Lumberyard

[Just the facts]

Under Project Status it says Built (which is better than canceled)

[Urbanized]

Project status: BUILT

LOL

[Teo9969]

Amazing how advanced life has become. We're able to make life look like the renderings!!!

[David]

Has someone checked the lumberyard in the last few hours? Maybe they were sneaky.

[bchris02]

According to Steve this is completely dead. Personally, I wonder if this was a component of the Dallas/KC jealous project that was supposed to develop Bricktown all the way to the river with mixed-use development.

Hopefully one day OKC will be ready for a project on this scale.

[Just the facts]

According to Steve it was never alive. However, didn't this land just trade hands?

[Dustin]

Man, seeing this bumped to the top got me all excited....

Major bummer.

[zookeeper]

I believe Steve finally went ahead and said what the "jealous" development was because it's dead. But it was so underwhelming, I forgot what it was.

[jn1780]

I believe Steve finally went ahead and said what the "jealous" development was because it's dead. But it was so underwhelming, I forgot what it was.

That was a comment taken out of context made over two years ago and I got the impression Steve just gave up trying to explain himself and just went with it.

Hopefully we can end the "What would make Dallas Jealous Thread".

[Rover]

According to Steve it was never alive. However, didn't this land just trade hands?

I know for a fact it was a live project in the sense that the intent was there. Things had to fall into place to make it happen. They didn't. I was involved in one of the things that had to happen.

[Spartan]

I believe Steve finally went ahead and said what the "jealous" development was because it's dead. But it was so underwhelming, I forgot what it was.

It was not underwhelming. It sounded like a Cox Center redevelopment with a Canal extension and collaboration of many developers (a la failed Triangle). OKC has yet to get a project that requires many movers and shakers to work TOGETHER. Remains to be seen if it can be done here.

[bchris02]

I know for a fact it was a live project in the sense that the intent was there. Things had to fall into place to make it happen. They didn't. I was involved in one of the things that had to happen.

Can you shed any insight onto what DIDN'T fall into place that ultimately killed the deal?

[Swake]

Can you shed any insight onto what DIDN'T fall into place that ultimately killed the deal?

Knowing nothing about this project I can say with completely authority, it was lack of money.

[Rover]

Knowing nothing about this project I can say with completely authority, it was lack of money.

That could be said of most plans that don't go forward. However, timing, liquidity, changes withing organizations, changes in competition, etc., all can torpedo projects and change the wisdom or capability of investing the large sums of money like this project requires. I am not at liberty to say what was happening on this one. But, I do not believe it was a pipe dream based on what I know. Projects this large are always delicate and complicated and many, many don't go forward for a myriad of reasons. As Pete always says, there are lots of moving parts. There is a reason just anyone can't do projects of this size.

[Just the facts]

According to Steve it was never alive. However, didn't this land just trade hands?

I know for a fact it was a live project in the sense that the intent was there. Things had to fall into place to make it happen. They didn't. I was involved in one of the things that had to happen.

Don't get me wrong. I always thought this was a serious attempt by someone and I wish it would have worked out. Alas, Oklahoma City Blvd through this area is a serious obstacle to over come and is going to make any development south very difficult. As for the 'jealous' project - it had two major barriers: I-40 and OKC Boulevard.

[TU 'cane]

To the comments talking about Steve's DFW/K.C. jealous remarks, to take a page from Swake's play book, I can say with complete authority, that this was part of the large vision he finally let us in on. Remember, he mentioned that there would have been a master district or fabric from the river all the way to the CBD. More than likely, BT and THIS project in particular would have been the center catalyst for it.

I would bet some money on it that this would have been the new master district that we would call "Low Town." You know, because it's down closer by the river and South of everything. It would have been awesome.

[Urbanized]

This "project" had ZERO to do with Steve's "jealous" remarks. Trust me.

[mugofbeer]

All i know is since all the jealous in Dallas & KC talk started, there have probably been 30 projects announced in the DFW area that have made me jealous!

[Spartan]

To the comments talking about Steve's DFW/K.C. jealous remarks, to take a page from Swake's play book, I can say with complete authority, that this was part of the large vision he finally let us in on. Remember, he mentioned that there would have been a master district or fabric from the river all the way to the CBD. More than likely, BT and THIS project in particular would have been the center catalyst for it.

I would bet some money on it that this would have been the new master district that we would call "Low Town." You know, because it's down closer by the river and South of everything. It would have been awesome.

"Take a page from Swake's playbook..."
"I can say with complete authority..."
"More than likely.."
"I would bet some money on it..."
"The new master district that we would call 'Low Town'"
"You know, because it's down closer by the river and south of everything"
"It would have been awesome"

I'm just impressed right now that all of the above comments were rolled into one post, and not a bunch of crazy people all talking to (at) each other...

[TU 'cane]

This "project" had ZERO to do with Steve's "jealous" remarks. Trust me.

Ok, I'll take your word for it, I suppose. However, in my opinion I can't really see how this wasn't going to be somehow incorporated after what he said.

"Take a page from Swake's playbook..."
"I can say with complete authority..."
"More than likely.."
"I would bet some money on it..."
"The new master district that we would call 'Low Town'"
"You know, because it's down closer by the river and south of everything"
"It would have been awesome"

I'm just impressed right now that all of the above comments were rolled into one post, and not a bunch of crazy people all talking to (at) each other...

A culmination of the entire thread condensed for easy reading.
And, yes, that post was supposed to be semi-sarcastic, except for the part where I genuinely believed (I'm trusting Urbanized here), this was somehow tied to the "jealous" development.

[David]

Given how doubtful Steve has been about this particular development from day one, I don't believe for a moment that the two were related.

[Urbanized]

They weren't. I've personally discussed the "jealous" development with Steve since it fizzled, and this BrIcktown Towers "project" had nothing to do with it whatsoever..

Bricktown Towers from day one was a fishing expedition for OPM. When the market was super-hot, they apparently almost caught a lender, at that. But when a market cools it becomes really easy to say no to someone with no documented development experience of that scale and apparently no heavy-hitter as a development partner. Good intentions (if they were even good, that is) doesn't build buildings.

[traxx]

I've personally discussed the "jealous" development with Steve since it fizzled

What did he say about it? Any insights that the average joe poster doesn't know?

[Rover]

They weren't. I've personally discussed the "jealous" development with Steve since it fizzled, and this BrIcktown Towers "project" had nothing to do with it whatsoever..

Bricktown Towers from day one was a fishing expedition for OPM. When the market was super-hot, they apparently almost caught a lender, at that. But when a market cools it becomes really easy to say no to someone with no documented development experience of that scale and apparently no heavy-hitter as a development partner. Good intentions (if they were even good, that is) doesn't build buildings.

I think you are right. And people should realize there is a difference between "fishing expedition" and "pipe dream". On a fishing expedition you might actually catch a big one. Everything had to go just right and the stars line up, but it didn't happen.

[Urbanized]

What did he say about it? Any insights that the average joe poster doesn't know?

Steve discussed a bit of it with me, but it's not appropriate to betray that confidence. He covered overall details in two of his chats:

OKC Central Chat transcript, May 1, 2015 | News OK (11:48 AM entry)

and

OKC Central Chat transcript, May 15, 2015 | News OK (11:36 AM entry)