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CuatrodeMayo
02-13-2015, 12:52 AM
sad...

jccouger
02-13-2015, 07:50 AM
Lol!!!

traxx
02-13-2015, 10:08 AM
I couldn't resist this...

If headlines from today's NewsOK.com website appeared on the walls of the new OPUBCO offices:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/opubco1.jpg

I'm surprised there's no headline up there about Florida Man or some teacher having sex with a student. Those articles seem to be a daily occurance.

Pete
02-13-2015, 03:12 PM
From shawnw; great to see the lights on:



http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/century021315a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/century021315b.jpg

Plutonic Panda
02-15-2015, 11:34 PM
Richard Mize: Edmond is a suburb of Oklahoma City? Who knew? | News OK (http://newsok.com/richard-mize-edmond-is-a-suburb-of-oklahoma-city-who-knew/article/5393236)

betts
02-16-2015, 07:23 AM
But, could he get on a train every morning and hop off it onto a streetcar that stops very near his office - his commute would suddenly be even more relaxing, and far safer, than that 8 mile drive. That's what people who use mass trans suddenly discover. You can read a book or the newspaper on your way to work.

Just the facts
02-16-2015, 08:31 AM
But, could he get on a train every morning and hop off it onto a streetcar that stops very near his office - his commute would suddenly be even more relaxing, and far safer, than that 8 mile drive. That's what people who use mass trans suddenly discover. You can read a book or the newspaper on your way to work.

...or he could just move closer to work and live near all the "coolness". For the first time in 3 generations the people in OKC have options on not only where to live, but 'how' to live. It is no longer a choice of where one wants a suburban lifestyle, but if one wants a suburban lifestyle at all. I think as more and more people discover the benefits of urbanism they will increasingly choose that option, and it is great that people with the biggest speaking voice in the State are being given that option first hand.

Spartan
02-16-2015, 09:28 AM
Richard Mize: Edmond is a suburb of Oklahoma City? Who knew? | News OK (http://newsok.com/richard-mize-edmond-is-a-suburb-of-oklahoma-city-who-knew/article/5393236)

And here you have an obviously weaker writer trying to do the same article that Berry did last week. Never been a fan of Mize's writing, and I think he panders folksy to make up for his writing deficiency. I don't think he says a single substantive thing in this entire article, but it's still cool to see all of the main Oklahoman writers doing their take on the move.

Can't wait for Jenni's piece on how the switch to downtown was really about toughness, with their good writers threatening to transfer, and too many of the other writers gorging on fried chicken from Britton Road drive-thru establishments.

Pete
02-16-2015, 09:49 AM
With OPUBCO finally out of their old HQ, it will be interesting to see what happens with that property now and it also sets off a chain effect.

American Fidelity is already constructng a new parking garage on that campus and plans to build more office and perhaps some restaurant space on the lake.

It also means they can fully vacate 2000 Classen, which in turn dumps a lot of vacancy into that area.

And, I've heard that American Fidelity has been working with American Energy Partners to jointly develop the land around the small lakes that sit between their properties.


Things should start to move forward on all this now the first domino has fallen.

OkieNate
02-16-2015, 10:44 AM
With OPUBCO finally out of their old HQ, it will be interesting to see what happens with that property now and it also sets off a chain effect.

American Fidelity is already construction a new parking garage on that campus and plans to build more office and perhaps some restaurant space on the lake.

It also means they can fully vacate 2000 Classen, which in turn dumps a lot of vacancy into that area.

And, I've heard that American Fidelity has been working with American Energy Partners to jointly develop the land around the small lakes that sit between their properties.


Things should start to move forward on all this now the first domino has fallen.

Was AF concurrently moving in while OPUBCO was moving out? And are there any leads or interest in the soon to be vacant 2000 Classen complex?

SoonerFP
02-16-2015, 11:03 AM
Was AF concurrently moving in while OPUBCO was moving out? And are there any leads or interest in the soon to be vacant 2000 Classen complex?

Yes to your first question. I have a good friend that works for AF and has been onsite at the OPUBCO building for over a year I believe.

Pete
02-16-2015, 12:33 PM
Was AF concurrently moving in while OPUBCO was moving out? And are there any leads or interest in the soon to be vacant 2000 Classen complex?

AF has been moving into the old OPUBCO space but couldn't fully do so until they moved out. They'eve also been renovating the vacant floors.

What space they've vacated thus far at 2000 Classen has been pretty much leased out already.

soonerguru
02-17-2015, 12:41 AM
...or he could just move closer to work and live near all the "coolness". For the first time in 3 generations the people in OKC have options on not only where to live, but 'how' to live. It is no longer a choice of where one wants a suburban lifestyle, but if one wants a suburban lifestyle at all. I think as more and more people discover the benefits of urbanism they will increasingly choose that option, and it is great that people with the biggest speaking voice in the State are being given that option first hand.

Plaudits to you for this well-written, positive post.

bchris02
02-17-2015, 07:38 AM
...or he could just move closer to work and live near all the "coolness". For the first time in 3 generations the people in OKC have options on not only where to live, but 'how' to live. It is no longer a choice of where one wants a suburban lifestyle, but if one wants a suburban lifestyle at all. I think as more and more people discover the benefits of urbanism they will increasingly choose that option, and it is great that people with the biggest speaking voice in the State are being given that option first hand.

Hopefully enough people keep choosing urbanism so that modern amenities like a grocery store and CVS/Walgreens can exist downtown in the near future. My guess is that CVS is going to regret not being a part of the Century Center deal like they almost were.

Urbanized
02-17-2015, 07:50 AM
My understanding is that CVS already regrets not leasing.

jccouger
02-17-2015, 08:10 AM
AF has been moving into the old OPUBCO space but couldn't fully do so until they moved out. They'eve also been renovating the vacant floors.

What space they've vacated thus far at 2000 Classen has been pretty much leased out already.

With TEEMCO being evicted from some of their leases already, any chance they move those positions to 2000 Classen to be closer to their headquarters @ the gold dome?





http://cdns2.freepik.com/free-photo/troll-face---problem_17-623203123.jpg

Pete
02-18-2015, 10:13 AM
Nice rendering of the Revolve Pizza that is going in on the NW corner of this project:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/revolve021815.jpg

okatty
02-18-2015, 04:21 PM
That will be a very cool. I recall the days of Taco Casa if you went inside the NW doors and went on inside!

Urbanized
02-18-2015, 09:59 PM
You could get a bean burrito as big as your head

okatty
02-19-2015, 08:44 AM
And if you were a regular customer you got chips and salsa before the meal without ordering it! It was quite an honor! Back in the day!

dankrutka
02-21-2015, 10:56 PM
10229

BrettM2
02-21-2015, 11:00 PM
^That looks like a rendering. Such a huge transformation.

shawnw
02-23-2015, 12:23 PM
The more I look at it the more I wish they would have added the two floors of parking.

betts
02-23-2015, 02:53 PM
Regardless, it really looks great, especially remembering its last incarnation.

shawnw
02-23-2015, 04:33 PM
agree

ljbab728
02-28-2015, 01:02 AM
Steve's update on the Oklahoman's relocation.

The Oklahoman returns to its downtown roots | News OK (http://newsok.com/the-oklahoman-returns-to-its-downtown-roots/article/5397376)

Pete
03-13-2015, 12:53 PM
The new Y location in this project is set to open March 30th:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/ysign1.jpg

Pete
03-13-2015, 01:05 PM
And here's a better rendering for Revolve:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/revolve031215.jpg

dankrutka
03-14-2015, 01:36 PM
10369

10370

SOONER8693
03-14-2015, 01:40 PM
10369

10370
WOW! That is a night and day difference for the better. Thanks for posting the pics.

Village
03-23-2015, 07:33 PM
From Tuesday around 8-10am.
10486
10487

Pete
03-26-2015, 10:41 AM
A new Century: YMCA, restaurants prepare to open in downtown OKC
By: Molly M. Fleming The Journal Record March 25, 20150

OKLAHOMA CITY – The newest business in downtown’s Century Center building will open its doors Monday, with two more to follow later this summer.

The YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City will open its third location in the area to help meet the growing residential and workforce demand, said Mike Grady, YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City president and CEO. The Midtown YMCA opened in 2008 and the Edward L. Gaylord Downtown branch started in 1999.

“We think the (new) space worked out really nicely,” Grady said.

The Main Street YMCA, 100 W. Main St., measures 14,000 square feet, which includes an equipment area, two locker rooms, and two group exercise studios. It will be open Monday to Friday from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m., with weekend hours to be considered in the future. The downtown and Midtown branches are both open on weekends.

The Century Center is being redeveloped by Newmark Grubb Levy Strange Beffort investment broker Andy Burnett and real estate investor Steve Hurst. Newmark Grubb Levy Strange Beffort retail broker Danny Ojeda is assisting Burnett with leasing the building. The main tenant is the Oklahoma Publishing Co.

The next tenants in the building will be two restaurants, Revolve Pizza and Mahogany Steakhouse. There is still 10,000 of office space available on the second floor, but Burnett said he and Ojeda expect to sign a tenant soon.

Overall, Burnett said he thinks the building turned out well.

“We’re really pleased with it,” he said. “One of our goals was to have strong, local tenants. I think we did a good job with that.”

Revolve Pizza partner Eric Renegar said construction is ongoing in the company’s 3,600-square-foot space in the building’s northwest corner. He said he expects to open by early June. It will offer breakfast, lunch, dinner and local high-point beers on tap. Catering will be available as well.

“With more people moving downtown, it seems to get more lively than it used to,” he said. “I think there is some need for dinner downtown.”

The restaurant offers build-your-own pizzas and opened its first location at 5500 W. Memorial Rd. in June 2014. Renegar said the company is currently scouting other spots as well.

The other eatery in the building will be Mahogany Steakhouse, owned by Hal Smith Restaurant Group. The restaurant offers guests prime steak, seafood and drinks, and will be on the southwest corner, across from the Colcord Hotel and Myriad Botanical Gardens. Hal Smith Chief Operating Officer Hank Kraft said the 7,800-square-foot-space is under construction and he expects to open in June.

metro
03-28-2015, 06:58 PM
And here's a better rendering for Revolve:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/revolve031215.jpg

That rendering looks like they have one creepy stalker customer waiting for them to open, and the lonely waiter to serve her.

dankrutka
03-30-2015, 05:37 PM
Sir Ken Robinson who is known across the world as an education thinker tweeted out a complaint to his almost 300,000 followers about the Oklahoman's video board keeping him up all night at the Colcord: https://twitter.com/sirkenrobinson/status/582671304790147072

He's in town for the World Creativity Forum. Yikes.

Pete
03-30-2015, 05:43 PM
Wow.

I guess those blackout shades aren't sufficient.

Hadn't thought about the noise.

dankrutka
03-30-2015, 05:55 PM
Dave Morris quickly apologized and said he'd check to make sure it's dimming properly. Good, quick response by him.

Motley
03-30-2015, 07:02 PM
What do they use in Vegas and Times Square to block all the hotel windows?

dankrutka
03-30-2015, 07:23 PM
Seems like a legitimate complaint if the light and sound keep hotel guests up, but Steve Lackmeyer has been calling Robinson's character into question through a series of subtweets. Seems an unprofessional response to what is a valid complaint that, at worst, could have been expressed differently. Ahhhh, Internet...

jccouger
03-30-2015, 08:12 PM
Leave it to the jokelahoman to ruin one of the best hotels in the state. That video board is LOUD. It startled me the first time I heard it. It shouldny play ANY audio after 7pm, and lights should be out by 9 at the latest.

dankrutka
03-30-2015, 08:21 PM
? Which tweets?

Starts here: https://twitter.com/stevelackmeyer/status/582677977630142464

zookeeper
03-30-2015, 08:23 PM
Sir Ken is one of my heroes. I can't believe this is how I find out he's in Oklahoma City!

soonerguru
03-30-2015, 08:28 PM
I heard the audio for the first time the other day. Ridiculously unnecessary noise pollution that doesn't enhance the advertising one iota. It sounded cheap and cheesy.

zookeeper
03-30-2015, 08:36 PM
If Steve is really giving him trouble, I am dissapointed. I only saw one remark from Steve about Robinson being "all talk" or some such thing. Well, when your video is the most viewed TED Talk of all-time (over Thirty Million and counting), talking may be all you need to do. At least he stood up, took a stand, and has continued to do so. His influence has been profound among many, many educators and others. In fact, to say Sir Ken Robinson is "all talk" is putting it lightly - in a very literal sense, and those words spark creativity.

soonerguru
03-30-2015, 08:38 PM
I didn't read the offending tweet, but bad form by Steve to call him out for a legit complaint if he in fact did so. The audio on The Oklahoman digital sign is really really bad. It reeks of small town tryna be big.

pickles
03-30-2015, 08:42 PM
I just can't imagine Steve being hysterical or unprofessional via social media. Doesn't fit his m.o. at all.

zookeeper
03-30-2015, 08:54 PM
Scott Barry Kaufman is also part of this tomorrow? How did I miss this? How was this promoted that I missed all the promotion? (Which certainly there was, I just can't believe this is going on and I missed seeing anything.) Creativity World Forum 2015 (http://register.wciconferences.org/ehome/creativityworldforum2015/Home/)

For those interested, here is the original Ted Talk by Sir Ken Robinson. You couldn't spend 20 minutes any better. Seriously.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG9CE55wbtY

Pete
03-30-2015, 09:55 PM
Wow, that was really interesting. Thanks for sharing.

I can relate a bit to what he is saying because as a child of the 60's and 70's, I was always told that a career is going to work for someone and working your way up the ladder. I went to business school, did just that, then went to MBA school, and did that again.

I have recently realized my interests and abilities are far better suited to being an entrepreneur. Yet, not only were there no courses about that sort of thing, it wasn't really even discussed -- even in MBA school (that was 1989-90 for me).

Now, of course, many more options are presented to kids in school but not nearly enough IMO. Creativity and finding what you are really good at and consequently what you are most likely to be passionate about (or perhaps it's the other way around, although those things are certainly tightly linked) is really only talked about in the abstract as you are generally forced into a pretty narrow and set curriculum.

It seems all the great things in this world are accomplished by those who didn't really fit in at school and/or within the tight parameters of traditional education.

It's amazing how much the world has changed in just the last few decades yet we still teach young people pretty much the same way (an adult authority figure that has come through the traditional educational system, standing in front of seated students who are required to listen) it's been done for thousands of years.

dankrutka
03-30-2015, 10:24 PM
If you really want your mind blown read John Dewey's critiques of schools in the 1890s. If no one had told you you'd think he was talking about contemporary schools. Many of the same critiques as Robinson.

BrettM2
03-30-2015, 11:19 PM
Starts here: https://twitter.com/stevelackmeyer/status/582677977630142464

Prepare to be blocked. That's what happens if you call him out.

dankrutka
03-30-2015, 11:26 PM
Prepare to be blocked. That's what happens if you call him out.

Well, I'm not really trying to call him out. Just thought it was a poor response in this case. I've had a lot of positive interactions with Steve. Anyway, I'd hope that's not the case.

bchris02
03-31-2015, 09:36 AM
Leave it to the jokelahoman to ruin one of the best hotels in the state. That video board is LOUD. It startled me the first time I heard it. It shouldny play ANY audio after 7pm, and lights should be out by 9 at the latest.

I think the lights can stay on but I think the noise should be muted or turned way down. There is a similar message board in downtown Charlotte that I don't remember having any sound at all.

bchris02
03-31-2015, 09:40 AM
I just can't imagine Steve being hysterical or unprofessional via social media. Doesn't fit his m.o. at all.

The entire Oklahoman is unprofessional. When I was in middle school we took a field trip there. We were in the printing area and I asked the tour guide how many newspapers could be printed from one of the large rolls. She laughed at me and repeated the question back to me in a mocking tone. A few minutes later, I heard her mocking me again but she didn't realize that I had heard. I thought it was very unprofessional especially for newspaper employees treating middle school children that way. Ever since then I have not had a very high opinion of the Oklahoman.

Mr. Cotter
03-31-2015, 09:41 AM
It is surprisingly loud at times. I assumed the speakers would be more directional than they are. I like the sign, but agree it needs some adjusting.

Anonymous.
03-31-2015, 09:58 AM
Yawn. Guess we can count out residential on the CCC site once it is bulldozed, since it will be surrounded by evil videoboards! Sounds like Colcord either was not expecting the board to be that bright, or was reactive to the situation instead of proactive.

catch22
03-31-2015, 10:58 AM
It's ironic that the Oklahoman building is just as annoying as their auto-play videos on their website!

Architect2010
03-31-2015, 04:36 PM
Wow.

I guess those blackout shades aren't sufficient.

Hadn't thought about the noise.

The Colcord responded to Robinson, saying they had custom frames for their black-out curtains but they have not been installed yet. This makes me think they have not installed any black-outs yet.

UnFrSaKn
03-31-2015, 06:18 PM
https://www.flickr.com/photos/williamhider/sets/72157651669060542/

Ran into Dave Morris by chance outside the building this morning. I mentioned the Twitter complaint about the LED screen. He said they are turning the sound off at night and brightness will be down to 2%. It's a big screen so not a lot you can do about the brightness at that level.

Pete
03-31-2015, 07:10 PM
The irony is that the screen and OPUBCO improvements were partially paid for from the Devon TIF, and Devon owns the Colcord.

BoulderSooner
03-31-2015, 07:55 PM
Lots of people stand at watch that video board and the news stories

catch22
03-31-2015, 08:05 PM
Lots of people stand at watch that video board and the news stories

What about at midnight thru 5am? They should just shut it off after a certain hour. Save them the electricity, allow visitors to sleep, and allow the street to be quiet.

Put it on dim from 10p-midnight, OFF from midnight to 5am, and dim from 5am to sunrise.