OG&E Energy Center

[Pete]

Nope, he was talking about the office on the South of Stage Center site. The Bank of Oklahoma was also discussed along with Devon in the Main and Hudson site.

Hmmm, one of us misunderstood what he said.

[BrettM2]

Are we seriously still hung up on building height? There is a very strong possibility we will have four (FOUR!!!!) new towers going up at the same time (plus any activity at Main & Hudson/Convention Hotel/BoA site). Sometimes we should be happy that we are looking at quality development.

[Bellaboo]

Hmmm, one of us misunderstood what he said.

I've looked for the chat, but can't find it, but I remember him saying something about a business where someone would walk in and commerce would occur. So I took this as being a bank ?

[gopokes88]

Are we seriously still hung up on building height? There is a very strong possibility we will have four (FOUR!!!!) new towers going up at the same time (plus any activity at Main & Hudson/Convention Hotel/BoA site). Sometimes we should be happy that we are looking at quality development.

Not even mentioning the fact they are BEAUTIFUL buildings that look modern but also fit right into OKC's style. Devon is beautiful but it is a glass box. Which is great but we don't need anymore. The design Clayco put forward has a classic look to it that looks amazing. This is an absolute home run.

[Pete]

I've looked for the chat, but can't find it, but I remember him saying something about a business where someone would walk in and commerce would occur. So I took this as being a bank ?

Oh, I know what you mean now -- sorry we were talking about two different things.

He put "vistor" and "commerce" in quotes and I'm sure he meant the OKC Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Visitors Bureau. And that was in regards to who may take the additional office space in the OG&E Tower.

He also talked about a local bank for the Main & Hudson building that certain meant BOK.

[bchris02]

I would have preferred a bit taller, but numerous smaller towers will really help balance the skyline. OKC's skyline looks good from the northeast even though Devon is taller than anything else. This will really help the skyline from the west and southwest, where currently Devon overshadows everything to the point it just doesn't look attractive.

[dankrutka]

where currently Devon overshadows everything to the point it just doesn't look attractive.

Here we go...

[hoya]

This appears to be a truly world-class development. So much better than the initial renderings we saw last year that it doesn't really compare. These will be a fantastic addition to our skyline, and to the city streets.

No, they're not 40 or 50 story towers, but they'll balance our skyline well, they'll definitely help define the space of the Myriad Gardens, and they're nice classic architecture and will blend well with what already exists in the city. In addition, with the Preftakes tower coming soon directly across the street, and a possible convention hotel, this will be up to 6 new towers all at the same time. There are plenty of spaces for Milhaus to still put in a 20 story residential tower if they wish. There's still the possibility of Continental Resources building something as well.

If these are successful, this could accelerate downtown development faster than I ever thought possible.

[ljbab728]

This is a little off topic but this is Steve's update on the affects of this to the Festival of the Arts.

Growth in downtown Oklahoma City may force venue change for Festival of the Arts | News OK

The annual Festival of the Arts could end up back at its original home in Bicentennial Park as construction is likely to begin next year where the festival’s artists tents and food court have set up for the past quarter century.

Peter Dolese, director of the Arts Council of Oklahoma City, confirmed Bicentennial Park is an option. The park, which was rebuilt as part of Project 180, was home to the festival from its inception in 1967 until it moved to its current home in 1989.

But Dolese hopes to keep the festival at the Myriad Gardens.

[ljbab728]

Steve's complete chat transcript is up.

Transcript for Monday Evening "Towers" OKC Central Live Chat | News OK

And another very interesting comment.

Comment From Andrew
What do you think of Milhaus trying to found another spot for their tower?
7:06

Steve Lackmeyer:
I think you’ll be interested in reading my OKC Central column tomorrow!
7:06

[AP]

Steve's complete chat transcript is up.

Transcript for Monday Evening "Towers" OKC Central Live Chat | News OK

And another very interesting comment.

Hey. That's me.

[Teo9969]

This is a little off topic but this is Steve's update on the affects of this to the Festival of the Arts.

Growth in downtown Oklahoma City may force venue change for Festival of the Arts | News OK

NOOOOOOOO…..The Arts Festival is going to have to happen in the Arts District?! This is AWFUL news.

[soonerguru]

Not even mentioning the fact they are BEAUTIFUL buildings that look modern but also fit right into OKC's style. Devon is beautiful but it is a glass box. Which is great but we don't need anymore. The design Clayco put forward has a classic look to it that looks amazing. This is an absolute home run.

I agree. This is a wonderful design. Modern and classic. Something we really need to balance out so much of the glass bull****.

[Laramie]

NOOOOOOOO…..The Arts Festival is going to have to happen in the Arts District?! This is AWFUL news.

Development pains with growth:

As with all developments there will always be some adjustments that will have to be made in the interim.

Development congestion with construction, cranes & related sundry activities will become problematic for the Festival of the Arts. Why not a temporary trial move to Fair Park?

[TaurusNYC]

So did Robert Stern design the Clayco buildings? It looks liks his style.

[LakeEffect]

So did Robert Stern design the Clayco buildings? It looks liks his style.

Yes, I believe so.

[Bullbear]

Development pains with growth:

As with all developments there will always be some adjustments that will have to be made in the interim.

Development congestion with construction, cranes & related sundry activities will become problematic for the Festival of the Arts. Why not a temporary trial move to Fair Park?

Fair park, where there will also be construction underway for the new expo center? that doesn't seem like a good fit.
a temporary move is not big deal to me. I imagine it will eventually find its home in the new central park once that is complete but bicentenial park isn't a bad fit. could create some great Traffic for the arts museum.

[bombermwc]

Im really hoping the 4 tower design gets the clear. And something to keep in mind, 25 floors in a tower isn't as short as 25 floors used to be. With the higher ceiling heights people enjoy these days, just count up 25 floors of Devon (so half way) and you'll see what these will be. And that's nothing to sneeze at...and 4 of them!!!! WOOO!

[catch22]

Im really hoping the 4 tower design gets the clear. And something to keep in mind, 25 floors in a tower isn't as short as 25 floors used to be. With the higher ceiling heights people enjoy these days, just count up 25 floors of Devon (so half way) and you'll see what these will be. And that's nothing to sneeze at...and 4 of them!!!! WOOO!

Pete has the building plan heights. Around 400 feet for the 26 story towers.

[warreng88]

If Milhaus has to find another spot for their development, is it still definite that it will be residential and not office?

[warreng88]

From the Journal Record:

Arts Council official excited about downtown OKC’s changing landscape

By: Molly M. Fleming The Journal Record October 6, 20140

OKLAHOMA CITY – The 49th-annual Festival of the Arts will stay at the Myriad Botanical Gardens and across S. Hudson Avenue, but the 2016 festival could be at one of two places, said Arts Council of Oklahoma City Executive Director Peter Dolese.

He said the organization is considering moving the festival to Bicentennial Park, between City Hall and the Civic Center, or to the Myriad Botanical Gardens’ northeast corner, closing down Ron Norick Boulevard and W. Sheridan Avenue.

“I’m excited about the changes,” Dolese said. “This is an opportunity for us to take a good look at downtown Oklahoma City and what works best for the event. There’s good options with both areas.”

The Arts Council will test the Bicentennial Park site on New Year’s Eve for its annual Opening Night Finale event. Using the park will allow the organization to shoot larger fireworks, Dolese said.

“You’ll get a chance to see how the park looks packed with people,” he said.

The Festival of the Arts must move in 2016, when development is slated to begin at the southwest corner of Sheridan and Hudson avenues, the future home of OGE Energy Corp.’s new building and the former site of Stage Center. The south portion of the 3.15-acre site is owned by the Oklahoma City Economic Development Trust, which turned the property over to the Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority. OCURA issued a request for qualified proposals to develop the site and received two responses. Responses came from Chicago-based Clayco Inc., the company developing the OGE tower, and Indianapolis-based Milhaus Development, which built the LIFT apartment complex at NW 10th Street and Shartel Avenue in Midtown.

On the north side, Clayco has proposed building two towers as part of the original OGE site plans: a 26-story office tower and a 25-story residential building. On the south end, the company has proposed a 25-story commercial building and a 26-story, 253-unit apartment building. The north towers are expected to cost $250 million, while $280 million would be spent on the south-side towers.

Milhaus proposed a 20-story mixed-use building, with residential, commercial and parking garage space. The tower would have 300 residential units, 15,000 square feet of commercial space and 450 parking spaces. The project would cost an estimated $80 million.

Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority Executive Director Cathy O’Connor said she was pleased with the proposals.

“We got two good proposals,” she said. “One is high-density residential, and the other is mixed use. They’re both from developers that have really good track records and lots of experience with similar projects with other places.”

OCURA will review the proposals and could make a decision about a project at its special meeting Nov. 4. If no decision can be reached then, it could decide at its regular meeting Nov. 19.

O’Connor said the board could take into consideration Clayco’s commitment to the OGE building when deciding on a proposal. She said there is no timeline for when the decision has to be made; however, she knows the developers want to get started.

“They have fairly aggressive time schedules,” she said. “They both recognize there are tenants on the site. They will have to help with relocation of those tenants to other places. They both included options for that as part of their response.”

[Pete]

If Milhaus has to find another spot for their development, is it still definite that it will be residential and not office?

They really only do residential. They call some projects mixed use but that's only because, like LIFT, they have some small amount of retail.

I believe they are looking at the 4th & EKG site recently purchased by Land Run / Jonathan Russell.

[warreng88]

They really only do residential. They call some projects mixed use but that's only because, like LIFT, they have some small amount of retail.

I believe they are looking at the 4th & EKG site recently purchased by Land Run / Jonathan Russell.

Thanks Pete. And what is the size of the south of Stage Center lot versus the 4th and EK Gaylord lot?

[Pete]

Thanks Pete. And what is the size of the south of Stage Center lot versus the 4th and EK Gaylord lot?

The South Parcel on this block is just under 3 acres.

The property Land Run bought at 4th & EKG is 1.8 acres but the City owns 1.1 adjacent acres that could be come part of that development.

[s00nr1]

They really only do residential. They call some projects mixed use but that's only because, like LIFT, they have some small amount of retail.

I believe they are looking at the 4th & EKG site recently purchased by Land Run / Jonathan Russell.

I'm not so sure that initially that wouldn't be the better site for residential considering its proximity to Midtown and Deep Deuce.