OG&E Tower

[jn1780]

I just heard someone say the demolition is set to begin TOMORROW. Not trying to start a rumor--more trying to get an answer to one. Is that true? Confirmed?

No demolition permit has been issue yet and I don't even think their construction/demolition fence is finished.

[Urbanized]

I just heard someone say the demolition is set to begin TOMORROW. Not trying to start a rumor--more trying to get an answer to one. Is that true? Confirmed?

I don't have any information on this, but I was actually expecting it to start this week. Demolition companies usually don't slow-play when they have the green light, and erection of the fence makes it official. Not that I expect any legal wrangling at this point, but if it is your project you would want to get it to a point of no return ASAP to avoid any last-second injunctions or protests or anything of the type. I took the opportunity yesterday late afternoon to walk around it one last time and snap some photos, figuring the fence would be up fully today and the jackhammers would start in earnest shortly afterward.

[Urbanized]

...Now the Main/Hudson development is a different story and I don't think preservationists have much of a case.

I haven't heard preservationists making much of a stink about Main/Hudson..? Nor do I expect for them to.

[modernism]

This development us mediocre. Downtown OKC has yet to see a major tower development from an major out of state company moving downtown. Devon was an anomaly, and looks like they are driving the next major tower development downtown. So what does that really say about commercial real estate momentum?

[bchris02]

This development us mediocre. Downtown OKC has yet to see a major tower development from an major out of state company moving downtown. Devon was an anomaly, and looks like they are driving the next major tower development downtown. So what does that really say about commercial real estate momentum?

What other cities the size of OKC are seeing major commercial development downtown period? Louisville? Richmond? Memphis? El Paso? Jacksonville? None of them have any significant skyline-changing commercial developments in the pipes. Most skyscraper booms across the country right now are residential in nature. That is indeed something OKC lacks but will may start to see as property values increase.

[Plutonic Panda]

What other cities the size of OKC are seeing major commercial development downtown period? Louisville? Richmond? Memphis? El Paso? Jacksonville? None of them have any significant skyline-changing commercial developments in the pipes. Most skyscraper booms across the country right now are residential in nature. That is indeed something OKC lacks but will may start to see as property values increase.

+1

[soonerguru]

When that building comes down, Oklahoma City will have lost its one unique structure. Period. Love it or hate it. At this point, someone said in one of the articles, and I tend to agree, it is - in and of itself - a significant piece of public art not only in this city, but in this country.

Great post. And this building is coming down without a whiff of what will be replacing it. I formerly made myself "OK" with this, because I bought the "world class" hyperbole Rainey Williams put out. But at this point, I've lost respect for everyone who let this happen. And frankly, I don't want to hear about what a "great guy" Williams is, because his public statements don't match what is happening on the ground here. To wit, NO ONE has a clue what is going to replace this iconic piece of architecture. And if they do, they aren't talking.

[hoya]

If you quote him, I can still see his posts even though he's on ignore.

[soonerguru]

I think this thread should be renamed: Stage Center "Tower" would be more appropriate.

[FritterGirl]

^ x 100

Oops... didn't see full thread. Make that,

Ditto x 100 what Urbanized said.

No matter how you slice it, no matter how many ways you look at the books, or analyze the politics of Brutalism, or decry the building's failure as a theatre space, etc. the fact of the matter is, we are losing a building of national architectural significance and for what... mediocrity.

That's what I call tragic.


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[Questor]

I've given up on the argument of keeping SC, but you know after the things this city has been through with urban renewal over the years it really surprises me that there isn't an ordinance of some kind to prevent a structure in our downtown from being demolished until there is something in writing, signed in blood, regarding what will replace it.

[FritterGirl]

Men in day-glo vests are rolling out what looks to be chain link fencing. View not be as obscured as we thought.

[Spartan]

Because one will pay property tax and the other one won't.

So you are only useful bc you pay property tax? If so I can think of an easy way to make the whole state "more useful."

On a side note - I LOVE Betts' new icon.

[Just the facts]

You know, I hadn't thought of this until now but because Rainey Williams will own this building and not OG&E, there will be property taxes assessed.

If OG&E owned it out-right -- like it does their current downtown HQ and several other properties -- there would be no property tax assessed.

And since property tax is based on total value, the annual taxes paid would be about a $.5 million per year, every year once the building is open for business.

Even OG&E owned the whole thing wouldn't there tax-exempt status only apply the portion of the building that is occupied by OG&E. The proposed second tower for hotel/residential, public parking, and retail space wouldn't be exempted would it?

[Pete]

Even OG&E owned the whole thing wouldn't there tax-exempt status only apply the portion of the building that is occupied by OG&E. The proposed second tower for hotel/residential, public parking, and retail space wouldn't be exempted would it?

If OG&E was building this out-right then they probably would have kept the parking just for their employees and visitors (ala Devon) and then the structure would be tax exempt.

Not sure how it would have worked if they put retail in the building; in order to get the tax benefits they could instead put in a company-owned restaurant.

As it is, the property will likely be sold for the second building (as per Rainey Williams) and then of course that would be a completely separate taxable entity.


But no matter, as things stand now there will be a nice chunk of new property tax revenue coming when this project is built.

[Urbanized]

Men in day-glo vests are rolling out what looks to be chain link fencing. View not be as obscured as we thought.

The permit called for privacy slats to go into the chain link, IIRC. It will still be visible above the fence of course, and the whole site will be visible from upper stories. I saw the fence going up today too, and gate is now installed. Would expect the perimeter to be fully fenced by end of day. Glad I walked around it when I did on Sunday.

Here are privacy slats installed in chain link:

[betts]

On a side note - I LOVE Betts' new icon.

Betsy Brunsteter painted it and graciously let me use it when I asked.

[Pete]

Betsy Brunsteter painted it and graciously let me use it when I asked.

Any plans to sell prints?

It's beautiful.

[zookeeper]

The closer it gets, the sicker I feel. I feel it in my stomach - literally. Just a sick gut punch feeling.

[zookeeper]

One last time? This short video sums this building up in under 10 minutes. John Johansen's last words chill me. I just don't know what's worth preserving if this isn't.

[BoulderSooner]

Will be nice to see the new building start construction.

[jn1780]

Will be nice to see the new building start construction.

Or some final design plans that are significantly than the initial proposals for that matter.

[betts]

The closer it gets, the sicker I feel. I feel it in my stomach - literally. Just a sick gut punch feeling.

Me too. I can't remember ever feeling this way about a building and the fact that we have absolutely no idea what's replacing it makes me feel even sicker.

[RadicalModerate]

Me too. I can't remember ever feeling this way about a building and the fact that we have absolutely no idea what's replacing it makes me feel even sicker.

How about they turn it back into a plot of land--rather than a vague imitation of a circuit board, as envisioned by the "architectural genius" in the creation of the eyesore--and make it into a community art garden, replete with unicorns and butterflys, dedicated to feeding the homeless as they tend and eat from the Special Part of The Community Park thanks to the vegetables they, themselves, have tended? Of course, this would demand a prohibition on tower construction in the vicinity because towers block the sun.

"Ad Hocism" . . . (geez what a geniusjerk . . . "let's roll this out to the rubes on the prairie in the wake of what brother Pei did and see who salutes." I'll give it one finger up. And a big thumbs up to whatever takes it's place.)

(the architect pictured in the vidclip appears to be a crackpot . . .
yet . . . "beauty [remains] in the eye of the beholder")

Again: Suggested Reading: "The Mark Inside"

[RadicalModerate]

The permit called for privacy slats to go into the chain link, IIRC. It will still be visible above the fence of course, and the whole site will be visible from upper stories. I saw the fence going up today too, and gate is now installed. Would expect the perimeter to be fully fenced by end of day. Glad I walked around it when I did on Sunday.

Here are privacy slats installed in chain link:

Any chance that drones hovering overhead can catch "the moment" of impact, even with the fence in place?