BOK Park Plaza

[Pete]

What is REHCO looking to develop near Chesapeake?

Don't know exactly but they had previously proposed mixed-use.

[Spartan]

The two south Clayco towers will likely become a convention hotel of similar height.

And the convention hotel site west of Chesapeake Arena will be developed by REHCO, so again something similar could go on that site.

Despite the changes, the skyline could still end up looking very much those renderings.

This is all misdirection. The OKC Community Foundation demo'd the Stage Center for Rainey Williams. If you doubted his ability to deliver the "world-class project," then you don't know Rainey Williams (sorry I had to).

As for REHCO, they have access to so much equity, and are only going to invest so much of it into downtown real estate. They are getting more from the land deal, but this is still a developer that was already committed to downtown. My point is that isn't actually a net gain of investment into downtown high-rise properties.

[Stickman]

I think the OG & E building will be a plus for the skyline. At least their spending a little more money on the façade compared to 499.

[Pete]

[Bellaboo]

7 construction trailers built into one ? Never seen that many put together before.

I know someone said no implosions, but why else are they hanging covers unless that or there is an asbestos issue ?

[DowntownMan]

7 construction trailers built into one ? Never seen that many put together before.

I know someone said no implosions, but why else are they hanging covers unless that or there is an asbestos issue ?

I've heard from a very reliable source that there will be an implosion taking place in weeks down the road. They just have to gut the place and get things ready and then they will implode on a weekend.

[Pete]

^

Yeah, buildings as tall as Hotel Black and the Auto Hotel would be very hard and slow to demolish with a wrecking ball.


Anyone remember the last implosion downtown? It seems like it's been a long time.

[UnFrSaKn]

https://twitter.com/jeninthe405/stat...33474482008064

https://twitter.com/WILLIAMCRUM/stat...39936755253248

[Bellaboo]

I've heard from a very reliable source that there will be an implosion taking place in weeks down the road. They just have to gut the place and get things ready and then they will implode on a weekend.

I was questioning due to the info in post 1369 ?

[Urbanized]

...Anyone remember the last implosion downtown? It seems like it's been a long time.

As far as I know the last implosion was the remains of the Murrah Building. Before that the last one I can recall was the Biltmore Hotel.

There was also the implosion of the Belle Isle power plant in the late 90s, but that was not downtown.

[bombermwc]

I believe you are right Urbanized....and I would highly doubt the validity of a non-implosion policy. Doing it on the weekend would be normal practice anyway since it would mean less traffic in the area and the street closures would not be as impactful.

[Fly on the Wall]

In reference to the coverings/sheathing they are laying on the buildings, I have heard there is an asbestos issue with brick and especially mortal used from a certain time period and this building is one of them. Mortar I hear at one point was commonly infused with asbestos to strengthen the mortal and bonding with the bricks. I also heard that with buildings up to 100-110 feet in height the preferred method is to use a "high reach excavator" to demolish the building.

[Pete]

My understanding is that both the old Motor Hotel and Hotel Black will be imploded on a Sunday about a month from now.

[Fly on the Wall]

An implosion would be an interesting sight to see as I have never seen one before live. Though, with the dust cloud created by implosions and rumors of dangerous substances in the brick and mortar (if true), I wouldn't want to be downwind at all. I wonder what type of exclusion zone they might setup. If the winds are not out of the east, that would be a great view from the Sheridan-Walker garage.

[Just the facts]

Unless I can stand behind some really thick Plexiglas I'll pass.

[shawnw]

Somebody needs to film these from Vast

[Just the facts]

Can these buildings be seen from Vast?

[Pete]

Old Carpenter's Square building and all the others along Main are now pretty much gutted:

[SouthsideSooner]

Can these buildings be seen from Vast?

Nope... I had lunch there today and the closest you can see is about half the pond on the stage center block. I talked to some of the kitchen staff and they said there's a window in the kitchen you can see it from.

[shawnw]

dang... devon parking garage it is then...

[Spartan]

I think the OG & E building will be a plus for the skyline. At least their spending a little more money on the façade compared to 499.

Sure it's easy to forsake the street for the skyline when you've already lost the street. I'm just saying that with 60s-80s OCURA, their hallmark was basically land assembly for developments that never happened or finally went forward significantly reduced. They didn't even care enough about the landmarks they razed (like the Criterion) to get development assurances before moving forward with demo.

This is the exact same thing happening again. We got complacent and let a few people's hubris call the shots, and now promises are being broken. "As for those who question whether Rainey Williams is just a front, and question his capacity for doing this development, well, you don't know Rainey Williams."

CBD core expansion (in most every city) is seemingly always executed in this way: "Okay, now we've reached this block. Is it old or new? Old. Okay clear it. New project is new, right? Good, build it. Moving on..."

[FritterGirl]

Pic I took of what remains of the building directly east of the 420 Main Street building today. Felt like jackhammers were coming through the wall at one point:

https://twitter.com/jeninthe405/stat...66274435477504

Heard from Bill at Coney Island that implosion of the Black Hotel and smaller building are imminent (as in this weekend, tonight, very soon), but that is very much a rumor. Not much change in the back parking lot other than more debris collected from the other Main Street building interiors.

[Pete]

Wow, thanks.

I bet the life of employees in 420 W. Main is going to be a bit loud and chaotic for a while.

[FritterGirl]

I bet the life of employees in 420 W. Main is going to be a bit loud and chaotic for a while.

You can say that. We're on day two of the jack-hammering and demo of the building directly east of ours. It's headache central here. Feels like they're about to break through the walls, and our offices are on the second floor on the east side of 420, so several offices (not mine, thankfully) directly abut the exterior walls they are hammering away on. Noise is brutal and vibration is constant. Not a pleasant working environment for the time being, but we're remaining hopeful it will be over by the end of day today.

[Jeepnokc]

I didn't get a pic (sorry pete) but I drove by the Bus Station Friday and all the blue tiles had been removed. On the old carpenter square and Hotel Black, they had removed quite a bit of the detailed trim pieces.