Guernsey will be a good addition to the urban core. Their current office is in a total no-man's land. That said I'd rather see them closer to downtown proper in some of the abundant office space down there.

Makes you wonder if they negotiated some sort of equity stake in Alley North.

From the Oklahoman:

"Jared Stigge, CEO, said the company’s choice to move reflects changes in how employees view workplaces, the competition for talent and how the firm interacts with its clients."

This is becoming the norm...

It says "coming in 2025..,“ so, I'm guessing they want to break ground on the development pretty soon?

It says "coming in 2025..,“ so, I'm guessing they want to break ground on the development pretty soon?

I thought it was 2027?

I thought it was 2027?

Not per the press release above.

Oh well if thats the case, they need to start turning dirt soon, lo.

From the Oklahoman:

"Jared Stigge, CEO, said the company’s choice to move reflects changes in how employees view workplaces, the competition for talent and how the firm interacts with its clients."

This is becoming the norm...

Unless you’re Paycom….

Unless you’re Paycom….

very very different client interaction

How many employees do they have in OKC?

Unless you’re Paycom….

Paycom adopted that early 2000's company trend of the "Live, Work, and Play" at work theme of all the blossoming tech companies of that era. Now they have and keep investing in their suburban company oasis, so its hard now to deviate from that and build a presence downtown.

Unless you’re Paycom….

Paycom adopted that early 2000's company trend of the "Live, Work, and Play" at work theme of all the blossoming tech companies of that era. Now they have and keep investing in their suburban company oasis, so its hard now to deviate from that and build a presence downtown.

Paycom adopted that early 2000's company trend of the "Live, Work, and Play" at work theme of all the blossoming tech companies of that era. Now they have and keep investing in their suburban company oasis, so its hard now to deviate from that and build a presence downtown.

They don’t seem to have trouble recruiting people to work there, so not sure why they’d move anyway. Lots of affordable housing nearby and lots of services along Memorial. It works for them and everyone doesn’t need to be downtown.

They don’t seem to have trouble recruiting people to work there, so not sure why they’d move anyway. Lots of affordable housing nearby and lots of services along Memorial. It works for them and everyone doesn’t need to be downtown.

Not to mention the CEO lives at Penn and Sorghum Mill. Easy drive for him.

it is nice to have big companies in different parts of the city. Yes, downtown needs to be the #1 destination, but we should have companies throughout.

TBH, I'd love to see Paycom move to the old Chesapeake campus if they ever wanted to move closer in. Imagine them or some other IT company at 63rd and Western - it'd be a Microsoft/Amazon moment for OKC for sure.

it is nice to have big companies in different parts of the city. Yes, downtown needs to be the #1 destination, but we should have companies throughout.

TBH, I'd love to see Paycom move to the old Chesapeake campus if they ever wanted to move closer in. Imagine them or some other IT company at 63rd and Western - it'd be a Microsoft/Amazon moment for OKC for sure.I believe they have invested so much in their current facility that moving from that is totally out of the question.

Along with Guernsey, I saw online that Pascal Aughtry & Associates Architects is moving nearby to 14th & Robinson. They are currently at Britton & Kelley.

This sign went up on the property along Broadway between NW 15th and 16th a few days ago:

18938

Plans have been filed to construct the parking areas in the southwest corner, Parcel F below:

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/alleynorth071524a.jpg


HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/alleynorth7.jpg

I am confused. Parcel F says a retail plaza. Is that changing to parking? That would not be the best change.

Or maybe I am misreading.

I am confused. Parcel F says a retail plaza. Is that changing to parking? That would bot be the best change.

Or maybe I am misreading.

It almost looks like they have switched Parcel A and F. There will still be a building on that corner, but they are making it a parking space instead of a common walking space.

It almost looks like they have switched Parcel A and F. There will still be a building on that corner, but they are making it a parking space instead of a common walking space.

Ah, ok.

Plans have been filed to construct the parking areas in the southwest corner, Parcel F below:

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/alleynorth071524a.jpg


HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/alleynorth7.jpg

Also, are we talking a parking lot or garage?

Also, are we talking a parking lot or garage?
Or just the parking areas between buildings?

I noticed these on the north and south ends of the development on my drive to work this morning:

1906619067

I guess a permit was filed today to build a parking lot here (to help aid future development at the site).

I guess a permit was filed today to build a parking lot here (to help aid future development at the site).

It's the same thing I posted above.

It's the same thing I posted above.

Oh, nice! I just happened to see the building permit today.

Glad to see this moving forward! Will be huge for that area, in terms of getting more residents near those restaurants.

Plans have been submitted for a large restaurant with surface parking for the northern portion of this development.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/alleynorth090624a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/alleynorth090624b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/alleynorth090624c.jpg

So is the restaurant taking the place of that larger building from the plans in the second pic? Or is it going to be wrapped by a building?

If it is taking the place of it, then this would seem like a downgrade.

OMG What a horrible downgrade. It does not adhere to any kind of urban form with all that surface parking. Substitute a multi-level urban building for something that looks like Memorial Road?

If there is to be a "large restaurant" it should at the very least be required to hug the corner of the lot with the parking in the back. But even that would be a terrible use of this space.

Major fail.

lol what on earth

This bait-and-switch should completely disqualify them from receiving any funding assistance from OKC

This looks like absolute dog ****. Easily the worst new development I’ve seen downtown in the last decade plus. What an absolute joke. Why not just put in another car dealership while we’re at it?

is this inside any design review area that can prevent it from being approved?

*fart noise*

What's the review process for this? Hopefully it gets denied.

What's the review process for this? Hopefully it gets denied.

Oddly, this entire project is not within any design district.

They can build pretty much anything they want.

TF?? Yikes.

I feel like the only reason this would make sense is because it is a new to market restaurant that we have been wanting for a long time and they call the shots on the layout. No insider info at all, that would, to me, be the only reason a company like Pivot would do something like this.

A BJ's Brewhouse would be hilarious. People visiting from small towns would absolutely eat it up. This happening less than 2 miles away from the downtown core is unbelievable.

I just checked my calendar because I assumed by that design it was April Fools Day!

I suspect they are making a deal on this parcel so they can get the rest financed.

It's really not the best location for a stand-alone restaurant.

I suspect they are making a deal on this parcel so they can get the rest financed.

It's really not the best location for a stand-alone restaurant.

I am really trying to rack my brain for what Restaurant would need that much parking? It has to be a large national chain, right?

^^^ Certainly not a Texas Roadhouse based on the floorplan lol.

^^^ Certainly not a Texas Roadhouse based on the floorplan lol.

With enough parking for Lloyd noble in Norman.

I am really trying to rack my brain for what Restaurant would need that much parking? It has to be a large national chain, right?

Maybe Red Lobster is making a come back?

looks like a 15k building +/-

Are we finally getting a Pappadeaux?

Maybe Red Lobster is making a come back?

Hahah! Right? Maybe a Combination Red Lobster/Golden Corral? Kind of like the old Long John Silvers/A&W, but on a bigger scale.

Watch it be another Cheesecake Factory!

Are we finally getting a Pappadeaux?

This is actually the first thing that came to mind. I remember there was talk of that years ago for Memorial road somewhere and it never happened.

Are we finally getting a Pappadeaux?

They still own the land at Portland and Memorial.

But, that is a full 3.1 acres which is about the same size as this parcel. And their original plans for that site included a 14,000 SF restaurant.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/pappa5.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/alleynorth090624a.jpg

19138

Nm

Definitely not trying to make excuses as I fully agree with all of the pushback on this, but I wonder if that easement presented design issues re: pushing the building to the front of the street. Obviously a problem that anyone mildly creative could solve, but I could see where a large brand with a very standardized building layout would not want to go through the effort of dealing with that easement and had the developer over the barrel about it.

OMG What a horrible downgrade. It does not adhere to any kind of urban form with all that surface parking. Substitute a multi-level urban building for something that looks like Memorial Road?

If there is to be a "large restaurant" it should at the very least be required to hug the corner of the lot with the parking in the back. But even that would be a terrible use of this space.

Major fail.

As someone that may get stuck working down in that area, I really like the idea of making like Memorial! I like large restaurants with actual parking lots.

Timshel, you're probably right. But this is why urban areas need to have guidelines that force the issue. Otherwise the path of least resistance will always be "The brand I want to put there has a standardized building layout. Nothing we can do about it."

I am reminded of an urban intersection pretty deep into St. Louis. Maybe the equivalent of 23rd or 36th street. A corner popped up (I think there was a fire in an older building and that building was torn down) and a Raising Cane's fast food chicken place was proposed for the spot. And this was a vacant few acres, not a historic building being repurposed. I don't know if it was the neighborhood or the city or the developer or what, but the ultimate Raising Cane's that was built looks nothing like what is built in the suburbs. The restaurant is on the sidewalk, it does have a drive through but it's hidden. It was built to fit the context of the lot. And that was an unimportant lot and an unimportant restaurant. This lot in "Alley North" is far more substantial and worthy of respect. It can be done. Nice chain restaurants are built in urban areas all the time.

What a joke.

This also reminds me, except this is a far bigger example, of the preschool that was built over Classen and the discussion that unfolded there.

Really, anything below 36th street ought to be subject to design review. OKC doesn't have enough of an urban fabric but luckily there is the momentum of growth in the inner city. There is development that wants to happen. Let's repair past situations as we have the opportunity.

This lay out is absolutely embarrassing, and even more so based on what was pitched. I really hope there is significant public push back so they can build something appropriate to an urban area.

This lay out is absolutely embarrassing, and even more so based on what was pitched. I really hope there is significant public push back so they can build something appropriate to an urban area.

they are not in a design district ..

they are not in a design district ..

Public pressure can still work even without a design district.