Devon Plans Downtown Skyscraper

[amaesquire]

I must agree with JWil, the Biltmore would look great in the skyline today. Just think, Coury or somebody could have done another Colcord type renovation and we would have had yet another great boutique hotel in OKC.

[jstanthrnme]

That does look good. I imagine one day Myriad Gardens surrounded by buildings once Devon goes up and then if a new hotel is built on the Century Center site to north, new buildings go up where the Cox sits to the east (assuming a new convention center is built on the blvd.), and new buildings along Reno and the blvd. to the south. That leaves the Stage Center and the vacant lot to the west which would be a good spot for a condo tower to take advantage of those views.

The Myriad Gardens surrounded by buildings isn't a good thing in my opinion, especially to the south. The collection of plants there, and in the Crystal Bridge, would not get nearly enough sunlight. At least not with towers in the way. Shorter buildings might be allright. I certainly don't want to see a car dealership there.

[OKC74]

I've always been puzzled as the WHY there is a car dealership in that location. I guess it's been there forever...?? It needs to be moved.

[architect5311]

OKLAHOMA CITY 2020



Showing the OKC CoC building at 20 stories as it should be, more urban than suburban (far right).

[edcrunk]

I've always been puzzled as the WHY there is a car dealership in that location. I guess it's been there forever...?? It needs to be moved.

REALLY?! i don't get why it needs to be moved? just because a few posters don't want it there?

[OKC74]

I don't know...I just think the space could be utilized in a different way...maybe another new high-rise...LOL. Also...what is the OKC CoC that architect is referring to??

[edcrunk]

well... we're not in the same situation as say, manhattan. there are plenty of spaces to put highrises in! once C2S gets goin... i expect our downtown to start moving south.
i kinda like having downtown ford in it's spot.

[edcrunk]

here's an early C2S rendering that you might like, okc74

note the buildings where downtown ford currently is.

[Kerry]

News flash - the Biltmore was ugly. Thank goodness they tore it down when they did. Imagine how complicated and expensive it would be to renovate or tear down that building today. Just look what the Skirvin cost. The Biltmore would have been 3 to 4X that amount. We can't even get a decent remodel of FNC and it has been in continuous use. Imagine a 30 plus story building rotting before our eyes forever. We would look like downtown Detroit.

[BDP]

I love the Biltmore's classic skyscraper design. Many cities have managed to renovate and keep up similar properties and it gives them some sense of history and class. It's valid that we have had trouble doing it, but saying it isn't easy isn't a good reason not to do it, imo. Bricktown was considered "ugly" not too long ago. IMO, the indicator of a healthy city is a good mix of classic and new design. It shows continued prosperity and a community sense of self and respect for its history and future. The strategy of reckless destruction labeled as renewal that brought much of our city under the wrecking ball in the early 80s showed a disregard and contempt for downtown that took nearly 20 years to overcome and still presents challenges today.

IMO, much of what replaced downtown in the early 80s and especially what replaced the Biltmore is extremely ugly and unimaginative with little character whatsoever. The opportunity cost of tearing those structures down has proven to be much more significant than any of the efforts that could have been made to update and renovate them. The short term disposable city mentality that prevailed during those times and even today has hamstrung Oklahoma City many times over the years. It's more the emergence of reinvestment and improvement of current assets combined with more focused development that has helped give Oklahoma City new life and a renewed energy. Hopefully, this will lead to a more diverse and resilient city that isn't taken down by cyclical downturns in its core economies. Maybe a comunity will emerge that remembers the bad times and how to preserve its assets in times of success and in times of struggle.

[Laramie]

I was there when they brought down the Biltmore. I was also there when they imploded the A. P. Murrah Building.

Much the same feeling.

[Insider]

Just as an update, a friend of mine that works at Devon said they are presenting all of the building information to the employees on August 20 (they are presenting to the employees in the afternoon, to the OCURA in the morning). She said this meeting will include the final building design, height, etc.

So, for those of you drooling at the mouth to know what this building will look like, all of the missing information will probably be made public on the 20th of August (9 days).

[Pete]

Thanks for the update, Insider.

Won't be long now -- very exciting stuff.

[OKC74]

Thanks edcrunk...I like it already...

[yukong]

News flash - the Biltmore was ugly. Thank goodness they tore it down when they did. Imagine how complicated and expensive it would be to renovate or tear down that building today. Just look what the Skirvin cost. The Biltmore would have been 3 to 4X that amount. We can't even get a decent remodel of FNC and it has been in continuous use. Imagine a 30 plus story building rotting before our eyes forever. We would look like downtown Detroit.

Well, count me as one what was saddened when we brought that majestic old lady down. In her day, she was a grand hotel. Maybe not as oppulent as the Skirvin, but still a grand hotel. I remember as a kid that she was considered a grand place. So much could have been done with her. And she was constructed very well. In fact...they had quite a time rigging her for demolition. And when they finally did set off the explosives...she resisted coming down and stood there for a few moments before finally giving up the ghost. And then there were the stories and pictures that seemed to indicate that there was a person in one of the upper floors when she went down. A big investigation occurred and the pictures were in the papers showing what appeared to be a person in an upper window. They finally concluded it was a curtain that was flapping, but I remember the big mystery and thought that it was a person waiving. Still wish we had her on the skyline. Regardless of what some think...she could have been a jewel. Just hate seeing all the majestic old buildings that are now gone from your skyline. And don't get me started on the palaces that were our old theatres that are now just memories.

[HOT ROD]

I love the Biltmore's classic skyscraper design. Many cities have managed to renovate and keep up similar properties and it gives them some sense of history and class. It's valid that we have had trouble doing it, but saying it isn't easy isn't a good reason not to do it, imo. Bricktown was considered "ugly" not too long ago. IMO, the indicator of a healthy city is a good mix of classic and new design. It shows continued prosperity and a community sense of self and respect for its history and future. The strategy of reckless destruction labeled as renewal that brought much of our city under the wrecking ball in the early 80s showed a disregard and contempt for downtown that took nearly 20 years to overcome and still presents challenges today.

IMO, much of what replaced downtown in the early 80s and especially what replaced the Biltmore is extremely ugly and unimaginative with little character whatsoever. The opportunity cost of tearing those structures down has proven to be much more significant than any of the efforts that could have been made to update and renovate them. The short term disposable city mentality that prevailed during those times and even today has hamstrung Oklahoma City many times over the years. It's more the emergence of reinvestment and improvement of current assets combined with more focused development that has helped give Oklahoma City new life and a renewed energy. Hopefully, this will lead to a more diverse and resilient city that isn't taken down by cyclical downturns in its core economies. Maybe a comunity will emerge that remembers the bad times and how to preserve its assets in times of success and in times of struggle.

Actually the Myriad Gardens is what replaced the Biltmore, IIRC.

I have mixed feelings on this subject though. In one respect, I hate that we destroyed a 30 storey skyscraper that had a lot of history. Yet I also like the myriad gardens.

In general though, I hate that UR got rid of so many buildings without FIRM proposals for their renewal. Just to get rid of buildings and let things sit as fields for years - now this is what I hate more than ANYTHING.

Buildings should be renovated if there are no firm (meaning impending) proposals for renewal.

[jbrown84]

Oh there were firm proposals, but most never happened.

[HOT ROD]

then they weren't firm. lol.

firm means, you got the designs, financing, and approval all in place. all you need is removal of the building and then you're ready to construct.

I know for a fact, that some of the locations in downtown OKC, there were NEVER any proposal for them - Urban Renewal disliked anything that was historical or could be thought of as an eyesore (see Mercy Hospital) or urban GRIT

and desired fields instead of waiting for a firm and viable development proposal.

Remember the Galleria idea? It wasn't firm, it was an idea - a plan for development; but no developer ever stepped up. That's what Im talking about. Why clear the site prior to someone with a firm plan (hence, x building(s) with y floors hosting such and such; approved by the city zoning and council; to be built by so and so; with financing totalling $XXX M from such and such bank, here's the signed note - That's FIRM).

The ONLY firm proposal we had was the Century Center - look how that turned out.

[solitude]

News flash - the Biltmore was ugly. Thank goodness they tore it down when they did. Imagine how complicated and expensive it would be to renovate or tear down that building today. Just look what the Skirvin cost. The Biltmore would have been 3 to 4X that amount. We can't even get a decent remodel of FNC and it has been in continuous use. Imagine a 30 plus story building rotting before our eyes forever. We would look like downtown Detroit.

I'll go on the list of those that liked the Biltmore. Loved that old lobby and, as BDP put it, the "classic skyscraper," look.

As for looking like downtown Detroit, there are worse cities to look like.

[HOT ROD]

Ren Cen did wonders for Detroit.

By the way, I would call Devon's proposal firm.

They got city approval (or will on Aug 20), they have the financing themselves, they have the developer in place, and on Aug 20 likely will have contruction plan.

Firm proposal is right prior to actual construction and typically does not fall through (unless a bank financing it fails or there's some political action that turns agains the firm proposal).

[OKC74]

Does anyone think there is a chance that OCURA will not like the plans and ask Devon to adjust them? Meaning...I know there have been concerns listed on this posting of the building being "too high" and "dwarfing" the other buildings downtown. I certainly hope that they wouldn't have any type of "height restriction" in mind...? I know this probably ISN'T the case...but does anyone "in the know" think this is a possibility? I HOPE NOT...for me, the taller and bigger the better!! And hopefully this will spur MORE development!!

[Luke]

If OCURA comes to that conclusion, we need a new OCURA.

[edcrunk]

just a reminder of what we can expect on august 20th.

some of pickard chilton's designs and scrapers.

larry nichol's favorite



their other designs

















there's a good chance that...
it will be mostly reflective glass.
it will have a crown that lights up at night.
it will be very sleek and futuristic looking.

[HOT ROD]

the CBD has no height restriction - so they can't oppose it due to that.

[metro]

That last one is pretty cool, I hope it's something like that but wider. I really like the crown and the beam of light shooting out of it.