Larry Blackledge and Associate architects will present a proposal to the Bricktown Urban Design Committee for a 10-story office building next to Bricktown Ballpark.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/cummings1.jpg

The property has long been owned by the Cummins family and the building has been dubbed the Cummins Building.

Currently, there is a small office building on the .23 acres that was built in 1956 and the remainder is a surface parking lot.


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

Plans call for retail on the ground floor, office space on levels 3 through 8 and a restaurant and rooftop lounge on the 9th and 10th floors.

The building would offer commanding views of the downtown skyline to the west and the ballpark to the south.

The committee will receive the proposal at its next meeting on September 9th.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/cummings2.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/cummings3.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/cummings4.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/cummings5.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/cummings6.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/cummings7.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/cummings8.jpg

This is awesome! I hate that parking lot there.

Great! I'd love to see surface lots like that in Bricktown go to developments like this.

Would patrons park in the structure next to it?

Wow, great to see quality infill like this happening in Bricktown.

Hot damn, that looks fantastic. I like the dark top as a bit of a contrast to the hotels on the other side of the parking garage.

Mid-rise infill like this is exactly what we need more of.

Wow, this looks great! Seems like a slam-dunk to me! At 10 stories tall, this would be about the same height as the Hilton Garden Inn just down the street, I assume?

already better than OGE development

Well that's badass.

Keep in mind this would exceed Bricktown height restrictions and will need to get a variance if/when it gets that far.

But, that is likely coming for the proposed development on the Bodyworks site and perhaps elsewhere, like the Canopy Hotel.

Holy cow.

I have to ask though, who are the offices for? Seems kind of risky right now.

Although tall, it will be a relatively slim building with not a ton of square footage.

And keep in mind this would not be open for tenants for at least 2 years.

that parking lot was worthless anyhow. any parking that requires a guide for each spot is trash.

But this would ruin the view from pink parrot you guys... ;)

Although tall, it will be a relatively slim building with not a ton of square footage.

And keep in mind this would not be open for tenants for at least 2 years.

It's small without a lot of square footage, but its great urban design and will completely transform the intersection.

This will be great.

I'm just hoping people wont gripe about demolishing the structure that's currently on it. I want to say I'm joking but I'm not.

Love it. MOAR plz.

Holy cow.

I have to ask though, who are the offices for? Seems kind of risky right now.

No worries at this time, there could be state agencies that were temporarily displaced from FNC that may end up there. It's a long ways off.

Very nice development !

Great design on a key corner. This will completely change the feel of BT visually when you come over the bridge from the north. Do the same thing on the Tap Works corner and it really would be dynamite. Sheridan is clearly becoming our most complete urban street when considering everything happening along it from Classen to 235.

Time to change it back to "Grand Avenue"?


(mostly not serious. but not entirely.)

Time to change it back to "Grand Avenue"?


I would vote for that.

Love it love it love it. The views of downtown from the lounge area are going to be the best in the city.

The architecture is like a bricktown play on whatever the architecture style of the Skirvin is.

The only thing that is sad about this development is that it is super unique…i.e. there are not more developments like it.

I tell you what…the Bricktown Ballpark seems to have a real pull with these developers to inhibit views into the ballpark.

This is out of nowhere. A+

Love to see the parking lots in BT disappearing. Now if they could start on that Canopy hotel...

Looks great.. glad to see the rooftop lounge. those other hotels east of it really missed the boat in my opinion with no balconies facing the ball park and no rooftop usage. this will look great.

I love everything about this! Would like to see buildings along this type go up around the new park too!

What a wonderful project for such a spot in BT, and it'll be taking up surface parking at that!

Here's to seeing this one come through. It'd be nice if this one gets started right away.

Any word if financing has been secured? It looks great, I hope it doesn't get scaled back!

I love everything about this! Would like to see buildings along this type go up around the new park too!

I was going to say that exact same thing too!!!

...I'm just hoping people wont gripe about demolishing the structure that's currently on it. I want to say I'm joking but I'm not.

No disrespect, but if you honestly believe that is a possibility then you completely misunderstand the rationale and motivations behind those types of protests. If this development happens it would be similar to when Aloft replaced the Finley Building. Nobody protested or complained about that, nor would anyone do so here.

Also, for the record, Andrew Cummins passed away earlier this year and the property is now owned/managed by his son Clark.

Love it.

any idea how Clark feels about the development?

I think it is a slam dunk and has been already said - more of these are needed elsewhere on BTown parking lots! Perhaps the same design but with residential instead of office at other key intersections would really take Bricktown placemaking to the next level while bringing in more retail on bottom and prime restaurant with roof views on top!

any idea how Clark feels about the development? ...

There is no way that it is going before BUDC without him being fully on board; he owns the property. Would guess that he is a partner in the development, with the property being his equity. Last few times I have spoken with him he was very interested in developing or otherwise commercializing the property beyond surface parking, which his dad never seemed to be.

Give that man an award. We need positive reinforcement for those willing to do such things instead of sit on financially lucrative parking lots.

I like it, and this is the kind of project that is good for Bricktown. Does anyone find the Cummins name on the west side slightly distracting because it's not centered? I think it's aligned with the main entry way, but it sort of sticks out like a red dot on Elaine's cashmere sweater.

I like it, and this is the kind of project that is good for Bricktown. Does anyone find the Cummins name on the west side slightly distracting because it's not centered? I think it's aligned with the main entry way, but it sort of sticks out like a red dot on Elaine's cashmere sweater.

...

I didn't notice it until you said it. Darn you. Darn you to heck.

...

I didn't notice it until you said it. Darn you. Darn you to heck.

NOOOOO!!!!!! If they are going to put the sign there, they shouldn't even build it!!!! :rolleyes:

So I take it the odds of this happening are better than the Cotton Exchange?

So I take it the odds of this happening are better than the Cotton Exchange?

Considering the Cotton Exchange is completely dead, yes.

But it's a fair point... This is merely a proposal from someone who owns the property and doesn't seem to have any experienced development partners.

Could be just an attempt to try and find some investors at this point, but sure hope it gets built.

Steve isn't confident (nor am I)

Is Bricktown set to see a 10-story building built next to the ballpark? | News OK (http://newsok.com/article/5444063?utm_source=NewsOK.com&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=NIC-Facebook)

Steve isn't confident (nor am I)

Is Bricktown set to see a 10-story building built next to the ballpark? | News OK (http://newsok.com/article/5444063?utm_source=NewsOK.com&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=NIC-Facebook)

Steve's supposed lack of confidence about this project is not the tone I felt from that article...

Looks like a great development. This is what we need more of.

Steve's supposed lack of confidence about this project is not the tone I felt from that article...

The article clearly has a skeptical tone, mostly based on similar projects that have been proposed over the years that never came to fruition. He admits that it may or may not be a real deal.

I love the urbanism and the homage to the art deco structures of the past. These are the kind of developments OKC and Bricktown needs to take it to the next level. Hopefully it happens.

Considering the Cotton Exchange is completely dead, yes.

But it's a fair point... This is merely a proposal from someone who owns the property and doesn't seem to have any experienced development partners.

Could be just an attempt to try and find some investors at this point, but sure hope it gets built.

I guess I should've phrased it...does this seem to be more realistic than the cotton exchange was when proposed. Though still not an easy question to answer.

This is far less ambitious than the Cotton Exchange and comes at a much more prosperous time in Bricktown, so at least in those respects it's more viable.

If they are looking for investors I wonder what the minimum buy-in is.

The Cotton Exchange was perhaps more viable than we often give it credit for being. There have been plenty of pure fantasy fishing expeditions in the past, but I don't doubt that he fully intended to build. He had a dream team of sorts (for the time) as far as architect, engineer, broker, etc.. The problem was a combination of timing and his own difficulty accessing capital. He didn't have the cash squared away, but may have been able to find it...right up until the economy went into the crapper and speculative condo money went the way of the dodo.

Not sure who Clark has associated with this project (if anybody) but it DOES look like the TYPE of project that could find capital these days, and it certainly advertises the fact that this corner is in play. This might not end up being the ultimate project, but I'll bet you see SOMETHING happen here soon. Hopefully this is it.

I guess I should've phrased it...does this seem to be more realistic than the cotton exchange was when proposed. Though still not an easy question to answer.

There would have been nothing unrealistic about the Cotton Exchange had it have been proposed a year earlier. Similar projects were being built all over the country even in markets smaller than OKC. Unfortunately it was proposed too close to the economic crash.

Likewise there should be nothing unrealistic about this proposal.

As someone who wasn't around when that Cotton Exchange development was proposed, is there an old thread on this board about it?

The Cotton Exchange (dead) - OKCTalk (http://www.okctalk.com/showwiki.php?title=The+Cotton+Exchange+dead)

If they are looking for investors I wonder what the minimum buy-in is.

I take it that means you approve? :)

If they are looking for investors I wonder what the minimum buy-in is.

Probably would be looking for $1.5 to $2 million. Write them a check.

This will be great.

I'm just hoping people wont gripe about demolishing the structure that's currently on it. I want to say I'm joking but I'm not.

Wait what? I hope you don't actually mean to compare the Preftakes block to this site...

Another article on this from Steve: Proposed Bricktown tower is "a real deal" | News OK (http://newsok.com/proposed-bricktown-tower-is-a-real-deal/article/5444795/). I particularly liked this bit:


Cummins said equity and financing is in place for the project with a requirement that a percentage of the space be pre-leased before construction can start. Cummins said leasing interest is strong with some “big companies” looking at leasing the entire building.

Would love to see this project happen and would also really like to see more big office tenants in Bricktown.

Will help the district continue to become more balanced.

This is great to hear. This will completely change the feel of that intersection and is honestly one of the most exciting projects proposed in the past year.

I look forward to Bricktown evolving over the next several years into a true live/work/play neighborhood.

It certainly sounds like Clark Cummins "gets it" when it comes to what developments in Bricktown should consist of.

Now what can be done about that darn Spaghetti Warehouse building. :mad:

I discussed this project with Steve the other day - before this article - and he had some other details that make this deal sound even more promising. I won't share them as there must have been a reason he left them out of the story, but I was encouraged. I'll look forward to discussing it with Clark when I see him next time.

That said, folks should remember that projects like this are complex with lots of moving parts. A great rendering and an earnest developer still don't always equal a done deal. Fingers crossed though.

I discussed this project with Steve the other day - before this article - and he had some other details that make this deal sound even more promising. I won't share them as there must have been a reason he left them out of the story, but I was encouraged. I'll look forward to discussing it with Clark when I see him next time.

That said, folks should remember that projects like this are complex with lots of moving parts. A great rendering and an earnest developer still don't always equal a done deal. Fingers crossed though.

This must be in regards to the potential occupant. Can you reveal the industry from which the company competes in?

Actually, no to both, sorry. He didn't specify confidentiality when telling me, but there must be some reason he left what he told me out of the story, so I'll just leave it up to him to reveal when the time is right. Not my place to say. Nothing earth-shattering; just inspires a bit of confidence.

They have now formally submitted application to the Bricktown Urban Design Committee, so this is start to firm up.

Feedback from the BUDC this morning was just suggesting more street activation with bottom floor retail. Otherwise, all good remarks.