OG&E Tower

[PWitty]

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.

Good ole bchris. Always finding a way to slide in how OKC isn't on the level of Austin, Charlotte, etc.

Sorry, I had to!!

[Teo9969]

For the most part, I don't mind when dates get pushed back if Steve or Pete say something about an upcoming announcement because they are secondary sources.

But when you're the developer and you say “Our goal is to in 90 days be able to announce the anchor tenant and release the preliminary site design work...We are very excited to announce our plans for this property, which we think has tremendous potential” in the middle of the summer, and it's now almost the new year, it's a little bit disconcerting.

On the other hand, that more has not broken on this specific project is probably a *good* sign. Perhaps upon announcing plans to build a tower more companies approached Rainey about possibly leasing space in the tower and so now modifications have to be made to the plans.

Even so, making the announcement before having a better idea of what was going to occur was unnecessary. Sure, we would have all wanted to know what his plans are, but he really doesn't need to put out information before that information is accurate and ready. I do know that he needed to have a baseline idea of what he was going to do with it when he made a bid on the site, but that information was not owed to the public and in hindsight should have probably been withheld until he was ready to reveal a more comprehensive plan.

[catch22]

Option 1: this falls through and we are left witht the stage center a little bit longer.

Option 2: this stays on track and we have a tower.


I am okay with both of those. Seriously people, grow up. This is a building, not the cure to all disease.

[G.Walker]

The way this is going, we will probably get an official announcement on what is going on the old Bank America drive thru site before this one...lol

[ljbab728]

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'm confused. Did I miss Christmas and December is over already?

[OKCisOK4me]

I'm confused. Did I miss Christmas and December is over already?

The theory is that plans and drawings would be released a month in advance before any OCURA meeting, therefore, if it hasn't been by now, then it won't be til mid January or mid February before we know.

[Rover]

It is incredible that so many who think they know so much have no grasp of how complicated and risky these developments are and what goes into making them happen. Some of these "demands" to follow some personal expectations regarding time, style, etc. are child like and ego centric. Having access to OKCTalk, or sites like it does not constitute being part of this process. The deadlines on this project are in no way dictated by any PR initiative to satisfy the curiosity or demands of the curious.

[Just the facts]

[cattleman]

"The project, which is expected to take three to five years to complete, will be developed by Oklahoma City-based Kestrel Investments, which owns 3.15-acre property, located between W. Sheridan and W. California and S. Dewey and S. Walker. The site is currently home to Stage Center, a vacant arts venue that has fallen into such disrepair that it is no longer feasible to invest in its rehabilitation.
Kestrel today filed a conceptual site master plan for development of the property with the Oklahoma City Downtown Design Review Committee (DDRC). Kestrel also filed for a demolition permit for the Stage Center. Development of the project is contingent on demolition of the Stage Center."

[sroberts24]

Og&e

[warreng88]

OGE Energy Corp. to anchor new tower development | News OK

[sroberts24]

14-16 story tower FML!

[warreng88]

I am disappointed it is not taller, but I like the layout and design.

[Oh GAWD the Smell!]

That's a really cool looking building.

[sroberts24]

This is a major disappointment! Do I like the design and layout, yes. But the height is ridiculous.... I hate stage center but almost rather see it saved than see this tiny thing built

[shawnw]

I like the utilization of the block and the inclusion of a permanent stage that I presume will be used for the arts festival...

[LakeEffect]

The height is fine with me. Too much height will ruin afternoon sun on the gardens. I think the interaction with street at the lower levels, plus how they've left the festival grounds intact, is fantastic.

[s.hoff]

I like the way it looks, but I would like it better if it was twice as tall.

[Oh GAWD the Smell!]

I looked again. I liked it more...Yup.


My opinion matters too. I'm kind of a big deal.

[Bellaboo]

I think it's great, especially with the other building, either hotel or housing. Not as tall as i'd like, but with the width of the building they don't need to go any taller, but looks first class.This is a nice fit.

[Richard at Remax]

[bchris02]

It was pretty much assumed that this would only be a mid-rise. I like the look of it and the street interaction. It won't make much of an impact on the skyline from a distance though. Hopefully the Bank of America (site) tower is a true skyline changer.

[Bellaboo]

This is a major disappointment! Do I like the design and layout, yes. But the height is ridiculous.... I hate stage center but almost rather see it saved than see this tiny thing built

This isn't that tiny, it also includes a second tower.....8 - 12 floors in it's own right.

[Oh GAWD the Smell!]

AAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

That's comedy gold.

[warreng88]

Praedura, can we get some renderings?