OG&E Tower

[OKCisOK4me]

I think something will happen, but I'll be surprised if the announcement is this year. If the demolition is slated for February we will have to know by then. My guess is we will know a few days before demolition.

I should have said..."IF it ever happens (this year)", lol. I would bet on a few days too. That way those that want to rally against this thing won't have time to plan.

[modernism]

• Several big housing projects have been announced.
• Outside money is funding the Metropolitan and 10th & Shartel Apartments.
• GE Global Research Center details announced
• 21c Museum Hotel announced
• Trader Joe's definitely coming
• Tom Ward in active negotiations for downtown space; perhaps Rock Island Plow Building
• Stage Center Tower details coming soon

The way Steve put it, was that we will have big NEW announcements this month. The projects above we all kind of knew about expect for the 21C Museum Hotel. We knew about the Metropolitan, and Shartel apartments before December. We really still don't know what Tom Ward is up to. We still really don't know what is going on with Rainey Williams and his new tower. And major new downtown anchors, I guess he was referring to OPUBCO moving to the Century Center?

So is this the old media bait? You know, give us just enough details to keep us interested, keep us reading, keep us participating, but not delivering any real substantial details?

[Pete]

GE's location was not known before December; nor was 21c (as noted). OPUBCO's deal was finalized; Trader Joe's has inked a deal.

I think Steve was hoping something positive would pop about First National Center, but that seems to be going sideways.

And whether Dec or Jan, Rainey Williams will announce his tower plans very soon.

Also, it's quite clear there will be major construction on the NW corner of Kerr & Hudson, so perhaps news is getting closer there.

[David]

Do we have any more detail about Trader Joe's other than that they are coming? I just did a little quick googling and didn't turn anything recent up.

[Pete]

The word on the street is that TJ's has signed a lease.

I believe it is for Nichols Hills Plaza (old Crescent Market space) but it won't be finalized/announced until the sale of the property closes, which should be soon.

[Steve]

Pete and I are on the same exact page here. Also, when I first started talking about this wave of activity, it was late October/early November ....

[bchris02]

The way Steve put it, was that we will have big NEW announcements this month. The projects above we all kind of knew about expect for the 21C Museum Hotel. We knew about the Metropolitan, and Shartel apartments before December. We really still don't know what Tom Ward is up to. We still really don't know what is going on with Rainey Williams and his new tower. And major new downtown anchors, I guess he was referring to OPUBCO moving to the Century Center?

So is this the old media bait? You know, give us just enough details to keep us interested, keep us reading, keep us participating, but not delivering any real substantial details?

I somewhat agree. Except for the 21c Hotel and Trader Joe's, we haven't really learned any NEW information. We've known about most of this stuff since at least last spring, though it is definitely more concrete now. That doesn't detract from the fact these are all great developments, and a city like OKC is extremely fortunate to have them. However, I was also expecting major new developments to be announced that are different than what we've been talking about on OKCTalk since last year. Something like Rainey's tower and the second "mystery tower" that there is substantial evidence that is in the works. Maybe some additional west end anchors to accompany the 21c hotel to show us why that location makes sense. Influx of national retailer(s) seems to imply there is more than Trader Joe's on the verge of coming to OKC.

Nonetheless, if nothing else was announced other than what already has been, that would still be huge. People underestimate how big of a deal this GE thing is.

[warreng88]

Pete and I are on the same exact page here. Also, when I first started talking about this wave of activity, it was late October/early November ....

Steve, I know you have stated that you are afraid you will jinx it if you talk about a certain project. If something falls through for whatever reason, are you ever able to talk about it falling through and why?

[DoctorTaco]

You people are impossible to please.

[Pete]

Hate to tell you guys that because there is so much advance information on everything that is going on, it's very unlikely anything is going to be a surprise any more.

Nothing big is going to just pop up... It will proceed like the Stage Center Tower, with bits of information coming out over a long period of time. That is already happening at Hudson & Kerr and elsewhere.

And then, many get frustrated that once we get wind of things, it just doesn't just start construction the next day.


Welcome to the new age of media, where information is a stream, not a press release about a ground breaking.

[SOONER8693]

The way Steve put it, was that we will have big NEW announcements this month. The projects above we all kind of knew about expect for the 21C Museum Hotel. We knew about the Metropolitan, and Shartel apartments before December. We really still don't know what Tom Ward is up to. We still really don't know what is going on with Rainey Williams and his new tower. And major new downtown anchors, I guess he was referring to OPUBCO moving to the Century Center?

So is this the old media bait? You know, give us just enough details to keep us interested, keep us reading, keep us participating, but not delivering any real substantial details?

Bingo. Certain individuals, media and otherwise, keep promising what's coming, what's coming. Like leading a jackass with the carrot.

[Pete]

In fairness, Steve gets asked a million times for what is coming next... Here, on his blog, in his chats... And when he politely refuses, he gets asked again in a million different ways.

You guys already know what is coming next. What you really want to know is the genesis of an idea that is just starting. And when that type of information comes out, it's far from final or certain and can take years before anything even comes of it.

[pickles]

You people are impossible to please.

No kidding.

[modernism]

Yea, we need to watch out for phrases like "could be", "possibly", and "maybe". Nothing is promised, and I am beginning to realize that nobody really knows anything, they are just educated guesses. I said a while back in the Summer, that we wouldn't have an official DETAILED tower announcement until early next year, and people thought I was crazy, well its beginning to look that way now....

[Pete]

I understand the frustration and didn't mean to be snarky in my comments, it's just that I think we are all adjusting to the new-ish ways information is delivered.

Wasn't that long ago that none of us would know anything until there was a big press conference, ground breaking and renderings. Now, we track every little nuance and have been speculating about the Stage Center site for years. Then, because information gets out here and in social media, guys like Rainey Williams have to say something on the record long before he's really ready to release any plans. Then he provides a rough estimate in an interview, and we all track it like it's a countdown to a space mission -- and then get disappointed when dates come and go without any new news.

Remember, even after Devon had the big dog-and-pony show with the model and detailed renderings, their plans changed considerably.

As I said, we all have to adjust to getting information in a stream rather than one big conclusive report. And of course, having all this advance information is generally great.

[dmoor82]

Pete, any idea where Top Golf will be located in OKC? TopGolf Aims to Open in Oklahoma City | TopGolf http://www.facebook.com/topgolfokc , sorry to derail this thread and feel free to move this post.

[Pete]

Pete, any idea where Top Golf will be located in OKC? TopGolf Aims to Open in Oklahoma City | TopGolf

Near Memorial & Western I believe.

[modernism]

Pete, any idea where Top Golf will be located in OKC? TopGolf Aims to Open in Oklahoma City | TopGolf , sorry to derail this thread and feel free to move this post.

[adaniel]

I understand the frustration and didn't mean to be snarky in my comments, it's just that I think we are all adjusting to the new-ish ways information is delivered.

Wasn't that long ago that none of us would know anything until there was a big press conference, ground breaking and renderings. Now, we track every little nuance and have been speculating about the Stage Center site for years. Then, because information gets out here and in social media, guys like Rainey Williams have to say something on the record long before he's really ready to release any plans. Then he provides a rough estimate in an interview, and we all track it like it's a countdown to a space mission -- and then get disappointed when dates come and go without any new news.

Remember, even after Devon had the big dog-and-pony show with the model and detailed renderings, their plans changed considerably.

As I said, we all have to adjust to getting information in a stream rather than one big conclusive report. And of course, having all this advance information is generally great.

Pete, keep doing your thing. I think most of us understand that things take time and it is unfortunate that some on here lack the maturity to handle certain types of information. As if multimillion dollar business and real estate deals are going to adhere to our schedules. Because that's what happens in the movies, right?

[BrettM2]

Pete, keep doing your thing. I think most of us understand that things take time and it is unfortunate that some on here lack the maturity to handle certain types of information. As if multimillion dollar business and real estate deals are going to adhere to our schedules. Because that's what happens in the movies, right?

Exactly right. People need to stop thinking that they have been wronged if they don't get the information they want, when they want it, in a format they want. This tower will go forward because there is interest in the business world, not because some posters at OKCTalk are flipping out.

[bchris02]

I understand the frustration and didn't mean to be snarky in my comments, it's just that I think we are all adjusting to the new-ish ways information is delivered.

Wasn't that long ago that none of us would know anything until there was a big press conference, ground breaking and renderings. Now, we track every little nuance and have been speculating about the Stage Center site for years. Then, because information gets out here and in social media, guys like Rainey Williams have to say something on the record long before he's really ready to release any plans. Then he provides a rough estimate in an interview, and we all track it like it's a countdown to a space mission -- and then get disappointed when dates come and go without any new news.

Remember, even after Devon had the big dog-and-pony show with the model and detailed renderings, their plans changed considerably.

As I said, we all have to adjust to getting information in a stream rather than one big conclusive report. And of course, having all this advance information is generally great.

Right, these developments take years to play out sometimes and have numerous delays. Most of the projects we are talking about right now on this site won't be reality until probably 2016-17ish. That's a long time from our perspective but in terms of business deals it really isn't that long.

[Pete]

Yeah, as soon as we get the slightest wind of a downtown building, within hours there are rough renderings of our new skyline with some awesome 40-story tower.

When you start there, everything thereafter is almost bound to be a disappointment.

Dreams and conjecture are fun, but you have to keep things in context. I get a little carried away as well, although I still think Midtown will eventually be one of the coolest urban neighborhoods anywhere.

[bchris02]

I think people are expecting and wanting the kind of development boom places like Austin, Charlotte, Raleigh, Nashville, and many others experienced in the mid-2000s. Basically continual, speculative announcement and construction of highly ambitious developments. I would like to see that kind of growth in OKC too but we aren't quite there yet. The development we are seeing given the national economy, which is still not running on all cylinders, is nothing short of a miracle.

[modernism]

I disagree, when people say, we should have more information in 30 days, then 90 days, and it constantly does not happen, you have to start wondering how credible are so called "sources".

What happened to the good old days when reporters actually chased and broke stories, instead if chasing City Council & Downtown Design Review meetings and waiting on emails?

[BrettM2]

I disagree, when people say, we should have more information in 30 days, then 90 days, and it constantly does not happen, you have to start wondering how credible are so called "sources".

What happened to the good old days when reporters actually chased and broke stories, instead if chasing City Council & Downtown Design Review meetings and waiting on emails?

Or perhaps targets change. Things aren't written in stone, dates shift, and (sometimes) plans fall apart. Steve and Pete both are doing incredible jobs. I can't imagine how anyone can say because a businessman is going to release information on HIS timetable, that somehow Steve and Pete are less than credible.