BOK Park Plaza

[BoulderSooner]

Several non affiliated have supported this application in full.

[soondoc]

I hope this doesn't offend anyone on here and I am not harping on what I used to say. I do say though to Mr. Nichols and any other people involved with this project that we have had way too much of our history literally wiped out. If you are going to wipe out more to buildings, at least build something a little more inspiring. A 27 story building with parking garages for the entire block is a slap in the face to this city.

I love growth and development, but not at the expense of wiping out so much for so little in return. Can you not build something a little more grand to go along with your proposed garages? Is this really worth bending over the city and saying screw off, we are going to build our parking garages and little 27 story building for this entire block? I believe in right and wrong and this is just plain wrong. I hope people bombard city officials and demand more changes to this project.

[PhiAlpha]

I hope this doesn't offend anyone on here and I am not harping on what I used to say. I do say though to Mr. Nichols and any other people involved with this project that we have had way too much of our history literally wiped out. If you are going to wipe out more to buildings, at least build something a little more inspiring. A 27 story building with parking garages for the entire block is a slap in the face to this city.

I love growth and development, but not at the expense of wiping out so much for so little in return. Can you not build something a little more grand to go along with your proposed garages? Is this really worth bending over the city and saying screw off, we are going to build our parking garages and little 27 story building for this entire block? I believe in right and wrong and this is just plain wrong. I hope people bombard city officials and demand more changes to this project.

Would you like the building to be taller?

[soondoc]

Would you like the building to be taller?

Is a pig's butt pork? Of course I would, but I was trying to say it in a nice way. I just really hate what is going on and do not think this is a good deal at all for DT and OKC. My point is that anytime history is destroyed, that is a bad thing. When it is destroyed and replaced with a project that will not inspire anyone, it makes it even worse. Of course I would like to see more height as well as many others. It just seems wrong that if they plan on leveling buildings, at least make it something we can all be proud of and take some pride in. I think the general consensus of this project would say they are very, very underwhelmed and disappointed, and perhaps bordering on ashamed of what is going to happen.

[OkieNate]

Is a pig's butt pork? Of course I would, but I was trying to say it in a nice way. I just really hate what is going on and do not think this is a good deal at all for DT and OKC. My point is that anytime history is destroyed, that is a bad thing. When it is destroyed and replaced with a project that will not inspire anyone, it makes it even worse. Of course I would like to see more height as well as many others. It just seems wrong that if they plan on leveling buildings, at least make it something we can all be proud of and take some pride in. I think the general consensus of this project would say they are very, very underwhelmed and disappointed, and perhaps bordering on ashamed of what is going to happen.

Okay, Thunder, we get it....

[UnFrSaKn]

How run down was the Skirvin before it was restored? Did they ever get a return on their investment....?

[BoulderSooner]

How run down was the Skirvin before it was restored? Did they ever get a return on their investment....?

Preservation zealots. Always mention the Skirvin. These building are not the Skirvin. Not even close.

[Urbanized]

I usually mention The Marion and Steve Mason's 9th Street properties. Maybe the Skirvin isn't a fair comparison when talking about intrinsic value, but it IS a valid analog when discussing relative condition and functional obsolescence.

[UnFrSaKn]

Preservation zealots. Always mention the Skirvin. These building are not the Skirvin. Not even close.

[soondoc]

Is a pig's butt pork? Of course I would, but I was trying to say it in a nice way. I just really hate what is going on and do not think this is a good deal at all for DT and OKC. My point is that anytime history is destroyed, that is a bad thing. When it is destroyed and replaced with a project that will not inspire anyone, it makes it even worse. Of course I would like to see more height as well as many others. It just seems wrong that if they plan on leveling buildings, at least make it something we can all be proud of and take some pride in. I think the general consensus of this project would say they are very, very underwhelmed and disappointed, and perhaps bordering on ashamed of what is going to happen.

I really wish an admin would let these people know that Thunder and I or not the same person. I have no clue who is he, but I do like his posts. Come on Pete, redeem me please!

[warreng88]

I really wish an admin would let these people know that Thunder and I or not the same person. I have no clue who is he, but I do like his posts. Come on Pete, redeem me please!

Understood Not Thunder...

[soonerguru]

If they allow a parking garage canyon at Sheridan and Walker, well, I don't know what to say, other than people here do not get it.

[BoulderSooner]

If they allow a parking garage canyon at Sheridan and Walker, well, I don't know what to say, other than people here do not get it.

I thought first floor interaction was allthat mattered?

[betts]

Good grief.

Reminder that Devon's Chairman Larry Nichols is also chair of the Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority (OCURA) and the Alliance for Economic Development.

And is on the Convention Center subcommittee that awarded itself an extra $30 million above their budget and likely manipulated the MAPS 3 timeline. He doesn't expect to be told "no" - ever.

[OKCisOK4me]

Maybe down the street from the OKC Memorial and Museum, we can create a history center dedicated to all the former landmark buildings that have been torn down in the name of progress. Each historical piece can include rubble from the former residence. Or we could just rename downtown to Devonville.

[HOT ROD]

Downtown OKC = L. Nichols' Will.

[SouthsideSooner]

Downtown OKC = L. Nichols' Will.

Thank goodness for that... He is with out a doubt one of the great civic leaders in our cities history... The guy with the vision. the determination and the ability to make it happen versus the critics that don't even live here that want to tell us how we should be doing things while they have nothing invested... .

I'm a lot more comfortable with his vision and ability to get it done than yours...

[HOT ROD]

good for you.

But that doesn't make L. Nichols or his 'vision' for downtown perfect and his ideas are far from ideal. Yes, he is a great corporate citizen and does care much about downtown OKC, but he is also stubborn and a little bit out-of-touch with reality and is planning to destroy a significant part of OKC so his buildings can all have bedroom views of the Myriad Gardens - a CITY park! There is also speculative evidence of him using his prominent positions in OKC leadership to encourage his pet projects at the detriment of others (which just so happened to be more popular with the voting public).

I challenge Nichols to view a different approach and adopt his new buildings to an urban standard; as it would have far reaching effects on downtown OKC on a level equal to if not greater than his Devon Tower. If he were to consider urban density and the value of the history of this city; there could be a compromise to be had where all parties can win.

A true philanthropist adopts a strategy where the city as a whole can win (ie, Bill Gates, Paul Allen, so on that we have here in Seattle - none of whom are leading city committees up here, btw) rather than someone like Nichols who does a good thing keeping his growing company in OKC and then expecting carte blanche to play Sim Demo downtown OKC without oversight or challenge. ...

By being close-minded and stubborn about a major US city's downtown; Nichols risks pushing out the very people (talented young urban professionals/millennials) he's trying to attract to his company and city.

[Bellaboo]

If Larry Nichols would have relocated Devon to Houston, just how much would downtown suck ? No MBG transformation, nor P180 improvements.....still have a huge Galleria parking lot. And no Devon Tower.

[David]

Doesn't mean he should get his way in all things for all time with zero questions asked, though.

[AP]

Doesn't mean he should get his way in all things for all time with zero questions asked, though.

+1

[jccouger]

The name they are giving this place says it all. Could "499 Sheridan" be more generic? This tower wasn't designed to stand out, its just supposed to be a compliment to the Devon Tower. Any & every building that gets in the way of the continuous flow of the campus HAS to be demolished.

[HangryHippo]

If Larry Nichols would have relocated Devon to Houston, just how much would downtown suck ? No MBG transformation, nor P180 improvements.....still have a huge Galleria parking lot. And no Devon Tower.

Well, by all means, let's give the man free reign over downtown. He's earned it.

[Rover]

good for you.

A true philanthropist adopts a strategy where the city as a whole can win (ie, Bill Gates, Paul Allen, so on that we have here in Seattle - none of whom are leading city committees up here, btw) rather than someone like Nichols who does a good thing keeping his growing company in OKC and then expecting carte blanche to play Sim Demo downtown OKC without oversight or challenge. ...
.

It's funny that you use Microsoft as an example. I did a project of theirs in Bellevue that is almost identical to the Clayco proposal. If they were here in OKC he would be vilified too.

[Bellaboo]

Well, by all means, let's give the man free reign over downtown. He's earned it.

Yes, we could go back to the crumbling one way streets, serious lack of bicycle lanes, poor pedestrian crossings, the 30 year old version of the MBG, higher unemployment rates, etc. IIRC, he removed himself from several authorities and boards when they decided to build their HQ tower. He also denied the city to rename the Civic Center park after him. I can understand when he invest as much as he did, he wants a few things right. Should they keep some of those buildings, I think so, but Hines is involved also and I don't think they are attached to them.
The bottom line, OKC is a better place with him than without. Could things be better ? Everyone thinks so, but they could be much worse.