OG&E Energy Center

[ljbab728]

I have no idea. I don't much about this or what it means, so I'm going to keep my mouth shut for now and let others who know more about it chime in.

Does this signify a change in your posting policy, plupan?

[Plutonic Panda]

Does this signify a change in your posting policy, plupan?

I'm just going to hope this is due to them revising the building to be taller, but I'm not going to say that. ;P

[HOT ROD]

This also has nothing to do with what is being talked about but I thought I'd post this...I think it's a lot better than the other one I made

its going to be taller than that. Think at least Oklahoma Tower (not Mid-America/Continental Tower).

[ljbab728]

http://www.oklahoman.com/article/5363637?embargo=1

Developers competing to build high-rises on city-owned land west of the Myriad Gardens were told Tuesday the one chosen will be given a deadline to start construction or the property will be reclaimed by the Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority.
Mark Beffort, a veteran downtown broker, property owner and Urban Renewal board member, questioned Clayco CEO Bob Clark about whether he is confident that construction will begin within two years on the second of two proposed high-rise residential towers.
“I wouldn’t encourage the committee to be too aggressive in backing up our timeline. We do have a lot on our hands. We have a pretty good feeling with the lack of vacancy here. I really do believe it’s feasible to start construction in late 2015. I’d hate to have to spend a lot of money and then lose our redevelopment rights.”

[HOT ROD]

It's probably due to the 'requirement' that the winner will start construction immediately or lose the land back to OCURA. We'll have to let someone translate the Journal Record story who has access.

I think Clayco has demonstrated this willingness but I suspect the delay is to ensure Milhaus has a fair chance/shot. Hopefully cooler minds will prevail and Clayco will be awarded the Festival block; and will start construction on the Stage Center (OGE Tower) and the Festival Block demolition in March.

[warreng88]

From the Journal Record:

Up in the air: Authority delays vote on plans for site by OGE Energy tower

By: Molly M. Fleming The Journal Record November 4, 2014

OKLAHOMA CITY – When the company planned its downtown tower, Devon Energy Corp. co-founder Larry Nichols said he realized the investment could change the cityscape.

“You could just look at the site and say, ‘If this works, and really inspires development in this part of town, it will change this part of downtown,” Nichols said Tuesday at a special meeting of the Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority.

The landscape is slated to change more, with OGE Energy Corp. building a new headquarters tower at the southwest corner of Sheridan and Hudson avenues. The 3.15 acres to the south will be redeveloped as well, but the exact plan for that site won’t be decided until the Nov. 19 OCURA meeting. The authority owns nearly the entire plot and requested qualified proposals for the site. The committee could have made a decision on the bids Tuesday, but chose to wait.

The authority received responses from two national companies, Chicago-based Clayco Construction Co. Inc. and Indianapolis-based Milhaus Development, both of which already have ties to Oklahoma City. Nichols said he was pleased to see the companies’ interest in the property.

“To see this coming to pass with two national, highly qualified firms, making very good, respectable proposals, is rewarding,” he said at Tuesday’s OCURA meeting, at which Milhaus and Clayco presented their proposals.

Clayco first inquired about the property when it was chosen to build the OGE Energy headquarters. The company could construct four towers in total: the OGE Energy office, a 500,000-square-foot residential building, and on the south end another 500,000-square-foot office building and a second residential tower.

Clayco Principal Larry Chapman said the company wants to make sure the first residential building leases well. The development would also have a 3,200-space parking garage. It’s possible that three buildings could be under construction at the same time, he said. Construction on the OGE building should have started two months ago, he said, but the company expects to start soon.

Chapman said the company is looking at a public-private partnership with the city of Oklahoma City because, according to its studies, the building will create $450 million in new tax revenue.

“That’s more than enough to offset the kinds of things we’ll need to offset the costs of this project,” Chapman said.

He said the company has looked at the shade the buildings will cast on the Myriad Botanical Gardens and the traffic effects it will have. He said according to its study, the towers will cause late afternoon shade.

Milhaus has proposed only one tower, but it would leave the west side of the property open for future development. The company wants to build a 20-story residential tower with an adjacent 450-space, three-story parking garage. The building’s first floor will have 15,000 square feet of commercial leasing space with sidewalk entrances. Apartment sizes will range from 750 to 1,500 square feet for three bedrooms, with rent prices expected at $2.10 per square foot.

“We are singly focused on residential,” said Jeremy Stephenson, president of Milhaus Development.

The company is building the 329-unit Lift apartment complex at NW 10th Street and Shartel Avenue. Stephenson said that, based on the other markets Milhaus has worked in such as Indianapolis, this type of high-end residential units would be filled. The company plans to start construction in fall 2015 and will take 22 months to build.

[Urbanized]

...He said the company has looked at the shade the buildings will cast on the Myriad Botanical Gardens and the traffic effects it will have. He said according to its study, the towers will cause late afternoon shade...

And there you have one if the main reasons why they are looking at keeping the buildings under a certain height.

I initially speculated about this topic sometime back and several times since and was mildly ridiculed for my trouble. I'm not going to bother searching the thread (or the other in which I remember also doing so) to remind myself of who did that, but to you I say: suck eggs.

[NWOKCGuy]

And there you have one if the main reasons why they are looking at keeping the buildings under a certain height.

I initially speculated about this topic sometime back and several times since and was mildly ridiculed for my trouble. I'm not going to bother searching the thread (or the other in which I remember also doing so) to remind myself of who did that, but to you I say: suck eggs.

I recall that.

[soondoc]

Not sure that is accurate. I would think that the towers on the north should have very little effect on the MG. In fact a little shade my provide some relief on hot summer days. Now the towers in the south, could possibly effect the plants but even that is not a certainty. I think it would have to be a really tall building to cause multiple hours of shading. A brief afternoon shade shoudn't cause any reason for concern. Now if a building like the Devon was on the south side, that could be a different story. A 30-35 story tower should not causes anything but some relief from the heat on a hot summer day. So, once again, another reason to go above 30 stories.

[Urbanized]

So...you're saying you know more about it than the people at Clayco who specifically studied the issue..? What am I missing?

[soondoc]

Re-read what I wrote. I didn't say I knew more than them. It is loaded with a whole lot of "not sure' and "it may" type stuff. It's basically my opinion that a taller building wouldn't effect the north side and perhaps some shade (few hours of the day) could be a welcome relief without harming the MG. I'd say that is what you are missing or missed apparently.

[Pete]

Just spoke Myriad Gardens staff who told me they were not at all concerned about buildings to the west and they viewed any tall structures as "net positives" not only for shading some plant life but also shading the Great Lawn and other areas that get a lot of late afternoon sun during the summers when they have lots of events.

Also said height of buildings really doesn't matter.

They did say buildings to the south (like the proposed CC Hotel) would be a small issue where they would at least like to look at a "shade plan" for some possible minor adjustments.

They said they haven't asked for a shade plan for the buildings to the west and don't intend to. They have not talked to Clayco or anyone else about the shade impact.

[Urbanized]

Interesting that Clayco would specifically bring it up then.

[soondoc]

Thanks Pete! Like I was saying, I am no genius but I could not see how this would have done anything to hurt MG. I actually thought a tower of good height could provide some very much needed relief from the direct sun. I thought the shade would only further benefit the MG and more people would frequent it without the blaring direct heat during the hottest part of the day. Not to mention some of the vegetation would also like that. So lets cross our fingers for as tall as they want to build this thing!

[Plutonic Panda]

Interesting that Clayco would specifically bring it up then.

probably just an excuse.

[Urbanized]

An excuse for..?

[Plutonic Panda]

An excuse for..?

I don't know man... For people who want to higher or perhaps they don't want people to think they're low balling this. I'm sure there are parks in other cities that have huge 70+ story buildings around them and they are doing just fine.

I'll trust Myriad Gardens knowing about their plants than a developer.

[Urbanized]

A half-billion dollar lowball. My how our standards gave changed...

[Plutonic Panda]

A half-billion dollar lowball. My how our standards gave changed...

that wasn't what I meant and I'm sure you knew that, but whatever.

[dankrutka]

I don't know man... For people who want to higher or perhaps they don't want people to think they're low balling this. I'm sure there are parks in other cities that have huge 70+ story buildings around them and they are doing just fine.

I'll trust Myriad Gardens knowing about their plants than a developer.

There are probably 5 people who think they're "low balling this" and they all post over and over on this thread.

[Urbanized]

That wasn't what he meant and I'm sure you knew that, but whatever.

[Pete]

There are probably 5 people who think they're "low balling this" and they all post over and over on this thread.

Haha... Too true.

[Plutonic Panda]

There are probably 5 people who think they're "low balling this" and they all post over and over on this thread.

Read my post 618. right above yours.

I have been excited for this they day I saw the Clayco renderings. If you're just upset that there isn't a valid reason they can't be higher other than the fact this is Clayco's development and they have every right to keep it at current heights and the Myriad Gardens debunked the mythical 'buildings will hurt the park myth', that is your problem.

[bchris02]

It seems like the desire that these towers be taller, which is a legitimate desire, is turning into full blown negativity. If the Clayco proposal gets approved and built as rendered this is a slam dunk for OKC. Would it be nice if they were 45 stories? Yes. Would it be great if they were 60 stories. You betcha. Skyscraper height though, as has been said numerous times, is determined by the developer and the market needs. This is for the most part a spec development anyways so it's a bigger risk than a company like Devon or Continental building for themselves. Clayco is betting in the OKC market - that they will be able to lease the office space and that the residential will be a success. People should be psyched about this getting built and not complaining because its not tall enough. Cities like Memphis or Louisville would love to have a development on this scale. Also keep in mind that Rainey Williams could have stuck with the original proposal, which was basically a mediocre 14-story midrise that would fit in better on NW Expressway or along the Broadway Extension. OKC is very lucky to be getting this development if it gets built as shown.

The only negative thoughts I am having about it has to do with the approval or the possibility that the less ambitious Milhaus project will get approved instead. I will feel much better about it once its approved.

[Plutonic Panda]

It seems like the desire that these towers be taller, which is a legitimate desire, is turning into full blown negativity. If the Clayco proposal gets approved and built as rendered this is a slam dunk for OKC. Would it be nice if they were 45 stories? Yes. Would it be great if they were 60 stories. You betcha. Skyscraper height though, as has been said numerous times, is determined by the developer and the market needs. This is for the most part a spec development anyways so it's a bigger risk than a company like Devon or Continental building for themselves. Clayco is betting in the OKC market - that they will be able to lease the office space and that the residential will be a success. People should be psyched about this getting built and not complaining because its not tall enough. Cities like Memphis or Louisville would love to have a development on this scale. Also keep in mind that Rainey Williams could have stuck with the original proposal, which was basically a mediocre 14-story midrise that would fit in better on NW Expressway or along the Broadway Extension. OKC is very lucky to be getting this development if it gets built as shown.

The only negative thoughts I am having about it has to do with the approval or the possibility that the less ambitious Milhaus project will get approved instead. I will feel much better about it once its approved.

Agree completely. I'm just hoping it gets built as rendered by ClayCo. That would make me very happy!