Dowell Garage

[Urban Pioneer]

And he leverages debt free completed projects to finance renovations and construction. IE... wait for the tower next to Sandridge to be completed before anything starts here quite yet.

He is also a very misunderstood person.

[Spartan]

I'll say his building projects are very misunderstood, but he's one of the few who always does top-notch development his way. Some of his projects, like his obsession with white-washed stone and brick a la Aspen, are strange - but even if they're not how I or most others would have approached each project, I'm obviously not complaining.

[Pete]

This area and buildings were nicer than I had expected.

Props to Rick Dowell for doing things right (apart from that atrocious parking garage); all these are at 5th & Walker:

Looking southwest:


Looking northeast:


Looking northwest:

[Urbanized]

I'm good with it (especially NE corner), other than obliteration of the great mid-century facade that was on the old Fred Jones Lincoln Mercury building and the replacement with the weird facade and parapet cobbled together from the pieces of the old building front. That was a classic case of "if it ain't broke don't fix it."

[Soonerinfiniti]

Why does everybody give Rick Dowell such a hard time? As I see it, he provides office space several dollars per square foot less than the downtown core, AND provides free parking. If the tenant wants interior decoration, it is on their dime.

While it's true Dowell is no Rand Elliott, last time I checked - Classen Curve was less than 50% occupied and I think Dowell is over 90% occupied!

Third Degree Advertising just relocated to one of his buildings - he must be doing something right!

[Architect2010]

Well, I really think everyone just hates his garage. I've never disliked his office properties... well other than the Dowell Center, but I don't like that particular architecture, especially having known what it was originally. But that's a whole other story.

[Spartan]

Why does everybody give Rick Dowell such a hard time? As I see it, he provides office space several dollars per square foot less than the downtown core, AND provides free parking. If the tenant wants interior decoration, it is on their dime.

While it's true Dowell is no Rand Elliott, last time I checked - Classen Curve was less than 50% occupied and I think Dowell is over 90% occupied!

Third Degree Advertising just relocated to one of his buildings - he must be doing something right!

Ha! Awesome dichotomy

[Pete]

Recent photo of the Dowell parking expansion:

[HangryHippo]

Incredible work!

[pickles]

What. is. that.

[catch22]

That is this masterpiece of a garage we are about to have two of.

I love the metal work on that aluminum siding.

[wdj]

What an abortion. Which is worse, this garage or the formerly proposed SpringHill Suites?

[CaptDave]

What. is. that.

An example of the old standard for OKC construction. It is from the good enough or half a** school of design. I understand and appreciate function over form being appropriate sometimes especially when a property owner is putting their $$ up, but were I in their position I think I would want to be known for building quality structures regardless of the purpose. Of course it is easy to be a critic when I don't have anything on the line.

But to be fair, the original parking structure was built quite a while ago by a previous owner and the current owner made an attempt at improving the exterior. The result of that attempt is clearly open to debate and the sheet metal was on the rear of the structure; but the man at least made an effort. I hope this addition is of a higher build quality than a sheet metal facade though.

[Praedura]

That is this masterpiece of a garage we are about to have two of.

I love the metal work on that aluminum siding.

It's so amazing looking that I found myself staring intently at my monitor to soak in the beauty of it...

[Pete]

Just to be clear, that sheet metal is also on the completely exposed west side (as shown in the photo) as well as the somewhat obscured south elevation.

The west elevation will soon be covered by the garage addition, but it's been exposed like that for many years. Dowell has owned it for 15 years.

[Spartan]

The rest of the garage is also pretty ugly, but not as bad.

[Pete]

The expansion to the Dowell Garage continues.

Like everything Rick does, this is moving very sloooooow....

[kevin lee]

I never paid any attention to this project. Is the new add-on going to cover up the exposed sheet metal?

[Pete]

Will only cover the metal on the west side:

[metro]

Only good thing about this project is more urban density. Rick and those damn evergreen trees. Notice near every building he has downtown has some form of evergreen trees.

[Pete]

From 1/13/14. That is Rick Dowell talking to the construction guy.

[shawnw]

Can you believe it's $95/mo to park in that thing?

[Bellaboo]

Can you believe it's $95/mo to park in that thing?

It's less than 5 bucks a day if you're just there 5 days a week.

[shawnw]

I know. But I live nearby and was looking at garage costs at a monthly rate. Couldn't believe this one was up there like that, for what it is, compared to others.

[Bellaboo]

I know. But I live nearby and was looking at garage costs at a monthly rate. Couldn't believe this one was up there like that, for what it is, compared to others.

I notice the event parking rates, but do not know what a normal monthly CBD rate is ?