Regarding buildings heights, I've found that Google Earth seems to be quite accurate, coming within a few feet other sources, except for FNC, City Place, and Oklahoma Tower which are off by dozens of feet.

Height according to Google Earth:
1. Devon Tower - 845'
2. Chase Tower - 499'
3. First National - 452' (to spire), 407' (to roof, within a couple of feet from drawings displayed in the Great Banking Hall)
4. BOK PP - 433' (building not on Google Earth)
5. Oklahoma Tower - 410'
6. SandRidge Tower - 392'
7. City Place - 389'
8. Valliance Bank Tower - 323'
9. The Classen - 287'
10. One Leadership Square - 285'
11. BOK Plaza - 280'

From this week's city council notes:


The Council voted Tuesday to approve about $43 million in tax increment finance (TIF) district fund allocations -- $40 million for the First National Center redevelopment project, $2.6 million for Oklahoma City Boulevard land acquisition and $165,000 for a housing project at 631 W California Ave. The First National Center project funds come from TIF No. 10, and the funds for the other two projects come from TIF No. 2.

OKC approves $45 million First National investment

By: Brian Brus The Journal Record August 15, 2017

OKLAHOMA CITY – The City Council approved without discussion Tuesday a $45 million public investment in the redevelopment of the long-vacant First National Center downtown.

Local developers Gary Brooks and Charlie Nicholas bought the 1-million-square-foot former bank and office building for $23 million in January with plans to redevelop it as mixed-use residential and business space with parking.

They also revealed financing gaps for each component: $16 million for a garage, $20 million for a hotel and $9 million for the residential tower. The developers requested city assistance in the form of a loan shortly after finishing the garage.

In preparation for the project, the City Council in February 2016 adopted an ordinance that amended the Downtown/MAPS Economic Development Plan in creating a tax increment district and producing additional ad valorem and sales tax revenue. On Tuesday, council members agreed that $40 million of the money will come from that district’s ad valorem increment budget and $5 million will come from the sales tax increment budget.

City Council members agreed that the time frame for incurring the project costs in the form of development financing assistance will be over 10 years, incrementally through bond issuance.

Brent Bryant, Oklahoma City economic development manager, said earlier the deal represents a complex financing structure for the private sector but also a necessary step to make the property a productive part of the city’s tax base again. The memorandum of agreement will provide the bank with comfort in making a loan to the developer, he said.

Selective demolition at the site began in February. Construction is expected to start in early 2018.

City officials also recently approved a brownfield revolving loan to help with environmental abatement for asbestos. The loan begins at $1 million with the option of increasing to $2.5 million if funds are available.

First National proceeds could remain in limbo for another year

By: Molly M. Fleming The Journal Record September 6, 2017

OKLAHOMA CITY – It could be another year before the federal court decides who gets the money from the First National Center sale.

Plaintiff Howard Abselet filed a lien on the property in November 2014. Abselet was never the property’s owner, but he claims previous owners Massoud Aaron Yashouafar and Solyman Yashouafar owe him money, so he should get some of the money from the building’s sale.

But on Aug. 1, the Yashouafars filed bankruptcy in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Central District of California. A hearing was held in the bankruptcy case on Aug. 22 in Los Angeles, but not all the debtors were present. The case was rescheduled for Sept. 19.

According to Abselet, the Yashouafars owe him more than $10 million. The Yashouafars owe another $3.8 million to his brother, Israel Abselet.

There’s an outline for the bankruptcy settlement agreement. In the settlement, the trustees release any claims to the Alliance Property Investments Inc. stock. Alliance Property was the LLC used to buy the First National Center.

If the First National Center lawsuit is ever settled, the Yashouafars’ proceeds must be paid toward Abselet’s claims, according to the settlement agreement.
Once the bankruptcy case is settled, then Abselet’s case in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma can proceed as well. Abselet’s attorney, John Stiner, said the Oklahoma case could be resolved by the court. There are several summary judgments awaiting a ruling.

“It may be that the entire case is resolved or there are matters that remain for trial,” he said. “The court may rule or it may say there are disputed questions.”

He doesn’t expect the case to be settled by year’s end.

Gary Brooks and development partner Charlie Nicholas bought the First National Center on Jan. 11 for $23 million, putting an end to years of uncertainty about the building’s future. The developers are qualified to receive state and federal historic tax credits for the project, as well as tax increment financing from the city of Oklahoma City.

Brooks’ original construction plan included demolishing the middle building, but it will have to remain. It’s being renovated into the parking garage.

In the last six months before Brooks and Nicholas bought the center, the air conditioning was shut off and tenants started leaving. There was another buyer, but Judge Stephen P. Friot did not approve his proposal to buy the property.

The $23 million from the sale is being held in receivership until the court decides who gets the money.

^

Thanks for posting.

The good news is this has zero impact on the redevelopment of FNC, as the courts made it possible to pass clear title to Brooks & Co. while these guys battled over the proceeds from the sale.

Very true Pete, and im glad you reminded everyone that this is now a side-bar on the bankruptcy side. I'm SOOOOO EXCITED!!!! This has always been ma #1 favorite building, hands-down. And when my cousin worked for one of the previous management firms, it was so awesome to be able to go in and look. I can't wait to see life bustling around in there again.

Looks like there was a fire or something in the building today. Saw a lot of emergency vehicles over there.

Looks like there was a fire or something in the building today. Saw a lot of emergency vehicles over there.

According to Gary Brooks twitter account it was on the 25th floor and was contained/extinguished. Wonder what happened...

http://m.newsok.com/article/5570978

First look at demolition and construction at First National Center (http://www.okctalk.com/content.php?r=439-First-look-at-demolition-and-construction-at-First-National-Center)

A development group led by Gary Brooks have submitted plans to the Downtown Design Review Committee which detail demolition and construction plans for the massive First National Center renovation project.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/fnc111517a.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/fnc111517m.jpg


The ADG design calls for the a partial removal a 1972 building at the far east end to accommodate a ramp system to serve the middle section of the complex which will become a 683 space parking garage with commercial space on the first and second levels.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/fnc111517g.jpg


Previously both the east and center buildings functioned as office space.

The third level will have parking and office space facing Park Avenue. Floors 4 to 14 will be all parking.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/fnc111517d.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/fnc111517e.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/fnc111517j.jpg


The spaces will serve the soon-to-be-renovated west tower, built in 1931 and set to be converted to apartments and a hotel along with restaurant and commercial areas.

The eastern ramp system along Broadway is designed to replicate an office building facade similar to existing buildings in the immediate area.

The north facade of the center and east buildings will be preserved and repaired and cleaned as needed.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/fnc111517f.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/fnc111517k.jpg


The basement will include valet parking for the hotel and apartments as well as storage.

The historic first-level arcade – the corridor that leads all the way from Broadway to Robinson – will be renovated and the connection to the city's Underground tunnel system will be maintained.

Asbestos removal and other cleanup is already underway at the site.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/fnc111517b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/fnc111517c.jpg

How exciting! 683 parking spots is insane! Such a massive project, it will take years to pull this off. But by 2020, this will be amazing.

Overall effect is nice. Gary and team are always doing a great job on working their projects into the urban fabric. Still wish this project didn't require traffic to empty onto Broadway, but that die was cast many years ago when previous owners split up ownership of FNC and Main Street Garage. It's painfully obvious how much that hampered ongoing attempts at FNC renovation, and this is a good, creative solution.

Overall effect is nice. Gary and team are always doing a great job on working their projects into the urban fabric. Still wish this project didn't require traffic to empty onto Broadway, but that die was cast many years ago when previous owners split up ownership of FNC and Main Street Garage. It's painfully obvious how much that hampered ongoing attempts at FNC renovation, and this is a good, creative solution.

Yeah at least it allows for all of the retail on park to be maintained and only disrupts a small part of Broadway. It's a good compromise given the alternatives.

^

Yeah Park is so important to downtown but that is a ton of cars to be dumping in and out of that one drive on Broadway. Most garages that size have multiple access points.

Still, it certainly seems to be the best solution and I bet they end up using the valet extensively.

Most of the parking will be reserved for residential and hotel use though, right? Shouldnt be much of a “rush hour” dump if you will as it will just be a constant trickle of cars coming in and out if that’s the case.

Most of the parking will be reserved for residential and hotel use though, right? Shouldnt be much of a “rush hour” dump if you will as it will just be a constant trickle of cars coming in and out if that’s the case.

Good point.

Incredible proposal. Can't express how excited I am just for a plan to be in place and knowing that this building will once again be full or being a revitalized heart of the CBD.

http://m.newsok.com/first-national-center-fires-cause-headaches-for-okc-firefighters-saturday/article/5575399?rotator=true

Two more fires today. This is getting weird.

A look ahead to 2020 from https://twitter.com/GaryDBrooks:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/fnc122417.jpg

The renderings they have a simply incredible. Not sure how many here had the chance to take a VR tour when he did his series of open houses, but it was mind blowing.

I used to bank there when it was still First National (the very tail end) but even then the place was really dingy.

The clean-up, remodel and re-opening of the skylight will make the place unrecognizable to almost anyone even old enough to remember it 50+ years ago.

First National Center garage project plan advances

By: Molly M. Fleming The Journal Record December 21, 2017

OKLAHOMA CITY – Developer Gary Brooks had originally planned to demolish the middle building of the First National Center. The exterior of the building, built in 1957, reflects its era, with yellow panels and a yellow awning that hangs over a door.

Brooks said at Thursday’s Downtown Design Review Committee meeting that he didn’t like the building.

But he has to keep it. The National Park Service, which oversees the federal historic tax credit applications, said the building was a contributing factor to the First National Center. That means the building was an important piece in the center’s history.

Brooks and his partner Charlie Nicholas’ other option was to demolish the 1972-built building on the east and use the remaining building as a parking garage. If that building was also seen as a contributing factor, then the developers were out of options and Brooks said they would have walked away from buying the First National Center.

“We received the approval (to demolish) about three days before closing on the building,” he said.

The Downtown Design Review Committee approved demolishing part of the 1972 building and replacing it with a parking garage, which will change the exterior that faces Broadway Avenue.

ADG Inc. architect J.C. Witcher said a little less than half of the 1972-built building will be demolished.

“The design is more consistent with Park Avenue than what’s been there,” he said.

A ramping system will be installed in the area that’s being demolished. The garage will be constructed inside the rest of the 1972-built and 1957-built buildings.

Witcher said the new exterior is glass with a combination metal panel, which will have a limestone-like color so it will match the BancFirst and 101 Park buildings.

The third floor in the 1957-built building will have office space, as requested by the National Park Service, said Witcher. The agency didn’t want car lights facing Park Avenue.

In total, there will be 683 parking spots, which is about 30 percent fewer spots than Brooks was planning for and had already built into his financing. People will enter the garage from Broadway, and the median will be cut so people can enter as they drive north, rather than only being able to enter as they drive south.

Demolition on the 1972 building will start by April, Brooks said. He said he knows it’s going to be an interruption to downtown, but he and his team are going to work quickly.

“Everyone has my mobile number and will be calling me if (broker Mark) Beffort can’t get people in his garage,” he said. “We’re going to move as quickly as we can.”

Financing on the garage will be finalized on Friday, Brooks said. Commission Chairman Cory Baitz asked about the federal historic tax credits and what they mean to his project. In the U.S. House of Representatives’ tax reform bill, the federal tax credits were cut, while the Senate’s version dropped the amount from 20 percent to 10 percent.

Brooks said as far as he understands it, his project will be grandfathered in as long as he gets it done by December 2020.

He said he didn’t spend a lot of time thinking about a Plan B if the tax credits were ended.

“I own the building,” he said. “We’ll finish it, with or without the historic tax credits.”

Brooks said he’s already spent $44 million on the $235 million restoration of the First National Center, which will include mixed-use residential and business space. He expects to have the tower complete by June 2020.

A look ahead to 2020 from https://twitter.com/GaryDBrooks:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/fnc122417.jpg
Wow, what a great hall.

Looks like some of the facade fell onto Robinson off of First National. It's been taped off so I can't get close enough to take a decent pic. One of my co-workers truck might have been hit, but it's too dark to see.

Looks like some of the facade fell onto Robinson off of First National. It's been taped off so I can't get close enough to take a decent pic. One of my co-workers truck might have been hit, but it's too dark to see.

https://twitter.com/codylusnia/status/950212308172705793

There sure seems to be some funky **** going on with this building since work started (the fires, falling concrete).

It is good renovations started when they did, seems like the building was falling into disrepair faster than expected.

There sure seems to be some funky **** going on with this building since work started (the fires, falling concrete).

Probably just complications with a 90 year old building under going a complete and massive overhaul for the first time ever after being neglected for 30+ years.

As GoldFire & PhiAlpha just said, this underscores the importance of having a building in good hands. Cotter Ranch comes to mind as a potential problem.

I suspect it was vibration from interior renovation that shook loose that piece of the facade.

They will be cleaning and repairing all that but first have to clear out all the asbestos and do some other work.

Probably just complications with a 90 year old building under going a complete and massive overhaul for the first time ever after being neglected for 30+ years.

Without a doubt. It's just been odd to see unfold. It kind of just sat and then fire, fire, falling debris.

I suspect it was vibration from interior renovation that shook loose that piece of the facade.

They will be cleaning and repairing all that but first have to clear out all the asbestos and do some other work.

Probably a combination of that and water seeping into cracks and freezing.

Probably a combination of that and water seeping into cracks and freezing.

From fighting the recent fires, per Gary Brooks in the Oklahoman's article...

The street is still shut down, but they have some workers up there looking at the damage and I assume checking for other loose pieces.

https://i.imgur.com/hameKJl.jpg

Some time ago, I was told that the entire West facade is in danger of falling off because the anchors holding it to the building had rusted through. That may be what happened here after the water got behind it.

Dang, looks like a total loss. Time to tear the whole thing down. Would be the perfect spot for a big grass patch.

The building was completely dark last night, super creepy looking.

Is the window above where one of the fires happened?

Is the window above where one of the fires happened?

The limestone fell from the 22nd story, and the fire was on the 26th story (the smoke residue is visible).

https://cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/r960-9f2806d7f790fadb7cd7a6ddf2460103.jpg

Makes me wonder if any water coming out of that window and flowing down that side could have been a factor as well.

They're using a drone to inspect the damage


14352

14353

14354

Dang, looks like a total loss. Time to tear the whole thing down. Would be the perfect spot for a big grass patch.

You spelled parking garage wrong.

They're using a drone to inspect the damage


14352

14353

14354

We've been flying since Monday at sunrise. We're providing close-up imagery plus comparisons to baseline shots from one and two years ago when we imaged the tower, east and central portions of the building. And we also flew nine weeks ago as they were fighting the fire four floors above. We're very familiar with this landmark!

Lacey Lett at KFOR just sent me this... Robinson has been re-opened and there is now scaffolding protecting the walkways around First National.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/fnc011618.jpg

Scaffolding protected sidewalks? In OKC? :cool:

Scaffolding protected sidewalks? In OKC? :cool:

I know, soooo big city!

A protected pedestrian walkway in OKC? That's a rare sight indeed.

LOVE IT! (Though I'll love it even more when chunks of the facade stop falling off...)

There is also one in front of Brent Swift's condos at 6th and Hudson! Progress..

scaffolding should be a requirement for any construction/reconstruction in the downtown area on any multi-floor building above 3 floors.

Is what they have as cover on the scaffolding sufficient enough to stop limestone blocks falling from 20+ floors above?

I was impressed that Gary Brooks, in addition to covering the losses of the restaurants that had to close during the "limestone incident," has been encouraging people to patronize these business all week over social media. While this is how I would like to see all developers/business owners operate and I'm sure he's at least partially doing this to mitigate the risk of unhappy neighbors, it's still nice to see it in action.

Gary Brooks just posted this on Twitter.

Looks like the latest plan is to put a bar right in the middle of the Great Banking Hall.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/fnc032018.jpg

Goodbye, paycheck

I'm very interested to see how that space is going to look with the skylight restored.

Just no substitute for natural light.

I'm very interested to see how that space is going to look with the skylight restored.

Just no substitute for natural light.

Yeah even as awesome as that space is, it always looked so muted and dull in there with that ugly artificial light. That skylight being properly utilized should make a world of difference both during the day and at night.

Goodbye, paycheck

Ironic. im sure I'll deposit a few checks here too.

Ironic. im sure I'll deposit a few checks here too.

Yes, 85 years later FNB will once again be primed to take a lot of your money.... just now with no intention of ever giving it back.

This is a transformative project. If I were to move downtown, I believe this would be my top choice. I've tried to find information on the residential plans for First National on cornerstonedelivers.com, but no luck. Does anyone know the amenities and price range planned for the residential?

I'm still waiting on Mr. Brooks to give me a tour for my naming prowess. #callmegary :p

This is a transformative project. If I were to move downtown, I believe this would be my top choice. I've tried to find information on the residential plans for First National on cornerstonedelivers.com, but no luck. Does anyone know the amenities and price range planned for the residential?

You should reach out directly to Gary Brooks. Send him a message through Twitter.