BOK Park Plaza

[Pete]

This is very different than the old Stage Center:

- $326 million in financing has been issued
- the entire project will be built at the same time
- 7 construction trailers are on site
- Hines people have been working in OKC for at least a year

I expect them to shift from demolition to construction almost immediately.

[HangryHippo]

It's a f***king travesty we've allowed this block to be destroyed and one of the ugliest parking garages ever gets to remain just to the west. There were just so many alternatives to this current situation.

[baralheia]

God that's heartbreaking to watch the history slipping away, brick by brick. The new building will help our city continue to grow... but man, at what cost?

Sorry, I know that sentiment has been expressed multiple times before, it's just hard to see those pictures of the demolition and not think about what could have been.

[SOONER8693]

Time to move on folks.

[Laramie]

Time to move on folks.

Second!

[gopokes88]

Second!

All in favor

[Bellaboo]

Aye.

[gopokes88]

opposed?

[baralheia]

Nay. There's nothing wrong with looking forward to the future while still being sad about what could have been. Now that demo is well underway, I want to see this thing get built. I want to see progress. But it does honestly still make me sad.

[David]

It's only time to move on if Pete comes down from above and tells us to stop discussing the loss.

[BDP]

Time to move on folks.

Yeah, move on to the next demolition!!

No thanks.

[jccouger]

I really don't understand how anybody can be confident with oil moving towards $30. How much more hiring can Devon possibly do in these conditions? Do they really need to consolidate employees from other buildings in to the building? Seems like this is the kind of situation that could change in a moments notice. I don't care if they have their finances in place, decisions of this magnitude change course daily especially when the industry is on such shaky ground.

Of course I'm just making huge assumptions, I have no sources to anybody who is important enough to make these decisions.

[Pete]

People won't move into that space for 2 years.

Devon has tons of cash, financing in place and know things will likely look very different two years from now.

[jn1780]

I really don't understand how anybody can be confident with oil moving towards $30. How much more hiring can Devon possibly do in these conditions? Do they really need to consolidate employees from other buildings in to the building? Seems like this is the kind of situation that could change in a moments notice. I don't care if they have their finances in place, decisions of this magnitude change course daily especially when the industry is on such shaky ground.

Of course I'm just making huge assumptions, I have no sources to anybody who is important enough to make these decisions.

Devon is the big shark that will eat all the little oil companies market share as they die. This new building will be full, all the other buildings across the metro in 2 years time on the other hand remains to be seen.

[Bellaboo]

I really don't understand how anybody can be confident with oil moving towards $30. How much more hiring can Devon possibly do in these conditions? Do they really need to consolidate employees from other buildings in to the building? Seems like this is the kind of situation that could change in a moments notice. I don't care if they have their finances in place, decisions of this magnitude change course daily especially when the industry is on such shaky ground.

Of course I'm just making huge assumptions, I have no sources to anybody who is important enough to make these decisions.

Oil was up over 9% today to $ 42. Some are now hinting that the bottom has occurred, we will see. It was spurred by Schlumberger's big buy.

[bombermwc]

Devon is the big shark that will eat all the little oil companies market share as they die. This new building will be full, all the other buildings across the metro in 2 years time on the other hand remains to be seen.

I feel like this is pretty accurate. You see this in any industry. As there are issues, the smaller guys, or even larger but less capital strong, are eaten up by those with the cash reserves. It's consolidation time for oil. And you'll see a LOT of that in the service side too. All those small companies that produce parts/services for the industry are where you're really going to see a lot of the stuff happen. I'm not sure that you'll see too many full producing companies get gobbled up yet though. Remember Devon is a wholesaler, so companies like Devon are in a strong position still. The refiners and gasoline sellers have a much harder time surviving the swing. Oil is used in all sorts of things, but gasoline is more "niche" in comparison. Think about it, plastics, makeup, grease, the list is pretty freaking long.

[ourulz2000]

In a couple years when the TNT / ESPN helicopters are flying over for aerial shots and you see this beautiful building lit up next to Devon you won't even think about the old buildings that are gone.

[shawnw]

While enjoy and appreciate the Gardens, I think about the Biltmore and what might have been every time I walk in it.

[HangryHippo]

How at risk are companies like Devon and Chesapeake and Continental of being bought out? They appear to be strong companies, but then you see Exxon or Shell or BP or some Chinese company throw money around and buy these guys up like it's nothing. Are our homegrown companies at real risk?

[Bellaboo]

How at risk are companies like Devon and Chesapeake and Continental of being bought out? They appear to be strong companies, but then you see Exxon or Shell or BP or some Chinese company throw money around and buy these guys up like it's nothing. Are our homegrown companies at real risk?

Even though Continental is a publicly traded company, Harold Hamm owns 68% of it and I don't think he's ready to sell.

[BDP]

In a couple years when the TNT / ESPN helicopters are flying over for aerial shots and you see this beautiful building lit up next to Devon you won't even think about the old buildings that are gone.

When you know what OKC has torn down, it's hard not to look at aerial shots of OKC and think about it.

And I think what's being torn down is more beautiful than the building that's going up and especially the parking garages. They may not have been as tall, but they were much better looking and more interesting in design, imo.

[hoya]

In a couple years when the TNT / ESPN helicopters are flying over for aerial shots and you see this beautiful building lit up next to Devon you won't even think about the old buildings that are gone.

Maybe that's the difference between us. I don't just see these buildings on tv. I think about how I'm going to want to go eat at the Lunch Box, only it isn't there anymore. I'm going to think of the literally thousands if times I walked by
these buildings. I'm going to think about KT's diner that was on the ground floor of the old Hotel Black. I'm going to think about friends of mine who had offices in buildings that are now torn down.

And what did we get for all this? Oh, a parking garage. Remember that there was room for that tower without demolishing anything.

[SOONER8693]

As my dear deceased mother used to say, "some of you people would argue with a fence post".

[BDP]

As my dear deceased mother used to say, "some of you people would argue with a fence post".

Yes, but maybe one day the city won't be run by fence posts.

[shawnw]

At least the fence posts have character :-P