Oklahoma City's future skyline

[Teo9969]

Jesseda,

If I understand correctly, there are no buildings that are currently "in the works". By "in the works" I mean to say that there are no buildings for which we have renderings, financial figures, and substantive plans and dates to move forward with (like what Devon released in Spring 2008). That's not to say that nobody is planning anything. There could be 10 buildings being planned by various companies, but nobody has come out and said "We are going to spend $X to build a structure Y feet tall, and it will be completed by Z date." Until that happens, I think we would do well to not assume that there are buildings going to be built, even if it is likely for that to come to fruition (Sandridge being the best example).

[Just the facts]

I know im asking a stupid question, but I have no clue about a CC Hotel? how tall is this going to be and what does CC stand for?

CC stands for Convention Center.. There are no height or location details yet but according to the Chamber study it will need at least 600 rooms and around 50,000 sq feet of meeting space. If they got 20 rooms per floor then it would by 30 floors of rooms, plus a lobby, plus a meeting level, plus a mechanical level, plus a food service level. So all in all - maybe 34 to 35 stories if it is 600 rooms. Each 100 rooms in addition would add 5 floors so 800 rooms would top out at 45 stories. Since it is a hotel with lower ceiling heights it would come in somewhere between Sandridge and Chase.

[BoulderSooner]

Jesseda,

If I understand correctly, there are no buildings that are currently "in the works". By "in the works" I mean to say that there are no buildings for which we have renderings, financial figures, and substantive plans and dates to move forward with (like what Devon released in Spring 2008). That's not to say that nobody is planning anything. There could be 10 buildings being planned by various companies, but nobody has come out and said "We are going to spend $X to build a structure Y feet tall, and it will be completed by Z date." Until that happens, I think we would do well to not assume that there are buildings going to be built, even if it is likely for that to come to fruition (Sandridge being the best example).

sandridge has already said they are bulding a new tower in the near future

and their will be a CC hotel .....

[Teo9969]

sandridge has already said they are bulding a new tower in the near future

and their will be a CC hotel .....

Right and I believe Sandridge and others have those intentions. However, they have no public plans to do so. There's no harm in waiting to see renderings and figures and estimated dates to say buildings are in the works.

[O City or No City]

hey guys I did not want to post a conversation I had with a worker at the devon site in coney island because I know you guys are very serious and I didn't wanna get laughed out of OKCTALK but since others are coming forward here it goes.


WARNING THIS INFORMATION HAS A LOW GRADE OF CREDITABLITY........


I was downtown 2 months ago and went to coney island for some chili dogs it was a busy lunch crowd as usual .I was in line with some devon workers he said he loved the hotdogs..i said too bad the tower is almost finished you want have a reason to be downtown that often anymore if at all. he said not really because there are more towers(more than 2) to be built in OKC matter of fact in the next 3-5 years the chase will be the third tallest building in OKC and devon will be the second.....so maybe a supertall ?

[dankrutka]

WARNING THIS INFORMATION HAS A LOW GRADE OF CREDITABLITY........

It seems like everyone has a poor credit rating these days. Ba boom.

[OKCisOK4me]

Not gonna laugh at you... love the screenname BTW. Will wait for confirmation...

[dankrutka]

Will wait for confirmation...

Awesome! Keep us updated on how that's going! BA boom!

[G.Walker]

Too many rumors going around to say nothing is in the works. Depending on who is building the skyscraper will determine how soon we will know. For example, Chesapeake is real quiet about announcing their developments, with that being said, if Chesapeake just so happens to build a skyscraper downtown, we probably wouldn't know until they are actually breaking ground.

[Just the facts]

I just don't understand why people think Chesapeake would build a large downtoown offic building. They have spent a fortune on their campus and built a shopping center that caters to their employees. What would they do with all that suburban space if they moved?

[G.Walker]

Think outside the box, if Chesapeake builds a skyscraper, it doesn't necessary mean its for Chesapeake. Chesapeake has been real good about luring NEW retail to the area, with Whole Foods, Anthropologie, etc....Whose to say that they can't lure a company here, build and own a skyscraper for that particular company and lease it out? Chesapeake Land Development Company has a lot of clout! For example they own a nice skyscraper in Ft. Worth, but Pier 1 Imports in the dominant tenant in that building.

[SharkSandwich]

I just don't understand why people think Chesapeake would build a large downtoown offic building. They have spent a fortune on their campus and built a shopping center that caters to their employees. What would they do with all that suburban space if they moved?

CHK also is constantly acquiring large interests in other companies such as drilling, fracking, and other E&P technologies. It could be that they actually would like a central hub for these companies off-site from their campus.

[G.Walker]

I just don't understand why people think Chesapeake would build a large downtoown offic building. They have spent a fortune on their campus and built a shopping center that caters to their employees. What would they do with all that suburban space if they moved?

I watched this video from Aubrey, and he was really talking about Oklahoma City's downtown core viability, almost has if he wanted to invest in downtown soon! Watch the video Our Strong, Growing Downtown

http://www.greaterokc.tv/#/home/list/dosortsearch,3801

[Pete]

Yes, interesting that McClendon would be chosen to talk about downtown and it's clear he sees it as extremely important for the entire community.

And remember, CHK has already invested heavily in downtown: 1) They originally purchased the old Kerr McGee building and brokered the deal for SandRidge; 2) They helped build the first boathouse and paid for the finish line tower and Aubrey himself has pledged a bunch of money for the OU boathouse; 3) They are helping pay for the makeover for Kerr Park; 4) Aubrey owns a big chunk of the Thunder; and 5) They recently secured the naming rights for the arena. And I know there are more things that I can't think off the top my head.

I don't think it's out of the realm of possibilities that CHK would build a large downtown structure. They have sunk a ton of money into local real estate that isn't necessarily related to their corporate campus. They have a separate real estate arm and obviously now have lots of experience as a developer, investor and landlord.

Also remember that they own quite a large building in downtown Fort Worth.

They are also competitive and high-profile and they are probably feeling a bit left out with their big competitors making such a big mark downtown. I could see them putting up a large office building to help with their campus overflow and/or to house spin-offs, business partners or just to have a big chunk of space to help lure more companies.

Aubrey & CHK think big and thus far have really delivered. I would love to see them bring some of that bravado and make a big splash on downtown skyline.

[Jesseda]

Okay, I am just repeating what was told to me last night. I went to church and there is a man that goes to my church, I did not know unitl last week that he works on the devon tower. I brought it up to him about a rumor of another possible tower. He told me his co-workers have been talking about one that is planned for downtown to have 40 floors! wonder if this is going to be true? Just passing along what was told to me.

[G.Walker]

One Chesapeake Place? Chesapeake Tower? I remember awhile back someone also mentioned that they wanted to increase their Oklahoma City workforce to about 6,000! Therefore, if only 3,000 is in Oklahoma City now, they are constructing office buildings now on campus to house about 1,000 employees. So where is the other 2,000 going to go?

[Pete]

There seems to be a lot of smoke around a 40-story tower, although I realize it may be the same false rumor just being passed around. It may very also be the same building Steve has been hinting at.

But if you do the math for a modern 40-floor building, the total height would be around 680 feet, which would slot it nicely between Devon (850) and Chase (500).

[Jesseda]

I would have asked him more questions about what other things that his co-workers have been saying about the 40 story building, but i didnt want to come off as a nutball to him lol. I hope it turns out to be true, actually I hope all the rumors about new buildings that might be planned come true. I will say it again. it is a exciting time for okc

[Teo9969]

It seems like with many of the rumors that Devon finishing the tower is a key component of when we will hear an announcement. That, to me, seems fair. As soon as Devon finishes the outside of the tower, cranes come down, and they go live with the LEDs on the outside of the tower, I think Devon will have it's big media splash for finally being finished, people will applaud them, and there will be a moment of "silence". After a brief period, I think a new Tower would be announced.

I think whoever is building the next tower wants to let Devon have it's moment of glory for being the first to step up when it comes to building big downtown. That to me also shows that whoever is building downtown (if all the rumors are true) is a local company that has implicit respect for Devon.

[BDP]

Chesapeake Land Development Company has a lot of clout!

This is true. This is kind of starting to make sense. IF, and that's a big IF, anyone was going to build build vertical spec space in this city, it would probably be them. I am not real estate expert, but if there is a growing demand for Class A space downtown, I would assume they have a pulse on it. In addition, I am sure CHK could use a chunk of it for themselves either for temporary space as they expand their northside campus or for other acquired operations. If the market does absorb Devon's space quickly, this could be a decent play and CHK kind of makes sense to do it just because they can mitigate possible soft market demand with their own needs.

[BDP]

I think whoever is building the next tower wants to let Devon have it's moment of glory for being the first to step up when it comes to building big downtown. That to me also shows that whoever is building downtown (if all the rumors are true) is a local company that has implicit respect for Devon.

Well, I am sure there is also a business end to that. Once Devon actually moves, we should know pretty quickly how healthy the downtown real estate market really is (or isn't). And whoever is contemplating building downtown will know before we do. If all indications are that it's going to be snatched up quickly, building downtown really begins to make a lot of sense and not just for ego.

[Pete]

CHK is also willing to splash out big bucks on real estate, as we all know.

There is clearly a combined effort on the part of Tom Ward, Larry Nichols, Aubrey McClendon and no doubt now Harold Hamm to bring more energy companies downtown. There are synergies at play that help everyone.

If I was part of that group and wanted to do something to help lure companies (or help the existing ones grow) and to make a big impact on the future of OKC, I would put together an investment group and build a large office tower. That may indeed be exactly what is happening here.

[G.Walker]

Not to mention, CHK is snatching up all the Class A office space left in the city, Caliber Center, Central Park One & Two. I wouldn't be surprised if they ended up purchasing Oklahoma Tower!

[G.Walker]

I am going to throw this out there, what if Devon was building a spec office tower on the Preftakes block? The reason I say this is because, most of the rumors I am hearing are resulting from Devon construction workers. How else would they know so much about a possible new skyscraper, and it seems all their statements about the same. Moreover, everybody keep saying after Devon Tower is completed, then the new tower will be announced. To me, it seems that Devon has a hand in this. They probably told Flintco construction workers not to get too comfortable, they have more work ahead!

[dankrutka]

There are lot of possible explanations. I'm not sure that a lot of these scenarios being thrown out are any more ridiculous than Thunder's recent comments. People are getting pretty far ahead of themselves based on pure speculation. Everyone seems to now be certain a "mystery" skyscraper is going up. These projects fall through half the time even when there are public plans known. There's not even any solid information at this point.