Boardwalk at Bricktown / Dream Hotel

[Rover]

What is the actual sq ft proposed on the Legends tower? What is Devon’s?

[bombermwc]

Honestly, i'd be happy if we just had the three shorter buildings built. They're perfectly fine on their own and we dont really need Legends being all weird here.

[KayneMo]

What is the actual sq ft proposed on the Legends tower? What is Devon’s?

County assessor shows 1.73 million sf for Devon Energy Center as a whole, and 1.42 million sf for the tower itself.

2.31 million sf is proposed for Legends Tower.

[CaptDave]

I still think the tower makes more sense west of BNSF. Fill in the actual core before spreading out. Actually the whole development makes sense adjacent to the new arena. Why not on the Paycom site if you ignore the proposed timeline of Boardwalk. Of course that is very simplistic given that the cost of land is a thing.......

[HFAA Alum]

I still think the tower makes more sense west of BNSF. Fill in the actual core before spreading out. Actually the whole development makes sense adjacent to the new arena. Why not on the Paycom site if you ignore the proposed timeline of Boardwalk. Of course that is very simplistic given that the cost of land is a thing.......

I think expanding eastward is necessary due to the relatively little density that occurs there. The Innovation District and the OU Medical Tower is as much as we're getting east of I-235, but there are still areas that can be built up in Bricktown. Since this development kinda broke the mold of a height restriction, everything else in Bricktown has been pretty much been given a proverbial green light to shoot upward. Now that may imply that older buildings get upgraded, or that they may get torn down and rebuilt with the Bricktown aesthetic. But either way, it should be shooting upward as a result of this.

Plus I think there are a few places that could use some development other than being massive lots dedicated to parking, and even if there needs to be parking somewhere nearby, that can be built upward, not sprawled out. So my next candidate for a huge vertical development would have to be the Joe Carter Lot east of the ballpark. Then there's also the massive grass lot east of that which can hold two large scale developments, even a few highrise hotels on both Sheridan and Lincoln. Hopefully the landowners don't sell out to the plans of cheap commercial development.

[Rover]

County assessor shows 1.73 million sf for Devon Energy Center as a whole, and 1.42 million sf for the tower itself.

2.31 million sf is proposed for Legends Tower.

Thanks. So Legends is proposed as about 35% more than Devon, even though it is substantially more floors and taller.

[PhiAlpha]

Thanks. So Legends is proposed as about 35% more than Devon, even though it is substantially more floors and taller.

Since we are so very deserving of the Legends Tower, maybe they'll do it on the cheap if they FAA approves.

[Pete]

Thanks. So Legends is proposed as about 35% more than Devon, even though it is substantially more floors and taller.

You are talking about just square footage and not the fact that the taller you build, costs increase substantially.

And also, again, that Devon is an office building vs. high-end condos and hotel rooms. And Devon paid cash for their entire project while Matteson is borrowing.

Maybe only be 35% more square footage but easily double the cost to build. So, if the Devon complex was built for around $1 billion in today's dollars, Legends Tower alone would be at least $2 billion alone plus three more 34-story towers, the podium, etc. The stated $1.6 billion budget isn't remotely feasible.

[dankrutka]

Plus I think there are a few places that could use some development other than being massive lots dedicated to parking, and even if there needs to be parking somewhere nearby, that can be built upward, not sprawled out. So my next candidate for a huge vertical development would have to be the Joe Carter Lot east of the ballpark. Then there's also the massive grass lot east of that which can hold two large scale developments, even a few highrise hotels on both Sheridan and Lincoln. Hopefully the landowners don't sell out to the plans of cheap commercial development.

That parking lot might take some cues from the Santa Fe Square development in Tulsa.

[Rover]

You are talking about just square footage and not the fact that the taller you build, costs increase substantially.

And also, again, that Devon is an office building vs. high-end condos and hotel rooms. And Devon paid cash for their entire project while Matteson is borrowing.

Maybe only be 35% more square footage but easily double the cost to build. So, if the Devon complex was built for around $1 billion in today's dollars, Legends Tower alone would be at least $2 billion alone plus three more 34-story towers, the podium, etc. The stated $1.6 billion budget isn't remotely feasible.

I understand and read your assumptions in your previous post. In my career I’ve worked with some of the largest developments in the world and do forensic engineering projects for asset valuation now. I don’t dispute the budget issues. i was just trying to accurately compare the mass of the two.

[Pete]

Bricktown’s $1.6B development awaits land deal, permits
By : Kathryn McNutt//The Journal Record//September 18, 2024//

OKLAHOMA CITY — Construction was expected to begin this summer on the Bricktown development that includes plans for the tallest building in the U.S., but the developer has yet to get the building permits needed to start.

The real estate and financial transactions have not been finalized for The Boardwalk at Bricktown project, Kenton Tsoodle, president and CEO of The Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City, said Wednesday.

“It’s a slow process,” Tsoodle said. “Everyone’s reporting things are moving along.”

Matteson Capital in Newport Beach, California, plans to build hundreds of apartments, a hotel, multiple commercial spaces, public parking and the 1,907-foot skyscraper on three-quarters of one city block at Reno and Oklahoma avenues.

The project site currently is surface parking controlled by developer Randy Hogan.

The land transaction has not closed yet, and financing for the first phase of the $1.6 billion development involves various pieces and an “army of lawyers,” Tsoodle said.

“There’s no holdup on the city’s side,” he said.

The Oklahoma City Council in June lifted the height restriction included in the original development plan to allow construction of the proposed 1,907-foot Legends Tower in phase II of the project. It would be 131 feet taller than the One World Trade Center in New York City and the fifth tallest building in the world.

Scot Matteson, president and CEO of Matteson Capital – who could not be reached for an update this week – said in March he expected grading the entire site and putting in infrastructure would begin by late summer, followed by building underground parking and a lagoon.

Plans for phase I include a 480-key Dream Hotel by Hyatt and 85 residential serviced condominiums in the Dream Tower, plus two residential towers with 1,776 apartments ranging from affordable workforce units to luxury options.

Also included is more than 110,000 square feet of space designated for commercial use, food and beverage, and a workforce development center for the community at the street and second levels.

Even with the city’s approval to build the Legends Tower to 1,907 feet, the market ultimately will determine its height, Matteson and Hogan have said.

In a Dec. 27 interview, Matteson said the tallest tower would be the last piece of the multi-year development to be built after the market first absorbed the apartments in the other towers. He said he expected to obtain approval from the Federal Aviation Administration for the approved height.

The top floors of the skyscraper would have a public observatory, restaurant and bar where visitors could enjoy sweeping views of the city. Matteson said he envisioned it coming online with the opening of the new downtown arena.

At that time, the city had committed to complete the new state-of-the-art arena no later than summer 2029 but now it is attempting to move that up to June 2028 at the request of the Oklahoma City Thunder, City Manager Craig Freeman said.

[jn1780]

What? No mention of FAA approval?

Matteson starts sounding like a Scooby-Doo villain after awhile. "And I would have gotten away with it, too, if it weren't for those meddling kids!"

[progressiveboy]

I have my doubts that this development will take off. I hope I am wrong, however Matteson seems he is trying to pull the wool over our citizen's eyes. Hope the citizen's are not easily deceived? I am questioning the legit of this development.

[dankrutka]

I’m in DC now and someone from Philly just said, isn’t OKC getting the tallest tower? I had to warn them not to hold their breath. I’m not sure the publicity—even though the tower won’t happen—is a bad thing though.

[Urbanized]

Our neighbor to the south has built its entire rep as a state on (often false) claims that everything is bigger and better there. Oklahoma's brand has always been modesty and even insecurity to the point of self-loathing. It might not be the worst thing in the world for OKC to gain notoriety for aspirational "big" stuff.

[progressiveboy]

Our neighbor to the south has built its entire rep as a state on (often false) claims that everything is bigger and better there. Oklahoma's brand has always been modesty and even insecurity to the point of self-loathing. It might not be the worst thing in the world for OKC to gain notoriety for aspirational "big" stuff.

Maybe it is time for Oklahoma to not be so insecure and not have self-loathing pity parties. Oklahoma and OKC both, have the potential to be the best version as a State and city. It will require self reflection and the residents will ultimately decide their trajectory moving forward!

[Laramie]

I’m in DC now and someone from Philly just said, isn’t OKC getting the tallest tower? I had to warn them not to hold their breath. I’m not sure the publicity—even though the tower won’t happen—is a bad thing though.

Agree, the publicity isn't a bad thing. IMO this will draw more attention to the OKC housing market.

If Phase I gets built, that's a huge boost--a 480 room key Dream Hotel by Hyatt (No TIF funds) and 85 residential serviced condominiums in the Dream Tower, plus two residential towers with 1,776 apartments ranging from affordable workforce units to luxury options.

OKC would have a 605 room Omni Luxury Hotel and a 480 room key Hyatt through the Dream Development totaling 1,085 luxury rooms downtown.

This would make OKC attractive to securing more conventions for our city.

[Urbanized]

Maybe it is time for Oklahoma to not be so insecure and not have self-loathing pity parties. Oklahoma and OKC both, have the potential to be the best version as a State and city. It will require self reflection and the residents will ultimately decide their trajectory moving forward!

OKC residents have been actively deciding that new and improved trajectory since 1993 when the first MAPS was passed. This city has been reinventing and reinvesting in itself very heavily and very consistently ever since, and continues to do so. What exactly are you going on about?

[progressiveboy]

Agree, the publicity isn't a bad thing. IMO this will draw more attention to the OKC housing market.

If Phase I gets built, that's a huge boost--a 480 room key Dream Hotel by Hyatt (No TIF funds) and 85 residential serviced condominiums in the Dream Tower, plus two residential towers with 1,776 apartments ranging from affordable workforce units to luxury options.

I just hope this is not just a "publicity stunt" on Mattson's part. It is perplexing as to what his motive is behind this proposed development??

[sooner88]

I’m in DC now and someone from Philly just said, isn’t OKC getting the tallest tower? I had to warn them not to hold their breath. I’m not sure the publicity—even though the tower won’t happen—is a bad thing though.

I was in Paris last week and met a guy from Australia whose first response when I said I was from OKC was "you all are getting the biggest tower in the world, right?". It's amazing how widespread their publicity stunt was.

[stlokc]

The publicity is fine.

But I suppose I am in the minority when I write that I absolutely do not want this mega-tall tower to be built. It's not because I think OKC "doesn't deserve it" or "doesn't dream big." It's because it will look absolutely ridiculous on the skyline, make the non-Devon rest of the skyline look puny and ruin the urban housing market.

Phase 1 of this development is really enough. It's ambitious but manageable, complementary to the rest of the urban area and impressive on a scale that makes sense.

I do think the very tall tower is a publicity stunt. It worked. It got OKC on some people's lips (the vast, vast majority of the world is completely unaware) but let's leave it there. Build the first phase and move on.

[soonerguru]

The publicity is fine.

But I suppose I am in the minority when I write that I absolutely do not want this mega-tall tower to be built. It's not because I think OKC "doesn't deserve it" or "doesn't dream big." It's because it will look absolutely ridiculous on the skyline, make the non-Devon rest of the skyline look puny and ruin the urban housing market.

Phase 1 of this development is really enough. It's ambitious but manageable, complementary to the rest of the urban area and impressive on a scale that makes sense.

I do think the very tall tower is a publicity stunt. It worked. It got OKC on some people's lips (the vast, vast majority of the world is completely unaware) but let's leave it there. Build the first phase and move on.

I agree with just about everything you say here.

As for the "Legends" tower, I wouldn't mind something that is like half the proposed height.

[HOT ROD]

and esp if they could move it closer or into the rest of the CBD. Wouldn't it be wonderful if Legends was on the new arena site.

anyway - waiting like everyone to see how this pans out; I'm optimistic.

[jccouger]

I'd like to see the Legends tower twice as tall as proposed lol

For the record I don't think anything from this will be built.

[Mountaingoat]

I agree with just about everything you say here.

As for the "Legends" tower, I wouldn't mind something that is like half the proposed height.

Or 1/3