I was wondering if this was still going through or not as there hadn't been anything posted about it. What about that manufacturing company building a couple facilities further north of Kimray; right along the interstate? I forget their name.

Are you talking about Baker Hughes ?

Yeah, I believe it's Baker Hughes.

10/9/2014

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2947/15490649951_4e18b160b3_b.jpg

I like, and hope OKC does more with the near NE land instead of just tower farming. More industry, warehousing, and possible housing would be nice boon and add to the city.

what is possible housing?

what is possible housing?I'm assuming single family housing.

Are you talking about Baker Hughes ?

Is this the area being cleared on the north side of The Kilpatrick between Kelley and Eastern? Is there a thread for this project?

Is this the area being cleared on the north side of The Kilpatrick between Kelley and Eastern? Is there a thread for this project?No sir. This was on Britton and Eastern

An update by Brianna.

http://www.oklahoman.com/article/5369165?embargo=1


New office, industrial and medical development on the east side of Interstate 235 between Britton Road and Wilshire Boulevard over the next few years is estimated to bring more than 2,000 new employees to a northeast Oklahoma City area that is mostly open grassy fields.

“I think we are going to see more restaurants and other amenities develop in the area too, and it’s going to be really good for the surrounding community,” said Thomas Hill III, chief operating officer for oil-field equipment maker Kimray Inc. “Northeast Oklahoma City has been really neglected and the new development will improve infrastructure and property values.”

There are also hints of additional future development.

American Energy Partners founder Aubrey McClendon has owned about 107 acres off the Broadway Extension just south of the American Fidelity headquarters since 2007 and 2008.

He also began buying several small neighboring pieces of land on the east side of Broadway Extension just north of Wilshire Boulevard over the past year.

I've been wondering when AEP is going to start building on their land. I made a post a number of months ago about how I think Britton Road, east of Broadway Extension is a prime area for development and hoping that Kimray sets off an explosion of development. Looks like it might happen.

I've been wondering when AEP is going to start building on their land. I made a post a number of months ago about how I think Britton Road, east of Broadway Extension is a prime area for development and hoping that Kimray sets off an explosion of development. Looks like it might happen.

This announcement is coming. They started last year with 30 employees and at or above 500 as of a couple of months ago.

Between AF, AEP, and Kimray, that will be thousands more people working in that area. That will certainly spur commercial development. Supposedly AF and AEP are going to go together with a development of some sort.

I'm surprised we haven't seen an announcement for AEP yet, but I know for a fact one is coming. It still might happen before the first of the year.

American Fidelity has been working on their master plan with TAP and have recently taken out a building permit for a new parking structure which will be to the west of the current one. They are trying to push OPUBCO out the door but they won't be moving until February or March.

Once OPUBCO clears out and AEP announces their new HQ, I'll think more will come out for the AEP/AF plans for the property between Wilshire and Britton on the east side of Broadway Extension. It's beautiful land with a couple of small lakes. Could be something special and both companies have tons of money.

I'm surprised we haven't seen an announcement for AEP yet, but I know for a fact one is coming. It still might happen before the first of the year.

American Fidelity has been working on their master plan with TAP and have recently taken out a building permit for a new parking structure which will be to the west of the current one. They are trying to push OPUBCO out the door but they won't be moving until February or March.

Once OPUBCO clears out and AEP announces their new HQ, I'll think more will come out for the AEP/AF plans for the property between Wilshire and Britton on the east side of Broadway Extension. It's beautiful land with a couple of small lakes. Could be something special and both companies have tons of money.

The rumor I picked up a couple of weeks ago for the AF property from someone who should know was "second tower."

The rumor I picked up a couple of weeks ago for the AF property from someone who should know was "second tower."

The preliminary TAP master plan for AF shows more buildings to the east.

I do contract security at American Fidelity on Classes. I've heard the second tower rumor as well. If they want all their employees to work up on Britton they'll need a second tower. Not to mention they're a growing company

As I mentioned, they already have a building permit for a second parking structure so that's a pretty clear indication they want to add more office space.

Another growing OKC company that pays well and takes good care of its employees.

As I mentioned, they already have a building permit for a second parking structure so that's a pretty clear indication they want to add more office space.

Another growing OKC company that pays well and takes good care of its employees.

Exactly. We were discussing the parking garage when a second tower was brought up with a wink wink. Yes, they have plans to do something and are moving in that direction.

They have floors 8 and 9 complete and the 12th is almost done. On Classen, people are being shuffled around and another tenant will soon be moving into the south building where an engineering firm moved in early this year.

New development will bring thousands of new workers to northeast OKC | News OK (http://newsok.com/new-development-will-bring-thousands-of-new-workers-to-northeast-okc/article/5369165)

Is there anything new on this? I drove by recently and nothing has changed since they put up their "Future Home of Kimray" sign several months ago.

Kimray offers buyouts to all 700 employees | News OK (http://newsok.com/kimray-offers-buyouts-to-all-700-employees/article/5449078)


Oilfield equipment manufacturer Kimray Inc. on Thursday began offering employees a voluntary buyout as part of its efforts to cut costs during the ongoing oil price slump.
The offer was made to all 700 employees at the company's Oklahoma City headquarters. Employees have 45 days to decide whether to accept the offer. Accepting employees will receive $5,000, up to two months of health insurance coverage and help with resume building and other job-placement skills.

Kimray offers buyouts to all 700 employees | News OK (http://newsok.com/kimray-offers-buyouts-to-all-700-employees/article/5449078)
Sad news for all. OKC will never overcome its boom and bust cycles relying so heavily on the oil sector. You would think leaders would put on a full court press to attract other varied job category's to try and offset these petroleum downturns

Is there anything new on this? I drove by recently and nothing has changed since they put up their "Future Home of Kimray" sign several months ago.

I guess the latest news answers your question.

You would think leaders would put on a full court press to attract other varied job category's to try and offset these petroleum downturns

This is such an ignorant statement. People love to bash the chamber but they spend a lot of effort on this.

Sad news for all. OKC will never overcome its boom and bust cycles relying so heavily on the oil sector. You would think leaders would put on a full court press to attract other varied job category's to try and offset these petroleum downturns

Oklahoma City is diverse enough to avoid the worst of the bust cycle. The worst of the 1980s bust was tied to Penn Square Bank, not oil prices. However, you are right that most of the economic growth and the momentum forward in OKC comes from the oil & gas industry. The other industries (defense, healthcare, etc) simply give the local economy cushion during oil bust cycles. Hopefully oil prices stabilize between $60 and $90. That seems to be the sweet spot for oil companies to make a profit but its still cheap enough that it doesn't break the back of the American consumer.

Penn Square Bank AND THE FDIC were more of the reason for the last bust than oil prices. The FDIC came in with such disdain and arrogance, they had no care for what their actions did to the economy. In all fairness, if they had to do it again I bet they would handle differently. I just hope there is some rebound and stability in prices soon to allow these companies to stay in business.

This is such an ignorant statement. People love to bash the chamber but they spend a lot of effort on this.

Not all effort is equal.

The state still does a lot to bend over backwards for the oil industry.

We also nearly gave up a rural corner of OKC not yet transformed into sprawl wasteland, for the sake of maybe some jobs. We need to be more proactive at encouraging economic development in the central city, over and above incentivizing more sprawl for no reason.

Tax credits and abatements for:

Kimray, Paycom, American Fidelity, Boeing, Tinker, Gulfport, Chesapeake, Love's, basically all new retail TIFs, and more have been going to the burbs.

Not all effort is equal.

The state still does a lot to bend over backwards for the oil industry.

We also nearly gave up a rural corner of OKC not yet transformed into sprawl wasteland, for the sake of maybe some jobs. We need to be more proactive at encouraging economic development in the central city, over and above incentivizing more sprawl for no reason.

Tax credits and abatements for:

Kimray, Paycom, American Fidelity, Boeing, Tinker, Gulfport, Chesapeake, Love's, basically all new retail TIFs, and more have been going to the burbs.

i just get tired of people crying "we aren't trying to diversify" when it's a fallacy, but if you have to be right for the sake of arguing you win.

Diversifying an economy is hard. Everybody wants to be diverse. But one of the best ways to attract new business to a city is to have a successful community of the same type of business. That's why Houston gets so many oil companies. It's why New York gets so many financial companies. It's why all the movie studios are in Hollywood. It is why cities tend to specialize in one or two areas. Because diversifying an economy is hard.

We should really push for more defense-related businesses. Boeing and the like are probably the easiest non-oil companies to lure to OKC.

Of course location quotient informs a lot of that, including where development is concentrated, as well as where there is more opportunity for expansion. OKC has a much lower than avg IT presence for instance.

The realty about the Chamber is that it is very different depending on its board makeup. Back when Fred Hall was chairman, the Chamber really was pursuing diversification. Which makes the oil guys feel sad. When they took over many of Hall's priorities became a laughing stock.

Kimray moving forward with new headquarters (https://www.okctalk.com/content.php?r=607-Kimray-moving-forward-with-new-headquarters)

Kimray announced in early 2014 they planned to move their operations and headquarters to 136 acres at Britton Road and Eastern Avenue.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/kimray040519c.jpg


Those plans were later put on hold and the company performed wide-sweeping layoffs that resulted in a ten percent reduction in their then 700-employee workforce.

Now, the manufacturer of oil and gas equipment is once again moving forward with plans for an elaborate new campus to include professional offices, a sales office and a manufacturing plant.

The company purchased the undeveloped land from Aubrey McClendon in June 2014 for $2.312 million.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/kimray040519b.jpg


As previously announced in a press release, Kimray had recreated a plan to relocate from its current location at 52 Nw 42nd and consolidate their facilities which currently span 20 acres and multiple buildings between I-235 and Santa Fe Avenue.

The new plans represent a significant departure from what had been originally proposed, with their primary building being moved further to the north and west rather than built near the intersection.

The change also includes the addition of ponds, fountains and extensive landscaping with the ability to expand their main sturcture and add other buildings on the campus.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/kimray040519e.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/kimray040519f.jpg


Tom Hill, Kimray's Chairman and CEO, had said in a previous press release, “Very few companies have the opportunity to design their ideal space for the future and also impact a new area of the community in a positive way. We are excited for this change and what it will mean for our employees, customers and community.”

The project architect is REES.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/kimray040519i.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/kimray040519g.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/kimray040519h.jpg

This is great! I like this better than the first proposal. I hope it happens this time.

This is great! I like this better than the first proposal. I hope it happens this time.

They already have a contractor. It seems to be a go.

136 acres! That's nearly a full quarter section.

They already have a contractor. It seems to be a go.

136 acres! That's nearly a full quarter section.
Will they be starting on the infrastructure for the pad sites or will that wait until their HQ is built.

^

Second image from bottom shows what they will build first.

Okay I understand. Good deal. This could potentially be a catalyst that gets that entire area in that ring of freeways to take off with development. This is exciting. Thank you for posting this among the other updates that were revealed.

I was wondering if Kimray would ever build it's new headquarters, so I'm glad to see this going forward. As Plupan stated, this is much better than the original proposal. And also has he stated, I hope this is a spur for much more development in the huge swath of open land up there. Hopefully a lot more commerical/industrial rather than residential.

This would be cool if this area turned into a nice industrial park. OKC needs a nicer higher end industrial park rather than the random clusters that are really shoddy or the just strung out along its freeways.

So, I wonder what happens with the current 20 acre site? Its in a prime location with regards to downtown/capitol?

I like the new design.

This would be cool if this area turned into a nice industrial park. OKC needs a nicer higher end industrial park rather than the random clusters that are really shoddy or the just strung out along its freeways.

I wish we had something like Mid America Industrial Park up near Tulsa!

Is this project still on track?

Any updates on this?

I haven't seen any movement (on the property or through the planning/permit process) for quite some time.

Is this project dead-dead?

^

No way to know.

They bought the land in 2014, have filed various planning documents, but as of today there has been no movement at the site whatsoever.

57 acres of this site and the property closest to the corner of Britton & Eastern will become a massive 178,000 SF delivery facility for Amazon.

This is a "last mile" facility; they had been leasing a small warehouse near Hefner & I-35 for this purpose. It's the same sort of facility as 6101 SW 44th and 6801 S. Air Depot.

Based on the number of employee parking spaces, looks like they will employ several hundred. I assume this means the Kimray HQ project is dead.


HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/amazon080524a.jpg


HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/amazon080524b.jpg

Mixed emotions on this one.

This area has been so stagnant for so long - just kind of in suspended animation for my whole life.

I guess I thought these general square miles between Broadway and I-35 had the potential to one day develop into nice residential areas due to the marginally prettier landscape of the area and the location. (I know there is a perception of public school district quality). Barring that I could have seen east Britton as higher-end office a la some of what has been developed a little closer to Broadway.

Big industrial warehouses don't really seem to fit. Particularly a couple of miles from either Broadway or I-35. I just don't love the idea of introducing a new warehouse district there. But it's not my land, I suppose.

Mixed emotions on this one.

This area has been so stagnant for so long - just kind of in suspended animation for my whole life.

I guess I thought these general square miles between Broadway and I-35 had the potential to one day develop into nice residential areas due to the marginally prettier landscape of the area and the location. (I know there is a perception of public school district quality). Barring that I could have seen east Britton as higher-end office a la some of what has been developed a little closer to Broadway.

Big industrial warehouses don't really seem to fit. Particularly a couple of miles from either Broadway or I-35. I just don't love the idea of introducing a new warehouse district there. But it's not my land, I suppose.

For families with kids, this is usually the number one thing to consider. Was for us anyways, second thing we considered was closedness to jobs, then closeness to amenities.

57 acres of this site and the property closest to the corner of Britton & Eastern will become a massive 178,000 SF delivery facility for Amazon.

This is a "last mile" facility; they have been leasing a small warehouse near Hefner & I-35 for this purpose. It's the same sort of facility as 6101 SW 44th and 6801 S. Air Depot.

Based on the number of employee parking spaces, looks like they will employ several hundred. I assume this means the Kimray HQ project is dead.


HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/amazon080524a.jpg


HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/amazon080524b.jpg


Did Amazon buy the land, or is it a leaseback from Kimray?

Did Amazon buy the land, or is it a leaseback from Kimray?

Kimray still owns it but since these plans were just filed, often sales don't close until planning and permit approvals are in hand.

80 percent of the employees will work for DSPs not Amazon But anyone who has a decently clean record criminal and driving the past 7 years and can pass a drug test(thc is fine) can make decent amount of money..the only issue is every DSP is different some are career builders some can’t keep employees to save their life

Kimray still owns it but since these plans were just filed, often sales don't close until planning and permit approvals are in hand.
So when you say, the Kimray project is dead, Does that mean they’re just going back to square one with this project basing it around this Amazon warehouse? Is there still a potential for a commercial site like what was planned with the original proposal?

So when you say, the Kimray project is dead, Does that mean they’re just going back to square one with this project basing it around this Amazon warehouse? Is there still a potential for a commercial site like what was planned with the original proposal?

Since this warehouse is taking half the property and it's not very attractive, it's hard to imagine Kimray will build its HQ on this site.

Since this warehouse is taking half the property and it's not very attractive, it's hard to imagine Kimray will build its HQ on this site.
OK thanks for the response. I still think this is a good thing. It will activate the area a bit and provide more jobs. I wonder what’s going on with Kimray. They still plan on building a new HQ somewhere else or what their plan is. Given the fact, they own this property that should provide them with some extra money.

would be LOVELY if Kimray took commercial space downtown or in the NW Business district for their HQ.

I wish there was a mechanism for downtown to promote itself for commercial leasing, similiar to DowntownOKC Inc but for filling space. We don't need to have hq right next to operations and in fact might be better for recruiting to be downtown near other office workers and all the action.

Anyway - would love to see/hear what Kimray's plans are.

If you look at Kiray's plan, the majority of the space is for warehouse, loading docks and trucks.

Not a good candidate to locate downtown or really any office district.

Im not in any way suggesting they move those warehouse, loading docks and trucks to downtown. I said move the corporate office functions ONLY. I specifically said office workers.

Im not in any way suggesting they move those warehouse, loading docks and trucks to downtown. I said move the corporate office functions ONLY. I specifically said office workers.

I don't think they have enough to justify a major downtown lease or building.

I don't think they have enough to justify a major downtown lease or building.
Plus, separating executives , sales and marketing, and other functions from the operations probably isn't their most efficient option.