investors will take notice and possibly want to look at developing here in OKC.

Our current urban developers are either maxed out on resources (hence why we've seen a slowing of announcements); or just not very experienced. Fresh eyes with money and experience can help bridge that gap.

Success breeds success.

That's a good point. But another aspect of it is, investors are always watching each other. If someone seems to be making good money; other investors ears perk up. If this is successful for Bomosada (Which I anticipate it will be); other investors will take notice and possibly want to look at developing here in OKC.

Our current urban developers are either maxed out on resources (hence why we've seen a slowing of announcements); or just not very experienced. Fresh eyes with money and experience can help bridge that gap.

Success breeds success.

Yeah i didn't think about investor success leading to other investors/projects...that's definitely a bigger deal.


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Well it depends on the local developer but out of state developers seem to bring a new perspective on high quality urban design that some of ours lack. MidtownR = great, but others, including major offenders Randy Hogan, staybridge suites bro, and chris Johnson (though improving) obviously kinda suck. I'm not that knowledgable on urban design etc.. though so that is just my opinion.


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+1

Though local developers seem to be improving, out of state developments like the Metropolitan will help raise the bar and if its successful, more out of state investors may be willing to take a look at this market.

If OKC is to ever get a high-rise residential skyscraper, its likely going to have to be financed by an out of state investor.

Well it depends on the local developer but out of state developers seem to bring a new perspective on high quality urban design that some of ours lack. MidtownR = great, but others, including major offenders Randy Hogan, staybridge suites bro, and chris Johnson (though improving) obviously kinda suck. I'm not that knowledgable on urban design etc.. though so that is just my opinion.


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Very good point. Outside of Midtown R and maybe a select few others, people need look no further than Lower Bricktown to see the kind of development we're often left with. Hopefully outside influence can help overcome this.

Very good point. Outside of Midtown R and maybe a select few others, people need look no further than Lower Bricktown to see the kind of development we're often left with. Hopefully outside influence can help overcome this.

To be fair, Randy Hogan's original proposal for Lower Bricktown was actually pretty nice. Like so many things in this town, what was proposed and what was built showed little resemblance to each other.

Why exactly? So the money isn't circulated back in to our state?

Not that I'm complaining about this project, because I love it. I just don't see the benefit of out of state developers doing this project.

That is on the back end. On the front end they are bringing new money to the City (~$45 million new dollars). When these units are finished and leased yes money will then flow out of the local economy but that will be off-set long-term by reducing urban sprawl. Just think, this is going to be 330 people who won't be watering a 1/3 to 1/2 acre yard. Hopefully, whatever profit is derived from this will be used to build something else near downtown.

I love development money flowing INTO Oklahoma City. Using only local money and expertise can be a real throttle. And, think of investment in development this way...once they build the project they can't just up and move it out of town. The valuable property stays. As well, they increase the value of all the locally owned business and real estate around them. Win, win.

PhiAlpha, thank you for expanding on my rather simple observation. You pretty much summed it up AND Catch, you made valid points as well! ;-)

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Generally speaking, the more free money you can get to enhance/build infrastructure in your municipality, the better.

One of the most fascinating things about Buenos Aires was that there were unbelievably beautiful, elegant, well-built, historic buildings all over the city even though it's not a particularly well to do city these days. It got so much outside investment from Europeans in the first half of the 20th century and a lot of those buildings are still standing and have been maintained well enough that the city looks and feels a lot richer than it is. It would be quite a bit less charming if it had never had that outside money in the first place…It's part of the reason why OKC razing all of our history (especially things like the Baum Building…which I will never get over) is so maddening. We really need outside money at this point if we're ever going to have a full urban landscape.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2h7nGpRRJUA

There were a couple of concrete trucks on site today. Also, the billboard on the east side of the property has been removed.

Did they remove the billboard only to replace it in due time? I remember that the plans included a little inlet on the east side of the structure for that billboard.

Trust me, I couldn't be happier if that billboard is gone forever...


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Did they remove the billboard only to replace it in due time? I remember that the plans included a little inlet on the east side of the structure for that billboard.

I believe that will ultimately be the case.

Anything new on this project?

Anything new on this project?
lots of dirt moving. I'll take a picture when I can

lots of dirt moving. I'll take a picture when I can

Let's see some dirt flying.

Let's see some dirt flying.dust storm? ;)

Growth energized through development. As ugly as the AT&T Tower is atop, it is among Oklahoma City's first skyscrapers; it still stands, much like the older original structures which formed the downtown skyline. Some of us dearly miss the old Huckins Hotel, Biltmore Hotel, Criterion Theater, Baum Building and Historic Stockyards Coliseum (destroyed by fire).

https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRkvWH6qUAWXVKEovykyIa75TOqXFsPt CbFHxcjWKWUXpllLXeR Huckins Hotel served as OKC's first state capitol building.

https://sp1.yimg.com/ib/th?id=HN.608021293229868973&pid=15.1&P=0 https://sp2.yimg.com/ib/th?id=HN.608049103149402706&pid=15.1&P=0 https://sp1.yimg.com/ib/th?id=HN.608045598461988253&pid=15.1&P=0
The 25 story (500 room) Biltmore Hotel in downtown OKC was imploded.
https://sp.yimg.com/ib/th?id=HN.607988114609014336&pid=15.1&P=0 https://sp1.yimg.com/ib/th?id=HN.608050284261015905&pid=15.1&P=0 https://sp2.yimg.com/ib/th?id=HN.608049777457695914&pid=15.1&P=0
The 'Criterion Theater' was the grand theater in Oklahoma City.
https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTC4szWeNu5eaQ5MTr_MqXQikKRgPVz0 h2kIUmIdCnJuxoY9Ah- http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/stockyards/coliseum1922s.jpg
https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTDwoeOitcRPwztKRGQRBQVQ5ASffMTu i1f6FYRpljLd_UZ88Hn https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRbL8KhAKqeCFHTj9xOiO96Q3416nIB6 DfU87malX0mOb_nyfNW https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRIFwENk0ptURiXM-Xjnkhjha4x-GkG0XTwLtOC0YdFXQdMT1lz

Yes, there were three amusement parks in Oklahoma City (current Frontier City Amusement Park), Wedgewood Village Amusement Park and Springlake Amusement Park. The wood rollercoaster at Wedgewood (center) was sold to Disney World in Orlando, Florida.


http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif "Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/images/smilies/okc.gif

Going up! Thanks to Will for the photo, as always:


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/metro091614.jpg

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3902/15146724157_515c14735d_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/p5sVov)
GE Global Research & Metropolitan (https://flic.kr/p/p5sVov) by lazio85 (https://www.flickr.com/people/77483833@N04/), on Flickr

9-23-14

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2942/15334465471_88d76d0494_b.jpg

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5614/15423631310_00b46946d7_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/puW9eL)
GE Research Center & Metropolitan (https://flic.kr/p/puW9eL) by lazio85 (https://www.flickr.com/people/77483833@N04/), on Flickr

^^that's super awesome! I always enjoy your birdseye view shots. Thanks Lazio!

Interesting to see this rising much faster than the GE site, which is heavily subsidized.

Interesting to see this rising much faster than the GE site, which is heavily subsidized.

One is also being developed to be for-rent, while the other one is owned by GE. The quicker they can start collecting rent payments the quicker they will recover their investment and pay off the financing.

Or attract an investor buyer to turnkey the site.

GE Global Research is already here, in the City Place tower. I noticed a lot more activity on the south side of their grounds this past week. The new off ramp for 10th is also in the mix, which could be part of the holdup.

Get put up a new fence. I don't see them opening at spring 2015 though.

The Metropolitan apartment complex takes shape near downtown Oklahoma City | News OK (http://newsok.com/the-metropolitan-apartment-complex-takes-shape-near-downtown-oklahoma-city/article/5363291)

11/24/2014

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7501/15681759198_c3cd8bf1a4_b.jpg

Thanks for the pics Pluto

Thanks for the pics PlutoNo prob. Pluto is still a planet! ;)

I cropped and labeled one of Will's photos which show several projects underway in one shot:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/neokc121614.jpg

I cropped and labeled one of Will's photos which show several projects underway in one shot:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/neokc121614.jpg

I thought about bringing my SLR to Vast but didn't want to disturb the other guests. No one minded me taking photos quietly with my phone but the zoom is much to be desired.

December 22 2014

https://www.flickr.com/photos/williamhider/sets/72157649472967669/

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8589/15460691824_c327bd7ab9_b.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7467/15897238507_9e19ddc36d_b.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7492/16081081241_f7029c19a5_h.jpg

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8661/15463344943_4b918e32ef_b.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7572/15896921009_aa991445f7_b.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7576/15897243167_399f679450_b.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7481/15895572378_7ff3b4a2a7_b.jpg

This thing is quietly filling out.

Still major props for no TIF - especially considering the area and its untapped potential.

This thing is quietly filling out.

Still major props for no TIF - especially considering the area and its untapped potential.

But this project did receive TIF money, if Im not mistaken.

But this project did receive TIF money, if Im not mistaken.

No, it definitely did not.

Here is a complete list of what projects have received TIF grants in the downtown area (and I specifically confirmed with the City that this project did not apply for TIF) :

TIF Districts - OKCTalk (http://www.okctalk.com/showwiki.php?title=TIF+Districts&highlight=tif#Where+TIF+2+dollars+have+been+spent)

Framing has started and they're building elevator shafts.

2/8/2015

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7311/16291434960_a83a785cff_b.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7409/16452857776_e32c15285f_b.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7457/16477900542_9de115467e_b.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7370/16477897792_99aafca614_b.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7397/16477898512_267e7ee4d5_b.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7415/16452861346_0bb479b85f_b.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7352/15856333664_a39b3c0e33_b.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7392/16292967137_15a553c2ed_b.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7337/16478867665_f5464d2c0a_b.jpg

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8676/16291435440_40255f2500_b.jpg

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7438/16292963317_933e03ec50_b.jpg

PluPan, you are killing it! Thanks for all the pictures.

PluPan, you are killing it! Thanks for all the pictures.

No doubt. Thanks to Plu and Will and everyone who goes out and takes these pictures. I love watching the progress of these projects in pictures.

Oh thank goodness. I didn't realize the structure would wrap all away around to the east side of the parking garage. It irritated me greatly driving down I235 & seeing that big blank grey wall.

well even if it didn't, if they'd do what Edge did with the south side where the garage is I'd be happy

A lot more progress since anyone last posted pics...

10362

10363

Good to see this project roaring ahead. I'm pretty impressed by what Bomasada actually delivers, so far here, and in Tulsa and other southern cities.

AND they didn't ask for TIF or any other public assistance.

AND they relied on their own capital sources to pull off the largest downtown housing project YET, which they're anxious to open.

Looks like they could use a gravel construction entrance or two.