Founders National Bank building

[TheTravellers]

To start with, we just want a 30-day waiting period and public hearing option for any full building demo permit issued. I don't feel like that's a lot to ask.

And a development plan for after the demolition, so it can't just sit there empty like so many sites do.

[Pete]

To start with, we just want a 30-day waiting period and public hearing option for any full building demo permit issued. I don't feel like that's a lot to ask.

This has been discussed as a short-term solution until we get the bigger plan in place.

But there is very strong resistance as that approach is considered too broad and there is concern about getting in the way of redevelopment.

I'm not saying I agree, just that there is no will within the city to make such a sweeping change, even in the short-term.

[shawnw]

That would be great but they can blow all sorts of fluff with that (like OGE did), so I omitted it.

[Rover]

The city -- through the Planning Department -- is already working on this.

More or less inventoring buildings outside design review districts and make a list of those that are important, historic, etc.

Then, for those buildings, a special review process would be required before a demo permit could be issued.

Pete, I know you were an excellent commercial realtor. What would you have recommended to your client if they had owned this property and wanted to sell it?

[Pete]

Pete, I know you were an excellent commercial realtor. What would you have recommended to your client if they had owned this property and wanted to sell it?

I would never have taken this listing if I thought they wanted to tear it down.

And I wouldn't want to be part of any transaction that caused something like this.

[Pete]

OnCue buys Founders Bank property

Convenience store giant OnCue Express is continuing its aggressive expansion in Central Oklahoma with the purchase of a high-profile property.

The company recently purchased the site that was originally home to Founders Bank on N. May Avenue and north of Northwest Expressway.

The property was lasted occupied by Bank of America but when they vacated, the landmark mid-century building was demolished in October 2018.

The underlying land had been on the market for over a year before OnCue made the purchase for $2.65 million in November. They also acquired a parking lot directly south from the owners of the Wyndham Hotel, which is currently closed and being renovated into a Radisson.

In total, OnCue paid $3.26 million for the three acres.

The Stillwater-based company recently opened at Blackwelder and Northwest Expressway and currently has nearly 50 locations open or planned in the Oklahoma City area. OnCue has been adding grills featuring hot food to new and existing stores.

OnCue at NW Expressway and Blackwelder

[TheTravellers]

Ridiculously sad that we lost that building for this.

[Colbafone]

Not blaming OnCue for this, they just bought the property.



With that said, total joke. Absolute tragedy to have let this building go, and then to have its grounds replaced with a gas station.

[PhiAlpha]

It sucks that the bank is gone but there was absolutely a need for a nice gas station on May and NWX in that part of town. There is nothing other than a tiny 7-11 and tiny shell station nearby, both of which are run down and always packed. Wish they could’ve incorporated the bank building into it though.

[Pete]

OnCue is very smart in choosing their locations.

For all the worry about the ingress/egress at Blackwelder, that place was packed from the day it opened.

[ditm4567]

Kind of crazy how many OnCue stations are in about a 4 mile radius of this one:
May and 36th
NW Expressway and Blackwelder
NW Expressway and 63rd
May and Hefner

[SEMIweather]

Yeah this part of town is quickly going from a fuel desert to being nearly overserved by OnCue...at least when they finally get around to opening this location sometime in 2022 lol

[Pete]

This is one of the most densely populated and high-income areas of OKC. Tons of traffic, lots of big employers.

A bunch of infill retail, restaurants and residential in the last few years and more is coming. I live near 50 Penn Place and just this month two houses on my street were renovated to a high standard and are now on the market for about $170/SF.

Things will only get better once Oak starts rolling at 50th & Penn.

[The Shadow]

Remember, there was a time when you had more than one gas station to choose from at 63rd and May.

I'd say the OnCue folks know exactly what they're doing.

[BoulderSooner]

really need an OnCue at Sooner and Covell

[Dob Hooligan]

Am I the only cynic who suspects that OnCue was behind the shell company that bought the property a couple years ago and destroyed the bank?

[HFAA Alum]

I always said to myself that at some point, this area would be a really good secondary core for the city. Give it about 20 years before we start seeing a few more high-rises and a small skyscraper. It'll be like what Buckhead is to Atlanta, provided that there would be some major corporate players willing to invest in the location.

[Plutonic Panda]

Am I the only cynic who suspects that OnCue was behind the shell company that bought the property a couple years ago and destroyed the bank?

Well I thought of this too.

[TheTravellers]

Dunno about OnCue, they're not usually that underhanded, but maybe.

And I was actually thinking that Braum's would do something like that, not OnCue, and while looking for the owner info back in the thread, found these posts from almost a year before the demo:

https://www.okctalk.com/showthread.p...05#post1010605

https://www.okctalk.com/showthread.p...23#post1051223

https://www.okctalk.com/showthread.p...45#post1051245

So, yeah, I'm guessing Hunt Properties hooked up with OnCue - psst, hey buddy, wanna buy some land cheap, I know somebody that's got some...

[soonerguru]

Dunno about OnCue, they're not usually that underhanded, but maybe.

And I was actually thinking that Braum's would do something like that, not OnCue, and while looking for the owner info back in the thread, found these posts from almost a year before the demo:

https://www.okctalk.com/showthread.p...05#post1010605

https://www.okctalk.com/showthread.p...23#post1051223

https://www.okctalk.com/showthread.p...45#post1051245

So, yeah, I'm guessing Hunt Properties hooked up with OnCue - psst, hey buddy, wanna buy some land cheap, I know somebody that's got some...

This is such a joke. Definitely not higher and better use. It's amazing things like this continue to happen before our eyes, nearly 20 years after OKC people began saving landmarks like the Walnut bridge and Gold Dome. It's a sad statement that our city has done nothing to prevent this from happening to architectural landmarks.

[chuck5815]

This is such a joke. Definitely not higher and better use. It's amazing things like this continue to happen before our eyes, nearly 20 years after OKC people began saving landmarks like the Walnut bridge and Gold Dome. It's a sad statement that our city has done nothing to prevent this from happening to architectural landmarks.

definitely reach out to the boys in Stillwater. Would be tight if this could be a mid-century modern oncue.

[SEMIweather]

Just so frustrating, especially given how many nondescript structures there are in this city that no one would think twice about tearing down and turning into an OnCue.

[Plutonic Panda]

definitely reach out to the boys in Stillwater. Would be tight if this could be a mid-century modern oncue.

Oncue will not ever build anything but a cookie cutter gas station.

[mugofbeer]

Just so frustrating, especially given how many nondescript structures there are in this city that no one would think twice about tearing down and turning into an OnCue.

This very likely wasn't OnCue's doing. That's just a conspiracy theory someone brought up on here with no evidence.

[mugofbeer]

This is such a joke. Definitely not higher and better use. It's amazing things like this continue to happen before our eyes, nearly 20 years after OKC people began saving landmarks like the Walnut bridge and Gold Dome. It's a sad statement that our city has done nothing to prevent this from happening to architectural landmarks.

It just takes money - which no one seems to want to spend on the Gold Dome.

I'm trying to get the city to use some of that MAPS money on 1st Christian's property. It would make an outstanding community center - it has everything already there. It just needs that asbestos removed and new utilities.