OG&E Energy Center

[catch22]

Looks like Steve hacked Pete's account! JK, to both of you.

That sounds exciting! Also looks like I have plans this weekend *keeps pushing refresh*

Just get twitter and subscribe to OKCTalk notifications! You'll get a push notification on your mobile device the second the OKCTalk.com Twitter posts a tweet!.

[Pete]

Yeah, anything big always gets Tweeted.

Don't mean to be a tease but it's taking some time to put together.

[bchris02]

Yeah, anything big always gets Tweeted.

Don't mean to be a tease but it's taking some time to put together.

Is this the Dallas/KC jealous development?

[Thundercitizen]

What are the chances Milhaus Development seriously upgrades their proposal?

[Pete]

Is this the Dallas/KC jealous development?

No. Nothing that big.

[Pete]

What are the chances Milhaus Development seriously upgrades their proposal?

They can't without reopening the whole process.

There was a deadline and no changes are allowed after that without notifying all the parties and allowing them to respond.

[HOT ROD]

I hope Milhaus builds elsewhere. In fact, it would be wonderful if the two talk and Cathy perhaps negotiate another empty parcel. Then Milhaus re-evaluate/increase their proposal to build on another site.

Good times in the city!

[HOT ROD]

I'm surprised nobody has posted here since my last post. Is anybody planning to go to the DDRC? Will OKC talk be represented (hehe)?

I'm excited and can't wait to hear the good news. I only hope Milhaus does not take offense and drop OKC from their radar. I hope they can build elsewhere in downtown.

[Pete]

It's not Downtown Design Review; it's OCURA.

I'm sure Milhaus knew their submission was a very long shot against Clayco.

They have been looking to do another project in OKC before this opportunity even came up, so I'm sure they'll do more in town.

[tpg4635]

An investment group, meanwhile, is buying up properties in the 600 block of W California and W Reno Avenues where yet another development is likely

From Steve's recent article. I know this isn't exactly where this should go but close enough.

Does anyone have any insight about this? Who are the "future" developers?

Development appears aimed at edge of planned Core to Shore project | News OK

[Pete]

Yes, I've talked to the owners.

There is a construction company that has assembled most of the block and have a modest development planned.

They've asked not to share the details until they acquired the last property on that bock.

It will be nice to see something to happen but it's nothing to get excited about.

I should be able to share more soon.

[tpg4635]

Good to hear! Anything is better than what is currently there!

[soondoc]

I actually posted this on another thread but think this applies here. I really love all this new construction but wish we would not limit ourselves to all of them being in the 25 foot range. They provide some density but not much to the skyline from any distance. You will still only see the Devon sticking out like a sore thumb. Actually, it will now look more like a flipped off middle finger! Why not lessen a couple buildings to 18 stories and add a couple to around 35 stories? This would give us a couple of 600 foot jewels that would add so much more to to overall look and feel of downtown. These would be close to as tall as the Williams Towers and would be seen from long distances for every person traveling through our city. I just can't figure out why we are stuck in the 25 floor range when going up by 8-10 would make a huge difference in balancing things out so much more and be soooo much more visually appealing.

I don't want to make anyone upset because I still think this is huge for OKC but once again it shows that we don't always have the go big or go home mentality. We sometimes do things a little less than what we could do on certain projects, except the Devon, which I mentioned dwarfs everything around it. We need something that will not so much surpass Devon but that won't keep it from just looking out of place because that's the most common reaction about our DT buildings. People say the Devon looks great but you don't notice anything around it because that's about all you really see.

[Oh GAWD the Smell!]

I actually posted this on another thread but think this applies here. I really love all this new construction but wish we would not limit ourselves to all of them being in the 25 foot range. They provide some density but not much to the skyline from any distance. You will still only see the Devon sticking out like a sore thumb. Actually, it will now look more like a flipped off middle finger! Why not lessen a couple buildings to 18 stories and add a couple to around 35 stories? This would give us a couple of 600 foot jewels that would add so much more to to overall look and feel of downtown. These would be close to as tall as the Williams Towers and would be seen from long distances for every person traveling through our city. I just can't figure out why we are stuck in the 25 floor range when going up by 8-10 would make a huge difference in balancing things out so much more and be soooo much more visually appealing.

I don't want to make anyone upset because I still think this is huge for OKC but once again it shows that we don't always have the go big or go home mentality. We sometimes do things a little less than what we could do on certain projects, except the Devon, which I mentioned dwarfs everything around it. We need something that will not so much surpass Devon but that won't keep it from just looking out of place because that's the most common reaction about our DT buildings. People say the Devon looks great but you don't notice anything around it because that's about all you really see.

Why do you keep saying "25 foot" range? 25-26 floors. And that could put them up there close to how tall the Chase tower is. 400-500 feet. If you think that's not going to drastically alter the skyline, then I've got a skybridge to sell you.

[bradh]

Yes, I've talked to the owners.

There is a construction company that has assembled most of the block and have a modest development planned.

They've asked not to share the details until they acquired the last property on that bock.

It will be nice to see something to happen but it's nothing to get excited about.

I should be able to share more soon.

Allen Contracting?

[hoya]

I actually posted this on another thread but think this applies here. I really love all this new construction but wish we would not limit ourselves to all of them being in the 25 foot range. They provide some density but not much to the skyline from any distance. You will still only see the Devon sticking out like a sore thumb. Actually, it will now look more like a flipped off middle finger! Why not lessen a couple buildings to 18 stories and add a couple to around 35 stories? This would give us a couple of 600 foot jewels that would add so much more to to overall look and feel of downtown. These would be close to as tall as the Williams Towers and would be seen from long distances for every person traveling through our city. I just can't figure out why we are stuck in the 25 floor range when going up by 8-10 would make a huge difference in balancing things out so much more and be soooo much more visually appealing.

I don't want to make anyone upset because I still think this is huge for OKC but once again it shows that we don't always have the go big or go home mentality. We sometimes do things a little less than what we could do on certain projects, except the Devon, which I mentioned dwarfs everything around it. We need something that will not so much surpass Devon but that won't keep it from just looking out of place because that's the most common reaction about our DT buildings. People say the Devon looks great but you don't notice anything around it because that's about all you really see.

They have real economic reasons for keeping all the towers of a similar height. It saves them a lot of money on architectural fees. I'm not an architect, but I'd bet it's not so easy to just add an extra 15 floors to a building. You'd have to change the whole structure of the thing.

[Pete]

Also, the taller you make the building, the bigger you have to make the interior core, not only for support but for increased elevator shafts.

So, that means that particularly on the lower floors, you end up with less space to rent out.

[NWOKCGuy]

I actually posted this on another thread but think this applies here. I really love all this new construction but wish we would not limit ourselves to all of them being in the 25 foot range. They provide some density but not much to the skyline from any distance. You will still only see the Devon sticking out like a sore thumb. Actually, it will now look more like a flipped off middle finger! Why not lessen a couple buildings to 18 stories and add a couple to around 35 stories? This would give us a couple of 600 foot jewels that would add so much more to to overall look and feel of downtown. These would be close to as tall as the Williams Towers and would be seen from long distances for every person traveling through our city. I just can't figure out why we are stuck in the 25 floor range when going up by 8-10 would make a huge difference in balancing things out so much more and be soooo much more visually appealing.

Actually...they've all be in THIS thread.

Post 513

Originally Posted by soondoc View Post
Ok, just a little poll here. We are going to be getting 4 mid rise buildings that look beautiful. Would you all rather have four 27 story buildings, three 36 story buildings, or two 54 story buildings on this site? I personally would rather have 3 towers at about 36 stories as it would fulfill both density and height that would balance out and add so much to the skyline. These mid rises will be in the 400 foot range and will not be able to be seen from long distances or add the height that we would like to see. Just by adding 8-10 stories would put the buildings around 600 feet and that would look amazing. For that matter, just by adding 5-6 more stories on a couple of the 4 proposed would at least put them at or above the Cotter Tower which is what I think really should be done. I am sure they could line up a few more tenants in the next few months to make it happen.

Imagine 4 plus towers as tall or taller than the Cotter and the beauty of their design. That's a game changer, mid rises are good for OKC but I think we could raise the scale just a little bit and it would be breath takingly nice and great for the city. Regardless, I am happy with this project. I just want something a little more grand so when visitors come here, businesses want to relocate, they see what is going on and are literally wowed. I think people will be impressed with these towers but not wowed and I think a little bit of that could go a long ways not only short term but long term. Perception is reality to so many people and they may go back and say OKC has really got it going on. I think we need to consider our company headquarters in this place.

Post 534

Originally Posted by soondoc View Post
What are the odds that perhaps a couple of these towers could be 5-10 stories taller and a couple could be a 5 or so shorter? It would look much better than having 4 same sized buildings. I'd much prefer a couple of 550 foot towers and a couple of 375 than all of them being in the 425-450 range. Do you all think some tenants will come along they will add a few more stories in the end. I think this would be great and the demand is there with the occupancy rate in DT.

Post 539

I totally get it with the residential towers. That is why I think I'd prefer to see a couple of 17-22 foot towers for those and 32-35 towers for the office buildings. I think the demand is so over and beyond for OG&E to build extra. This would allow them future growth or lease out to whom ever they want to fill a few floors and make money from them. Two taller commerical and slightly scaled back residential would test the market for future growth, perhaps even the Bricktown Towers.

I personally think the best thing is two 34 foot towers for commerical that would come close to 600 feet tall, and a couple 18-20 foot residential towers. Those would be a of good height of around 300 feet and also provide density. It would be by far the best test for residential housing DT and could open up a huge BT Towers if successful.

[hoya]

No, he posted it in another thread as well. They aren't all in this one.

[bchris02]

I don't want to make anyone upset because I still think this is huge for OKC but once again it shows that we don't always have the go big or go home mentality. We sometimes do things a little less than what we could do on certain projects, except the Devon, which I mentioned dwarfs everything around it. We need something that will not so much surpass Devon but that won't keep it from just looking out of place because that's the most common reaction about our DT buildings. People say the Devon looks great but you don't notice anything around it because that's about all you really see.

These towers, even at 25 floors, will help with that. OKC's skyline looks great right now from the north side but when looking at it from the south or southwest the Devon tower does overpower everything else. These towers will help the skyline from that perspective which is what is needed most.

[soondoc]

Nice stalker skills NWOKCGuy! Yes, I've posted on it and I've said I'm still happy with these buildings, just not thrilled. It really won't make that huge of an impact like it would if we went just a little bit higher. People from out of town all say that basically we have 1 tall building in our DT. That is not true, but because the Devon Tower is so much taller than even the next taller building, it appears that way. If we had a couple more 600 foot skyscrapers, the others would stand out more as it would be much more balanced. It's almost like it tricks your mind because all you focus on is the Devon, that was my point. It now stands out like a beautiful structure and nothing around it gets a second look to most. If a few taller than what we have now don't get built, than it will still continue to be the "middle finger" looking building in our DT. By the way, I don't see others cities so overly concerned about the 25 story cost as much as we do apparently. Like I said, scale down a couple of the residential ones that are a bit more risky and save some money and offset it by going bigger on the commericial. It tests the market for demand and if successful, we may end up with the Bricktown Towers perhaps.

[hoya]

As far as the skyline goes, check back in 10 years. If we've got 4 new towers from the OG&E property, another two on the Preftakes block (one about 400' and one at 500', we'll say) and then a conservative guess of a 300' convention hotel over beside the Chesapeake Arena, the skyline will look a whole lot different. Yes, Devon would still easily be the tallest, but from a lot of angles it would blend in much better than it does right now.

[bchris02]

Nice stalker skills NWOKCGuy! Yes, I've posted on it and I've said I'm still happy with these buildings, just not thrilled. It really won't make that huge of an impact like it would if we went just a little bit higher. People from out of town all say that basically we have 1 tall building in our DT. That is not true, but because the Devon Tower is so much taller than even the next taller building, it appears that way. If we had a couple more 600 foot skyscrapers, the others would stand out more as it would be much more balanced. It's almost like it tricks your mind because all you focus on is the Devon, that was my point. It now stands out like a beautiful structure and nothing around it gets a second look to most. If a few taller than what we have now don't get built, than it will still continue to be the "middle finger" looking building in our DT. By the way, I don't see others cities so overly concerned about the 25 story cost as much as we do apparently. Like I said, scale down a couple of the residential ones that are a bit more risky and save some money and offset it by going bigger on the commericial. It tests the market for demand and if successful, we may end up with the Bricktown Towers perhaps.

Skyscrapers depend on economics whether it's in OKC or in Austin or in Houston. They also depend on what the developer is willing to build. Some companies i.e. Devon want to go big so they have that prominent place in a city's skyline. With spec space however its all what the developer thinks the market can support.

[soondoc]

I agree hoya, it will look better, especially when we get with a mile or so from DT. I don't mean to be sounding like I don't appreciate what they will be doing, but I can't understand why not just a little more height? I mean our little brother down the road has several buildings taller than these and they didn't seem to be so concerned about the extra 8-10 stories.

[OkieNate]

These towers, even at 25 floors, will help with that. OKC's skyline looks great right now from the north side but when looking at it from the south or southwest the Devon tower does overpower everything else. These towers will help the skyline from that perspective which is what is needed most.

IDK who said it first but we are bascially adding 2 sandridge buildings and 2 oklahoma towers. Both of those buildings are a staple of our skyline. Game changer is a played out saying IMO but these are with out a doubt game changers for okc skyline!

Any word on the south parcel?