I personally like the idea of turning the old Ford lot into something to blend in the two parks. I'd love it to be developed into mid or high rise buildings, but at the same time I don't want something like that separating the parks.
You’re not implying it has to be one or the other?

I would think a pedestrian paseo would be an obvious part of this development. It would be a really special place and better be dense with the entire buildings right up against the walkways and roads. If this is proposed without a pedestrian paseo what a fail. I also hope they don’t propose two skyscrapers with a large podiums and a cookie cutter plaza style walkway in the middle of them.

Some kind of tie in with the Thunder would be cool here. Similar to Ballpark Village next to Busch Stadium if you’ve ever been to a Cardinals game in St Louis. Or Power + Light District in Kansas City.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/omni092618.jpg

Are they repainting the roof at Chesapeake Arena?

Steve is posting from the Omni ground breaking this morning...

Does anyone have a list of contractors for the Omni, convention center, parking garage, and apartments?

https://newsok.com/article/5601955/omni-hotel-construction-set-to-start-in-september-in-oklahoma-city

Are they repainting the roof at Chesapeake Arena?

Was just noticing that myself. I always thought it looked bad...

That is a new roof membrane for the CHK arena.

That is a new roof membrane for the CHK arena.

Looks insane.




(sorry)

Looks insane.




(sorry)

You're fired.

If you know where I can find the contractors and sub contractors for the Omni projects, please provide a link.
Thank you.

If you know where I can find the contractors and sub contractors for the Omni projects, please provide a link.
Thank you.

From the sign on the fence: Brasfield&Gorrie general contractors bghiring.com

Looks like it went non union. Too bad.
Thanks for your help, RodH.

From the sign on the fence: Brasfield&Gorrie general contractors bghiring.com

They are based in Birmingham and have a business relationship with Omni.

Thanks BG918.

This is pretty cool... Cranes all over the place and the core already going up at the convention center.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/omni101418.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/omni101418b.jpg

When will the development behind the Omni (BLVD Place I believe) start?

When will the development behind the Omni (BLVD Place I believe) start?

OG&E is building a new facility east of Broadway and south of Wilshire and has to relocate the operations there.

I believe that will happen in the spring / summer, then the old building can come down.

Are there any live cams for the Omni and/or Convention Center that you are aware of Pete ? I really have enjoyed the ones for Scissortail park.

Saw that concrete block Sunday on my way to the Y, you've answered my potential questions. It'll be a glee of excitement as we watch all of these parcels (Conv., Center, Omni, Park) come together simultaneously.

Appreciate the pics, Pete; also the immediate updates you've given us on development projects and other activities. I'm sure it takes a ton of time with your responses to questions many of us have.

Foundation starting to take shape.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/omni102018.jpg

Just drove by, you can now see the base of the crane

Just drove by, you can now see the base of the crane

Yep, I just took thes about an hour ago.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/omni110418a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/omni110418c.jpg

I notice the dirtwok in the park is not so much red clay. Are they trucking in large amounts of topsoil? Thanks - OKC expatriot

I notice the dirtwok in the park is not so much red clay. Are they trucking in large amounts of topsoil? Thanks - OKC expatriot

I don't think so.

I looked back through all the photos and perhaps because they never dug deep, the soil was never very red.

This is from October 2016.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/scissortail102516.jpg

Are there going to be 3 tower cranes? I see a total of 3 bases.

Are there going to be 3 tower cranes? I see a total of 3 bases.

Looks like it. Here's another angle from Saturday.

(BTW, most the images I post are of decent resolution, so to see the full size right-click and then open in a new tab.)

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/omni110318a.jpg

Drove by this the other day. Pictures do not do it justice. This a very very large development.

I've been waiting for the tower cranes to be built. I knew it had to be within a couple months. That'll be 6 tower cranes in the urban core of OKC

I drive around downtown every Sunday just to get an update of all the progress going on with our city’s development... its amazing coming down Robinson from Hubcap Alley to see the massive area that is being worked on. What is now a big dirt field will soon be home to Scissortail Park, the convention center, and the Omni; creating a whole new skyline south of the CBD

The last angle Pete showed in Post #1947 will be awesome once FNC is finished too. The multi-colored crown lights will be reflected in the BOKP. We will probably have Banc First Tower's new lighting by that time as well. Basically OKC in 2022+ is going to be dramatically better looking.

at least 6 tower cranes downtown.

Cranes, .... cranes..... cranes!!!!!!!!!

Im so tired of my desk job, I want a concierge gig @ the omni

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/omni111118.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/omni111118.jpg

Always struggle posting pictures here from my phone but the cranes are going up.

Three vertical cranes seems like a bit much, though it's not like I have any expertise to make that judgement.

They had already rented the third crane when they thought the hotel might be taller. When it wasn't they decided to use it anyways. You can't waste a good crane.

They had already rented the third crane when they thought the hotel might be taller. When it wasn't they decided to use it anyways. You can't waste a good crane.

I can't tell if this is a joke or not. Surely it is... But if it isn't, well that is depressing.

They had already rented the third crane when they thought the hotel might be taller. When it wasn't they decided to use it anyways. You can't waste a good crane.

True, it also reminds me of my high school years--why waste a good joint. :D

I notice the dirtwok in the park is not so much red clay. Are they trucking in large amounts of topsoil? Thanks - OKC expatriot


Yes, they did bring in a lot of clean topsoil. Because of contamination of the soil from previous historical oil field operations, (early 1900s) they had to dig and haul off a large amount of soil and bring in clean topsoil. This site was a Brownfields remediation site.

Crane farm!!

Really, really impressive in person and even driving by on I-40.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/cranes111618b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/cranes111618a.jpg

Crane farm!!

Really, really impressive in person and even driving by on I-40.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/cranes111618b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/cranes111618a.jpg

That third crane is going to be really tall once this building reaches full height in order to provide clearence to all three cranes.

As always, if you right-click on any of my photos and open in a new tab, you'll be able to see things in higher res.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/cranes111618c.jpg

As someone who would routinely run along the OK River, up through Tin Pan alley, across the pedestrian bridge, and through the vacant fields south of the gardens, it's astonishing to see so much change in this area. Especially considering all the possibilities for infill surrounding it.

cranes, cranes, .. cranes!!!!!! :p


As always, if you right-click on any of my photos and open in a new tab, you'll be able to see things in higher res.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/cranes111618c.jpg

cranes, cranes, .. cranes!!!!!! :p

Coming into OKC from the west on the OKC Blvd, the cranes were cool sticking up and were easily noticeable

All 3 are up now. You can see them good from I-40 also.

It looks like the west crane is the only one that has the tool to add sections to the shaft. I am not in construction, but i don't know how the tool gets on the shaft of the crane. I do know that the tool was on the west crane before they topped out the arm of the crane. I remember, when Devon Tower was going up, both of the 2 Tower cranes had the tool.

I have noticed the cranes on I-40 this past week, i hate to ask this but also do not have any desire to read through 79 pages, does anyone know exactly how big this hotel is going to be?

I have noticed the cranes on I-40 this past week, i hate to ask this but also do not have any desire to read through 79 pages, does anyone know exactly how big this hotel is going to be?
17 floors I believe

A lot of times Pete keeps the very first post updated with key details, not sure that's happened in this case, but I believe we're looking at 17 stories still unless something has changed that I missed?

Omni Hotels submits final plans for approval (http://www.okctalk.com/content.php?r=490-Omni-Hotels-submits-final-plans-for-approval)

Omni has submitted design plans for their proposed 605-room convention hotel which will be reviewed by the Downtown Design Review Committee on May 17th.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/omni041918i.jpg


The group had previously won the right to develop the city-owned site through an RFP process that was overseen by the Alliance for Economic Development as part of the MAPS 3 convention center project.

The plans for the 18-story hotel show 2 large restaurants on the ground floor as well as a bar and coffee shop, all located on the ground floor.

The 2nd level will contain convention space including grand and junior ballrooms, meeting rooms, concierge and a business center. The 3rd will feature a fitness center, spa area, outdoor amenity bar and large deck with a pool overlooking Scissortail Park which should finish later this year.

The convention center will also connect directly to the hotel via a 2nd level skywalk and a similar temperature-controlled elevated walkway is planned between the convention center and proposed parking structure.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/omni041918x.jpg


Among the 605 rooms, several are designated as 'NBA Compatible' with special allowances for ceiling, door and shower head height as well as larger beds. The hotel will be located directly south of Chesapeake Arena.

Omni will receive $85.4 million in financial incentives from the city and will also have use of a new parking garage to be built on a soon to be relocated OG&E data center site, which is immediately to the east. It is estimated that the city will also incur approximately $50 million in interest costs as the arrangement with Omni requires all the incentives to be paid before they start construction.

The convention center is currently out for bid and it's expected construction will start later this year.



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/omni041918b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/omni041918a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/omni041918m.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/omni041918l.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/omni041918k.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/omni041918j.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/omni041918h.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/omni041918d.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/omni041918e.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/omni041918f.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/omni041918g.jpg

yup.. 17..

Correction: It is my understanding they dropped (ahem) the skybridge. I'm hoping they realize the mistake in time to correct it.

Correction: It is my understanding they dropped (ahem) the skybridge. I'm hoping they realize the mistake in time to correct it.Yeah they really need to add the sky bridge back. Extremely shortsighted move. Nearly every convention center I have seen or been to has a sky bridge connecting it to the main hotel.

Appreciate the responses guys, it looks exciting and will be fun to watch it go up :Smiley199

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/omni112418a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/omni112418b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/omni112418d.jpg

I moved a bunch of posts about the OG&E building to this thread:

http://www.okctalk.com/showthread.php?t=44229

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/omni121118.jpg

I thought there was a basement level? Doesn't seem like it goes down far enough for that...

(I meant for this to be on the conv center thread)

I noticed one of the Tower Cranes had a lit Omni Hotel sign. Seems like an expensive form of advertising unless they plan to reuse it on the actual building somewhere.