In any event, this thread is close to going full stupid. No renderings are available to the public so this project must be dead, right?

I think the project was announced by the Oklahoman too soon. It should have not been announced until it was a done deal and a rendering available.

I think the project was announced by the Oklahoman too soon. It should have not been announced until it was a done deal and a rendering available.

Why? So the posters on this board are happier? I'm sure they have reasons for announcing when they did. There's so much we don't know.

I think the project was announced by the Oklahoman too soon. It should have not been announced until it was a done deal and a rendering available.

It is a done deal...we just don't have specifics. Why should the Oklahoma wait?

The only problem with how everything happened is that Rainey Williams said something to the effect of "We should have more details for you in 90 days" back in July. If he had just bought the property and not said anything about it, we wouldn't be able to speculate and talk about while 20 stories isn't tall enough, blah blah blah.

Remember, we broke the news the site was under contract...

So, word was getting out and it would have been completely public once the sale closed, due to the County Assessor site.

The story was already out so the purchaser (Rainey Williams) had to say something about his general plans. He kept things relatively vague on purpose because they had not even finalized the anchor tenants, which drives the size, design, etc.


Some people are just too impatient and have a hard time dealing with early, incomplete information that continues to evolve over time.

Not knowing everything all at once is the price you pay for tracking these things from the beginning.

Why does the developer have to say anything about his/her general plans? It's not like the sale is going to be revoked if s/he doesn't reveal the information.

Why does the developer have to say anything about his/her general plans? It's not like the sale is going to be revoked if s/he doesn't reveal the information.

Because we said so.


;)

Williams had to start greasing the PR skids for demolition permits.

Once he is ready to move forward -- which should be soon -- there are a lot of steps to go through and at least by now everyone has pretty much accepted that that structure is going away.

Williams had to start greasing the PR skids for demolition permits.

Once he is ready to move forward -- which should be soon -- there are a lot of steps to go through and at least by now everyone has pretty much accepted that that structure is going away.

It seems like to me that there are less people willing to accept a 20-story tower now than there were when he first announced the idea. People have weighed the exchange of iconic structure vs. 20-story office tower and some have decided 20 stories isn't really enough. If he had said nothing, people can't definitively say anything about the future. May as well wait till you have the flashy rendering before announcing plans/demolition, as it is, he's essentially announced demolition with no real plans given.

In any event, this thread is close to going full stupid. No renderings are available to the public so this project must be dead, right?


http://youtu.be/oAKG-kbKeIo

Remember, we broke the news the site was under contract...

So, word was getting out and it would have been completely public once the sale closed, due to the County Assessor site.

The story was already out so the purchaser (Rainey Williams) had to say something about his general plans. He kept things relatively vague on purpose because they had not even finalized the anchor tenants, which drives the size, design, etc.


Some people are just too impatient and have a hard time dealing with early, incomplete information that continues to evolve over time.

Not knowing everything all at once is the price you pay for tracking these things from the beginning.

Ok Pete, why were you looking straight at me when you wrote that? :eek:

It's true that I want to know everything, and by yesterday... if not sooner.

I have nothing that in any way, shape, or form resembles 'patience'. Does that make me a bad guy?
:)

I don't know if hip is the word I would describe their development. I like the vibe OKC has more. Omaha's developments aren't quite as diverse as ours. Theirs seem to be less hipster and more commercialized.


I do think that Raney could have had more companies wanting to relocate to his tower if he would have had a design to present. People are visual and need to see things before they make a massive move.

I definitely don't want OKC to be considered "hipster".

Depending on your definition of the word, Oklahoma City is quite possibly moving towards a variation of "hipster." We have a focus right now on local business rather than national franchises, especially when it comes to restaurants and retail downtown. I don't necessarily think it is a bad thing, because I would rather have a Red or Mickey Mantles downtown than a Texas Roadhouse or any of the other national steakhouses. I think it makes us more unique to have more local retail and dining and it is a large boost for our local economy.

I definitely don't want OKC to be considered "hipster".

Right now hipster cities are the places people want to live. They are the places on the cutting edge of culture with vibrant arts and music scenes. Think about what makes places like Portland, Seattle, Austin, Denver, and the Twin Cities so attractive. Think about how far along those places are in terms of core gentrification. They are the leaders of the current downtown redevelopment trend. Look at Louisville, a city of similar size and demographics to OKC that has become known as a hipster haven and how far along they are in terms of downtown gentrification and overall vibrancy. Downtown Louisville is nothing short of amazing for a city of only 1.3 million people - it gives larger cities a run for their money. Whether you like hipsters or identify with them or not, their presence is great for an urban area and is a pretty good indicator of how vibrant and desirable that area is for those looking for urban living.

Right now hipster cities are the places people want to live. They are the places on the cutting edge of culture with vibrant arts and music scenes. Think about what makes places like Portland, Seattle, Austin, Denver, and the Twin Cities so attractive. Think about how far along those places are in terms of core gentrification. They are the leaders of the current downtown redevelopment trend. Look at Louisville, a city of similar size and demographics to OKC that has become known as a hipster haven and how far along they are in terms of downtown gentrification and overall vibrancy. Downtown Louisville is nothing short of amazing for a city of only 1.3 million people - it gives larger cities a run for their money. Whether you like hipsters or identify with them or not, their presence is great for an urban area and is a pretty good indicator of how vibrant and desirable that area is for those looking for urban living.

Great post. It's fun and easy to make fun of hipsters sometimes, but I'm glad we have our hipster havens too, and I'm glad they're growing.

I definitely don't want OKC to be considered "hipster".

Why?

Hipsters are just trendy young people. I have never been trendy. I have never been accused of being "stylish". But I don't have a problem with those who are. I think OKC could definitely use some flash, and if we appeal to the young and trendy crowd, then so much the better.

The definition of Hipster is growing every day and it's starting to encompass a fairly wide swath of people…

I definitely don't want OKC to be considered "hipster".I agree with you on this one.

Maybe not, but it sure wouldn't hurt for OKC to continue to gain a little more "hipness".

I agree with you on this one.

Many of the amenities we all would like to see in OKC would likely come as a result of increased "hipness." Areas like Midtown, Uptown, and the Plaza are becoming what they are because of hipsters. You don't have to wear a beanie, listen to vinyl, sell your car, and drink PBR to enjoy the benefits of a more hip, vibrant community.

Many of the amenities we all would like to see in OKC would likely come as a result of increased "hipness." Areas like Midtown, Uptown, and the Plaza are becoming what they are because of hipsters. You don't have to wear a beanie, listen to vinyl, sell your car, and drink PBR to enjoy the benefits of a more hip, vibrant community.

This. I have no idea what the hipster convo has to do with the Stage Center Tower, but since we're all debating on hipsters, I'll agree with you, bchris02. I say bring on the hipsters. OKC needs a little more diversity in that sense anyway.

Being hip or being a hipster city factors 0% in the decisions of the new building on this site. More important were the hipsters living millions of years ago who died and became part of the pool of oil and gas.

I will offer a retraction if we get a 30 story recycled clothes store or it is home of a huge gaming company.

Being a city where college graduates and ambitious creative people want to go is important and helpful to our growth, certainly. But it is just one part of the formula. Heck, Midland is fast growing but about the least hipster town in the country. Go figure.

Being hip or being a hipster city factors 0% in the decisions of the new building on this site. More important were the hipsters living millions of years ago who died and became part of the pool of oil and gas.

I will offer a retraction if we get a 30 story recycled clothes store or it is home of a huge gaming company.

Being a city where college graduates and ambitious creative people want to go is important and helpful to our growth, certainly. But it is just one part of the formula. Heck, Midland is fast growing but about the least hipster town in the country. Go figure.

I am not sure how this conversation ended up being about hipsters either. It has no bearing on what happens with the tower. If anything, I would think the hipsters would be more interested in saving the Stage Center due to its historical and artistic value, something hipsters are generally into.

Being hip or being a hipster city factors 0% in the decisions of the new building on this site. More important were the hipsters living millions of years ago who died and became part of the pool of oil and gas.

I will offer a retraction if we get a 30 story recycled clothes store or it is home of a huge gaming company.

Being a city where college graduates and ambitious creative people want to go is important and helpful to our growth, certainly. But it is just one part of the formula. Heck, Midland is fast growing but about the least hipster town in the country. Go figure.

Maybe we'll get a tower with 30 floors of tattoo parlors........ LOL

Ladies and Gents, I don't think we need to get alarmed just because Omaha or Midland have development renderings and OKC does not. I'm very happy for them as this is good for the 'fly-over' section of the country as a whole. OKC doesn't need to feel inferior since it is one of the big dogs of the region due to its size being quite a bit bigger.

However, I do think it was not totally appropriate to post the OMA and MID developments in this thread. This is supposed to be about Stage Center Tower so something the other announcements should be elsewhere. Perhaps there needs to be a thread created to showcase developments outside of OKC and/or peer city developments.

One other thing, as Pete said I also enjoy Urban Omaha (I think that's his/her handle) updates about their city and I think he/she has been nothing but high class while also respecting (and even looking-up-to) OKC's development when they post here. I think it's nice when any city in the central US outside of the 'usual suspects' gets some good quality development.

I'd rather have hipsters than hip-hopsters. Sorry, couldn't resist... :tongue:

At my age being a hipster simply means both are still original equipment.

Someone say hipster?

http://i.imgur.com/1gPinEc.gif

At my age being a hipster simply means both are still original equipment.

<rimshot>

Someone say hipster?

http://i.imgur.com/1gPinEc.gif


Kenny Chesney left country music and rode into hipsterville yesterday.
Will they think his tractor is sexy?

Live chat:


I expect we will hear an update soon. I suspect if Williams seeks permission to demolish Stage Center without showing renderings, he will face a much bigger push-back from the Downtown Design Review Committee.

Not sure this is the best thread for this, but here we go. Has anyone else notice the ConocoPhillips ads on Newsok? Why would they begin an advertising presence in OKC? Thoughts?

Not sure this is the best thread for this, but here we go. Has anyone else notice the ConocoPhillips ads on Newsok? Why would they begin an advertising presence in OKC? Thoughts?

I don't have an answer, but I've seen CSX (east coast railroad carrier; think BNSF) advertisements on NewsOK.com before & the closest CSX's mainline comes to OKC is Memphis.

Not sure this is the best thread for this, but here we go. Has anyone else notice the ConocoPhillips ads on Newsok? Why would they begin an advertising presence in OKC? Thoughts?

There has been that rumor about Conoco relocating here for a couple of years now......I'm sure it's in the Mystery Tower thread.

If Conoco were to come back to Oklahoma this city is going to explode. It and other businesses might be just enough to get us a hub at our airport or maybe some type of Southwest expansion. I think it would make a lot of sense if we made them a deal they couldn't refuse. So much of the action is inland now instead of all off shore. Tulsa is a close port and with the pipelines now, I think the company would do great here.

ITS NOT CONOCOPHILLIPS! They have a huge complex in Houston and their branched off Phillips 66 is building a massive building across I-10.

Nothing to see here. Move on!

ITS NOT CONOCOPHILLIPS! They have a huge complex in Houston and their branched off Phillips 66 is building a massive building across I-10.

Nothing to see here. Move on!

I agree.

That would be awesome if it was and its fun to speculate, but it isn't going to happen. There is an old saying that if something seems too good to be true it probably is. ConocoPhillips relocating to OKC falls within that realm.

I don't know if hip is the word I would describe their development. I like the vibe OKC has more. Omaha's developments aren't quite as diverse as ours. Theirs seem to be less hipster and more commercialized.


I do think that Raney could have had more companies wanting to relocate to his tower if he would have had a design to present. People are visual and need to see things before they make a massive move.

I think Omaha has hipster covered. Their downtown has a UO.

I think Omaha has hipster covered. Their downtown has a UO.

Uno...

dos!

Tres?

Cuatro!

Yes?

Well played.

This thread is garbage, and the reason I don't read it is because its garbage! And the person who wrote it is garbage! None of this stuff IS TRUE!!! So get your facts straight. If you wanna talk about a tower, talk about Devon, its 50 (stories)!! That's all I've got to say, makes me want to puke....

http://www.thelostogle.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/mike-gundy.jpg

At least people can learn some Spanish by reading this thread.

Que dice?

This thread is garbage, and the reason I don't read it is because its garbage! And the person who wrote it is garbage! None of this stuff IS TRUE!!! So get your facts straight. If you wanna talk about a tower, talk about Devon, its 50 (stories)!! That's all I've got to say, makes me want to puke....

http://www.thelostogle.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/mike-gundy.jpgWell, at the very least, it gave you something to do for about 10 seconds ;)

This thread is garbage, and the reason I don't read it is because its garbage! And the person who wrote it is garbage! None of this stuff IS TRUE!!! So get your facts straight. If you wanna talk about a tower, talk about Devon, its 50 (stories)!! That's all I've got to say, makes me want to puke....

http://www.thelostogle.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/mike-gundy.jpg

I don't think it would have been reported in the Oklahoman if there was no chance of this tower happening. I myself am skeptical and will remain skeptical until I see a rendering, but as far as I know this project isn't completely dead yet.

It's not even a little dead.

The only issue is the final design / height and we'll almost certainly know that by next month.

I think Omaha has hipster covered. Their downtown has a UO.

I was actually thinking about this recently. Cities like Omaha, Louisville, Columbus, Austin, etc - cities that are very attractive to hipsters and the creative class - all have urban universities close to downtown and a high student population. This basically allows the combined effect of a college campus and its culture and young professional nightlife to create really cool, vibrant urban districts. I really wonder how different OKC would be if OU or UCO were close to downtown rather than in the burbs. That's another thread though and has little to do with the Stage Center Tower.

OKC has tons of universities in the metro area and two very close to the city center: OCU and the Health Sciences Center. Plus ACM@UCO in Bricktown and the new OCU Law school.

Then there is the largest university in the state only 20 miles away, UCO, OCC, OSU-OKC, Southern Nazerene, Oklahoma Christian, OKC Community College, Rose State, etc., etc.

OKC has tons of universities in the metro area and two very close to the city center: OCU and the Health Sciences Center. Plus ACM@UCO in Bricktown and the new OCU Law school.

Then there is the largest university in the state only 20 miles away, UCO, OCC, OSU-OKC, Southern Nazerene, Oklahoma Christian, OKC Community College, Rose State, etc., etc.

You are right. I forgot about OCU, which definitely qualifies as an urban university.

The Health Sciences Center has about 4,000 full-time students within a mile of downtown.

We should really keep a tab on the people who are saying this project is dead, isn't going to happen, this thread is stupid and pointless, etc., so when the renderings and groundbreaking are announced, we can say "I told you sooooo" ;)

We should really keep a tab on the people who are saying this project is dead, isn't going to happen, this thread is stupid and pointless, etc., so when the renderings and groundbreaking are announced, we can say "I told you sooooo" ;)

What will be great is if everybody is completely blown away by the project and it is something much better than people here are expecting. From what I've heard, the Stage Center Tower is supposed to be very wide, so even if its between 20 and 30 stories high it should make a good addition to the skyline.

What will be great is if everybody is completely blown away by the project and it is something much better than people here are expecting. From what I've heard, the Stage Center Tower is supposed to be very wide, so even if its between 20 and 30 stories high it should make a good addition to the skyline.I hope so, this will be cool. I will still be pretty disappointed if it under 35 stories, but you lose some and you win some I guess.

I think you guys are loosing the point of the posters university comments. Most universities are filled with everyday students that enjoy urban life;living. OSU OKC, SNU, UCO, etc. don't count as urban universities from a walkability/placemaking standpoint which I believe is what he was referencing. I supposed Oklahoma City University could qualify, but so far, hasn't contributed much in the way of surrounding quality urban development/placemaking that you see in other cities. Nearly all, if not all our universities/colleges are more suburban in nature. Without a doubt, OUHSC and OCU Law aren't exactly street kids/trend setters/hipsters that are contributing to walkability/hipster vibe. Sure they'll help diversify things and put feet on the streets which we still need, but not exactly creating a more urban "vibe" from OCU/OUHSC.

I'm just ready for any news on this site that isn't speculation. I hope the building has a wide footprint, yet still tall enough to please everyone who is sad to see the SC go.

I'm just ready for any news on this site that isn't speculation. I hope the building has a wide footprint, yet still tall enough to please everyone who is sad to see the SC go.

I just want to know the architect...