I wish my balcony was that big!

GREAT I'll see you there. :-P

What time is the implosion?

8am.

State's largest bank to anchor city's newest tower | News OK (http://newsok.com/article/5445833)

It looks like Bank of Oklahoma will be the anchor tenant.

State's largest bank to anchor city's newest tower | News OK (http://newsok.com/article/5445833?utm_source=NewsOK.com&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=ShareBar-Twitter)

http://cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/w300-52765a1b7ed64743f63556757afa035e.jpg
Height in Feet / Floors: 433 ft. / 27 floors

First of six possible towers to make ready for construction with the Bank of Oklahoma brand as an anchor tenant shared by Devon Energy. Got to admit that 499 Sheridan wasn't the quality skyscraper that many posters wanted; however, it will be the tallest so far.

We still have hope that maybe something may come from OG&E's new corporate headquarters and the conference hotel that will be apart of the new convention center complex.


Stay tuned...

As reported months ago, just more details.


Top four floors and bank in lobby.

Building is now known as BOK Park Plaza.

Wonder if Rainey Williams will rename his building once they move from BOK Plaza (formerly Fidelity Plaza).

Rename it OGE Tower, problem solved. :-P

The best spot for watching the implosions is Myriad Gardens but they said on Twitter the NW section of the gardens will be barricaded.

It looks like Bank of Oklahoma will be the anchor tenant.

State's largest bank to anchor city's newest tower | News OK (http://newsok.com/article/5445833?utm_source=NewsOK.com&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=ShareBar-Twitter)

The best thing I read in here is that BOK is relocating over 100 employees downtown from the office on North May. I had thought they were just moving the downtown employees. So more workers downtown is good! More life to West Downtown/Film Row.




Shame there won't be a lot of retail along Main Street to cater to these workers....

Steve may be able to verify, but I've heard the Oklahoman will have photographers on top of the Montgomery Building, and that a drone hired by the contractors will photograph the implosions from overhead.

I've also heard there is a map circulating that shows which streets / areas will be closed off. Anyone have this - or a list of building we're not able to access?

My dad took me to go see the implosion of the Biltmore from the top of the Chase Tower - in the Petroleum Club. I kind of feel the need to witness this one.

I really hope this new building is well lit at night as I would really like to see OKC have a more well-lit night skyline.

http://www.okctalk.com/attachments/development-buildings/9857d1419097542-499-sheridan-hinesnow3.jpg

That's going to look really cool.

Pickard Chilton finally created a profile for this project on their website, with some new images, go to: pickardchilton.com under Portfolio > Commercial > 499 Sheridan

^ Thanks!

This lobby view has been slightly changed from previous renderings:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/499091015.jpg

Pickard Chilton finally created a profile for this project on their website, with some new images, go to: pickardchilton.com under Portfolio > Commercial > 499 Sheridan

Took a peek at some of the other projects...is it just me, or does it seem like you're looking at the same building over and over?

They definitely have a love for the glass curtain wall and very simple lines, but clients know that going in and choose them because of it.

Of course on this building, it was always just going to be a complement to Devon Tower and the architects even said as much.

CONFIRMED:

Sheridan Walker garage and Arts District Garage both closed to spectators. Best "closest" views - unless you can get into Oklahoma Tower or to roof of Cox Center (or perhaps inside on second floor) may be from La Luna parking lot or somewhere in the MBG.

I really hope this new building is well lit at night as I would really like to see OKC have a more well-lit night skyline.

Hopefully if it is well lit and maintained, then Devon will work on their main property and keep their main tower lit year round.... wouldnt that be something?

The best spot for watching the implosions is Myriad Gardens but they said on Twitter the NW section of the gardens will be barricaded.

If the corner of Reno and Hudson is still open, I think that will likely end up being the best viewpoint. Pretty decent sightline from that corner, judging by Google Maps Streetview - probably the SE corner would offer the best distant vantage point on the ground but the east sidewalk along Hudson (SW corner of the Myriad Gardens) should offer pretty good views too, I think.

I plan to be there to pay my respects.

From pickardchilton.com

http://www.pickardchilton.com/mobile/img/PORTFOLIO/499_Sheridan/01-PickardChilton-499Sheridan.jpg

Here are the official street closings beginning tomorrow:

Downtown traffic advisory; 9-11

This is a summary of downtown traffic conditions for September 12 - 18.

Robinson closed from Park Ave to alley south of First National Building on Sat, 9/12: 7am-5pm

Kerr closed between Hudson and County garage*
Kerr is closed between Hudson and the County garage. Garage access is maintained.

Sheridan reduced between Hudson and Walker
Sheridan between Hudson and Walker reduced to one lane of traffic in each direction.

Main reduced between Hudson and Walker
Main between Hudson and Walker reduced to one lane of traffic in each direction.

Lee closed between Couch and Kerr
Lee between Couch and Kerr closed for construction of the Municipal Courts building.

Couch reduced between Lee and Shartel
One west bound lane of Couch between Lee and Shartel is closed to traffic.

Park closed from Broadway to Robinson and Robinson to Harvey*
Park from Broadway to Robinson and Robinson to Harvey is closed to traffic.
¬
Gaylord closed between Reno and SW 4
Gaylord closed between Reno and SW 4 for private utility work and road improvements for the east section (near Bricktown) of the Oklahoma City Boulevard.

Main reduced from Shartel to Lee
Main reduced to one west bound and two east bound lanes from Shartel to Lee.

Shartel reduced between Couch and Main
Shartel reduced between Couch and Main for private utility work.

I was thinking the old La Luna parking lot might work fine.

Thanks for the street closings, is there not a graphic?

BTW, absolutely not a coincidence they make this announcement and release some new pretty pictures on the same day they also announce street closures for Sunday's implosion.

The BOK deal was done before the tower was even announced, they just held the official news to try and offset the backlash against the final and most visual demolitions.

I realize that's the way this game is played but it's manipulation none the less.

KFOR will be covering the implosion live for those who don't want to see it in person.

Hotel implosion planned for this Sunday | KFOR.com (http://kfor.com/2015/09/11/hotel-implosion-planned-for-this-sunday/)

They don't say where their cameras will be positioned but I suspect they might have something arranged to give them a good viewpoint.

An interesting side note on the implosion of the Hotel Black building.

FADE TO BLACK: Hotel Black, set to be imploded Sunday, memorialized in song | NewsOK.com (http://m.newsok.com/fade-to-black-hotel-black-set-to-be-imploded-sunday-memorialized-in-song/article/5446338)

For those with a subscription , you can listen to the song about the Hotel Black here.

http://www.newsok.com/article/5446338

They don't say where their cameras will be positioned but I suspect they might have something arranged to give them a good viewpoint.

Helicopter.

Approximately what time tomorrow morning is this happening?

Approximately 8 AM

So smoke fills downtown from the demolition. Yay for parking lots and urban renewal!

Anyone know when and where you could get souvenir pieces from?

https://www.facebook.com/Ohiosuprcell/videos/10153226453184611/?pnref=story Video

https://www.facebook.com/Ohiosuprcell/videos/10153226453184611/?l=6138603965686518531

Here's a video of the implosion I took this morning. Both links should take you to same place, but I'm trying to figure out how to get the video to embed.

https://youtu.be/3Lho9siMVBA


https://youtu.be/3Lho9siMVBA

Here's my obligatory slow-mo video of the implosion (be sure to watch in HD, pretty bad quality otherwise):


https://www.facebook.com/goldfire33/videos/2570093858716/?l=2722542700513655524

Here's a video of the implosion I took this morning. Both links should take you to same place, but I'm trying to figure out how to get the video to embed.

You have to use the Insert Video button and not the YouTube button.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Lho9siMVBA&feature=youtu.be

As the last tenant of the Hotel Black....kind of sad to see it come down. We didn't get any dust at our space in Film Row but when we circled block leaving, a bunch of cars by courthouse on Park were covered with dust. Also looked like maybe one window at Hightower may had damaged. Was covered up.

10 years from now, the city of Oklahoma City will look back on this day like people look back at the demolition of the Baum Building, Biltmore Hotel, and Criterion Theater. People will ask "what were they thinking?"

Not sure if this is anything new, but i snapped a few pictures of its fall.

11492114931149411495114961149711498

There were so many drones overhead this morning. It was crazy! I wonder how shredded up those Midwest Wrecking banners got after the blast.

Also saw quite a few people with their dogs. Seems to me like that'd be frightening to a dog.

10 years from now, the city of Oklahoma City will look back on this day like people look back at the demolition of the Baum Building, Biltmore Hotel, and Criterion Theater. People will ask "what were they thinking?"

The Baum and Criterion will always be on a whole different level than this demolition. Yes Hotel Black and (for my money) the Motor Hotel were nice…1. They weren't jewels, and 2. They are being immediately replaced with something that, while is not anybody here's favorite, is at least something that can have value in the long run.

I think we can all agree that the Century Center is probably the single most unfortunate development to ever happen to downtown OKC considering what came down and what was put in its place. Even today it's kind of meh. It at least is not a complete abomination…but it's still a big waste of space…especially considering the main tenant (okay…that was pretty harsh…but true)

10 years from now, the city of Oklahoma City will look back on this day like people look back at the demolition of the Baum Building, Biltmore Hotel, and Criterion Theater. People will ask "what were they thinking?"

Highly unlikely.

The Criterion could have been a show palace.

Hotel Black and Motor Hotel could have been great, too. This whole block was fantastic. It's a shame that Preftakes shut it down and boarded up every building for a decade before this finally got moving. If land assembly hadn't begun so soon, this unfortunate deal would have still happened, but would have faced more pressure to integrate into revitalized surroundings. We would have both a better block and a better 2nd Devon tower "BOK Tower".

This is actually the opposite of revitalization. Swapping businesses that packed people in, and room for plenty more just like them, for more parking garages and monolithic office towers. We had a historic district that surrounded our civic amenities, and now we have turned Walker into another EK Gaylord. Huge leadership void is to blame.

Hotel Black and Motor Hotel could have been great, too. This whole block was fantastic. It's a shame that Preftakes shut it down and boarded up every building for a decade before this finally got moving. If land assembly hadn't begun so soon, this unfortunate deal would have still happened, but would have faced more pressure to integrate into revitalized surroundings. We would have both a better block and a better 2nd Devon tower "BOK Tower".

This is actually the opposite of revitalization. Swapping businesses that packed people in, and room for plenty more just like them, for more parking garages and monolithic office towers. We had a historic district that surrounded our civic amenities, and now we have turned Walker into another EK Gaylord. Huge leadership void is to blame.
YAWN. Some old, same old.

What's wrong with that?

Watched a few of the videos. Disappointed to listen to all the cheering as they came down.

This is nothing to celebrate. But Oklahoma will never change, I lose hope for OKC by the day.

Watched a few of the videos. Disappointed to listen to all the cheering as they came down.

This is nothing to celebrate. But Oklahoma will never change, I lose hope for OKC by the day.

Yep. I think our oil overlords want OKC to be a bad version of Houston. I'm sick of all of the ass-kissing BS that leads to atrocities like this.

Self loathing is strong today

Okc's downtown just became more bland and uninteresting to look at.

Okc's downtown just became more bland and uninteresting to look at.

But the skyline will look better when driving down the Broadway Extension from Edmond, which is all that matters to a lot of people. Don't get me wrong, I am all for skyline improvements but not at the cost of this historic block. It's too late now though.

I really don't think we're going to look back and miss one building, Hotel Black. The motor hotel was just a parking garage with absolutely nothing significant to it other than it's size and age. No architectural details that made it stand out, no items we needed to preserve. And Hotel Black had already failed once. As a hotel, it folded long ago and converted to poor office space. You can't tell me that adding on the 70's era sun rooms to the top of the thing added to it's architectural significance. Again, it was another bland building that didn't add much. The rest of the block that went was a bunch of 1 or 2 floor buildings that took up high value land in the CBD.

I'm sure my perspective on why I don't think we'll miss anything has tainted my view on not missing the buildings....but the same can be said for those that have the opposite opinion. Given what we're getting with 499 and the fact that it will be built (not if), makes a big difference here compared to the Stage Center site. I don't miss that building either but I am pissed that we dozed it without a solid plan in place to replace it in a timely manner. And if you are complaining about a parking garage going in, remember this. We just imploded what? A parking garage. A very old parking garage, and correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think it had ground-floor retail that people here are always so adamant about having.

Watched a few of the videos. Disappointed to listen to all the cheering as they came down.

This is nothing to celebrate. But Oklahoma will never change, I lose hope for OKC by the day.

My understanding is that the cheering was from the wrecking company employees and their friends/family. I'd cheer too if I was hired to do that and did it successfully. I didn't hear any cheering where I was standing. Some oohs and ahhs, but no cheering.

And Hotel Black had already failed once.

Everything in midtown, the Paseo, bricktown, automobile alley, and the plaza district had failed at least once.

Those arguments don't really hold up in Oklahoma City anymore. There's just too many examples of how much renovation and repurposing has improved the city, while the scars of demolition are still apparent all over the place.

I really don't think we're going to look back and miss one building, Hotel Black. The motor hotel was just a parking garage with absolutely nothing significant to it other than it's size and age. No architectural details that made it stand out, no items we needed to preserve. And Hotel Black had already failed once. As a hotel, it folded long ago and converted to poor office space. You can't tell me that adding on the 70's era sun rooms to the top of the thing added to it's architectural significance. Again, it was another bland building that didn't add much. The rest of the block that went was a bunch of 1 or 2 floor buildings that took up high value land in the CBD.

I'm sure my perspective on why I don't think we'll miss anything has tainted my view on not missing the buildings....but the same can be said for those that have the opposite opinion. Given what we're getting with 499 and the fact that it will be built (not if), makes a big difference here compared to the Stage Center site. I don't miss that building either but I am pissed that we dozed it without a solid plan in place to replace it in a timely manner. And if you are complaining about a parking garage going in, remember this. We just imploded what? A parking garage. A very old parking garage, and correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think it had ground-floor retail that people here are always so adamant about having.

I think the Motor Hotel was a beautiful old building. You're correct that it was a parking garage, and we're just replacing it with a bigger parking garage. It didn't have any ground level retail or anything like that. But the side facing Hudson was beautiful. It had a lot of great architectural details and I'm certainly going to miss that.

As far as the Hotel Black goes, the Skirvin also failed as a hotel. Was there no need to preserve that? Sure the Hotel Black wasn't as ornate or as beautiful, didn't have the same history, but that doesn't mean it was worthless. As far as being bland goes, perhaps you think that, but I don't. I've shown the 499 picture to a lot of non-OKCTalk people. Their response? "Oh, it's a glass box." Seems pretty bland to me.

Look, despite what you may think, I'm excited to see another tower go up in OKC. This will make our skyline look better. It will open up much needed office space. And yes, it will provide more parking so that more companies can move downtown. Overall this is probably a positive. But it's not nearly as positive as it could have been. Look, when they built the original Devon tower, they could have torn down the Colcord building to fit in more parking. It was just an old office building. They didn't tear it down, fortunately, and the Colcord is a real gem now. It adds a lot of character to the block. They could have done the exact same thing with the Hotel Black. It's a shame that they didn't.

I heard cheering all around me on Hudson, but I do think it was probably more because of the spectacle of it all than anything else. That said, there were a lot of Midwest Wrecking vehicles right there, too, so that may have been employees/etc.

It was an awesome sight, to be sure... but man, it did feel like a punch in the gut watching the Hotel Black come down.

That said... The sooner construction gets underway, the better. Driving in to work this morning along Shields, the gap in the skyline was noticeable.

Destroying this urban block to build a marginally interesting highrise is like the nouveau riche building a McMansion with faux Greek colonnade. Look at our new big building! We're a major league city. No. Doesn't work that way; real cities value architectural heritage, culture, and aesthetics. This is a wanna be move.

Its done. Lets move on...

There is a great deal to be excited about with our city. Looking at the permits, the planned projects, the opportunities in still yet unappreciated areas such as Farmer's Market and such, gives me hope that the city has enough jewels left to keep it interesting.

Probably the most important change that gives me hope that our city will continue to evolve into something significantly better is the influx of people that seems to be occurring. The economy also seems to be diversifying enough in the city itself to sustain this trend.

Yeah, I'm pissed about Film Exchange, I miss the Lunch Box, these building were interesting texture... but change in mentality seems to only come with new people, new ideas, new leaders, money, and probably youth. Because those factors are changing, OKC has a bright future ahead.