OG&E Energy Center

[catcherinthewry]

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

Please name me one pf FLW's that wasn't functional. SC was barely functional at the beginning and became less and less so.

[TheTravellers]

Please name me one pf FLW's that wasn't functional. SC was barely functional at the beginning and became less and less so.

Not sure I understand your request. What my reply meant was that FLLW was an egomaniac, a genius, and he was probably more concerned about his legacy than his buildings' utility, and by utility I mean - windows leaked, roofs leaked, the furniture was uncomfortable, etc. His buildings were functional, but that's about it, and some of them barely so, yes, but modifications were sometimes made and things repaired/improved over the years to make them more livable/functional.

[bchris02]

Any updates on this?

Steve mentioned in his most recent chat that OG&E and the city were getting close to a deal.

[dankrutka]

Not sure I understand your request. What my reply meant was that FLLW was an egomaniac, a genius, and he was probably more concerned about his legacy than his buildings' utility, and by utility I mean - windows leaked, roofs leaked, the furniture was uncomfortable, etc. His buildings were functional, but that's about it, and some of them barely so, yes, but modifications were sometimes made and things repaired/improved over the years to make them more livable/functional.

I worked in a FLW building for two years and loved it. There were no serious structural problems and I found it not only functional, but unique. I had floor-to-ceiling windows in my office. It was great.

[Urbanized]

^^^^^^
Corbin?

[Pete]

Any updates on this?

Steve mentioned in his most recent chat that OG&E and the city were getting close to a deal.

I was told the City is close to presenting something to the City Council for approval.

As in, within the next month or so.

[TU 'cane]

Well, I guess that's good news given where we're at.
Potential bad news is the revisions that have supposedly been made.

Time will tell... It's hard not to speculate that with 499 starting that these guys want to get started too and keep pace.

[bchris02]

Well, I guess that's good news given where we're at.
Potential bad news is the revisions that have supposedly been made.

Time will tell... It's hard not to speculate that with 499 starting that these guys want to get started too and keep pace.

Have you heard anything regarding what revisions have taken place?

[Pete]

Have you heard anything regarding what revisions have taken place?

Not aware of any revisions other than regarding the public incentives.

[TU 'cane]

Have you heard anything regarding what revisions have taken place?

Not aware of any revisions other than regarding the public incentives.

Past few pages, I thought part of the new package they're proposing would include potential design revisions. We had a discussion about a few pages back, I thought? One rumor was that we'd see a tower similar to the first proposal.

Here, just so I'm not too crazy. Again, all minor speculative rumors and opinions. Perhaps I was making something out of nothing based upon what I thought I recalled:

One of the big reasons Clayco gave for needing the TIF was that they were planning to build the office tower on top of the parking garage and that was a more expensive proposition than what 499 is doing.

However, they have since changed their plans and only a tiny bit of the parking will be under the office tower.

So I assume it's back to the low rise 10 story building for OG&E. What a waste of prime real estate IMO.

Just learned some new, pretty solid info on this project...

1. Clayco is completely out on the south parcel. Will probably be put back out to RFP in the near future.
2. A new proposal will soon be submitted to the various bodies and then ultimately for approval by City Council. Should be coming in the next 2-3 weeks.
3. The proposal will be for two new towers and a parking structure -- pretty much the plans we've seen.
4. The office building for OG&E will be built first but the status of the apartment tower is less firm. I suspect they will ask for TIF for those projects separately and (hopefully) build the apartments at a later date.

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]

I honestly don't know if they plan any changes to what they had previously proposed but they already have design approval for the office tower and parking garage so they would have to resubmit any changes.

[bchris02]

I think at this point, even if they went back to the original Rainey Williams proposal that received a lot of criticism it would still be better than Lake Lackmeyer. Hopefully they build the tower as pictured in the Clayco rendering as that will do a lot to bring some diversity to OKC's skyline.

[Spartan]

Either Lake Lackmeyer or Lake OKC Talk... I don't see it as an insult as much of an honor lol.

[kevinpate]

Rather fond of Rainey Swamp mysself.

[betts]

I think at this point, even if they went back to the original Rainey Williams proposal that received a lot of criticism it would still be better than Lake Lackmeyer. Hopefully they build the tower as pictured in the Clayco rendering as that will do a lot to bring some diversity to OKC's skyline.

I kind of like the Rainey Swamp sitting there as a stark reminder of what not to do when someone comes to the city with vague plans and promises. I believe I said at the time that an empty piece of land makes us much more willing to settle for something mediocre than an existing iconic landmark. I desperately wanted to be wrong.

[HOT ROD]

Ya, I agree that Rainey Williams should take CREDIT for the lake that exists where Stage Centre once stood. World Class development I might add.

He promised, and delivered.

[Pete]

I'm hearing that the office tower is going to come in around 20 stories (rather than the 25 most recently proposed) and that the residential tower -- which be a later phase after the first building and parking -- would be 22 vs. 26.

[hfry]

Pete, would they have to get design reapproval if they do in fact come in slightly smaller?

[bchris02]

Disappointing that this will likely end up scaled down, but anything will be better than what is currently there. This is the exact reason why demolition permits and building permits need to be tied together.

[Pete]

Pete, would they have to get design reapproval if they do in fact come in slightly smaller?

Yes, they would.

[OKCisOK4me]

Disappointing that this will likely end up scaled down, but anything will be better than what is currently there. This is the exact reason why demolition permits and building permits need to be tied together.

Agreed... not because it was Stage Center but so that we don't have a lake sitting on every open site that has been torn down.

[Just the facts]

Disappointing that this will likely end up scaled down, but anything will be better than what is currently there. This is the exact reason why demolition permits and building permits need to be tied together.

I would rather have a temporary lake that can be easily developed than a permanent mistake. Build good urbanism or sell to someone that will.

What would be cool is a 10 story apartment/condo building built to the sidewalk and incorporate that pond into a private courtyard.

[bchris02]

What would be cool is a 10 story apartment/condo building built to the sidewalk and incorporate that pond into a private courtyard.

Like. It would be cool to make the pond into something that would actually add to the urban fabric. Maybe build the residential tower facing the park and the office tower on the other side with the parking between them on Sheridan with retail at street level.

Regardless, given what will be proposed, there is no reason NOT to have both the office tower and apartment tower facing the park with the parking in the back. Is there any way to petition the DDRC to require this? Doing so would be the matter of a simple land use reconfiguration and there would be no additional expense for the developer.

[catcherinthewry]

I would rather have a temporary lake that can be easily developed than a permanent mistake.

Which is what we had before. Luckily, it turned out to not be permanent.

[Anonymous.]

I am still curious what the deal with OG&E is? Like.. do they need new space or not? Have things changed? Downsized? You don't go from needing to have 20+ stories of Spec-A space to not caring suddenly.


Construction was supposed to be underway nearly 6 months ago.