OG&E Energy Center

[Pete]

I think they are going to ask for TIF for the parking garage and the apartment tower.

I believe the design will be much like what was proposed, but the apartment tower has always been a bit nebulous, probably on purpose.

[gopokes88]

I think they are going to ask for TIF for the parking garage and the apartment tower.

I believe the design will be much like what was proposed, but the apartment tower has always been a bit nebulous, probably on purpose.

Are they going to be apartments or will there be some condos to buy as well? Or unknown at this point?

[catcherinthewry]

I think most of us really only care about this single tower rising, if anything to at least feel something of value added where Stage Center was torn down.

I certainly don't feel this way. I want to see two towers on this site.

[Spartan]

The apt tower probably isn't happening. Either they will do it or not. We tore down Stage Center, a unique landmark, for developers to sit on the site.

Total indictment on the sophistication level of our downtown development practices.

[OKCRT]

The apt tower probably isn't happening. Either they will do it or not. We tore down Stage Center, a unique landmark, for developers to sit on the site.

Total indictment on the sophistication level of our downtown development practices.

One would think of the word "SCAMMED" if you just came along and read about this.

[Pete]

I think this will start to move forward...

Should see an agreement reached soon, then they should be under construction not long after.

[gsan]

I have a friend that works with OG&E and he said that they only want to build a 17 story tower.
I'm not sure if this is true or not, but that would be extremely disappointing.
Especially compared to the initial Clayco plans of 4 towers.

[Pete]

17 floors is what they planned to take in the proposed tower, then there would be 9 floors of spec space.

[dankrutka]

One would think of the word "SCAMMED" if you just came along and read about this.

Is there any reason to think this entire thing wouldn't happen again tomorrow under the same circumstances?

[HOT ROD]

so this is good news, we still get the OGE tower and two towers on the s parcel AND we get the REHCO lands properly developed. Just think, in 5 years we could have MGB surrounded with high rises on 3 sides. 5-10 years after that with the removal of Cox Convention Center, we could tower the other face and then have a proper urban oasis surrounded by towers. ..

Wow, amazing but totally the best move for Oklahoma City!

[Urbanized]

I think a more accurate assessment is as follows:

• OG+E Tower at Stage Center site
• MAYBE a second (probably residential) tower on same parcel (would likely demand TIF)
• TBD on south parcel, likely new RFP
• TBD on REHCO site, no guarantee of high rise
• TBD on Cox site

I think it is entirely possible that the Cox site could be targeted for construction of a new arena, though that parcel is large enough to accommodate an arena AND considerable other development. I know the thought of a new arena wouldn't be popular right now, but I think such a movement is likely within the next decade, and Cox will be in use until at least 2020.

[Laramie]

The Cox site will be in high demand for most anything; like Urbanized cites, possibly a new arena--then the City retires or downsizes the Peake to complement the convention center-conference hotel complex. The two arenas in the CBD does allow OKC more options; hence why you see so many parking garages now being constructed.

The OG&E substation that Mayor Cornett wanted the city to move at a cost of $30 million now looks like peanuts in comparison to some of the other alternatives. The cost of land in the core has skyrocketed since the original MAPS' rollout. We're on the verge to really cement the developmental stages as a true 'Big League City.'

We are now victims of our own success.

[bchris02]

Does the NBA have any requirements for new arenas that the Peake does not meet or cannot be retrofitted with? If not, then there is no need to build a new arena. A lot of people don't understand that the wave of new arena construction in the '90s and '00s was specifically because of new NBA requirements, or because cities wanted to move suburban arenas downtown, and not simply because the previous facilities were aging. The Peake is compliant with current NBA standards and is downtown. Therefore, I don't see the need for a new arena until the NBA requires a feature that the Peake doesn't have and cannot be retrofitted with. Squandering the Cox site on a new arena that isn't necessary, in my opinion, would be a huge failure.

I think the Cox Center site is important to create a mixed use, pedestrian-oriented cohesive urban development that has a real wow factor. I am thinking something along the lines of the 6th St Mall in Denver but more vertical. Imagine that, right across from the Peake and integrated with MBG. In my opinion, the Cox Site is OKC's chance to do right what it did wrong in Lower Bricktown.

[catcherinthewry]

The apt tower probably isn't happening. Either they will do it or not. We tore down Stage Center, a unique landmark, for developers to sit on the site.

Total indictment on the sophistication level of our downtown development practices.

That is the kind of hard-hitting analysis we've come to expect from you, Spartan. I don't have the credentials, experience, inside contacts or insight that you do, but I'm going to out on a limb and say that the south half of this parcel will either be developed or it won't.

As it stands now it looks pretty certain that at least one tower will be built and that in itself would be a huge improvement over a Stage Center that needed so many repairs and upgrades that it was not economically feasible to repurpose it. As for the rest of the site, I'm willing to have a little patience and wait and see what happens. The market will ultimately decide what is built here and with oil prices low it seems to make sense to wait until prices recover a bit before proceeding.

[Teo9969]

I think a more accurate assessment is as follows:

• OG+E Tower at Stage Center site
• MAYBE a second (probably residential) tower on same parcel (would likely demand TIF)
• TBD on south parcel, likely new RFP
• TBD on REHCO site, no guarantee of high rise
• TBD on Cox site

I think it is entirely possible that the Cox site could be targeted for construction of a new arena, though that parcel is large enough to accommodate an arena AND considerable other development. I know the thought of a new arena wouldn't be popular right now, but I think such a movement is likely within the next decade, and Cox will be in use until at least 2020.

If we need a new arena, fine.

Putting it on the Cox site eliminates one of the best possible elements of redeveloping the cox site. A direct line of site and walkable transportation between the entrance to the Intermodal Hub and the Glass tube in the MBG that bisects a sort of town square.

Maybe we can build the arena on top of 4 Towers!!! That way we'd be able to have our cake and eat it to. And we could light up the towers and the support arches and make it a world spectacle…seriously…who else has an Arena in the sky? (99.9% kidding)

[Laramie]

Has anyone seen the OG&E substation lately; it looks as though they have already started the move to dismantle it.

[HOT ROD]

I totally agree with Bchris this time (yes, throw me to the fire), there's no reason to even think about replacing the Peake at this moment, we actually didn't even finish retrofiting it like the original plans had stated. I say, we first build in all of the amenities that were cut from the original plan (which WOULD make the Peake for sure a top 5 facility if it isn't one already) and then we keep shelling in and retrofitting it as necessary. The bones of the facility are excellent and I don't see that changing in any NBA model.

What 'could' change is the number and type of suites and possibly their location (say, closer to the floor), that 'could' necessitate a new arena but we could do a Seattle Coliseum-to-Key Arena type of retrofit (where they lowered the floor of the arena then somewhat rebuilt the seats); in which our building would still be far superior to even think about building another. During said retrofit, the team could play temporarily in Norman and/or Tulsa - but again, this would be some 20 years from now and that's IF the NBA model changes suites - anything else could be done without significant down-time of the existing building.

The Peake is in the perfect location to capitalize on downtown NOW and as the city grows up around it. The Building itself has great bones that I don't see the NBA changing. There are still amenities that were scaled back that we could easily add back in without disrupting the NBA schedule; this likely would ensure the Peake remains a top 5 facility. Any other changes to seating or concourse amenities could easily be worked out. Other than an NBA standard for suite requirements/location, I don't see any change to the model that could't be worked in (and even suite changes could be worked into the existing building ala the Seattle Coliseum model, executed far far better in OKC of course).

[Spartan]

That is the kind of hard-hitting analysis we've come to expect from you, Spartan. I don't have the credentials, experience, inside contacts or insight that you do, but I'm going to out on a limb and say that the south half of this parcel will either be developed or it won't.

As it stands now it looks pretty certain that at least one tower will be built and that in itself would be a huge improvement over a Stage Center that needed so many repairs and upgrades that it was not economically feasible to repurpose it. As for the rest of the site, I'm willing to have a little patience and wait and see what happens. The market will ultimately decide what is built here and with oil prices low it seems to make sense to wait until prices recover a bit before proceeding.

What happens when this 1 small tower is in need of repairs 30-40 years from now?

If that's really why Stage Center met its demise. What I meant by "Either they will build it or they won't" is that clearly OG+E has indicated that they won't build it... But the cult of the "mystery tower" remains amongst us.

[catcherinthewry]

What happens when this 1 small tower is in need of repairs 30-40 years from now?

If that's really why Stage Center met its demise. What I meant by "Either they will build it or they won't" is that clearly OG+E has indicated that they won't build it... But the cult of the "mystery tower" remains amongst us.

I think it is pretty safe to assume that it won't be designed by an egomaniac more concerned about his legacy than his building's utility.

[progressiveboy]

I think the development will end up with 2 towers. The OG&E HQ's and one other speculative tower. I feel this is a "reasonable expectation". My perception is that 4 towers is a little "over ambitious" at this time.

[OKCRT]

Someone is going to build something on the stage center site besides the OG&E building. I think that is pretty much 100%. The question is who and what and when? They want the pyramid effect off the Devon tower so I don't see how anything less than 25-30 stories will have that effect.

The sooner the better and the taller the better IMO. Devon tower is great but it sure makes the skyline look out of balance.

[Pete]

We should have answers very soon.

As I mentioned, they should be submitting the final plans in the next few weeks.

[Spartan]

I think it is pretty safe to assume that it won't be designed by an egomaniac more concerned about his legacy than his building's utility.

You must not know very many architects lol...

[bchris02]

Someone is going to build something on the stage center site besides the OG&E building. I think that is pretty much 100%. The question is who and what and when? They want the pyramid effect off the Devon tower so I don't see how anything less than 25-30 stories will have that effect.

The sooner the better and the taller the better IMO. Devon tower is great but it sure makes the skyline look out of balance.

Hopefully so. Clayco originally wanted to build two office towers, but I always thought they should just build one and go a little bit taller. Maybe since they aren't developing the south parcel they will go that route?

Regardless, even if they go with a 17 story tower just for OG&E, that will be quite a bait and switch but at least it will be better than Lake Lackmeyer.

[TheTravellers]

I think it is pretty safe to assume that it won't be designed by an egomaniac more concerned about his legacy than his building's utility.

Some of those egomaniacs that do exactly what you describe are geniuses - Frank Lloyd Wright, for one...