OG&E Tower

[SOONER8693]

once you guys gain the signatures necessary are you guys going to fund the millions to repair stage center? If not, your petition is futile.

amen!

[Bellaboo]

I'm not signing...let it be replaced!

Me neither.

[Dar405301]

maybe they want two buildings for redundancy purposes. kind of a stretch, I know. but they are a major utility.

[coov23]

All 300 people that have signed? Are those 300 people a bunch of millionaires? If not, why even do that petition? You don't have the means to renovate, plus, upkeep. Just seems about as pointless as those dweebs that trespassed the Devon tower last week.

[kevinpate]

All 300 people that have signed? Are those 300 people a bunch of millionaires? If not, why even do that petition? You don't have the means to renovate, plus, upkeep. Just seems about as pointless as those dweebs that trespassed the Devon tower last week.

Well, to be fair - If they are content to just have SC sit, as it has the past couple of years, 300 folk is about all that is really needed. If memory serves, it was costing the foundation about 100,000 a year in expense for it to simply sit idle. At 300 committed folks that works out to a bit less than a daily soda at MickeyD's (100000/300/365).

[jccouger]

Petition already up to 400, and it will grow fast.

If OG&E isn't moving all of their employees in what is the point of limiting the size of this development? It seems like all the buildings downtown were built with a sense of place/time/beauty/function-ability/business and this one is going to built for one reason and one reason only: $$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Rainey wants to make sure he can recoup his $ as fast as possible by building the smallest structure that he can while guaranteeing 100 occupancy. This project needs a leader, and with 2 separate interests at heart between Rainey and OGE this project is bound to fail.

[coov23]

Jcouger, why have a building, that's a piece of crap, just sit and continue to gather dust and mold? What's the point, other than you just being upset over the size? It really doesn't matter, though. That petition is useless. Williams owns the property and the chamber thinks it's as much as an eye sore as the rest of us. Stage Center is coming down, finally.

Btw, I grew up going there to watch plays with my school. It was nasty then and still is to this day. Other than people thinking its a cool looking building on the exterior, it has no use anymore.

[jccouger]

The same thing could have been said for Bricktown and the Skirvin 15 years ago. But I guess the Stage Center will fall on the other side of the spectrum, like the Biltmore Hotel.


They are about to create a HUGE disconnect between the elementary school and the Myriad Gardens, that won't be able to be fixed. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to get this site right, and we are accepting the lowest possible proposal they could have given us. But I guess if we can't look farther then one day ahead then this is a great idea.

I don't care about saving the stage center, I care about getting a development out of this that matches the elite location this is proposed on. But once something is developed here, IT IS HERE FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES + SOME.

[OkieNate]

Jcouger, why have a building, that's a piece of crap, just sit and continue to gather dust and mold? What's the point, other than you just being upset over the size? It really doesn't matter, though. That petition is useless. Williams owns the property and the chamber thinks it's as much as an eye sore as the rest of us. Stage Center is coming down, finally.

Btw, I grew up going there to watch plays with my school. It was nasty then and still is to this day. Other than people thinking its a cool looking building on the exterior, it has no use anymore.

Its sad you're more concerned about removing a building that has been there for 40+ years rather than what is replacing it. If you think what was presented was anything close to world class I encourage you to go see more of the world. This is far from world class.

[bchris02]

The same thing could have been said for Bricktown and the Skirvin 15 years ago. But I guess the Stage Center will fall on the other side of the spectrum, like the Biltmore Hotel.


They are about to create a HUGE disconnect between the elementary school and the Myriad Gardens, that won't be able to be fixed. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to get this site right, and we are accepting the lowest possible proposal they could have given us. But I guess if we can't look farther then one day ahead then this is a great idea.

I don't care about saving the stage center, I care about getting a development out of this that matches the elite location this is proposed on. But once something is developed here, IT IS HERE FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES + SOME.

I agree. This is another case of OKC settling for the bare minimum when "world class" was promised. Rainey Williams promised a world class development, not members of OKCTalk, Pete, or Steve Lackmeyer. Rainey Williams, the developer, promised it.

Kind of reminds me of this, proposed by Randy Hogan for Lower Bricktown.



And instead we got a bunch of one story chain restaurants and canal-side surface parking.

I am not attached to the Stage Center either, but I think if it is going to be redeveloped it needs to be done right. Given the promises already broken by Rainey Williams, he can't be trusted to build even what is shown in the rendering. Who's to say it won't morph into something like this before all is said and done?

[warreng88]

They are about to create a HUGE disconnect between the elementary school and the Myriad Gardens, that won't be able to be fixed.

How so?

[OkieNate]

How so?

http://cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/lead630...a5ad287d43.jpg

like this

[jccouger]

There is no synergy between this proposal and the gardens & the elementary school. They don't interact with each other. Its the gardens, a corporate HQ and then the elementary school. The HQ benefits from the other 2, but the elementary school and the gardens don't benefit from HQ at all. They should all improve each other at the same time. Heck, they even blocked off the California easement with the proposal creating a complete disconnect from the Elementary School and the Myriad Gardens, something that should not happen at all costs. There is too much opportunity for these 3 parcels of land to act as a continuous flow that could potentially stretch even farther west. But once the Gardens are cut off from the west by this development it is going to cause any momentum coming from the Gardens going west to completely stop.

Got it?

[OkieNate]

There is no synergy between this proposal and the gardens & the elementary school. They don't interact with each other. Its the gardens, a corporate HQ and then the elementary school. The HQ benefits from the other 2, but the elementary school and the gardens don't benefit from HQ at all. They should all improve each other at the same time. Heck, they even blocked off the California easement with the proposal creating a complete disconnect from the Elementary School and the Myriad Gardens, something that should not happen at all costs. There is too much opportunity for these 3 parcels of land to act as a continuous flow that could potentially stretch even farther west. But once the Gardens are cut off from the west by this development it is going to cause any momentum coming from the Gardens going west to completely stop.

Got it?

+1

[hoya]

It just struck me, looking at this picture again. This isn't about putting up an OG&E headquarters. Their proposed building is fairly small, and could be placed almost anywhere downtown. The entire purpose of this development is so they can build a giant ass parking garage. This building has way more parking than OG&E needs. Rainey Williams has proposed the bare minimum just so they can put a public parking garage there.

[PWitty]

The same thing could have been said for Bricktown and the Skirvin 15 years ago. But I guess the Stage Center will fall on the other side of the spectrum, like the Biltmore Hotel.


They are about to create a HUGE disconnect between the elementary school and the Myriad Gardens, that won't be able to be fixed. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to get this site right, and we are accepting the lowest possible proposal they could have given us. But I guess if we can't look farther then one day ahead then this is a great idea.

I don't care about saving the stage center, I care about getting a development out of this that matches the elite location this is proposed on. But once something is developed here, IT IS HERE FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES + SOME.

I'm sorry, but there is no comparison between the Skirvin/Bricktown and SC. Skirvin and Bricktown had the bones to be redeveloped into something special from the get go. SC, however, does not. There is a reason it has sat idle for so long. What could a developer possibly turn that in to? Like I said earlier, if you're going to disagree with this development then focus your arguments on that, not on the SC. You've done that for the most part though.

[PWitty]

http://cdn2.newsok.biz/cache/lead630...a5ad287d43.jpg

like this

So do you not want any towers on the SC site? Because any development is going to create a barrier between the elementary and the MBG, unless there is a huge tunnel going through the bottom few levels. I'm not saying this development is the answer, but I would prefer the entire block gets developed than have a single tower with a massive "plaza" surrounding it.

[OKCisOK4me]

There is no synergy between this proposal and the gardens & the elementary school. They don't interact with each other. Its the gardens, a corporate HQ and then the elementary school. The HQ benefits from the other 2, but the elementary school and the gardens don't benefit from HQ at all. They should all improve each other at the same time. Heck, they even blocked off the California easement with the proposal creating a complete disconnect from the Elementary School and the Myriad Gardens, something that should not happen at all costs. There is too much opportunity for these 3 parcels of land to act as a continuous flow that could potentially stretch even farther west. But once the Gardens are cut off from the west by this development it is going to cause any momentum coming from the Gardens going west to completely stop.

Got it?

Like the petition, I doubt your reasoning will be considered in the final matter.

Personally, I'll take this development as it is but only if the block between California and Reno is slated for development of a larger caliber. Otherwise Stage Center needs to be left untouched until Rainy can get his game together and come up with a project worthy of bulldozing a icon I don't give two cents for... And again, my reasoning will unlikely be considered in the final matter as well, which is a shame.

[warreng88]

So do you not want any towers on the SC site? Because any development is going to create a barrier between the elementary and the MBG, unless there is a huge tunnel going through the bottom few levels. I'm not saying this development is the answer, but I would prefer the entire block gets developed than have a single tower with a massive "plaza" surrounding it.

My thoughts exactly. I know what the development looks like, I have seen the renderings but any development on this site will create a barrier between the school and the gardens. The same could be said for Devon Tower creating a barrier between the library and the gardens. Would you rather have what Sandridge is doing and have a huge building in the middle with a few buildings on the outside? How would you like to see this block developed?

[OkieNate]

So do you not want any towers on the SC site? Because any development is going to create a barrier between the elementary and the MBG, unless there is a huge tunnel going through the bottom few levels. I'm not saying this development is the answer, but I would prefer the entire block gets developed than have a single tower with a massive "plaza" surrounding it.

No, I want a world class development like we were promised by the developer. I'm convinced a world class project could certainly find a way to connect the MBG and the school, while including the entire block. Also a world class project would have had the fore sight to include that in the proposal. I'm not an architect, so I don't have the answer, but as you agree what we seem to be getting is not the answer either.

It's not ridiculous to expect world class when that is what was promised to be delivered. Someone should have taught Rainey not to write checks his architects could not cash.

[jccouger]

I'm sorry, but there is no comparison between the Skirvin/Bricktown and SC. Skirvin and Bricktown had the bones to be redeveloped into something special from the get go. SC, however, does not. There is a reason it has sat idle for so long. What could a developer possibly turn that in to? Like I said earlier, if you're going to disagree with this development then focus your arguments on that, not on the SC. You've done that for the most part though.

I think there is a comparison. Regardless of personal opinion of beauty, this is one of the most important non highrise buildings our city has. But you are also correct in saying I should focus my arguments on demanding a better development for this location. My statements in regards to saving the stage center were in direct reply to people arguing that this building is completely worthless and an eye sore with remarks such as a grass lot would be an improvement. This is a valuable building, and the development that replaces it should have to take in to account that we are losing a unique structure to our city that has a emotional ties to a lot of people.

[jccouger]

My thoughts exactly. I know what the development looks like, I have seen the renderings but any development on this site will create a barrier between the school and the gardens. The same could be said for Devon Tower creating a barrier between the library and the gardens. Would you rather have what Sandridge is doing and have a huge building in the middle with a few buildings on the outside? How would you like to see this block developed?

The Devon Atrium took this in to account beautifully. Along with what could be shops running along their parking garage eventually. Even the proposed convention center has created an attempt to prevent the momentum from the myriad gardens getting cut off. It is not hard, but I am no architect. People get paid to do stuff like this, they can problem solve and create solutions to this.

As stated before, this is going to create a "century century" effect in which it just becomes a huge block with a boring exterior of a parking garage. If anybody wants to argue for another century center, I'd love to see your presentation.

[warreng88]

The Devon Atrium took this in to account beautifully. Along with what could be shops running along their parking garage eventually. Even the proposed convention center has created an attempt to prevent the momentum from the myriad gardens getting cut off. It is not hard, but I am no architect. People get paid to do stuff like this, they can problem solve and create solutions to this.

As stated before, this is going to create a "century century" effect in which it just becomes a huge block with a boring exterior of a parking garage. If anybody wants to argue for another century center, I'd love to see your presentation.

While I don't disagree, this is what I was expecting and as long as there are retail, restaurants, etc surrounding so we don't just have a big box with no street interaction, I think it will be fine. Again, just my opinion and I know you don't agree with me.

[coov23]

Its sad you're more concerned about removing a building that has been there for 40+ years rather than what is replacing it. If you think what was presented was anything close to world class I encourage you to go see more of the world. This is far from world class.

Where did I say it was world class? Trust me, I've seen more of the world than 95% of you while I was in the Air Force. Plus, I just moved back to OKC from Philadelphia. If you think the stage center is a world class building you're sorely mistaken. It's an eye sore. Been ran down since the day it opened.

[kevinpate]

feeling a bit like I wandered into a basset hound show at the convention center.