OG&E Energy Center

[warreng88]

Someone help me out here:

"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."

If there are two towers on each side and they are of the same height, why is there a $30 million dollar difference? Is that where the parking is going?

[sroberts24]

I wondered the same thing, maybe because the Stage Center site is completely cleared.

[Pete]

Someone help me out here:

"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."

If there are two towers on each side and they are of the same height, why is there a $30 million dollar difference? Is that where the parking is going?

Perhaps because there is demolition involved, they have to pay to relocate the existing tenants, may have to buy out La Luna, etc.

[warreng88]

I wondered the same thing, maybe because the Stage Center site is completely cleared.

I don't think it would cost $30 million to clear the south part. Maybe there is more retail or a lot more detail to the apartments that drive the price up.

[G.Walker]

Do we know when the official details for this project will be released? Like the official height for each building and building specs, materials? After 11/04/2014?

[Pete]

Do we know when the official details for this project will be released? Like the official height for each building and building specs, materials? After 11/04/2014?

Nothing is official until approved by the Downtown Design Review Committee and they won't submit their plans until after OCURA makes a final choice on who gets the property.

[HOT ROD]

So does OCURA meet on Nov 4 to decide the fate of the property OR is that when the DDRC meets to approve the final designs?

Am I correct that Clayco already is approved for the Stage Center site, so they actually do not need DDRC approval to start there? OR, do they still need final approval from DDRC to start at the Stage Center?

In other words, if there should be a delay in approving Clayco for the South parcel; couldn't they still start construction on the OGE Tower and North Residential in Mar/April as they plan? Or, does Clayco still need final design approval from DDRC to even begin work at their approved Stage Center parcel?

[Snowman]

So does OCURA meet on Nov 4 to decide the fate of the property OR is that when the DDRC meets to approve the final designs?

Am I correct that Clayco already is approved for the Stage Center site, so they actually do not need DDRC approval to start there? OR, do they still need final approval from DDRC to start at the Stage Center?

In other words, if there should be a delay in approving Clayco for the South parcel; couldn't they still start construction on the OGE Tower and North Residential in Mar/April as they plan? Or, does Clayco still need final design approval from DDRC to even begin work at their approved Stage Center parcel?

No idea on the first question.

Clayco was already brought in on the Stage Center site, there is still things which will need approval in the future but it was stated that the plan is pretty much the same for the stage center development whatever happens on the south side (though obviously they would not build the same glass connector halfway to a non existent building)

As long as they are still considering building on the south land then there is probably good reason to have the scheduled synced for things like rotating the same crews around, since a long delays between buildings could mean either having to bring in new specialists or compensate them for waiting around for the next job to start. Since they are not starting any of the building till next year and are doing the north side first, then it probably will not be a major issue.

[OKCisOK4me]

You'd think they could come up with something more original than Devon Energy Center.

Wait for it, wait for it... my point exactly.

[Laramie]

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.

The construction of four to six towers (includes OG&E) downtown will be a challenge for the Festival of the Arts. True we love the Myriad Botanical Garden Background; however, until the downtown Central Park is built, temporary adjustments will have to be made.

You've got a 400 acre Fair Park Complex, the new Expo Hall construction shouldn't be a challenge to temporarily host the Festival of the Arts.

This would be a good time to experiment with the Arts Festival at Fair Park. They have the utility hook-ups in place; plenty of parking. You could probably include a mini-amusement section to the Festival of the Arts; you might find higher attendance with the use of Fairgrounds.

Set up the small tents, amusement park rides and you could expand the footprint of the Arts Festival.

Just maybe its success could draw interest from Fair Board executives to construct another 'Arrows to Atoms' Space Tower and Monorail.

What about the possibilities of a Medieval Arts Fair theme once the Arts Festival lands a permanent home at Central Park. A Medieval Arts Fair could be co-sponsored by one of the local city colleges (OCU, UCO, OCCC, Rose State) along with the Fair Board.

The more outdoor Fairs and Festivals we host at the Fair Park complex, the possibly exists for something other than 'expo halls' and 'barns' to be constructed on the site.

[metro]

IMO moving it to fair park would be a HORRIBLE idea. OKC should be able to host downtown during construction no problem. If the CC doesn't start construction for a year, shut down part of Reno, and you have the parking lots where the old car lot should be. That's currently more space than the festival uses now, and you keep the great DT and park atmosphere which makes the festival such a hit.

[Urbanized]

Totally agree. It can/should/will be left downtown, where it belongs.

[bchris02]

IMO moving it to fair park would be a HORRIBLE idea. OKC should be able to host downtown during construction no problem. If the CC doesn't start construction for a year, shut down part of Reno, and you have the parking lots where the old car lot should be. That's currently more space than the festival uses now, and you keep the great DT and park atmosphere which makes the festival such a hit.

Completely agree. The arts festival needs to be downtown to be a success. Moving it to the fairgrounds would be a huge mistake.

[Bullbear]

Completely agree. The arts festival needs to be downtown to be a success. Moving it to the fairgrounds would be a huge mistake.

agreed.. and please don't ever do a medieval arts fair theme for the festival of the arts!

[HOT ROD]

I think bicentinneal is a great temporary location and actually might breathe some life into that park and show us how it could be used.

[Of Sound Mind]

… I wonder if we could move the Festival discussion to a new/different thread and keep the conversation focused on the actual thread topic/title...

[soonerguru]

I think bicentinneal is a great temporary location and actually might breathe some life into that park and show us how it could be used.

I don't think Bicentennial Park is supposed to be "used" in the traditional sense. Yes, I could see some folks throwing a Frisbee but it's really an extension of the design of the municipal complex. I actually kind of like it.

But I think the constant saber rattling of the "park isn't being used" variety misses what that space provides -- a visual connection between City Hall and the Civic Center.

[HangryHippo]

I don't think Bicentennial Park is supposed to be "used" in the traditional sense. Yes, I could see some folks throwing a Frisbee but it's really an extension of the design of the municipal complex. I actually kind of like it.

But I think the constant saber rattling of the "park isn't being used" variety misses what that space provides -- a visual connection between City Hall and the Civic Center.

Like.

[Plutonic Panda]

… I wonder if we could move the Festival discussion to a new/different thread and keep the conversation focused on the actual thread topic/title...

+1

[gopokes88]

+1

All in favor say I

[Urbanized]

I don't think Bicentennial Park is supposed to be "used" in the traditional sense. Yes, I could see some folks throwing a Frisbee but it's really an extension of the design of the municipal complex. I actually kind of like it.

But I think the constant saber rattling of the "park isn't being used" variety misses what that space provides -- a visual connection between City Hall and the Civic Center.

Agree. I've come to like it a lot, and actually see it used (mostly for events) much more than people think it is.

[hoya]

The amount of construction that is going to be taking place downtown in the next 5 years or so is staggering. A lot of the surface parking spaces in Bricktown are filling up (the new Canopy Hilton, etc). Then we've got at least 4 and potentially 5 towers on this site, then we've got the Preftakes tower (potentially a second to follow, but probably outside of the 5 years). There's the convention center and a likely hotel. There's a proposed 10+ story building on Robert S Kerr. There's the Milhaus 20 story tower possibly on 4th and EKG. It's incredible. We're talking about nearly doubling our skyline before 2020, with an absolute ton of infill. And that's just the stuff we know about.

[Pete]

^

One big wildcard in all of this: Continental.

Hamm's divorce is getting ready to settle and the company is still going great guns.

They will soon be renovating the top 4 floors of their building at 20 N. Broadway once the law firm leaves for the Braniff Building, which should be soon.

But no way does that accommodate their long-term needs.

Would love to see them buy and renovate the Cotter Ranch Tower but if that doesn't happen, they are going to have to build.

[ChaseDweller]

They will soon be renovating the top 4 floors of their building at 20 N. Broadway once the law firm leaves for the Braniff Building, which should be soon.

Crowe has moved and Continental is already renovating. There's been a construction elevator attached the the SE corner of the building for several weeks.

[warreng88]

The amount of construction that is going to be taking place downtown in the next 5 years or so is staggering. A lot of the surface parking spaces in Bricktown are filling up (the new Canopy Hilton, etc). Then we've got at least 4 and potentially 5 towers on this site, then we've got the Preftakes tower (potentially a second to follow, but probably outside of the 5 years). There's the convention center and a likely hotel. There's a proposed 10+ story building on Robert S Kerr. There's the Milhaus 20 story tower possibly on 4th and EKG. It's incredible. We're talking about nearly doubling our skyline before 2020, with an absolute ton of infill. And that's just the stuff we know about.

I was having this same conversation with my wife last night. Hopefully the Boulevard will be completed by 2016 and that could make or break what happens surrounding the C2S park. I honestly feel we are not too far from someone purchasing the Cotton Mill and redeveloping that area because it will become too big, not to redevelop it. Wasn't there a long term proposal along with the Santa Fe station to build a parking garage in front of the U-Haul building and a new bus depot? Hopefully those parking lots on the east end of Reno start to get filled in as well with parking garages/retail/housing. More infill!