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Best meme I've seen all day.

Press release

***************************

Energy Assist Foundation and Team Griffin Foundation Groundbreaking at Together Square
Thursday, February 21, 2019, 1:30 p.m.

Oklahoma City, OK - A collaboration between OGE Energy Corp., The Energy Assist Foundation, Team Griffin and Myriad Botanical Gardens is creating a unique space in the heart of downtown called Together Square. Together Square, located west of the Gardens across Hudson Street, will feature a basketball court branded by the Team Griffin Foundation, a futsal soccer court* branded by the The Energy Assist Foundation and a large open space for general use. In addition to Downtown OKC’s highly successful basketball court The Cage, located at Reno and Hudson, Together Square will further enhance downtown with additional space for outdoor activities.

OGE Energy Corp. and Together Square partners will break ground Thursday, February 21, starting at 1:30 p.m. People can expect the courts to open to the public around May 2019. Myriad Gardens will provide general maintenance and care for the site including lawn care and related horticultural work that will help connect the new site to the Gardens. There are plans for the introduction of Oklahoma friendly tree species that are utility line compatible.

Upon completion of Together Square, the Myriad Gardens will also coordinate rentals of the courts and grounds for private and corporate events. One of the first events hosted at Together Square will include finish line support tents and activities for the 2019 Memorial Marathon on April 28. Check back often on Gardens website myriadgardens.org, as we will be posting construction updates, and details on how to reserve space at Together Square for an event or to reserve the green space or court time.

The groundbreaking ceremony will be held at Together Square between Walker and Hudson, south of Sheridan, west of the Myriad Botanical Gardens (just north of the Arts Council Oklahoma City offices). The ground breaking is open to the public.

*A futsal soccer court is an emerging form of soccer played on a smaller, hard-surface court.

Below is the rendering. To see animation of the Together Square for the OKC National Memorial Marathon finish line visit https://youtu.be/cIHvxcTtoNQ


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/togethersquare1.jpg

Pathetic, they should've just left it empty and a reminder of how sh*tty this all went down. People will see this and think "How nice - courts, sports, Oklahoma friendly tree species that are utility line compatible, cool...." instead of being reminded of how bad OG&E, et al were in destroying some of OKC's history....

Pathetic, they should've just left it empty and a reminder of how sh*tty this all went down. People will see this and think "How nice - courts, sports, Oklahoma friendly tree species that are utility line compatible, cool...." instead of being reminded of how bad OG&E, et al were in destroying some of OKC's history....

This. OGE took a lot from OKC when they destroyed unique, renowned architecture (of which we have very little of). But hey, we got a freakin' sport court. With such brave, forward-thinking civic leaders like OGE, who needs enemies?

Shame there isn't a big wall next to it so a mural of Stage Center could be painted on it along with "This is what *that* used to be". :Smiley122

What a waste. Who exactly was behind this sham?

I hear there will be a public session to group complain about the history of this site so that it will be magically restored.

For how long will we regurgitate this. How about just working so that these things get handled better in the future. Start a thread outlining activity we can actually DO. WHAT IS THE PLAN TO CHANGE THINGS?

I hear there will be a public session to group complain about the history of this site so that it will be magically restored.

For how long will we regurgitate this. How about just working so that these things get handled better in the future. Start a thread outlining activity we can actually DO. WHAT IS THE PLAN TO CHANGE THINGS?

Well, the average citizen can't do much by themselves, there pretty much has to be a critical mass of us complaining to the city council, I'd imagine. I do think there are plans in motion to make things more strict (Pete would probably know more about that), but with the power of the good ol' boy network here, we might not get much traction. I think Ms. Hamon has said she's interested in historic preservation and making things better than they are now, may have said it in Lackmeyer's chat on Friday, so there might be enough of us to effect change after both her and Cooper take office.

Well, the average citizen can't do much by themselves, there pretty much has to be a critical mass of us complaining to the city council, I'd imagine. I do think there are plans in motion to make things more strict (Pete would probably know more about that), but with the power of the good ol' boy network here, we might not get much traction. I think Ms. Hamon has said she's interested in historic preservation and making things better than they are now, may have said it in Lackmeyer's chat on Friday, so there might be enough of us to effect change after both her and Cooper take office.

We the People thought we were getting some shiny new skyscrapers and ended up with nothing. I think if we had 20-20 there might have been more of an outcry. But when they send out these wonder pics of new tall buldings we thought GREAT! Nice new skyscrapers going up! Yay win win.

I hear there will be a public session to group complain about the history of this site so that it will be magically restored.

For how long will we regurgitate this. How about just working so that these things get handled better in the future. Start a thread outlining activity we can actually DO. WHAT IS THE PLAN TO CHANGE THINGS?

My plan is to not subscribe to the Oklahoman. Maybe they will go out of business and someone who approaches things with a more critical eye will take their place.

We the People thought we were getting some shiny new skyscrapers and ended up with nothing. I think if we had 20-20 there might have been more of an outcry. But when they send out these wonder pics of new tall buldings we thought GREAT! Nice new skyscrapers going up! Yay win win.

Yep, true. A huge change that needs to happen here is to not allow demolition unless some kind of proven plan is in place for what happens afterwards, and if it doesn't happen, penalties need to be assessed.

I hear there will be a public session to group complain about the history of this site so that it will be magically restored.

For how long will we regurgitate this. How about just working so that these things get handled better in the future. Start a thread outlining activity we can actually DO. WHAT IS THE PLAN TO CHANGE THINGS?People need to keep complaining until the point is burned into the minds of the leaders to ensure this crap doesn't happen again. What are city leaders doing right now to prevent this?

The reason this is getting rehashed again is that OG&E just issued a press release about these sports courts like it's some great gift to OKC, and it's reopening old wounds.

And reminder they told the Oklahoman two years ago this space would become a park and as of yesterday when I went by there, it is still completely fenced off.

The whole thing has been a ruse, including using Rainey Williams as a proxy to take the heat on the demolition, and the Oklahoman has been happily carrying water for all of this.


It's a pretty spectacular scandal involving one of the most powerful corporations in the state and goes well beyond just demolishing a building that was important to a good number of people.

I was mistaken, it's been over 3 years now:


1/1/16
https://newsok.com/article/5471968/tower-plan-loses-energy-oge-energy-halts-downtown-okc-tower-plans


With the project on hold, OGE Energy Corp. is set to start cleaning up the site. Until development proceeds, the block is set to be turned into green space.

“In a few days we will be drying out the site and filling it in next week,” Trauschke said. “When the site is safe, we will take the fence down.”

I was mistaken, it's been over 3 years now:


1/1/16
https://newsok.com/article/5471968/tower-plan-loses-energy-oge-energy-halts-downtown-okc-tower-plans

Pete, it has been 3 years. IIRC this was the year going into 2020 the project was expected to have the first 2 (commercial & residential) buildings topping off.

Hope OG&E can at the very least get something erected as a HQ. Those designs 25 & 26 stories would have added balance to the OKC Skyline as did the BOK Park Plaza Building.

I was mistaken, it's been over 3 years now:


1/1/16
https://newsok.com/article/5471968/tower-plan-loses-energy-oge-energy-halts-downtown-okc-tower-plans


And there's already a basketball court (heavily used) that's a block away. I love the Griffin Family, but they are being used in this scheme.

Ground breaking yesterday for Together Square (from Energy FC Twitter):

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/togethersquare022119.jpg

A big groundbreaking ceremony for a basketball court and a mini soccer field?

I'd be embarrassed to be in that picture.

Lipstick on a pig

Maybe they will name it after rain maker. IMO they will hold this prob for 20 years and sell for huge profits.

well, at least now we ALL know Rainey Williams. ....

well, at least now we ALL know Rainey Williams. ....

I wonder if Lackmeyer will ever live this down.

Probably not.

That Deere in the picture isn't even on site anymore. It was all just for a photo opp to make it look like their actually doing something meaningful.

That Deere in the picture isn't even on site anymore. It was all just for a photo opp to make it look like their actually doing something meaningful.
LOL. This whole debacle makes me want to install solar panels on my home and office.

Those guys in the pic kinda look like they are laughing. Like laughing all the way to the bank. Buy low sell high.

LOL. This whole debacle makes me want to install solar panels on my home and office.

Better check with OG&E before you do that.

Those guys in the pic kinda look like they are laughing. Like laughing all the way to the bank. Buy low sell high.

Those guys in the pic are with the Energy soccer team, who are there because they're sponsoring the soccer field portion

Those guys in the pic are with the Energy soccer team, who are there because they're sponsoring the soccer field portion

Also Taylor Griffin brother of blake And also a former OU basketball player who was there representing the griffin family foundation

Those guys in the pic are with the Energy soccer team, who are there because they're sponsoring the soccer field portion
Don't let facts get in the way of a good (even if ignorant) rant.

Taken today.

Nothing says Together Square like a property still fenced off after more than 3 years.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/together022619.jpg

Taken today.

Nothing says Together Square like a property still fenced off after more than 3 years.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/together022619.jpg

This is something that should be a larger point. Once the grass was seeded this fence should have been removed And that was now well over a year ??

This is something that should be a larger point. Once the grass was seeded this fence should have been removed And that was now well over a year ??

The grass was placed about 3 years ago.

The grass was placed about 3 years ago.

I guess I was thinking about when the bok construction office was removed?

Taken today.

Nothing says Together Square like a property still fenced off after more than 3 years.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/together022619.jpg

That'd be a cool spot for a corporate sponsored community theater of unique design.

That'd be a cool spot for a corporate sponsored community theater of unique design.

LOL zing.

They've started moving dirt.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/together030919a.jpg

Pete, any chance you can get a permanent live camera setup to follow contruction like you did with the Devon tower?

Really would love to see minute by minute progress for these sports courts.

^

I don't think people could handle the enthralling construction.

I'm hoping the Gazette writes up a nice expose on what a debacle this whole ordeal has been

I'm hoping the Gazette writes up a nice expose on what a debacle this whole ordeal has been

The title of the article could be "Will the real Rainey Williams Please Stand Up?"

The title of the article could be "Will the real Rainey Williams Please Stand Up?"

:congrats:

double post

I think they should put Rainey's likeness on the backboards, or on the courts, that way we can all go hit him in the face...

Another article title idea: "I can't believe it's NOT Rainey Williams"

They've started moving dirt.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/together030919a.jpg

Off topic but what is that little 6 story tower for? Is it being used for anything. Just to the south of the park in the alley there.

Off topic but what is that little 6 story tower for? Is it being used for anything. Just to the south of the park in the alley there.

That's the old fire training tower. It's now a storage facility for the Arts Council of OKC. It's essentially just an empty stairwell. Fire fighters would use it to train on timing and capacity to haul equipment and hoses.

That would be cool to see it turned into apartments.

That would be cool to see it turned into apartments.

It's ultra small. There's basically enough room for a staircase, and that's it. There's not enough room for apartment, singular, in the entire thing.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/together031719a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/together031719b.jpg

man, i can't wait for this this to be complete... it will be 3.5 feet of soaring beauty into our skyline

As much fun as it has been to joke about these recent changes, I honestly am looking forward to it no longer being a completely fenced off grass lot. The Gardens get a great deal of use, and it would be nice to see that spread out into this second block too with some additional attractions.

What would be really slick would be a nice mid-block crossing. Because of the layout of the sidewalks and paths on both sides there's a fairly logic place to cross in the middle and I see people just jaywalk across right all the time.

Well played! Well played!

man, i can't wait for this this to be complete... it will be 3.5 feet of soaring beauty into our skyline

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/together040619a.jpg

Wow, I really love this development! Can't wait to see the final product! So much better than an office tower. Can we set up a cam to watch the progress? OG&E really gets a thumbs up for this one.

Wow, I really love this development! Can't wait to see the final product! So much better than an office tower. Can we set up a cam to watch the progress? OG&E really gets a thumbs up for this one.
Still prettier than the Stage Dump.

Don't say that too loud or someone will write you a two paragraph post about its nostalgia, artistic meaning to downtown and all that other good stuff.

The mayor tweeted that the Blake Griffin Foundation was contributing to this

I love that this thread is still titled the way it is. Really drives it home. Although I did not like Stage Center, I am still ashamed of what we got in place of it.

Don't say that too loud or someone will write you a two paragraph post about its nostalgia, artistic meaning to downtown and all that other good stuff.

Mine would be longer than that, but its seems you already get the gist.