First National Center

[BoulderSooner]

Is it just me or does the height of each deck look really low for a garage? Could just be the angle. Looks like no Suburbans or big wheeling trucks are going in this one.

surburbans are under 7 feet ..

[DowntownMan]

Is it just me or does the height of each deck look really low for a garage? Could just be the angle. Looks like no Suburbans or big wheeling trucks are going in this one.

Take a look at the left side and compare to the Main Street garage that you can see in comparison looks to be about same size or actually taller per floor

[Pete]

[Dob Hooligan]

The death of Mike Samis has reminded me of something, and I am hoping someone on this thread can square my recollection:

In the mid-1990s the First National Center was sold, IIRC, to Mike Dillard from Century Martial Arts Supply and Mike Samis? I'm 99% sure on the Mike Dillard part, it is the Mike Samis that I am unsure of. Since there was no mention of that in any of the stories I read about Mr. Samis dying, I am second-guessing my memory.

The rest of the story, as I recall, was that Dillard & partner bought the First National Center and an affiliated parking garage. They kept the parking garage, and donated everything else to Feed the Children. At the time, I was a neighborhood friend and acquaintance of Richard Cain, who owned the Aberdeen Apartments at 15th & North Robinson. Because I was a real estate and business rube, I asked him what was the reason for the deal? He said he guessed the parking garage cash-flowed and was the main thing they wanted out of the purchase. The tax benefit of the donation to Feed the Children made the transaction much more attractive.

The

[DelCamino]

The death of Mike Samis has reminded me of something, and I am hoping someone on this thread can square my recollection:

In the mid-1990s the First National Center was sold, IIRC, to Mike Dillard from Century Martial Arts Supply and Mike Samis? I'm 99% sure on the Mike Dillard part, it is the Mike Samis that I am unsure of. Since there was no mention of that in any of the stories I read about Mr. Samis dying, I am second-guessing my memory.

The rest of the story, as I recall, was that Dillard & partner bought the First National Center and an affiliated parking garage. They kept the parking garage, and donated everything else to Feed the Children. At the time, I was a neighborhood friend and acquaintance of Richard Cain, who owned the Aberdeen Apartments at 15th & North Robinson. Because I was a real estate and business rube, I asked him what was the reason for the deal? He said he guessed the parking garage cash-flowed and was the main thing they wanted out of the purchase. The tax benefit of the donation to Feed the Children made the transaction much more attractive.

The

I don’t recall it was Mike Sami’s involved, but rather John Kennedy. ??

[Pete]

I don’t recall it was Mike Sami’s involved, but rather John Kennedy. ??

Samis & Kennedy bought it together.

[Dob Hooligan]

Samis & Kennedy bought it together.

So, was Mike Dillard involved in the deal at any time?

[shawnw]

When limestone slabs fell off the First National Center in 2018, it was a sign more work was needed than anticipated
https://oklahoman.com/article/567513...an-anticipated

[AP]

This building is going to be incredible. I can't wait until it's finished.

[Pete]

[Laramie]

First National Center & BancFirst Tower will make an immediate impact on the skyline once these to projects are completed.

[Anonymous.]

Pete, you should take your drone up there to that scaffolding at the top and see what's cooking.

[Pete]

It's really not that interesting; just making sure the limestone is attached properly:

[5alive]

Any idea when the building was last given any attention top side

[PaddyShack]

I am so sad that I probably will never be able to afford a place in this building... short of winning the lottery or something

[kevin lee]

There would have to be a full blown 5 alarm fire before I would step foot on that fire escape.

[SagerMichael]

From Gary Brooks’ Instagram

[Pete]

[Paule4ou]

There would have to be a full blown 5 alarm fire before I would step foot on that fire escape.

....I guess you're out for changing the light bulb when it burns out too huh?

[kevin lee]

Light bulbs are a whole different story.

[Pete]

[Plutonic Panda]

Here’s a nice write up about some of the history and progress being made:

https://www.velocityokc.com/blog/dev...ack=super_blog

I’m not sure if this has been posted here before but a website for the residences portion is now live:

https://liveatthefirst.com/

[Southsider2]

I love this project so much. I'm happy Gary is seeing through his vision for the property, he's a standup guy and knows how to get things done. I've heard quite a bit about the financing of this property and it makes my head spin. These will test the top end of the rental market but I think the apartments will actually do quite well. It will be interesting to see how the hotel does given the market disruptions but I see it doing solid as well. This should continue bringing life to the core.

[Pete]

[Pete]