I feel up to updating this thread for a long time, so I thought I would start one. I'll just cover Downtown for now.

1.
http://www.e-a-a.com/images/community/undrgrnd/under4a.jpg
New underground in Downtown. It's actually the Concourse that opened in the 80s, but it was just recently reopened and renovated after years of closure.

2.
http://www.taparchitecture.com/Assets/Project%20Sheets/Lincoln-Renaissance-.jpg

3.
http://www.thetriangleokc.com/images/visionmapsmall.jpg

This is a mixed use district that will be simillar to Victory in Dallas. Another one from TAP.

4.
http://www.mccbuilds.com/images/2726_Ok_History_Ctr_Render_Web_Large.jpg

The $70 million building just West of the State Capitol Complex, is located at 23rd Street and I 235. It will be completed by the state's centennial. I was driving by this the other day on my way to Baptist Hospital the other day, and it looks mostly done finished. From the landbridge on I 235, just north of downtown you can see the skylights of the building. Looks really cool.

5.
http://www.nacea.com/portal/images/Site_Map_2.gif
http://www.nacea.com/portal/images/Aerial_Sepia_5.gif

6.
http://www.taparchitecture.com/Assets/Project%20Sheets/I40-Study.jpg

Just to clear this up, the plan for the Riverside District will cost $250 million, and the highway itself will cost another $250 million.

7.
http://www.taparchitecture.com/Assets/Project%20Sheets/The-Factory-Bricktown.jpg

8.
http://www.okc.gov/history/skirvin/images/skirvin_elegance_02.jpg

The Skirvin Hotel was recently bought by the city, and resold to a developer. It will be turned into a Hilton.

9.
http://www.dougloudenback.com/downtown/50.jpg

The Colcord is another vacant building being turned into a hotel.

More coming soon.

HUD ANNOUNCES COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION EFFORTS - OKLAHOMA CITY RECEIVES NEW EMPOWERMENT ZONE

OKLAHOMA CITY - The Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced an estimated $17 billion in tax incentives to stimulate job growth, promote economic development and create affordable housing opportunities in eight new Empowerment Zones across the country. These Empowerment Zones will encourage public-private collaboration to generate economic development in some of the nation's most distressed urban communities.

The new urban Empowerment Zones (EZs) will receive regulatory relief and tax breaks to help local businesses provide more jobs and promote community revitalization. The other newly designated EZs will be located in Pulaski County, Arkansas; Fresno, California; Jacksonville, Florida; Oklahoma City; San Antonio, Texas; Yonkers, New York; and, Tucson, Arizona.

Oklahoma City's selection was based on their ability to maximize the benefits of the Empowerment Zone designation, which lasts until December of 2009. At a press conference in Oklahoma City, Congressman Frank Lucas joined HUD Deputy Assistant Secretary Don Mains and Oklahoma City Mayor Kirk Humphries in announcing the new designation and it's benefits for Oklahoma City.

"These tax incentives are an excellent tool for fostering a robust economy," said Mains. "This critical partnership between the public and private sectors will give local businesses in distressed neighborhoods an economic boost to help drive revitalization, provide jobs and ultimately build a foundation for stronger communities."

"The key to revitalizing urban areas is to bring new businesses to the area," Lucas said, "The best way to do that is with tax incentives. This empowerment zone designation will help get this area back on its feet, providing much-needed jobs to the area and helping the citizens and businesses in the community to get back on track economically."

Congressman J.C. Watts added, "I applaud the designation of these Empowerment Zones. The zones will create the conditions for eight communities to begin an upward growth path, and to realize the American Dream. Encouraging business development and new jobs is something I have supported my entire time in Congress. This particular announcement couldn't come at a better time"

The Oklahoma City Empowerment Zone will use the power of public and private partnerships to build a framework of economic revitalization in areas that experience high unemployment and shortages of affordable housing.

Included in the $17 billion tax relief package, an estimated $6 billion in incentives are exclusively available for Empowerment Zones across the country. As distressed communities, Empowerment Zones will also be eligible to share in an additional $11 billion in Low-Income Housing and New Market Tax Credits.

These new EZs can take advantage of wage credits, tax deductions, bond financing and capital gains to stimulate economic development and job growth. Each incentive is tailored to meet the particular needs of a business and offers a significant inducement for companies to locate and hire additional workers.

http://www.kotv.com/main/home/stories.asp?...page=1&id=88037

Just got this link hot off the Urban OK newswire: http://home.ntelos.net/~jradio3/urbanok_home.html

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Congress' passage of $130 million more in funding to relocate Interstate 40 in Oklahoma City has officials here envisioning everything from a golf course to new urban housing in an expanding downtown area.

Roy Williams has heard it all. As executive director of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, he's heard from parties interested in building a sports complex or even a giant green space similar to New York City's Central Park once the interstate is knocked off its stilts and moved five blocks south.

As it stands now, the high-rise buildings, convention center and arena that make up downtown Oklahoma City are all north of I-40. By moving the freeway south, more land adjacent to the downtown area will be opened for development. A downtown boulevard will be built along the old path.

``Right now, the interstate is perceived as a sort of barrier,'' Williams said. ``Downtown is not south of the interstate. It's north of the interstate.''

The $130 million in the transportation bill, which is awaiting Bush's approval, would place Oklahoma more than $300 million on its way to funding the approximately $360 million project. The state Department of Transportation awarded the project's first contract this week.

While the economic impact of the project may be significant, the primary reason for relocating this four-mile section of highway called the Crosstown Expressway is motorist safety. When the section of I-40 between Interstates 44 and 35 was built, officials believed the Crosstown would never carry more than 76,000 vehicles per day, said John Bowman, a project development engineer for the Transportation Department. It's now carrying about 119,000 each day.

Interstate 40 is one of the nation's main east-west links.

The Transportation Department breaks the Crosstown into seven segments. Of those, six are rated ``critically high'' in terms of the number of accidents.

The new highway will have 10 lanes, four more than the current freeway. It will have wider shoulders to provide drivers more room for error and more space between exits to give motorists additional space for accelerating and merging.

Most of the new stretch of highway will be at ground level instead of elevated and replace a layout that has too many curves to meet today's standards.

``We talk about safety, and there are some real concerns for us there,'' Bowman said.

Tom Elmore, executive director of the North American Transportation Institute in Moore, has taken issue with the picture of the Crosstown the Transportation Department has painted.

He disputes transportation officials' claims that a new Interstate 40 and a downtown boulevard can be built for less than it would cost to simply upgrade the current highway. And he questions the drive to build another highway at a time when the Transportation Department has millions of dollars in backlogged projects.

He contends the Crosstown could be redecked for less than $50 million, and that it could be done without unnecessarily disrupting the rail yard at Union Station, which he envisions as the ideal hub for a light rail system in the state.

``It amounts to robbery of future generations to stuff the pockets of the special interests, and it limits Oklahoma's transportation options for the for the foreseeable future,'' Elmore said.

Transportation officials say that the Union Station building will not be affected, but a cap will be placed on a tunnel linking passengers and freight to three platforms in the rail yard. In the event that Oklahoma City adds a light rail service, Bowman said those tunnels could be uncapped and used again.

However, he said Oklahoma City officials have indicated they prefer to use a different transit hub that is nearer to the Bricktown entertainment district and that transportation officials consider easier to connect with the airport area if necessary.

``One of the things we looked at was how that would impact rail service in the future,'' Bowman said.

Elmore says transportation officials didn't take the potential of Union Station into consideration when they were considering how to deal with the aging interstate.

``The power of this facility is that our existing corridors for this complex are so incredibly good that it could literally vault us to the leading edge of the modern transportation competition in the West within a few years,'' Elmore said. ``Without it, we're starting from ground zero. We've got nothing to start with.''

Garl Latham, principal of Dallas-based railroad consulting firm Latham Railway Services, said Union Station is in a unique position for Oklahoma City because all rail lines were routed to serve it.

Railroad lines from the station connect to Will Rogers World Airport and to the Mustang and Tuttle areas that were among the fastest growing in recent census data. Beyond that, the rail lines run northeast to Tulsa, north to Edmond and Guthrie, east through Shawnee to the Arkansas border and west through Yukon to the Texas Panhandle.

``It shows such a total lack of vision ...,'' Latham said of the Crosstown relocation. ``As little as 10 to 15 years down the road, people in Oklahoma City will be kicking themselves.''

One thing Elmore does not dispute is the belief that moving the interstate would lead to economic development south of the current downtown area. But he said adding light rail service _ as cities including Dallas and Denver did using their Union Stations as hubs _ would help alleviate parking and traffic problems.

``Here's the key reason that this moment in time is so important,'' Elmore said. ``We are now surrounded by Western cities with highly successful transit. They've been tested, tried and people love them so much that people consistently fund them with new bond initiatives and other funding.

``They wouldn't do that if they didn't want them.''

Oklahoma City's downtown area has already been revitalized once. The passage of MAPS, a $238 million tax increase, helped turn an abandoned warehouse district into the now-bustling Bricktown area.

Frank Sims, executive director of the Bricktown Association, said moving the Crosstown could lead to another revitalization _ in part because of a new six-lane boulevard that will be built at ground level where Interstate 40 currently runs. Transportation officials envision the boulevard providing easier, safer access to the downtown area.

``We believe it's going to be a real boon to the area,'' Sims said.

Williams, the chamber director, said Oklahoma City residents may know their way around the city, but visitors struggle to know where to exit from the elevated highway to get where they want to go.

``It will make downtown much easier and simple,'' Williams said. ``When you have a high-rise interstate, you see it down there, but you don't know how to get there.''







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By Bryan Dean
The Oklahoman

Transit officials hope more people will be tempted to ride the bus as gas prices skyrocket.


The combination of record gas prices and free fares on ozone alert days has spiked ridership on Metro Transit buses, spokeswoman Amy Ford said.

Ford said the increased attention is a mixed blessing.

"With gas prices going up, it affects Metro Transit as well, because we pay the same gas prices as everyone else," Ford said. "We have gotten a lot of inquiries from first-time riders."

Metro Transit also coordinates car pool efforts, matching people for car pools and working with employers to start car pool programs.

Ford said those interested in riding the bus for the first time can call Metro Transit for route information. Transit staff can even put an itinerary together to get first-time riders to their destinations as quickly as possible.

Gas prices are also fueling interest in light rail. Civic leaders have been talking about light rail for years, and it is part of an ongoing $1 million study looking at the area's long-term transportation needs.

Ford said attendance at public meetings discussing the plan has grown as the summer wears on and gas prices continue to rise.

Dean Schirf, vice of government relations for the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber has been considering light rail for about three years.

"I've been saying for a long time that the best chance for light rail in our community is probably $4 per gallon gasoline," Schirf said. "Gas prices weren't really an overriding factor when we got involved in it."

Schirf said the study has already shown that there are corridors in the area where a "fixed guideway" system might be needed. "Fixed guideways" could mean light rail, high occupancy vehicle lanes or other modes of mass transit.

"There is a segment of our leadership that feels like light rail should be very seriously looked at because we are a growing city," Schirf said. "I don't think what's happening out there with fuel prices is going to hurt this study."



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Skyline snapshot updated!

http://www.downtownokc.com/pdfs/skyline_sn...uarter_2005.pdf

I heard from a source inside the city that someone is planning to build a 5-story mixed use low rise building in the same site that McDermid's cronies at TAP were going to build The Factory, a 15-story high rise which fell through the cracks. OCURA didn't like the modern architecture that may have been discordant in the historic district.

For those that don't know, the building will be built off of Sheridan Avenue, just east of the new movieplex in Bricktown.

by Ted Streuli
The Journal Record
9/3/2004


General consensus among those involved in downtown Oklahoma City real estate is that Bricktown needs more places to shop. It's going to get some.
Midwest City investors bought a two-story, 40,000-square-foot building at 401 E. California Ave. last week for $1.35 million. In it, they plan to create Bricktown Marketplace.

"Bricktown Marketplace is going to be retail shops, like a bazaar, with a couple of restaurants in the corners," said Al Sahil, a principal in the deal with Joey Chiaf, John Chiaf and Bob Dillon.

Sahil said the space would accommodate about 100 vendors and that it would be modeled after The Market at Quail Springs. And Bricktown needs retail, Sahil said.

"They need something for families to go in and shop," he said. "Right now, you go, have something to eat, walk around for 20 minutes and you're done."

Frank Sims, executive director of the Bricktown Association, agreed.

"That's the one element that we're missing is multiple-retail establishments," Sims said. "We've got - on the canal right now - four retail stores that range from American Indian artwork and jewelry to T-shirts. Clearly, I believe there's a real opportunity with the volume of people that come through Bricktown every day for retail to succeed."

Brenda Workman, who specializes in the mid-city area for the chamber, said a retail center at that address would benefit from shoppers patronizing Bass Pro Shops across the street, the area's largest retail drawing card.

"We need more retail down there," Workman said. "It fits in with our economic development goals and it would provide an alternative retail experience that could draw people to the area and provide more to do. We want to diversify our central city economy and it would fit, especially right across the street from Bass Pro."

Sahil said his group got a good deal on the building at $67.50 per square foot based on the structure's footprint, but the company plans to spend about $2 million for renovations.

"It's one of the last buildings that was available," said Sahil. "We did very good on the building. I'm surprised that building didn't sell earlier."

Workman said that Bricktown property values have increased 235 percent since 1999. By comparison to other recent sales, Sahil's group bought well. The building at 108 E. California Ave. - on the canal - sold for $104.76 per square foot recently, while three buildings in the 300 block of E. Sheridan sold for $76.92, $69.23 and $86 per square foot.

The E. California Avenue property will be the third Bricktown renovation project for Sahil and his partners and is expected to be ready to occupy in April.

"I envision that to be a higher-end marketplace," said Sims. "The people coming through here aren't looking for garage sale items. To be successful they'll have to have a quality product."

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OKLAHOMA CITY -- Walgreens has signed a 10-year lease for office space in the Presbyterian Health Foundation Research Park and will add about 300 jobs to the community, officials said Tuesday.

Michael D. Anderson, of the foundation, said those at the health complex look at the addition as a victory.

"It's a fantastic opportunity for a lot of people," Anderson said. "It's really good news. Our present space is 90 percent-plus occupied. Walgreens will put us over 1,000 employees."

A move-in date has not been decided, Anderson said.

Walgreens will use the facility as a clinical care center and will service patients in various health plans administered by Walgreens Health Services. Staff will include pharmacists, nurses and certified pharmacy technicians.

Construction or opening dates have not been decided, but the project's construction costs are expected to be about $3 million.

"Walgreens will be a 24-7 operation with analysis and consulting," Anderson said. "It's a nice addition and we welcome them wholeheartedly. The per annum income in (the research park) will be $55,000-$60,000, that's more than double the state average and is significant for the city."

Tom Fields of Price Edwards & Co. handled the lease. He indicated Oklahoma City was chosen over other cities, including Kansas City, "largely due to the attractive campus-like setting and quality building the Research Park had to offer."

Anderson said the foundation is in the process of a build-out on two and one-quarter floors of Building 4 at 755 Research Parkway, which is largest in the research park.

Jerry Shottenkirk reports on retail, health care, energy and law. You may reach him by phone at 278-2838 or by e-mail at jerry.shottenkirk@journalrecord.com.

Copyright 2005, The Journal Record. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


http://www.kfor.com/Global/story.asp?S=3788430&nav=6uy6BEkG


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Chamber unveils bioscience sector growth plan
by Jerry Shottenkirk
The Journal Record
9/9/2005

There's plenty of the bioscience world to go around, and Oklahoma City is prepared to get a large chunk of the action.
The Greater Oklahoma City Chamber on Thursday unveiled its strategic 10-year plan to expand the area's bioscience sector. The Chamber hired Battelle Technology Partnership Practice of Cleveland - a research and development company - for a nine-month study of the city's current status and future in the bioscience field.

If successful, the plan would add more than 7,000 jobs and 90 businesses to the landscape.

Battelle research indicated that 99 percent of the state's bioscience research and development is between Stillwater and Ardmore.

Walter Plosila, vice- of Battelle, said the plan outlined four strategies and 14 actions, including six critical actions.

"It's based upon where you are now as a region, where you need to go and what's missing that needs to be addressed," Plosila said. "Basically the region has a strong base of industry already, primarily around the hospitals and private laboratories and then an additional base of companies and people in different segments like devices, research and testing, and other industry segments.

"If you want to play in the bioscience arena, you got to have a strong research base, it's a prerequisite in bioscience," he said.

Plosila said 41 of the 50 states are attempting to expand bioscience business.

Oklahoma City has the hospitals and educational sites, but lacks a critical mass of companies.

"You have to do more on the non-hospital side," he said. "You have to do all simultaneously."

He said the base of bioscience in Oklahoma City includes the Presbyterian Health Foundation and the OU Health Sciences Center, as well as various businesses in the immediate area.

"Oklahoma is respectable and isn't starting from scratch," Plosila said. "This is a marathon, not a sprint."

Robin Roberts, the Chamber's vice of economic development, said Oklahoma is ahead of other states in many areas but is behind in investment money.

Oklahoma City has worked with five times less money than St. Louis and three or four times less than Birmingham, Ala., Plosila said.

"Compared to those, Oklahoma City is way behind in research funding," he said.

Plosila said bioscience has many different areas, and it's up to Oklahoma City and the state to carve its niche and translate it to business.

Roberts said the Chamber is interested in research and the potential for commercialization.

Josh O'Brien, the Chamber's manager of biosciences public relations and image development, hinted that the time to expand is now.

"There was a time when people were telling Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, 'Why are you bothering? There's IBM,'" O'Brien said. "And they were working out of the garage. The good news for us is that we're not working out of a garage. We have strengths and areas of growth that will lead to an even brighter future."

In addition to Battelle, the Chamber worked with a steering committee of more than 20 area leaders in the bioscience field.

It's in the community's best economic interest to attain its bioscience goals, Chamber officials agreed. They said bioscience jobs typically pay about $15,000 more than the average annual wage.

The plan pinpointed the needs: build the research and development base while spurring the commercialization of bioscience work; attract bioscience talent to the region; have a critical mass of companies by creating an economically sound environment and build a bioscience image and market the region, mainly with a brand.

Roberts said the Chamber would like to have a brand in place before next year's Bio conference.

Battelle and the committee also recommended the formation of an Oklahoma Bioscience Collaborative, the funding of the proposed $1 billion Economic Development Generating Excellent research endowment, the creation of an Oklahoma Bioscience Opportunity Fund, Technology Development Fund and a bioscience early-stage seed fund.


Jerry Shottenkirk reports on retail, health care, energy and law. You may reach him by phone at 278-2838 or by e-mail at jerry.shottenkirk@journalrecord.com.

http://journalrecord.com/viewstory.cfm?recid=66990&page=news


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Oklahoma City University offers free tuition to Katrina victims enrolled in Gulf-area institutions
Posted: Thursday, September 01, 2005
Oklahoma City University Tom McDaniel announced today the university will offer free tuition to any student enrolled at a college or university affected by Hurricane Katrina.

This includes but is not limited to students who, prior to the hurricane, were enrolled at Dillard University, Loyola University, Our Lady of Holy

Cross College, Southern University, Tulane University, the University of New Orleans and Xavier University - all located in New Orleans.

As well, students enrolled at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Miss., also are being offered free tuition at OCU.

"We are opening our hearts and our university to these students," McDaniel said. "Although we can not replace lost lives or undo damage caused by Hurricane Katrina, the OCU community is eager to help. In fact, it is part of the mission of our university. We don't want this natural disaster to be a road block in these students' educational path."

The one semester of free tuition applies to undergraduate, graduate and law programs, he said.

As well, the university has extended its enrollment period by one week, to Sept. 9, to allow the New Orleans and Hattiesburg students to enroll at OCU if they wish to do so.

As a further gesture of generosity, university alumni and trustee members are being asked to open their homes to the needy students, as well.

About 3,700 students attend OCU, which offers programs in dance,

nursing, music, business, religion and arts and science. One semester of undergraduate tuition is valued at about $8,500, McDaniel said.


http://okcbusiness.com/news/news_view.asp?newsid=5787


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Hundreds more news to be posted.

1. Land Run Memorial
2. Spring Creek Plaza
3. Bricktown Marketplace
4. Block 42
5. Legacy Summit at Arts Central
6. The Skirvin
7. Residence Inn
8. Crosstown Expressway
9. 222 East Main
10. Hampton Inn
11. Bricktown Police Substation
12. Bricktown Ballpark Centennial Clock
13. Kerr-Mcgee Centennial Trails and Bell Tower
14. Oklahoma Centennial Mosaic
15. Warren Spahn statue
16. Colcord Hotel
17. Concourse Renovation
18. Energy Communications Center
19. 5th Street and Main Street streetscape
20. Founders Plaza at Stiles Park
21. Galleria Parking Garage
22. The Hill
23. Bricktown IHOP
24. 914/920 Broadway
25. North Walker and 10th Streetscape
26. St. Anthony's campus renovations
27. American Indian Cultural Center
28. Spirit of the Buffalo Corral
29. The Classen
30. Gold Dome

Edit: These are all Downtown projects.

The main development in OKC at this point in time is that the NBA Hornets are coming to town. Oddly enough, this is the same team we had in 1996.

In the 90s OKC had a CBA team called the Oklahoma City Cavaliers. OKC actually won the CBA championship the year it folded due to lacking attendance in OKC, and the entire CBA league. Then, many of the players regrouped and moved to Charlotte, and baceame the Charlotte Hornets. The team then moved to New Orleans, and now they're back here.

Welcome back, Cavaliers!

A growing high-tech company is making the move from Edmond to downtown.

"EDMOND, Okla. -- A growing high-technology company plans to move its headquarters from Edmond to Bricktown. Amcat, a provider of call center technology products, has leased 10,000 square feet in the Sonic Building and plans to occupy the space in early 2006, said Dudley Larus, vice president global marketing."

http://kfor.com/Global/story.asp?S=3959505&nav=menu99_1_2

http://kfor.images.worldnow.com/images/3959505_BG1.jpg
They will share primo "canal-side" office space alongside Sonic Drive-In.

Midtown OKC, the neighborhood immediately NW of downtown, is appearing to be a future hot spot, as urban properties are going on the market, and interest is there. Several abandoned mid-rise and high-rise buildings are under speculation... re-development is coming this way.

http://journalrecord.com/APTImages/OKC_1356.jpg

"Remaking Midtown: Projects invigorate long-depressed area
by Brandice J. O'Brien
The Journal Record
9/30/2005

The once neglected, boarded-up and dilapidated Midtown area is starting to become a trendy, chic, mixed-use district fitting snugly between Western Avenue and Bricktown.
Encircling St. Anthony Hospital, Bone & Joint Hospital and McBride Clinic, the community could become the city's next medical row.

St. Anthony's is in the midst of an extensive renovation. When the 10-year, $220 million project that will improve the grounds and its facilities is complete in 2014, the new campus will be bordered by NW 11th Street to the north, NW Eighth Street to the south, N. Walker Avenue to the east and N. Shartel Avenue to the west.

The remaining area extends to the Kaiser Ice Cream building at N. 10th Street and Walker Avenue and the Plaza Court building across the street.

Part of the city's process is to study the best use of the land. A medical corridor would be natural with St. Anthony's and the OU Medical Center right there, said Dave Lopez, president of Downtown Oklahoma City Inc.

Within the last year Rudy Construction, appointed by the Oklahoma City Council, added a traffic circle at the intersection of Kaiser's and Plaza Court at NW 10th Street, N. Walker Avenue and N. Classen Boulevard.

The project was estimated at $1.4 million and cost closer to $1.7 million, said Doug Walker, vice president of Rudy Construction.

The project also included new landscaping, curb and gutter work, pavement resurfacing and sidewalks. Several streets including NW 10th between Classen and Broadway Avenue, Classen between NW 10th and NW 13 streets and Walker from Robert S. Kerr Avenue to NW 13th also received improvements.

Construction began last September and is expected to be finished in two weeks.

"I think it will promote new business coming in and enhance property values," Walker said.

While many area business owners agree, the beautification process took a toll on several companies and buildings.

The Grateful Bean Café, which is in the Kaiser building at 1039 N. Walker, closed during construction. The café is expected to reopen Oct. 27.

The day the windows started rattling from construction on the traffic circle, the café closed its doors, said Pete Schaffer, coordinator for the café who acts as executive director.

"(The corridor) is going to be successful. It's been quite some time since the area did well economically," Schaffer said. "There will be an influx of office, restaurants and retail stores."

Scott Smith, general partner of Corsair Caughron LLC, which owns the Plaza Court building, agreed.

In the past six months since acquiring the 39,000-square-foot building, Smith is ready to sign tenants to the vacant property.

Upstairs, Smith said he hopes to find lawyers to occupy the office space and downstairs he'd like to see retailers including coffee chains and restaurants move in.

Within the first week of October, Smith intends to sign a lease with a regional restaurant. Rent is approximately $12 per square foot.

"It's an interesting area," said Greg Banta, chairman and CEO of the Banta Cos., which owns about 20 properties in the area. Rents range between $12 and $20 per square foot. "Six years ago it was depressed. It's making a huge comeback. It's downtown but you don't have to pay for parking; you can pull up at your door and go to work.""

these are cool developments. So when is this Underground OKC supposed to open any websites with info?

I wonder how long it will take I-40 to be finished.....

The Crosstown Expressway might be finished by 2010.

I have no idea on the Concourse. Ask some people on an Oklahoma forum.

You can also go see at downtownokc.com and at the top is a link for their quarterly downtown snapshot. It will tell you.

thanks!

Great lookin stuff here!
This is a good development thread.

QUESTION, I don't really know much at all about the underground and all that, but, wouldn't reopening it kinda hurt downtown pedestrian traffic? Are there restaurants or shops down there? It just seems like those would be better if moved to the streets.

excess post :) sorry!

I think it's a good development thread, but it sure isn't all that active or even prominant. I think if it got pinned it would be much more active, and if it got much more active it would get pinned... LOL.

I don't really know about the Concourse hurting or helping downtown, and I never really thought about that. It's an interesting argument. On one hand you could say it opens up more prime real estate in downtown, it adds to downtown, and makes it easier to get around in downtown. On the other hand, you could say it takes pedestrian traffic away from downtown.

I don't really know the answer to that. I know that the city has been lightly considering doing another mini MAPS project, and get free WiFi and light rail in downtown OKC.

There is also some more news to report.

First, coming in from Norman:

The new "Oklahoma Technology Corridor" is getting a major boost in recent days from several announced projects to build labs, research facilities, and OU's decision to move it's biology program from the main mall in it's campus to the edge of it's campus, to be in the middle of the new tech corridor along Highway 9, from Blanchard to Lake Thunderbird.

Software Development Technologies Corp. is moving most of its operations from San Jose. They are leasing space in the former Saxon Publishing Co. headquarters building for $4.2 million. They plan to lease 5,000 square feet initially, and eventually lease 25,000 square feet.

The move is part of a trend in Norman, and across America. High tech companies are rethinking location, and deciding there is no reason to be on the coast, and that college towns in the Heartland are a much better solution because you can find a highly educated workforce, and have lower operating costs due to the lower cost of living. Living quality is also higher in the Heartland due to higher purchasing parity and lower costs of living.

The company said what drew them to Norman specifically was OU's impressive computer programming and information processing departments, as well as Moore-Norman Technology Center's focus on computer programming.

The former Saxon Publishing Co. headquarters was bought for $4.2 million dollars. It's expected to change names to One Corporate Center, and other high tech tenants are interested in its remaining 66,000 square feet.

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And of course there is more news about the Skirvin renovation. Just click here for the KFOR/Journal Record story. (http://kfor.com/Global/story.asp?S=3979601&nav=menu99_1_2) I don't feel like paraphrasing it.

Basically last Thursday was the construction commencement ceremony. I say just get on with it, stop posing for pictures and photo ops. The city has more important issues than PR, but then again I don't blame them for capitalizing on this to make the redevelopment process look friendly. Although, I think anybody interested can tell that.

On Urban OK we have a Skirvin news thread that we pinned in the OKC subforum.

___________________________________________________________

Also: Two five-story buildings are expected to break ground in Bricktown this month. Very important month in Bricktown.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v671/Simwiz/lb2.jpg
This is a new condo development, right off of the Bricktown Canal, as seen in the foreground. 5 stories, and I think that the first two will be mostly retail space.

The second is a new Residence Inn by downtown hotel developer Randy Hogan. It was supposed to be a Embassy Suites, but since he couldn't buy the extra land needed (someone else is building another mid-rise) he downgraded his plans. When I heard it would be a Residence Inn I panicked; thought it would be the boring, suburban style, shopping mall-compliment that I drive by every day to and from work. But from the renderings I've seen of this project on News 9 it looks wonderful. Like it belongs in B'town.

Hooray! We got pinned. Congrats to all who have been interested in this thread from it's start.


edit: I'll edit this. I don't like double posting.

So the condos I announced in the above post will have 30 units, from 1,000 sq. ft to 1,200. I'm guessing they are upscale... canal and all.

I found a rendering of the Residence Inn. I hate it. It's extremely ugly, but here goes. They must have showed something differant on News 9, but here's what it will really look like.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b26/okcland/lb3.jpg

Yay! Celebration! hah
These developments in Bricktown look great. I really haven't seen much of Bricktown before. I'd love to see some shots. And whats this about a canal? ^^

Here's a quick photo thread, just to make sure we're all on the same page.

http://www.notpurfect.com/travel/grand/IMG_3128.jpg
View from west on I 40.

http://www.notpurfect.com/travel/grand/IMG_3119.jpg
From Bricktown.

http://www.notpurfect.com/travel/grand/IMG_3124.jpg
From Myriad Gardens.

http://www.notpurfect.com/travel/grand/IMG_3364.jpg
Skirvin Hotel and Chase Bank Tower.

http://www.notpurfect.com/travel/grand/IMG_3154.jpg
Bricktown.

http://www.notpurfect.com/travel/grand/IMG_3359.jpg
More B'town.

http://www.notpurfect.com/travel/grand/IMG_3236.JPG
The Bricktown Canal.

http://www.notpurfect.com/travel/grand/IMG_3201.JPG
More canal.

http://www.notpurfect.com/travel/grand/IMG_3216.JPG
More canal.

http://www.notpurfect.com/travel/grand/IMG_3205.JPG
More canal.

http://www.notpurfect.com/travel/grand/IMG_3244.JPG
The canal turns in front of the SBC Bricktown Ballpark.

http://www.notpurfect.com/travel/grand/IMG_3287.JPG
More canal.

Yes, there are canals in downtown OKC.

Grand! hah I have never seen the canal before. I have only been to DT OKC a handful of times and I guess I just never noticed or went near enough to it.

Nice set of pics SRG. Looks like OKC is doing OK!

It really is. Our city is growing so fast right now, and just now are we finally translating that metro growth into downtown growth. Especially in Bricktown, and with the New Orleans Hornets NBA relocating to Oklahoma City, making us a big league city for the first time. And to sum up the feelings in downtown OKC: we’re really enjoying our growth.

Wow SRG you do a great job at posting these developments. They're all really interesting and they make me really excited by our city's potential. It's also really great that "foreigners" are being exposed to our city. (And it is a beautiful one!) I'm just a 16 year old Edmond resident, and I don't usually find much support for my strong pride for Oklahoma City...

I'm excited to see what new things develop when the new I-40 is completed. The Crosstown really is a barrier to downtown development. I'm also excited about the Underground but like eweezrnic indicated I've also worried that the Underground will move pedestrian traffic downstairs and out of sight; and I think this is vital to the vibrancy of downtown. Luckily, even if that happens we'll still have bricktown and a host of new residential developments like the canalfront condos that should bring lots of activity downtown.

The main development in OKC at this point in time is that the NBA Hornets are coming to town. Oddly enough, this is the same team we had in 1996.

In the 90s OKC had a CBA team called the Oklahoma City Cavaliers. OKC actually won the CBA championship the year it folded due to lacking attendance in OKC, and the entire CBA league. Then, many of the players regrouped and moved to Charlotte, and baceame the Charlotte Hornets. The team then moved to New Orleans, and now they're back here.

Welcome back, Cavaliers!

Despite the incredible importance for OKC having gained a professional team, if only for a little while, there seems to be very little enthusiasm. If OKC can pull off giving the Hornets good attendance numbers then perhaps the city could get a permenent franchise in the future but few people seem to care. The Oklahoma Daily, which is the OU campus newspaper, conducted an online poll to see how many people would go see the hornets and only 13% said they would. It seems that people in Norman at least are pretty hostile toward the Hornets and loyal to the sooners. These people can't even see a good thing when it lands on their laps! :)

It really is. Our city is growing so fast right now, and just now are we finally translating that metro growth into downtown growth. Especially in Bricktown, and with the New Orleans Hornets NBA relocating to Oklahoma City, making us a big league city for the first time. And to sum up the feelings in downtown OKC: we’re really enjoying our growth.

The OKC metro really is booming. I moved to Norman just a couple months ago from the Chicago area to attend OU and I still can't believe the prosperity and development inside and outside OKC. The I-35 corridor in particular is just alive with development. If only OKC could attract more office tenents and lower their soaring office vacancy rate downtown then it would be in business. :)

The OKC metro really is booming... If only OKC could attract more office tenents and lower their soaring office vacancy rate downtown then it would be in business. :)

Exactly... I read that the occupancy is about 70%... if we could get that up to 90%+ by making the downtown area more attractive (better transportation options would be a plus; better parking before we resort to mass transit though) Oklahoma City would really start to change in bigger ways... I'd love to see a new office building downtown, and maybe by the time downtown is opened up by the I-40 relocation, OKC will be ready for a new highrise office building. (It's my dream)

It'll happen. hah Im hoping too.
I would LOVE to see Oklahoma(City and Tulsa) break from the big boom of the 70's with some nice new scrapers.
Louisville's getting a few. We invested and received a wonderful condo tower. And now, slowly, we're seeing a great new tower with an art museum take shape.
OKC just has to cross its fingers and continue investing. Something is sure to smash the windsheild sooner or later. :okay:

Yeah, can't we keep MAPS going forever? Who cares if we have to pay a little more in taxes if the city keeps changing so positively? I'd shell out big bucks (if I was a grown-up and had them) to see continued improvements to downtown (and the rest of the city) like the ones we have been seeing over the past few years--- canal, quality art museum and library, etc etc. Did I read something about MAPS II? Or am I making it up?

Anyway, MAPS is clearly a revolutionary program that Oklahoma City has discovered and I think it should be continued forever, as it has strongly impacted the revival of the city.

I can't wait to see the completion and response to the upcoming residential development in Lower Bricktown as well as other projected residential growth downtown. I think that's what Oklahoma City is missing to become a vibrating (less tourist-y) downtown/bricktown. Also I'd really love to see retail space in the ground floor of office buildings in the city center (though that retail space might be more successful along the Underground.) While the Underground is really really cool, it is a shame that the pedestrian traffic and bustle of the business district will be hidden beneath the streets.

From downtownokc.com (http://www.downtownokc.com)'s "Housing Press Release" --- http://downtownokc.com/LinkClick.aspx?link=PDF%2fHousing+Press+Release.pdf&tabid=154&mid=434

Thought this was a really interesting release from DTOKC. Since I read it I've been in love with the idea of a residential boom downtown. (You can probably tell from my earlier posts.) Loosely according to the survey 17% of the metro population would be somewhat interested in moving downtown if properties were available. That's 204,000 people! (Obviously the survey isn't entirely accurate, but it's a really nice looking number!) A more reasonable estimate would be 17% of the OKC population, about 85,000 people (still a comparatively large number). Anyway, here's the article:


"NEW STUDY SHOWS POTENTIAL FOR
STRONG HOUSING MARKET DOWNTOWN
Oklahoma City – New research indicates that the recent resurgence of
downtown Oklahoma City may now extend to another important dimension:
dramatic future growth in residents living in the central city.
Downtown Oklahoma City—already a revitalization success story with capital
investments of nearly $1.5 billion since 1998—is now poised for sustained
increases in downtown housing, according to a study conducted by CDS
Market Research | Spillette Consulting of Houston.
The study, commissioned by a coalition of city organizations, indicates that the
growth in downtown housing could range between 2,250 and 4,250 units in
the next five years. During the next 10 years, the total combined growth of
rental and for-sale housing in downtown could climb to between 4,000 and
7,750 units.
“Achieving this type of residential growth could have an amazing impact for
downtown Oklahoma City,” said Dave Lopez, president of Downtown OKC, Inc.,
the coordinating sponsor of the study. “Evidence that there is such a strong
desire by so many to live downtown is very positive. But this growth is not
guaranteed and getting there will require more of the public-private
partnership that revitalized downtown in recent years.”
“The impact of increased downtown residential development reaches beyond
just the center city,” said Roy Williams, president and CEO of the Greater
Oklahoma City Chamber. “More downtown housing will help attract and retain
talent that will benefit the entire Metro region.
2
The downtown Oklahoma City area has shown little housing growth in the past
25 years, with only 492 new units added since 1980. Researchers also noted
that less than 3,000 of the 450,000 households in the Metropolitan Statistical
Area are currently in the downtown area.
By contrast, during the next ten years, this number of downtown residences
will likely double and possibly triple. CDS|Spillette estimates the average
number of housing units added each year in downtown during the next five
years would include 300-500 rental units and 150-350 for-sale homes.
The study was based on a survey of 350 people not currently living in
downtown and 50 people currently residing in the central city. In addition,
CDS|Spillette conducted interviews with major employers, developers and real
estate professionals.
Other key findings of the research are:
§ Of downtown residents surveyed, 82% do not work downtown. This
signifies a lifestyle choice, as opposed to the conventional logic that
the main reason to live downtown is to be near work and avoid
commuter traffic.
§ Current downtown residents are a varied group, ranging from
medical students to retirees, and include singles, married couples
and some families with young children. Also, 61% of current
downtown residents have a college degree and 43% have a postgraduate
degree (far exceeding state, regional and national
averages).
§ The study outlined the five housing developments currently
planned for downtown: Legacy Summit, Block 42, The Hill, The
Triangle and Deep Deuce Phase II. Combined, these projects will
generate about 700 units of apartments, condominiums and
townhouses.
§ Affordable housing is an important factor to those desiring to live
downtown: only 34% would be willing to pay more than $950 per
month (or a $160,000 mortgage principal, in terms of home
ownership).
§ If the right kind of housing were available at the right price, an
estimated 9% of the metro population would be very likely to move
downtown. An additional 8% of the population would be somewhat
likely.
3
§ Among non-downtown residents, 89% of those interested in
downtown rental properties would consider moving downtown
within a year;
§ The most desired housing, according to non-downtown residents,
is larger rented units with two to three bedrooms and two
bathrooms. Historical loft conversions are the most desired
building type.
§ Parking is a key consideration in selecting a location downtown,
cited as of high importance by 83% of those surveyed. Next in
importance were having restaurants nearby (60%), followed by
having a church nearby (50%)."

I would say that there are two key way to revitilize downtown:
1. Continue the development of bricktown, which is happening quite rapidly, though I don't like how so much retail is going to be hidden underground. As it stands, bricktown already seems to lack major street activity and putting it underground is not going to help that situation but whatever draws people near downtown is a good thing I suppose.

2. OKC really needs to diversify it's economy. As it stands OKC is way too dependent on the oil/gas industry. OKC needs to strengthen it's presence in finance and banking in particular. Much of the vacancy rate downtown seems to have been caused by the shift of the energy industry southward toward Houston in the '90s and it may be a fools hope to think that will come back. Attracting new industries will be the key to getting some new towers downtown.

OKC is and should continue to promote residential development downtown and some highrise condos could do much to revitilize the lagging streetlife downtown. This has already been done in other cities with some success because jobs and business tends to follow people. I am glad to see that some residential development is happening at Bricktown. That is a good start.

So to sum up all of our suggestions, which are really already under way, city officials need to start playing Sim City...

[QUOTE=eweezerinc]It'll happen. hah Im hoping too.
I would LOVE to see Oklahoma(City and Tulsa) break from the big boom of the 70's with some nice new scrapers.
[QUOTE]

I second that man OKC and Tulsa need some new modern (outside the box) skyscrapers.

So to sum up all of our suggestions, which are really already under way, city officials need to start playing Sim City...
Duh! How do you think I came up with those suggestions. ;)

awesome place. I love those canals. :)

Wow. I have the flue for a day, come back and get blown away by the fact that someone else is interested in my little thread.

Thanks guys.

Shane: Welcome to eUrbane. I've also seen you on my new forum, and I think you have a lot of well developed opinions that I look forward to hearing more of.

You know, BG918 had a photo of downtown OKC that he photoshopped that I'll have to look for. He photoshopped one of Dallas' new high rise Victory District condos into the Arts District... looked awesome.

And about the architecture suggestion: You all might like the idea of an ultra-modern skyscraper in downtown, but don't forget that in order to look good it would have to "flow" with the current feel of the skylines of Tulsa and Oklahoma City.

As well I would encourage you all to look outside of Tulsa and OKC. Look at towns like Norman, Bartlesville, and Lawton. I'm not suggesting that Lawton is a booming downtown, I'm just saying it could happen. But I don't have to tell you how possible a new highrise is in Norman or B'ville. Heck, if ConocoPhilipps moves any more jobs to B'ville they'll need more space. Norman is the emerging biotech center for the Heartland. Great things are in store there too.

^Heck, Norman practically has a skyline already. Sarkeys Energy Center, the Physical Sciences Center, Dale Hall Tower, and George Lynn Cross Hall on the ou campus give Norman a pretty good start.

Don't forget Vista Sports at the top of that mid-rise off of Main Street (I forget that buildings name).

Yeah, it would be really nice to see Norman develop into a city of its own, like Fort Worth is to Dallas. Then we could see a commuter line between downtown OKC and OU's campus, and then perhaps light rail following, and a major construction boom in both cities.

Norman would have the hand up over OKC because of their "Smart Growth" plan to urbanize, and then suburbanize, or however you would put its objective.

On the Norman Transcript forum there is a thread someone wrote about, "There being a town attached to OU?!!" or some bs like that. The fact that people think of Norman as an oil patch town, or a suburb of OKC is outragious. Its definately part of the OKC metro... but suburb? Geez people, grow a brain...

Like I said, I've been harboring these thoughts since I became interested in downtown OKC... I'm just glad I finally have an outlet to share them and get feedback!

"Fitting in" is the most difficult part about building a new major feature for OKC's skyline, when the time comes- So much of the skyscrapers are just ugly. The worst feature is Chase Tower's Base-Neck-BOX design that just looks disgusting to me. Anyway, As for flowing, I think in OKC we've already broken the rule with Leadership Square. That is a modern looking building that doesn't fit with the utility-only look of the 70s buildings, but is an asset to the skyline. I don't really know how you would make new development "flow" in OKC's case, where major skyline development hasn't much occured for 30 years, a giant lapse in the evolution of architectural design. I think if any high-rise development eventually takes place in the Triangle, that will be a good opportunity to start a new trend in architecture, since it is a bit removed from the main high-rise district.

OKC-Norman Multi-metro?
Development in Oklahoma City is complicated, because there's so much land area. That's why I think it's ideal for a multi-city metro like DFW and Mpls/StP. The most interaction I have had with Norman is to drive through it on I-35, so I don't know much about it. It would be really cool if a multi-city really started to blossom here, but I would hate for that to be Oklahoma City's claim to fame, as I think occurs with DFW and the Twin Cities.

Norman's claim to fame will always be Campus Corner, and the University of Oklahoma campus with almost 35,000 students last time I checked.

Norman also has a significant deal of development, including a new urbanism style condo complex off of E 12th and Lindsey Avenue. The city was given a vacant plot of land for $10 by some developers, who had been paid to demolish some tenements on the site with asbestos. The city began looking for someone to develop the land, and Toby Keith came up with this:

http://www.loopnet.com/Attachments/B/2/3/B236C7BE-10A1-4FAC-9765-5B1EAF7EC334.jpg
http://www.loopnet.com/Attachments/A/B/1/AB190A28-CC55-4421-BA87-ACBAC7168431.jpg
The upscale East Village development.

And yes, it is being developed by Norman resident Toby Keith.

Hammons is still going to build his Embassy Suites, but I have heard that it will be only a couple feet from his new Residence Inn off of Reno, in a parking lot for Bass Pro. I suppose Bass Pro and the Embassy Suites will need a parking garage, so we can add that to the list too.

Also, there are various infill/small renovation projects going on around downtown. Too many to name off the top of my head.

I guess Toby Keith really wants to jump onto the Oklahoma City area development scene... He knows how to tap that: A bar in Bricktown and a trendy place to live in Norman-- He can't go wrong with those.

Who is this Toby Keith- the country music artist or a real estate developer?

Oh come on gT!!!

Don't you ever step into our very own Norman forum? LOL!

http://urbanok.9.forumer.com/index.php?showforum=44
Norman @ Urban OK forum

Toby Keith, the famous contry music star who lives in Norman, is also an investor with his own franchise of upscale red neck restaurants: "Toby Keith's I Love This Bar & Grill" with it's first location in Bricktown in downtown OKC, it's second in Las Vegas, another in Miami, and one planned in Stone Wood Hills, some major suburban development SE of Tulsa.

Link to the thread on OUR VERY OWN WEBSITE!!! http://urbanok.9.forumer.com/index.php?showtopic=746


LOL.

Not normally. I didn't know if'n they there weres the same peepers.
"red neck restaurants" for urbanites, now that sounds inviting, believe I'll stick with Hard Rock or Rain Forest Cafes, LOL. But when I feel down and dirty I'll head over to the "Ya'll Come Back Salon" or the "Ole Home Fill 'em Up And Keep On Truckin' Salon".
just teasing!

Holy crap, I didn't know Toby Keith lived in Norman! It's nice to have a celebrity I suppose, although I despise his music.

Norman's claim to fame will always be Campus Corner


Campus Corner? Well, I suppose it is quaint and picturesque during the day but at night I won't go within a mile of it. Norman puts forth a nice effort to make it look family friendly but the nightlife there is unbelievable.

I know some parts are shady, further down from Boyd, but it's not bad closer to Boyd. I eat late at Hideaway Pizza all the time.

Oh, Keith has developed a neighborhood SE of the campus already. East Village isn't his first Norman project.

HORNETS WIN

Well we love the Hornets, but we weren't expecting much. They surprised us all by winning their opening game before an audience of 19,000 fans. Everyone's talking about the Hornets, everyone's talking about how great it is for the city to be exposed like this. Most sections of the paper have a Hornets-related front page story. And ALL of them not only talk about the Hornets but how great they are for the city. People are noticing, and it's exciting.

John Rohde included the following quote from a Sacramento columnist: "The vision the leaders had here is just incredible to me." (Concerning OKC's Metropolitan Area Projects program which has sparked hundreds of millions of dollars in private investment downtown.) He also says that she compared the city to Indianapolis and San Antonio, underrated NBA cities.

Last night was certainly an important night for Oklahoma City's future in the NBA, whether it lies with the Hornets or another team, and it's looking good. A Hornets leader reportedly said that the support was so good that OKC could support not only NBA, but the NFL.

^It's great to see the Hornets get such a turn out. Personally, I am surprised that OKC doesn't already have a professional team. The city could without a doubt support both an NBA and NFL franchise. Talk about a massive untapped market.

Oh man, NFL would DOMINATE in Oklahoma!!!
Whether Tulsa or OKC could pick one up, it would be grand because Oklahoma is such a huge football state. It looks at this point OKC is ready to take one as soon as the opportunity comes.

Or as soon as we have an NFL caliber football stadium.

I thought that the Hornets were slated to move permanently to Kansas City which will have a brand new state of the art arena (downtown I believe) ready to open for next NBA season. Kansas City is a bigger market then both OKC and New Orleans and has good name recognition as a sports town with the Chiefs.

I think St. Louis is probably too far to drive for a game in KC but that region has been without an NBA team for decades. How new is the OKC arena? Does it have luxury suites and all of those kind of modern amenities? Thanks.

I just checked out your arena very nice! However, I went on mapquest and checked out the OKC metro area and it still looks quite small especially when compared with Kansas City. Lets face it guys Kansas City is simply a much bigger market and Topeka/Lawrence are within a 40 minute drive of the new downtown arena.

KC is an established big league town. I just don't think it is realistic for the NBA to choose Oklahoma City over Kansas City. Kansas City looks like a mini Dallas with tons of freeways and sprawl!

Kemper Arena is a dump.

Well sprawl isn't quite as big a factor for the NBA as the desire and demand for the NBA- We'll see how the rest of the season goes here in Oklahoma City, but so far the preseason games and the grand opening have been very full, and I believe I read that the Hornets are now in the top 5 or 10 for attendance (when they were LAST last year.)

The population/possible audience also isn't a big issue in OKC- there are 1.2 million people, and it's not far from Tulsa's 1 million. The Ford Center is close to the most vibrant areas of downtown Oklahoma City and not far from future urban districts like the Oklahoma River. It's a great location for regular, large-scale events like the NBA season.

Kansas City is a great city for the NBA too- it's growing, it's big, it's close to STL, and it's a very cool city. But I think Oklahoma City will prove this year that there is high demand for pro sports, and plenty of people who can pay to attend...

Kemper Arena is a dump.

You obviously didn't read my post and know nothing about what is going on in Kansas City. A new arena will be finished there this summer and I'm almost sure it is right in downtown.

Shane: I believe one of the reasons that KC is building this arena is that they strongly believe there is demand for either an NBA or NHL team in that market. Kansas City is a pretty strong sports city. Anyway I really don't care who gets the Hornets I just want to see a viable market get a team. San Diego is the largest market without an NBA team but we don't have a new arena so we are off the list. But KC, STL, Cincinnati, and Pittsburgh all are larger markets then OKC and are without an NBA team.

Population is a factor, but the largest factor is demand. Kansas City would probably have a good demand for NBA, they have lots of well-developed and popular sports programs- but this can also HURT the effectiveness of a new NBA team or the success of their older teams. Oklahoma City was worried that having an NBA team will take away the very strong focus that we have on college sports. The cities may be larger than Oklahoma City, but arbitrarily placing a team there would be a gamble for the NBA franchise that chooses to locate there. We will see how future games in OKC go as far as attendance, and maybe we will see that Oklahoma City is a sure bet for an NBA franchise. Maybe we will find that Oklahoma City will bust and the NBA will consider St. Louis, KC, etc. But for now, the NBA will definitely be watching OKC to see if they have a guaranteed winner.

Anyway, back to development...

There was a nice article in the Daily Oklahoman about how the simple addition of a roundabout in Midtown has caused a bit of an economic revival in the area, sparking new businesses to flower in decades-vacant buildings near downtown.

The Founders Plaza at Stiles Park is finished.
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a21/FoundersPlaza/beacon.jpg

"This is a modern symbol that we're a modern city," said an architect about the beacon and its mile-high green beam. The white sculpture is 100 feet tall, and the beam shoots over a mile into the sky.

Whoa, thats reallyy cool, but that pic looks like a fake rendering...?

I don't know... it was the same one as on front of the newspaper so it should be real.. Maybe just poor quality.

I was driving home last night and was pretty close to downtown but couldn't see the light. I guess it's not as bright as they say.

It looks like an alien signal. That’s probably what the ignoramus population on the south side of town will say too…

The Park Harvey will have 180 units, encompass all 18 stories, and have an average rent of $780, ranging from $575 to $1,580.

This nice little article was in the Daily Oklahoman today. Kerr-McGee is one of the state's big oil companies. A lot of the vacant (and even occupied) office space downtown is now being converted to residential.

------

Company drilling for success with 'high-end' condo project
By Steve Lackmeyer
The Oklahoman

Three historic downtown Oklahoma City buildings owned by Kerr McGee will be renovated into "high-end" condos next year as part of a deal announced Wednesday by Kerr-McGee Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Luke Corbett.
The buildings, empty for the past 20 years, include the former home of Braniff Airlines, an early headquarters for Kerr McGee and a building that was once home to the Legislature.

The developers, Corporate Redevelopment Group, include principals who are no strangers to downtown housing. Bert Belanger, Pat Garrett and Anthony McDermid also are partners in the Triangle, a housing, retail and office development being built this winter along NE 3 and Walnut Avenue. The threesome also are about to begin construction on Central Avenue Villas in Deep Deuce.

"A lot of exciting things are happening downtown," Corbett said. "This will be upscale housing. This particular group came forward with what we thought is a viable plan, a plan they can accomplish. And it met the criteria we want: Something that is very nice for downtown and will continue the momentum."

The approximately $40 million development will offer about 70 for-sale condominiums and penthouses. The project would cover three Kerr McGee buildings with space totaling 270,000 square feet:

111 Robert S. Kerr Ave. is a seven-story, 38,736-square-foot building built in 1902. The property was a temporary home to the Legislature for four years.

135 Robert S. Kerr Ave. is an 11-story, 155,911-square-foot building built in 1921 that was once Kerr McGee's headquarters.

324 N Robinson Ave. is a 10-story, 75,584-square-foot building built in 1923 that was once home to Braniff Airlines.

Terms of the deal or potential sale prices were not being disclosed Wednesday. Corbett said parking arrangements for the development are not finalized.

Corbett said his company has fielded numerous offers for the properties over the past decade, but he said the ideas or timing was never quite right.

"What's captured our attention is what has happened to the downtown area after MAPS," Corbett said. "If you look at the momentum we have in this city and the growth that's occurring downtown, it's breathtaking."

Corbett said the agreement, which is expected to close within the next few months, imposes deadlines for development.

"We're trying to have all this done by the Centennial in 2007," Corbett said.

McDermid, the project architect, first publicly suggested the buildings could be converted into housing at a mayor's conference three years ago. He praised Kerr McGee for carefully maintaining and securing the properties long after they were no longer needed.

"They have a 75-year history of being a great downtown benefactor. This continues that legacy of investments they've made for the public purpose, and now they see there is a demonstrable need for housing downtown."

McDermid said the three buildings, especially the Braniff Building, are well-suited for housing because of their windows, views and natural lighting.

"The Braniff Building is one of the most storied buildings in Oklahoma City's history," McDermid said. "Although we don't have specific designs yet, we will want to maintain the Braniff theme and record the history in some way."

More uncertainty surrounds the property at 111 Robert S. Kerr, which had a concrete exterior placed over the original facade 40 years ago. McDermid said his group wants to restore the original facade but must consider costs and find photos or designs showing how the material was installed.

Belanger said he is not worried about adding too much housing to the downtown market.

"We think there is plenty of demand for all these products," Belanger said. "We've got price-points at $100,000, $200,000 and $400,000. We don't know what the lofts in the Kerr McGee buildings will cost, but it will probably be in the middle of that."

Belanger said he's fielding calls every week about the previously announced projects in the Triangle and Deep Deuce.

"Some are frustrated, frankly, that things haven't developed more quickly. But we're getting very close to having product that we can deliver."

I have pictures of 2 of the 3 downtown buildings that are to be converted to condos, thanks to Doug Loudenback's pages (http://www.dougloudenback.com/downtownOKC.htm).

Braniff Building/324 N Robinson:
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y181/renffahcs/Oklahoma%20City/P1010170.jpg

http://www.dougloudenback.com/downtown/vintage/1923.braniff2.jpg

India Temple/111 Robert S. Kerr and it's original facade, planned to be restored:
http://www.dougloudenback.com/downtown/vintage/indiatemple2.jpg
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Groundbreaking on New I-40 Crosstown Expressway Today
KOTV.com

Istook Calls For State Funding Of I-40 Project In Oklahoma City

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Congressman Ernest Istook is using Monday's groundbreaking for the Interstate 40 Crosstown Expressway in Oklahoma City to call for the state to pay for part of the project.

Istook joined a group of state and local officials for Monday morning's groundbreaking ceremony and says the relocation of four miles of I-40 will be a big boost for the state. But he says it's ``incredible'' the state is providing no funding for the project.

Istook says the state's congressional delegation has gotten $310-million in federal funding for the $360-million project. He says state officials have refused to pay for the remaining $50-million.

Istook is not running for re-election but instead is running for the Republican nomination for governor to challenge Democratic Governor Brad Henry.
Source: Associated Press

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The new highway will be 10 lanes instead of 6, and ground level rather than elevated. It will also be about 5 blocks south of the current interstate. The current Crosstown carries about 150% of its intended load daily.

The biggest deal about the project is that it is moving the highway 5 blocks south of it's current location and taking down the 6 lane elevated highway which has been the ugly southern barrier of downtown Oklahoma City for decades (not to mention a death trap for motorists). Hopefully the relocation will open up the downtown and Bricktown areas for more southern development.

A rendering of the proposed Hampton Inn in Bricktown’s been released. I really like it.

http://www.newsok.com/tempimages/n10hotel.jpg

The proposed Hampton Inn at Bricktown. Another surface parking lot, which Bricktown does not need. Apparently there is some controversy over the stucco material at the top; a redesign could be forced. The glass facade in the center would be lit up at night, which would be cool.


OKC GM PLANT TO CLOSE (About 2400 jobs will be lost in OKC)
--------
GM to close 3 plants
Facilities in Ga., Mich., Okla., to shut in plan that cuts 30,000 jobs; $7B in annual savinss seen.
November 21, 2005: 8:43 AM EST

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) - Embattled automaker General Motors Corp. announced Monday it would close three U.S. assembly plants by 2008 in an effort to stop billions in annual losses at its core North American auto operations and make deeper cuts than previously announced.

The company said the plan is aimed at saving $7 billion a year by the end of 2006.

The plants being closed include Oklahoma City, and the Lansing, Mich., Craft Centre in 2006, and Doraville, Ga., in 2008. In addition, some shifts will be eliminated at three other assembly plants.

GM also said it will shut six other facilities, including stamping, service and parts, and powertrain facilities. The company said the full range of cuts will eliminate 30,000 hourly jobs through the capacity reductions, up from its previously announced target of 25,000 job cuts.
----

A major airplane manufacturing facility will be coming to OKC, employing thousands of jobs, filling the GM void by far. No one is supposed to know that though… insider info actually.

^If that was insider info then why would you air it so freely on an internet forum? May I ask where you got such info? :sly:

Good news for OU, OKC, and Oklahoma! :)

OU Cancer Institute seeks location
Two areas have been selected as potential spots for the facility.
by Zach West

November 27, 2005

The OU Cancer Institute is narrowing in on the location for a new $70 million building as it continues to move closer to obtaining Oklahoma’s first and only National Cancer Institute designation.

“It’s a huge investment for the Health Sciences Center,” said Dr. Wade Williams, associate director for administration for the OU Cancer Institute. “Cancer is not going away any time soon. We want to be sure we have the absolute best cancer care for Oklahoma.”

The National Cancer Institute designation is the gold standard for cancer research and care in the United States, Williams said. It is very important for Oklahoma to obtain the designation because many cancer patients are often forced to go to other states to receive the best care possible.

“There’s a huge gap in the middle of the country,” Williams said.

Dr. Howard Ozer, OU Cancer Institute director, said the nearest comprehensive-care National Cancer Institute Centers are each more than 450 miles away.

“We want to be one of those centers,” said Dr. Joseph Ferretti, HSC senior vice president and provost. “We should have that opportunity in our state.”

The location for the new facility has been narrowed down to two main areas at the Health Sciences Center, Ozer said. He said the leading option is to build the seven-story state-of-the-art facility where the current Service Center Building now sits at the southwest corner of Stanton L. Young Boulevard and Phillips Avenue. Another possibility is to build in the D Parking Lot, which is south of 10th Street and east of Phillips Avenue.

A site selection committee headed by Dr. Dewayne Andrews, executive dean of the College of Medicine, will be formed within the next month, Ozer said. He said the committee will analyze the options and provide a recommendation to Ozer and Dr. Joseph Ferretti, HSC senior vice president and provost, who will then decide on a final location.

Ozer said it is important to realize that although these are the leading candidates at the moment, nothing is set in stone and things could change, especially after analysis by the selection committee.

Andrews declined to comment on the specific site possibilities because he did not want to stir up rumors and unnecessary anxiety.

Williams said both locations have positives and negatives to them. He said the D Parking Lot site is larger than previous possibilities, has room for expansion and is very visible in the HSC. He said negatives include its less accessible location and that it would require the building of a parking garage.

Despite the elimination of a parking lot on an already tight campus, students said they aren’t worried.

“We need a cancer center more than we need parking,” said Elizabeth Hooper, third-year medicine student.

Ozer said the Service Center is the leading location because of its close proximity to the OU Medical Center and its room to accommodate expansion. He said the downside to this location is that a new Service Center would have to be built to accommodate all of the displaced faculty and workers.

The OU Cancer Institute began the process of becoming Oklahoma’s only National Cancer Institute Cancer Center in 2002 when the institute awarded it a P20 Planning Grant. In 2004, state voters made the new facility possible by approving State Question 713, which directed funds toward health care initiatives giving $7 million a year towards the construction of the new building.

In December, Downtown OKC is a winter wonderland. Complete with real (manufactured) snow, scent machines to fill the air with Christmas smells, snowslides, lights, and a 45-foot Christmas tree.

Here are some pictures from Saturday. The night ones didn't turn out well, sry. And the crazy-bright ones are taken with my camera's "Night-photo" mode... Which doesn't work at all.

The Windows: These are set up in shop windows in the Business District. They're pretty cool. The pictures will be auctioned.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/city/window1.jpg

The Canal:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/city/brickcanal2.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/city/brickcanal3.jpg

The Tree:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/city/bricktree.jpg

The Slide: (This is inside the Bricktown Ballpark; There are 2 icy slides. I didn't try it though...)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/city/brickslide.jpg

The Gardens and The Crystal Bridge:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/city/bridgesky2.jpg

The Myriad Gardens were spectacular, unfortunately I couldn't get any good pictures of the lights but it's worth it to go see them.

Also I saw the construction site for one of the hotels. I can't remember which one it was; whichever is on the canal. So they've started preparing the site, at least.

^If that was insider info then why would you air it so freely on an internet forum? May I ask where you got such info? :sly:

I post inside info in my forums all the time. Just hints usually though.

Great pics, Shane!

This article was on the front page of the Business section in the Daily Oklahoman today. I scanned the picture from the article that shows renderings and locations for the projects.

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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/city/triangle.jpg

Construction scheduled to begin on 4 downtown housing projects

By Steve Lackmeyer
The Oklahoman

Construction is scheduled to begin by February on four downtown Oklahoma City housing projects -- all of them concentrated in and around Deep Deuce. What else is in the works?

Developer Richard Tanenbaum previously announced he will begin renovating the 48-year-old Park Harvey Building at 200 N Harvey in January. The 17-story building will have 178 apartments ranging in size from 532 to 1,170 square feet leasing for $550 to $950 per month, according to pro-forma estimates.

Urban Renewal Authority Executive Director JoeVan Bullard said Wednesday he is assured by developer Mike Henderson that he will meet a Dec. 21 deadline to start work on the 303-unit Legacy Summit at Arts Central. The planned $26 million apartment complex has gone through several delays since first being announced in 2002.

Developers Anthony McDermid, Bert Belanger and Pat Garrett have a deal pending with Kerr-McGee Corp. to renovate three empty office buildings into for-sale housing. The developers hope to start work sometime next year.
Two of the projects are proceeding with assistance of about $2.7 million in tax increment financing approved Wednesday by the Oklahoma City Redevelopment Authority.

All of the projects represent the first addition of large-scale for-sale housing downtown since the construction of Sycamore Square 20 years ago. Sale prices in the projects range between $150,000 and $550,000.

The four projects all involve land controlled by the Urban Renewal Authority. Director JoeVan Bullard said he's not worried about the prospect of multiple projects opening at once.

"With four or five projects coming out of the ground at once, there will be a bigger buzz," Bullard said. "I don't think any of them coming out at the same time will have a negative impact."

At least two of the competing developers say they will be the first to begin work.

Grant Humphreys' Urban Form LLC already has opened a sales office at 824 N Broadway for "Block 4," an $11 million, 36-unit townhome complex to be built on NE 4 across from the Deep Deuce Apartments.

"This project has the momentum of a freight train," Humphreys said. "We submitted for a building permit and are set to jet. ... It looks like we'll be the first out of the ground."

Or will he? Architect Anthony McDermid, a partner in the Central Avenue Villas, also has applied for a building permit for Central Avenue Villas planned for the corner of NE 4 and Central Avenue -- just northwest of the Deep Deuce Apartments.

The project, to cost between $4 million and $5 million, will offer 30 condominiums priced between $150,000 and $500,000. McDermid's partners include Somerset Partners, which owns the Deep Deuce Apartments, and McDermid's partner's in the nearby Triangle project -- Bert Belanger and Pat Garrett.

Ron Bradshaw, another partner in The Triangle, told Urban Renewal commissioners Wednesday he, too, is prepared to start work on the first 15 townhomes planned as part of a much more expansive town center. Bradshaw promised he is also about to tear up unused former Kerr-McGee surface parking in the area and convert it into greenspace until it is developed.

The town center development includes 25 acres acquired by the partnership between NE 2, Broadway, Walnut Avenue and NW 10. Wednesday, Urban Renewal commissioners designated the Triangle partners as developers for three city-owned properties along Oklahoma Avenue at NE 2, NE 3 and NE 4.

The properties, Bradshaw said, are the final pieces needed to complete their vision of a mixed-use development, including a park and pedestrian link to Bricktown.

"Our plans for The Triangle are to create a neighborhood within the city where neighborhoods are the focus of thoughtfully planned retail and business spaces that complement the energetic urban style of living we see emerging downtown," McDermid said.

No total estimate is available for the project, McDermid said, because the development will be built in phases, starting with 15 townhomes along NE 3. Work will begin on others as the first 15 are sold.

Marva Ellard, a partner in "The Hill" planned for NE 2 and Stiles, said she anticipates work starting in February on the first of what will be up to 171 townhomes. The $50 million development includes the priciest and biggest homes among the announced projects, with prices hitting $550,000 for homes exceeding 3,000 square feet.

"We're really glad to have a lot of things going on," said Ellard, whose partner is William Canfield. "It's not like we will be alone out there. And we all have different ideas."

Tax increment financing, which allows for new tax revenues generated by development to be invested in related public improvements, will likely be used in three of the projects:


About $6.5 million is being requested by developers of the Triangle for streets, sidewalks, landscaping, streetlights and a pedestrian link to Bricktown.

The Oklahoma City Redevelopment Authority on Wednesday approved $690,000 for an alleyway, plaza and other public improvements associated with Block 4. The application still needs approval from a review board and the Oklahoma City Council.

Similar approval still is needed for $2 million approved by the Oklahoma City Redevelopment Authority for construction of a retaining wall, streets, lighting and new sewer and water lines as part of The Hill.

A study commissioned earlier this year by Downtown Oklahoma City Inc. indicates the growth in demand for downtown housing over the next five years could support up to 4,250 units. The total combined growth of rental and for-sale downtown housing is expected to climb between 4,000 and 7,750 units.

Humphreys said he already has a reservations list.

"We have seen a strong level of initial interest from prospective purchasers," Humphreys said. "People are excited to see high-end, owner-occupied dwellings in downtown Oklahoma City."

What else is in the works?

-Developer Richard Tanenbaum previously announced he will begin renovating the 48-year-old Park Harvey Building at 200 N Harvey in January. The 17-story building will have 178 apartments ranging in size from 532 to 1,170 square feet leasing for $550 to $950 per month, according to pro-forma estimates.

-Urban Renewal Authority Executive Director JoeVan Bullard said Wednesday he is assured by developer Mike Henderson that he will meet a Dec. 21 deadline to start work on the 303-unit Legacy Summit at Arts Central. The planned $26 million apartment complex has gone through several delays since first being announced in 2002.

-Developers Anthony McDermid, Bert Belanger and Pat Garrett have a deal pending with Kerr-McGee Corp. to renovate three empty office buildings into for-sale housing. The developers hope to start work sometime next year.

------------------------

newsok.com (http://newsok.com)

Looks like OKC has some nice rehabbing going on. I drove through once and outside of Bricktown, it looked like much of the city needed some work. Anyhow, how are you guys liking the Horents? Are they talking about staying? It really is a shame that Louisville didnt go after them, but you guys wanted it more. But i must ask, do you feel bad courting a team from a ravaged city?

It really never seemed like we were "couting them" from here. It just seemed like we were letting them use our arena- until the NBA actually came here and people like David Stern made comments that made us think, "oh, maybe we can have them forever."

Our state and city governments have been very careful to avoid any comments that would imply that the Hornets are staying. In the contract there is an option for the Hornets to stay one extra year, and it should be announced by January I think if they will stay next season.

So, while we aren't trying to MOVE them here, we are showing an enormous amount of support-- I think they are now the #3 NBA team by average home-game attendance, and their season is certainly better than last year's. I imagine that any requests by NBA people to permanently move the team will be accepted, but the city government will likely not make any (public) statements expressing their desire to keep the Hornets.

Thanks for coming to take a look at our development forum! :) Btw Louisville is one of my favorites. I notice a lot of similarities between there and here- growing suburbs, growing downtown, interstate relocation...

It really never seemed like we were "couting them" from here. It just seemed like we were letting them use our arena- until the NBA actually came here and people like David Stern made comments that made us think, "oh, maybe we can have them forever."

Our state and city governments have been very careful to avoid any comments that would imply that the Hornets are staying. In the contract there is an option for the Hornets to stay one extra year, and it should be announced by January I think if they will stay next season.

So, while we aren't trying to MOVE them here, we are showing an enormous amount of support-- I think they are now the #3 NBA team by average home-game attendance, and their season is certainly better than last year's. I imagine that any requests by NBA people to permanently move the team will be accepted, but the city government will likely not make any (public) statements expressing their desire to keep the Hornets.

Thanks for coming to take a look at our development forum! :) Btw Louisville is one of my favorites. I notice a lot of similarities between there and here- growing suburbs, growing downtown, interstate relocation...

yeah, Louisville is still a decent clip bigger, but OKC is growing fast. they really are becoming similar, but it still seems a little more "southwest" in OKC. Both are nice cities, although Louisville is much older and historically bigger.

Two articles today:
1) Midtown to Get Condo Loft Project
2) Downtown retailers pleased

Midtown to Get Condo Loft Project

By Steve Lackmeyer
The Oklahoman

The race to open the first downtown condominium development in 20 years might surprisingly end in MidTown, not Deep Deuce or Bricktown.
A half dozen multiunit for-sale housing projects are in the works in and around Deep Deuce and Bricktown. But a deal scheduled to close next week is expected to result in portion of the old Wesley Hospital at NW 12 and Harvey being renovated into 16 condominiums that would be ready by spring.

Harvey Lofts LLC, a partnership led by developer Bert Belanger, is scheduled to close on its purchase of the property Dec. 22. It also has a request for a $420,000 Murrah District Economic Development Loan being considered today by the Oklahoma City Council.

Belanger said the previous owner, a California investor, had started renovations, but the project stalled and the property was put up for sale.

"It's partially renovated," Belanger said. "They gutted the building, which was the nurses' quarters, put new skin on it, new windows, and had started renovating the building next door. They had gotten to the Sheetrocking stage."

With all that work completed, Belanger estimates the previous owner was "a few weeks away" from being finished.

Belanger said he and his partners Pat Garrett and Jeff VanHoose plan to resume the renovations within two weeks of the sale closing. Construction is estimated to cost just more than $1 million.

The residences will average 1,200 to 1,300 square feet, with sale prices starting at $100,000 for an 800 square foot loft.

Belanger and Garrett are involved in three other announced downtown housing projects: the renovation of three Kerr-McGee office buildings, construction of town homes in The Triangle and the Central Avenue Villa lofts in Deep Deuce.

The empty buildings are immediately south of Wesley Village Retirement Community, which was the main building of Wesley Hospital for 63 years. The hospital itself was renamed Presbyterian Hospital in the 1960s, and later moved to NW 13 and Lincoln, where it is now part of the OU Medical Center.

The loft development coincides with a resurgence of MidTown, which is on the northwest fringe of downtown. Cafe Do Brasil recently opened at NW 11 and Walker, while renovations are under way at the Plaza Court building, a MidTown landmark.

Russell Claus, a city planner who oversees the Murrah development fund, anticipates the Harvey Lofts will continue MidTown's revival.

"It shines a light on opportunities in the area," Claus said. "If this works, people holding back on other properties might finally move forward."

-------------------------------------
Downtown Retailers Pleased

By Tricia Pemberton
The Oklahoman

Traffic from entertainment venues and an increasing number of area residents are giving downtown retailers one of the best Christmas shopping seasons in years.
“We have had excellent sales this year - ahead of other years,” said Marie Young, who along with her husband owns Oklahoma City Florist at 119 N Robinson.

“We seem to have a lot more businesses that are sending out fruit baskets, poinsettias, pine trees and other items to their entire client lists. We are seeing more parties this year. We’re also seeing more individual orders from the increased number of people living down here,” she said.

Coleman Clark, executive vice president of B.C. Clark Jewelers, said sales are up this year in each of the company’s three city stores, but most noticeably downtown.

“The day after Thanksgiving, we were busy, and that’s a day we’re not normally so busy downtown. That wasn’t people working down here; that was people just coming to shop,” he said.

His only guess for the increased traffic is that people are looking for an alternative to overpacked shopping malls.

He also said people are getting more comfortable coming downtown.

“They come to the Ford Center, they visit local restaurants, so now they’re familiar with the streets,” Clark said. “It’s no longer scary. They know where to find parking.”

Teena Hicks, owner of men’s clothier the Teena Hicks Co., a longtime downtown resident, said she too has noticed the uptick in business for the season.

“We’re seeing our normal customers, but we’re also selling a lot for Christmas and a lot for special occasions,” she said.

The increased seasonal business also is evident in Bricktown.

Avis Scaramucci, owner of the Painted Door gift shop at 124 E Sheridan, said she was surprised by the increase in business since the holiday season began.

“When I was on Western, we did some business the day after Thanksgiving, but down here it was all day and all night that weekend,” she said. “We were so busy at one point, we couldn’t get any more people in the door.”

And the things people are buying leads Scaramucci to believe patrons aren’t just the passers-by who are making an unscheduled stop.

“People are buying plates and glasses. They are buying clothing. If these are travelers, then they’re driving, but I’m thinking these are locals,” she said.

Jill Devereax, promotions manager for Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World in Bricktown, said she couldn’t have asked for a better December so far.

“This has been better than when we opened two years ago,” Devereax said. “There are new places to shop, the parking situation has been fixed, the trolleys and the canal are running smoothly. When it’s snowy and cold, people leave downtown, but then they come right back.”

And the business isn’t coming during the normal 9 to 5 workday. Businesses in Bricktown say they’re busiest on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights - understandably, because it’s an entertainment district - but businesses in downtown proper say they’re seeing busier Saturdays than they’ve been used to for a long time.

Dave Lopez, president of Downtown Oklahoma City Inc., attributes the business to more area residents - 3,000, according to the group’s recent housing study.

There also are 40,000 employees downtown on any given week day.

Add to that the buzz the NBA Hornets have created, additional retail shops cropping up in the area and more entertainment downtown during the month of December - all add to why retailers are seeing shopping traffic swell.

“There’s a confluence of good factors working to our advantage,” Lopez said. “Now that we’ve had more entertainment downtown the past few years, people are more comfortable coming here. But we’re not relaxing, that’s why we’ve added attractions like the snow tubing.”

Not every downtown retailer is seeing record crowds, particularly some that are new to the area.

“We’ve been busy, but we need more consistent traffic. We would love to see more shopping down here,” said Angie Nichols, manager of Firefly, a fashion-forward clothing store that opened six months ago along Reno in lower Bricktown.

Lee Boone, owner of Boone General Store at 115 E Reno, has been open 2½ months.

“We’re not seeing an increase in shoppers, but it’s the first part of December,” she said. “I think people are doing what they know to do - they’re going to indoor malls, where they can visit many shops at once and they can do it all inside.”

But Boone remains hopeful. As colleges and schools let out for Christmas break, she’s hoping to see more families venture by her spot, which is just across from the Harkins movie theater.

“I have had people come in over the past few months, saying they will come back to get something for Christmas. Those people have come back,” she said.

Straying from topic a bit, let's look in geology news:

http://images.livescience.com/images/generic_geyser_01.jpg


KINGFISHER, Okla. (AP) _ An outbreak of geysers spewing mud and gas into the air in rural Kingfisher County is puzzling state and local officials.

Kingfisher Fire Chief John Crawford says initial reports of the geysers came in Friday morning, and that firefighters and Oklahoma Corporation Commission officials were on the scene yesterday.

The geysers have appeared throughout the countryside of rural Kingfisher, with stretches of up to 12 miles between spots, and some as short as a quarter of a mile.

Crawford says the threat of the gas igniting is unlikely, but he says there is a concern the gas could begin coming up through water-well lines.

He says sheriff's deputies were dispatched to inform residents of the possibility of gas coming through wells and water systems.


They've now concluded that leaks at a well site in Okarche, OK were responsible for creating gas that burst out of the ground in Kingfisher. Geologists say they've never seen gas travel so far underground. Original theories even speculated that west Texas sites could be responsible for the leaks. Chesapeak Energy, which owns the Okarche site, was embarassed by the incident.

More Midtown news from the Daily Oklahoman.

Developer announces plans to convert historic properties

By Steve Lackmeyer
The Oklahoman

The transformation of MidTown continues, with developer Greg Banta unveiling plans today for the first of more than two dozen property renovations aimed at converting nuisance properties into upscale housing, retail and offices.


The Oklahoma City Urban Design Commission, which is charged with overseeing exterior renovations in the north downtown area, will review Banta's "MidTown Renassaince" plans today for two buildings that were built in 1920 and 1946. They are among more than two dozen properties Banta has bought, has a contract pending for or is negotiating sales for in an area bordered by Classen Boulevard, NW 10, NW 14 and Dewey Avenue.

"It will be a true mixed use development," said Banta, who is moving his offices into a building at 1329 Classen Drive. "I think our timing is just right. It's poised to be the next hot development area in downtown."

To date, The Banta Cos. has spent $4 million buying 18 properties, with plans to spend another $4 million on further acquisitions and renovations.

Banta's ties to MidTown go back to the early 1990s, when he worked in the area. He later managed one of MidTown's landmark properties -- the Pasteur Medical Building.

Even after opening his own company's offices in northwest Oklahoma City, Banta often wandered back to MidTown.

"I never drove around much, except to see the old Mid-Continent Life building," Banta said. "I always felt that was the best historic building in Oklahoma City."

In 1998, after starting his company, he brokered the sale of a building at 1329 Classen Drive. He was dazzled by the property -- but wasn't able to buy it.

In May, Banta and his wife were dining in Bricktown and decided to make another trip by the old Mid-Continent Life building. The 1329 Classen Drive building was up for sale again -- and this time, Banta was ready to buy it and make it his headquarters. But he remained concerned about the surrounding area. Driving around MidTown, Banta assembled a list of troubled properties that needed an overhaul to make the area viable.

"For a pure selfish standpoint, my thought was if we were to move our offices there, we needed to make the area cool," Banta said. "We worked with several brokers, worked with some owners directly and tried to stay in the background so that nobody would know what the overall picture really was."

Kevin Jacobs, president of The Banta Cos., said they had help from area residents in determining which properties were nuisances -- and which properties were contributing to the area's well-being. They think they have eliminated all but two nuisance properties.

Their purchases include the west side of Francis Avenue between NW 11 and NW 12 -- an area cited by area property owners as the source of drug dealers and prostitutes when St. Anthony Hospital was abandoning its downtown home.

They also bought the site of the former Myriad Motor Inn at 1305 Classen Drive. The site was reduced to rubble several years ago, with debris dumped into the razed building's basement. Banta recently removed the debris, and cleared the site for office development.

All but one of the existing buildings will be renovated -- and they will require approval by the Urban Design Commission for any exterior changes, including window replacements.

"We love the historic character of the area," Jacobs said. "There is one building (at Classen Boulevard and NW 12) that we've had structural engineers look at; the city has declared dilapidated, and we would like to save it. It has a neat front on it. But there is no roof, and the integrity of the building is gone."

Most of the building renovations were visible this week. The first units are expected to be available by May.

Plans call for wrought-iron fencing with brick posts and attached parking to be added to each property. Banta said building interiors are being gutted, while exteriors are being preserved.

"People want that old look and that old feel. But most of them want all the new high-tech stuff -- high-speed Internet, cable television, high-finish counters -- and that's what we're trying to deliver."

yeah, Louisville is still a decent clip bigger, but OKC is growing fast. they really are becoming similar, but it still seems a little more "southwest" in OKC. Both are nice cities, although Louisville is much older and historically bigger.

Oh for the love of God, save me the potential flame-war this time, won't you? :bash: How many times have we had this conversation? Looks like you're trying to get some new blood into your "arch-nemesis file" or whatever you call it, that you pick on people when you feel insecure about your own damn city, that is hundreds of miles away from ours. Two differant worlds. Wanna talk Louisville right here? I'm game. The reason you all didn't get it is because your arena is an armpit, whereas ours is a typical NBA arena, that at the time, was just missing the NBA team. We have more of a boom-district in Bricktown, and the other downtown districts, and we aren't scavengers like Louisville was. We didn't want a team, we wanted a chance. We wanted New Orleans to get their team back, unlike Phil Hardberger, but we knew that they needed a place, and that this would just be a major win-win for us.

Get it? Now stop bringing that up.

Haha, I actually had to try really hard not to say anything when he put the message about Louisville being so much bigger than OKC. I just thought "Wow, that's a really passive agressive way to get back at me for complimenting your city and noting similar ongoing projects."

Oh for the love of God, save me the potential flame-war this time, won't you? :bash: How many times have we had this conversation? Looks like you're trying to get some new blood into your "arch-nemesis file" or whatever you call it, that you pick on people when you feel insecure about your own damn city, that is hundreds of miles away from ours. Two differant worlds. Wanna talk Louisville right here? I'm game. The reason you all didn't get it is because your arena is an armpit, whereas ours is a typical NBA arena, that at the time, was just missing the NBA team. We have more of a boom-district in Bricktown, and the other downtown districts, and we aren't scavengers like Louisville was. We didn't want a team, we wanted a chance. We wanted New Orleans to get their team back, unlike Phil Hardberger, but we knew that they needed a place, and that this would just be a major win-win for us.

Get it? Now stop bringing that up.

Dont get mad, I only pointed out facts. Louisivlle is bigger in every regard and has been for over 200 years. Louisville's arena is not an armpit, its just old. And FYI, the city never pursued a team, nimwit. A local attorney did, but he did so without city help or approval. NBA teams were interested but they wanted a new arena (as you said) and would not bargain if city officials wouldnt even TALK to them.

Why the FUCK does everyone get so defensive on here? What part of my message said anything bad about OKC?

Haha, I actually had to try really hard not to say anything when he put the message about Louisville being so much bigger than OKC. I just thought "Wow, that's a really passive agressive way to get back at me for complimenting your city and noting similar ongoing projects."

Yeah well meat gych. This will probably be our 100th flame war now, so put some popcorn in the microwave, and enjoy the show. :runaway:

Gych, what are you smoking? 'Cause I want some of it. Did it ever reveal itself to you that Louisville may not be the center of the world. Don't get me wrong, I love Louisville, so now you can go back to the pot-addled commune that you live in and jump up and down "Sooner loves Louisville!! Wippee!!" or whatever it is you do when people side with you, seeing as you have no friends, especially so on this forum.

And here's another thing. The next time that you pop up in an OKC thread of mine, or the very same thread which as memory recalls, we've already had a couple flame wars in itself, I'll start switching around the letters in your user.

And please don't start a boondoggle with your co-Loo ah vul posters, if we're lucky the only flame war today will be between me and you.

Thank you and have a good day. :cheers:

^^Ive got a question for you...why does it irk you that I post in your thread. Why does it piss you off even farther when I point out facts? FYI, I disagree that Louisvilel and OKC are "rivals" like Louisvilleplaya said over there, but its really no big deal. Half the people around here dont even know where OKC is, and its named after a state! I am sure OKC ppl could care less about Louisville too. So just leave it at that!

I'm actually a fan of Louisville.

And I don't think they're rivals-- but I do think they're similar cities, despite the small population difference.

$8 million mixed-use development planned for Automobile Alley
by Brandice J. O'Brien
The Journal Record
12/23/2005

OKLAHOMA CITY - Another mixed-use development is planned for downtown Oklahoma City. Investors David Box, Roddy Bates, Mike Dillard and Chris Bolding intend to renovate 1101 N. Broadway, formally the Buick Motor Co. building, into high-end lofts above retail or office space.

The Urban Design Committee approved the estimated $8 million project Wednesday and construction documents are 85 percent complete.

Inspired by Greenwich Village in New York, 35 units are planned ranging in size from 500 to 2,400 square feet, the largest being a penthouse, and will cost between $1,000 and $5,000 per month.

"It's going to be all first class with stainless-steel appliances, moldings and a garden on the second floor on the north side just like you see in Greenwich Village," said Box, an investor and one of the developers on the project. "It's New York City meets Oklahoma."

"I'm a little stunned at those high residential rental rates; it's by far the highest I have heard in Oklahoma City," said Marva Ellard, co-developer of The Hill at Bricktown. "I heard the finishes (will be) very, very nice and it would set a new high for residential rent rates in the Oklahoma City market.

"The more quality housing in downtown, the better for everyone," Ellard said. "We'll almost have instant neighborhoods in downtown. I think that's healthy."

Although rents will be high, project officials said there is a market for upscale apartments downtown.

"They're that much better than anything offered in downtown right now," said Bruce Bockus, president of Bockus Payne Associates Architects and an architect on the project. "The attention to detail is very much scrutinized. The level of finish and its quality sets them apart from what's available."

Project investors are applying for historic tax credits. There are also plans for a restaurant-bar known as The Chandy.

The investors, doing business as BBD Investments, bought the 59,500-square-foot building in 2004 for $950,000. An additional 4,500 square feet will be added for the project.

Box credits his high-rise dreams for the four-story building in Automobile Alley to the developers with prospective projects that came before him. Without projects including The Hill at Bricktown, The Triangle and Block 42, downtown Oklahoma City wouldn't be a developing market, he said.

The building at 1101 N. Broadway was built about 14 years after the original Buick Building at 508 N. Broadway to increase space for the dealership.

^^

Rendering for the Chandelier project in Midtown:

http://mysite.verizon.net/res17zef/1101broadway.jpg

^^Looks nice. Hows infill picking up in that Midtown area shane?

Things are really getting going. This is the second residential conversion for Midtown in the last two weeks or so. Right now most Midtown developments are conversions and renovations. There are two residential and at least one commercial that I know of.

Personally I like what they've done in the Plaza District in Midtown better than residential renovations, and the hopes that Plaza Court will come back.

Personally I like what they've done in the Plaza District in Midtown better than residential renovations, and the hopes that Plaza Court will come back.


Cool, you guys expecting any big retail developments in this area? An upscale grocer or maybe trendy boutiques or sushi lounges?

Here's Midtown's main intersection:

http://www.okc.gov/planning/midtown/roundabout.png.

Being a 5-way intersection with a roundabout, it's experiencing a bit of a pre-boom right now. There is particular interest in the Plaza Court building:

http://www.oignet.com/okcprop/PlazaCourt/plaza_court.jpg

Which is being renovated for commercial and retail space.

There had been a few restaurants in Midtown prior to the installation of the Roundabout at the Plaza Court intersection, and now the area is expected to gain more retail and entertainment presence. I'm not sure on any specific announcements for new retailers, but there are a few restaurants established already, including the popular Cafe do'Brasil which features a rooftop dining area with a view of the downtown skyline. In OKC we have seen a popular restaurant spark entertainment booms before. (Wasn't Chelino's in Bricktown before Bricktown was cool?)

You're thinking of Spaghetti Warehouse.

The last few properties in Bricktown that were still undeveloped have been purchased and plans are ready.


-------


Old core area nears transformation into lofts, offices, retail on East Main


By Steve Lackmeyer
The Oklahoman

The last undeveloped block in the old core of Bricktown is about to be transformed into lofts, offices and retail.

The developers include three newcomers to Bricktown: Rob Roberts and Greg Robertson, owners of Orthopedic Products and Services Inc., and Michael Brewster, an Air Force captain stationed at Tinker Air Force Base.

“I think if somebody had come down here 12 years ago and heard the pipe dreams that were coming up, nobody would have invested,” Roberts said. “But today, looking at where they are, with the improvements, the canal, the ballpark, the hotels, Bass Pro Shops, the Hornets, everybody wants to be a part of it.”

That enthusiasm is shared by Roberts new neighbor, Brewster.

Brewster, formerly a New York resident, didn’t know what to expect when he was stationed at Tinker six years ago.

“The only real experience I had was old western movies or the Oklahoma City bombing,” Brewster said. “I was afraid there wasn’t an area like Bricktown, that it was just a country town.”

Brewster, like Roberts and Robertson, saw Bricktown as the top spot for staking their claim in downtown Oklahoma City’s renaissance. Main Street included the last stretch of original, unimproved warehouses left in the growing entertainment district.

The three agree the timing is right for development of the block. The west border is the rebuilt Walnut Avenue bridge, which when completed will be a new two-way entry into Bricktown from Interstate 235. The city is also renovating and expanding the former Rock Island freight depot on the north side of Main Street, making it the new home of the Bricktown police substation.

Main Street itself has been rebuilt. New sidewalks, vintage-style lamp posts and landscaping replaced crumbling curbs and gravel walkways. All four buildings along Main Street sold last summer.

Roberts first tried to buy a two-story building at 224 E Main built in 2002 at Main Street and Central by veteran Bricktown property owner John Freeman.

Al Sahli, who also owns the Bricktown Marketplace at 401 E California, got a contract for the building first, and closed for $387,500 on June 28. Roberts and Robertson hoped to get the building next door, 222 E Main, but Freeman sold it to Brewster for $325,000 on June 30.

“We thought it might fall through,” Roberts said. “Not only did it close, it closed 10 days early. And that left 214 and 218 E Main. So we put bids on them ($450,000 each), and we were successful.”

All three property owners have renovations about to start. Sahli last week completed a lease with the Hampt, Brooks and Vandruff law firm to occupy all 9,000 square feet of the unfinished building at 224 E Main, with a move-in by July.

The Bricktown Urban Design Committee recently reviewed plans for Roberts renovations, which include new main entries, conference rooms, surveillance cameras, and a basement which he hopes to leave to a restaurant. His two adjoined buildings - renamed Bricktown Plaza on Main - were both built about 100 years ago.

His firm, Orthopedic Products and Services, will occupy part of the property, with the remainder to be leased next year.

Brewster, who got to meet Roberts and Robertson last week, likes the emerging mix of tenants. Brewster is renovating his 98-year-old warehouse into four 1,000-square-foot apartments, one of which will be his new home, and wants to lease the first floor to a coffee shop or wine bar. Improvements will include a roof patio and rear balconies.

“With residential, we won’t have to worry about a huge club keeping people up late,” Brewster said. “And if we get a coffee shop downstairs, well have an instant market for it.” Frank Sims, director of the Bricktown Association, said the only question left for Main Street is what homebuilder Jeff Moore will do with the block at Main Street and Oklahoma Avenue that he bought last month from the McLain family.

“There are some really cool buildings there, with the police substation and new parking north of Main Street, it has some real positive amenities that should help the area develop quickly,” Sims said. “When we see what Jeff Moore does with the former McLain property, we’ll see it all get tied together. It should really finish the core district.”

It must be Skirvin Day... Two articles about the renovation of OKC's 93-year-old downtown hotel.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/city/skirvin2.jpg

-------


Skirvin developers expect opening by March 2007 event

By Steve Lackmeyer
The Oklahoman

The Skirvin hotel has a new owner today - and developers say they are on target for opening as a Hilton before the March 2007 Big 12 basketball tournament at nearby Ford Center.

Skirvin project team tours hotel for glimpse of ongoing restoration

The three-month sale closing on the hotel by Oklahoma City to Dallas-based Skirvin Partners concluded Thursday with the wiring of millions of dollars by both the city, investors and banks to make the $51.3 million project a reality.

“The deal has been completed, all the documents have been signed and all the money has been wired to the correct places,” Urban Renewal director JoeVan Bullard said. “What a glorious way to end 2005.”

John Weeman, the lead developer, said downtown Oklahoma City is a different market than it was when his team, which includes Milwaukee-based Marcus Hotels and Resorts, first bid for the project three years ago.

Renovation of another historic property, the Colcord building, into a boutique hotel, began in September. A Residence Inn is being built in Bricktown, and a Hampton Inn is set to be built in Bricktown this spring.

“We started out looking at being in the very top of the market, and we remain at the very top of the market,” Weeman said. “The Colcord is going to sit in the market much as the Ambassador Hotel does in Tulsa. It’s a nice, small boutique hotel, and we’re a big full-service hotel. We’re totally different breeds.”

Weeman said the Skirvin sale was the most complicated in his career, with a city loan agreement involving historic tax credits, tax increment financing, new market tax credits and Community Development Block Grants. The city participation totals up to $18 million, all of which is expected to be repaid to taxpayers through ground lease and loan payments.

Marcus Hotels and Resorts, which is both the operator and equity partner in the project, already is fielding calls in the company’s Milwaukee office to book events, Weeman said.

He said a sales office should open in the first floor of the attached Santa Fe Parking Garage by spring.

“I don’t think Oklahoma City can wait for the Skirvin Hilton to open,” Weeman said.


-----

Skirvin project team tours hotel for glimpse of ongoing restoration
By Steve Lackmeyer
Business Writer

Demolition is almost complete, and construction is expected to begin next month as renovations continue at downtown Oklahoma City's Skirvin hotel.
Developer John Weeman was joined by Richard Horton, project manager with Duncan and Miller Design, and Vern Busse, director of design and construction with Hilton Hotels, in touring the project Friday -- the first day the property was under new ownership.

Tulsa-based Flintco began work over the summer as part of an early-entry agreement provided by the city.

Inside the hotel, Weeman, Horton and Busse saw a gutted open area on the building's southwest corner where offices and the front desk once were. That area, facing Broadway and Park Avenue, will become a new lounge when the hotel opens in late 2006 or early 2007.

The removal of those offices also revealed ceiling arches once hidden by dropped ceilings -- arches that match those in the main lobby. Tile found in the basement will be used to replace any broken sections of the hotel's original flooring.

Daylight pours into the second floor, where windows were covered by a stucco facade added about 30 years ago. The area, just above the future lounge, will become a "situation room."

"It will be a series of conference tables flanked by two board rooms, primarily designed for firms that are in arbitrations, mergers and negotiations -- maybe where you will have two teams working on a project," Weeman said.

Horton said the area also will include a private bar, a game room with pool tables and a reception area.

Another meeting area on the east end of the second floor includes original fixtures and engraved ceiling borders -- an area Weeman said will be among the hotel's most accurately preserved rooms.

The nearby ballroom where President Reagan once spoke is gutted, with only plywood covering the west wall. When complete, the ballroom will have a new facade, complete with a drive and grand entry for weddings, balls and special events.

Weeman said the $51.3 million project is both a restoration job and also "building a new hotel inside an old building."

It comes at a time when most Hilton hotels are opened in new buildings. But Weeman said Hilton is no stranger to historic properties.

"Hilton spent a billion dollars restoring the crown jewels in the Hilton family," Weeman said. "So Hilton's heritage with historic properties is significant."

Horton, whose Dallas firm is challenged with presenting the Skirvin's history, was challenged with determining which era best represents the property's heyday.

"You're going to see the Skirvin from 1912 all the way through 2005, from the furniture and fabrics and all the pieces we're bringing into it," Horton said.

-----

AND a little more Skirvin info, if you're still curious.

(From The Oklahoman)
Skirvin timeline

1911: William B. Skirvin opens the Skirvin Hotel, featuring neo-Georgian architecture, oak paneling and Venetian crystal chandeliers. The hotel is considered one of the finest in the Southwest.

1988: Skirvin Plaza Hotel closes with owners promising it would be reopened after a $1.2 million renovation. Laid-off employees say the hotel is in financial trouble and won’t reopen.

2002: Oklahoma City Council buys the hotel for $2.875 million after determining the property won’t be renovated and reopened without public subsidy.

2003: City solicits development proposals and selects Skirvin Partners, which proposes renovating the Skirvin into a Hilton.
Skirvin costs

$51.3 million -- Total project cost

$33.3 million -- Private funding (includes sale of historic tax credits, new market tax credits)

$18 million -- Public funding

Public funding breakdown
$10.4 million -- Tax increment finance district bonds

$700,000 -- Brownfield loan

$1 million -- Economic development initiative grant

$4.816 million -- Section 108 loan

$653,000 -- Urban renewal close-out funds

$431,000 -- Sale proceeds

A new restaurant and a nightclub for downtown Oklahoma City in the Colcord hotel have been announced.

From Newsok.com

----

Restaurant to anchor renovated hotel

By Steve Lackmeyer
The Oklahoman

After a decade away from downtown Oklahoma City, Michel and Alain Buthion are returning with a restaurant that will anchor the Colcord Hotel when it opens in one year.
The Buthions, who operate La Baguette Bistro, 7401 N May Ave., lost their downtown operation on the city's darkest day -- April 19, 1995.

Their restaurant in the Journal Record Building was destroyed that day by the bombing of the nearby Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building -- and the eatery never reopened.

"We had a lot of people asking us to go to different places like Bricktown," Michel Buthion said. "But Bricktown didn't fit for us."

Buthion was interested in reopening in the Skirvin. Buthion worked at the Skirvin from 1979 to shortly before it closed in 1988, overseeing its food and beverage operations.

Buthion could not reach a deal with the developers turning the Skirvin into a Hilton Hotel -- so the French chef continued to entertain offers from various downtown interests.

Paul Coury, meanwhile, was one of four competing developers who pitched plans to renovate and reopen the Skirvin three years ago. When the Tulsa developer's plan to turn the Skirvin into a boutique hotel was declined by the city, he turned his attention to downtown's other historic jewel, the Colcord building.

The Colcord, he said, was a better match to his successful 55-room Ambassador Hotel in Tulsa.

And the Buthions, he determined, were best suited to open a locally-owned hotel restaurant similar to The Chalkboard Restaurant that anchors the Ambassador Hotel.

"When I started looking around town, I had people mention a few restaurant names to look at," Coury said. "I went out systematically, met the people, and Michel and Alain clearly had the most panache and the best team."

The courting would last two years before a deal was reached. Coury said the Buthions are a critical part of establishing the Colcord's new life as a boutique hotel.

"The recipe for this concept started with the Kimpton Group in San Francisco," Coury said. "They're leaders in boutique hotels ... and they brought in people like Emeril and Todd English and other top renown chefs. And that's what we're trying to do in Oklahoma City."

Coury and Buthion promise "Soleil" will be unlike any other restaurant in downtown Oklahoma City.

The 130-seat restaurant will anchor the first floor of the Colcord, space occupied by the Department of Tourism until last summer, visible to traffic along Sheridan and Robinson Avenues.

Designs by architect Don Beck call for the bay windows added during a renovation 25 years ago to be removed and replaced with plate glass more in keeping with the building's original 1910 construction.

Seating will line up the east, west and south windows, with a corner "party" table at Robinson and Sheridan that will seat eight to 12 people.

From that corner, diners will have a view of the Myriad Gardens across the street.

"That will be the place to be," Michel Buthion said.

In the middle of the restaurant will be an oyster bar. Alain Buthion said the restaurant will offer a seafood menu not found at any downtown eatery.

Life will also return to the Colcord's basement, which in the building's early days was home to the Savoy. In the 1920s, the Savoy was the city's social hot spot, Michel Buthion said, a restaurant that also featured live entertainment and dancing.

The basement, used in modern times for storage, will be converted into "XO."

"It will have private seating, it will be a sophisticated lounge with adult music -- nothing like it downtown, nothing like it in Bricktown," Coury said. "The feel will be very big city, very urban, with appetizers served late, and staying open until 2 a.m."

Michel Buthion, excited to work again at a historic hotel, said he barely recognizes downtown from when he left the Skirvin in 1988 -- or even from when his restaurant was destroyed in 1995.

"I'm glad to be going back to the hotel business -- I'm a hotel man, I guess," Michel Buthion said. "We know the room service business, we know the clientele that goes to a hotel. But it's unbelievable how downtown has changed. I can't wait to see how it will look in the next 10 years."

A La Baguette would go REALLY well in B'town. I frequent a couple in Norman near my place, and somehow they find a way to make an upscale shopping center in Norman seem very urban and chic. And what Bricktown needs is sidewalk cafes, and not these damn sports bars. As it is, the food offering in B'town is not much differant than Campus Corner in Norman, which is more packed, especially on a game day.

As for XO in the Colcord Hotel, that's great too. But La Baguette should build an empire in downtown OKC. If they don't Starbucks will, and I would rather have 50 La Baguettes in my POCKET than a single Starbucks on I 240 (the infestation is in process).

Oh gych, I didn't read your question about the grocery store. Yes, we are expecting a downtown grocery store. It's not official, but my office in conjunction with our city's excellant Chamber of Commerce have been working over HEB (they have an urban market format that would be excellant) and Whole Foods. 4,000 people live downtown. A grocery store needs 6,000 in it's demograhpic area to be successful. By the end of next year, I bet they'll have their 6,000. But we want Whole Foods now. So we'd like to get them some sort of initiative package for the first year (if they need it).

Right now there are several grocery stores in OKC's "urban quarter", which extends from the Oklahoma River to I 44, including the Inner Northside. There's a Wal Mart at Pennsylvania Avenue and NW 23 Street, but noone wants to find themselves driving from a downtown that should be walkable, facing brutal traffic on one of the city's busiest thouroghfares (23rd) and then find themselves in the middle of a damn Wal Mart. Downtown living should be about convenience, as well as the lifestyle.

I saw people waiting at a bus stop with groceries on 23rd a couple weeks ago. So I guess some people are fulfilling their dream of an urban grocer. The study on downtown grocery store was in the Oklahoman, and it sounded very likely. I think it even said that they had almost had one moving in a couple years ago? And did I hear something about a grocer in the Legacy Summit development? That is, assuming dirt is ever moved on that one (ha!).

But you're right, they'll have 6000 by the end of the year with at least 4 major residential projects announced in the CBD alone, more than 250 units. (Including the 70 units in 3 Kerr-Mcgee buildings over 270,000 square feet- meaning more than 3,000 sf per unit). Then there's all of the announced Midtown, Bricktown, Arts District, Triangle, Deep Deuce, and Automobile Alley projects. I bet they can make it to 8000 before the end of the year with all of those and whatever they still have to announce/plan.

In October Journal Record said that almost 300,000 sf was being converted in the CBD from office space to residential. The Kerr-Mcgee project I think was announced after that, so that would put the total now to more than 500,000 sf of office being converted. That's 8.3% of all the office space in downtown...

That was a jumpy post...

It must be Skirvin Day... Two articles about the renovation of OKC's 93-year-old downtown hotel.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/city/skirvin2.jpg



When I visited OKC, this was by far my favorite building, its quite unique. Its funny, I thought it was condos, but I must have been mistaken. It must have been vacant?

It's been vacant since about '88 or '89. Closed because it was "haunted" and people didn't want to stay there. But I heard there was a homeless man living in there before the renovation began... So I guess you could have called it a condo when you visited... a very very large and inexpensive one.

The renovation is quite exciting as it will open up a lot more much-needed hotel rooms and so far they have made quite a few beautiful discoveries beneath the various layers of remodeling over the years.

It's been vacant since about '88 or '89. Closed because it was "haunted" and people didn't want to stay there. But I heard there was a homeless man living in there before the renovation began... So I guess you could have called it a condo when you visited... a very very large and inexpensive one.

The renovation is quite exciting as it will open up a lot more much-needed hotel rooms and so far they have made quite a few beautiful discoveries beneath the various layers of remodeling over the years.


Its going to be a hilton? Will it be the first Hilton in OKC (besides their lower brands like Garden INN, etc)?

They're building a Garden Inn down by my house in Norman.

It will be THE Hilton in OKC, but recently the Hilton on the Northwest Expressway and May Avenue was renovated into a Crown Plaza Hotel.

I just skimmed an extensive report by the OKC Chamber on downtown. It said that present and announced future investments since MAPS (1999) are at about 2.5 BILLION dollars in the downtown study area alone. Some properties have increased more than 1,300% in value. It also discussed the increased demand for downtown housing units, noting that since 2003, including recently announced projects, 2,200 units could be added to the downtown area, compared to only ONE major project in all of the 90's.

Another interesting statistic: After the completion of the new Ronald J. Norick Downtown Library, library card membership in the MLS has increased from 2,000 to 7,500 cardholders!

It didn't however tackle only the good issues facing downtown- it examined issues with parking and the prevalence of low income deteriorated housing and the crime that often goes with the tenants of such housing, and how those problems can and are being mended.

The 136-page report details almost all projects that have taken place in downtown since 1999. Despite the length I still found it to be an interesting read...

The Study (http://www.okcchamber.com/media/PDFs/DowntownStudy.pdf)

Imagine having one in your file cabinet.

Units announced so far will double downtown units. I think more residential announcements are coming soon for downtown. We pretty much have at least 2 announcements every month.

Downtown OKC:

Total Units: 876
Total Pending or U/C: 743

Source: Downtown OKC, Inc. (http://downtownokc.com)

Residential Developments and Resources - Downtown/Midtown area

PS I worked really hard on this, lol. Might have left some out.

The Triangle - http://www.thetriangleokc.com
New Mixed Use District, downtown. "Approximately" 781 residential units, grocery, pharmacy, commercial and retail spaces proposed.

http://www.thetriangleokc.com/images/visionmapsmall.jpg

Block 42 - http://block42.com
Downtown Residential. 42 luxury units.

http://9.forumer.com/uploads/urbanok/post-46-1129957524.jpg

The Hill -
Downtown Residential. 171 luxury units.

The Classen - http://www.theclassen.com/Home
Midtown highrise condominiums, 80 units/21 stories. Conversion of Citizen's Tower offices, Frank Lloyd Wright inspired building.

Views from the Classen:
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b26/okcland/12-05downtown.jpg
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b26/okcland/12-05classennorth.jpg

Park Harvey Apartments -
CBD residential. 178 units, converted from offices in 17-story Park Harvey building.

Center:
http://www.dougloudenback.com/downtown/56.jpg

Kerr Conversions -
CBD residential. Three Kerr-McGee owned vacant office buildings to be converted into approximately 70 luxury units.

India Temple, with vintage image of original facade:
http://www.dougloudenback.com/downtown/vintage/indiatemple2.jpg

The Chandelier -
Automobile Alley residential. 35 luxury rental units.

http://mysite.verizon.net/res17zef/1101broadway.jpg

Central Avenue Villas -
Downtown condominiums. 30 condos.

Legacy Summit at Arts Central -
Arts district downtown residential, ground floor retail. Lots of setbacks, could be cancelled. 303 units.

http://maps.newsok.com/features/maps/images/maps_legacy_lg.jpg

Bricktown condos -
Bricktown downtown residential.

Canalside and center:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v671/Simwiz/lb2.jpg

Mysterious unannounced Midtown Highrise project by Rick Dowell, "ca. 250 units", limited information.
--------


Total: 1,940 units :eek2:

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b26/okcland/12-05downtown.jpg

thats a great pic of the skyline.

looks like a lot of great projects are going up in downtown OKC.

That view of Classen Boulevard is great. Looks so chic, IMO.

Did you take it, Shane?

Oh no, I didn't take it. Found it on UP. But I liked that picture a lot too, with the Asian center down there and classen curving off to the horizon... Beautiful...

MIDTOWN, OKC

Midtown has created a website to go along with its phenomenal resurgence. The investors in Midtown are working really hard to bring this out of the woodwork and right onto the stage next to downtown. They're really driven to succeed, and I'm really impressed with how they are selling Midtown. Can't wait to see more specific plans come out.

midtownokc.com (http://midtownokc.com)

Some quotes from the Midtown website to give you the idea of what these Midtown leaders want to see:

"A key to success will be the creation of lively, visually exciting, pedestrian-oriented, mixed-use urban environment, offering housing types that will appeal to a variety of life styles, ages, and income levels."

"Active pedestrian street life, including sidewalk cafes and locations utilized for outdoor events and festivals, creates an interactive and enjoyable public life."

"In this vision, a hip, energized urban population enjoys exceptional restaurants, stylish shops, and first-rate art galleries, all located nearby."

"MIDTOWN Oklahoma City: Revitalization Strategies & Plans responds to the growing phenomenon of the population’s return to the inner city."

----

The best project in Midtown so far award goes to:

http://www.emporis.com/files/transfer/5/2004/02/247354.jpg

The 21-floor Classen, formerly Citizen's Tower, with 80 luxury for-sale units.

And what they probably don't want to see is people like me that refuse to capitalize the "t" in Midtown...

More Midtown today:

Sieber Hotel, vacant for 20 years and damaged by the Murrah Bombing, is scheduled for conversion to 38 apartments and 5000 sf of ground level commercial space. Sounds like they really want a restaurant in the ground floor. There is a 6-floor hotel tower and 2-floor former grocery which will now be loft-style apartments with 14-foot ceilings. The project received a $1.5 million Murrah District Economic Development loan. Total cost $8.01 million, construction scheduled to begin in just 6 weeks.

The whole story:

------

Sieber approved for $1.5 million
By Pamela Grady
pgrady@okcbusiness.com
[from OKCbusiness.com]

The Oklahoma City Council today approved a Murrah District Economic Development loan from the Supplemental Community Development Block Grant funds in the amount of $1.5 million to Sieber Holdings LLC.

The loan will be used to assist in financing the rehabilitation of the Sieber Hotel building, 1305 N. Hudson Ave., which has been boarded up and empty for more than 20 years.

"This is a big milestone for us to get this [financing] finalized and for HUD to know that that part was in place, and so now we can finish up the rest of the pieces," said Marva Ellard, principal of Sieber Holdings LLC.

Total cost of the project is $8.01 million and will be funded through a combination of federal and state historic tax credits, private debt insured by HUD Section 220 loan guarantee and Murrah Economic Development loan program funds.

Ellard, former chairwoman of the Historic Preservation Commission, along with Robert Magrini and Todd Scott d/b/a Sieber Holdings LLC, has owned the property since 1998. In September 2005, the Sieber Grocery and Apartment Hotel was listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Ellard said their plans are for the six-story, 48,000-square-foot former Sieber Hotel and the two-story, 10,000-square-foot former Sieber Grocery store to be converted into 38 rentable units.

The hotel building will contain 30 traditional-style apartments, ranging from 750 to 1,200 square feet, and the former grocery building will contain the remaining eight units, ranging from 840 to 1,440 square feet.

Ellard said the eight units in the smaller building will have a loft-style look to them with 14-foot ceilings, and the owners plan to keep the storefronts with Hudson Ave. openings.

The main hotel building, Ellard said, will contain approximately 5,000 square feet of commercial space on the first floor and she is hopeful a restaurant and retail establishment will decide to occupy some of that space.

"There was always a food establishment on the first floor, and at one time there was a cafeteria," Ellard said, adding there also once was the Sieber Coffee Shop. "We've talked to a few people and we'd definitely like a nice restaurant in there that would cater to the downtown/midtown health clientele in the neighborhood. That would be our goal, to put businesses in there that would be assets to the surrounding area."

If plans stay on schedule, renovations will begin in late February.

"HUD won't let you start until you close everything," Ellard said. "That's why this was so important. We're hoping to close in February but we still have some work to do."

What people don't always understand is that any time you have a major terrorism attack, such as in OKC or in New York, you will have not just damage to the intended target. But it will wreak havock on almost every structure in a mile radius. Midtown Manhatten was damaged. But Midtown OKC got it even worse. The old OPUBCO building, though masterfully restores after the attack, was slightly damaged. The Journal Record Building looked almost as bad as the Murrah Building did when it was all done and said.

"The conversions to living space reduced the amount of office space downtown by 2.2 percent in 2005 and will reduce it another 5 percent this year, Beffort said."

City's office space is shrinking
By Richard Mize
The Oklahoman

Oklahoma City's office base is shrinking despite construction because so many big office buildings are being converted to living space.

That was a highlight of Grubb & Ellis-Levy Beffort's commercial realty forecast Tuesday at the Marriott Hotel on Northwest Expressway.

Mark Beffort, office specialist, said office buildings converted to living space have added up lately:

"The central business district, the primary beneficiary of these conversions ... will see its vacancy dip below 30 percent for the first time since the 1980s," he said in a Grubb & Ellis report.

Gardner-Tanenbaum Group started the trend by converting the former Montgomery Ward building at 500 W Main St. to The Montgomery, upscale apartments and street-level retail.

That's 125,000 square feet of office space gone.

Gardner-Tanenbaum then turned to the former Citizens Tower at 2200 Classen Blvd. and is transforming it into The Classen condominiums, and has plans to convert the Park Harvey building at 200 N Harvey to apartments.

That's another 320,000 square feet of office space gone -- 150,000 square feet for The Classen and 170,000 square feet for Park Harvey.

Outside the central business district, Jim Meyer's Founders Tower Condominiums LLC is converting the United Founders Tower at 5900 Mosteller Drive to condominiums, for another 182,615 square feet of office space gone.

That's almost 630,000 square feet removed from the office property rolls.

In all, more than 870,000 square feet of offices in Oklahoma City will have been converted to living space in 2005 and 2006, Grubb & Ellis said.

That's more space than is in Leadership Square, the city's second-largest office building, 735,514 square feet at 211 N Robinson.

It's as if these Oklahoma City office landmarks were gone: Mid-America Tower, 307,388 square feet at 20 N Broadway, Oil Center, 249,654 square feet at 2601 Northwest Expressway, and Robinson Renaissance, 174,840 square feet at 50 N Robinson.

All office space is not equal, however. The space going to housing is considered "Class C" -- the least desirable by serious office tenants, with low occupancy and below-market-average rents.

It's close, but the amount of space removed from office property rolls is more than new office space built in the market since 2000, Grubb & Ellis reported.

In 2000, less than 200,000 square feet of space was constructed, followed by less than 50,000 square feet in 2001, just more than 75,000 square feet in 2002, more than 300,000 square feet in 2003, virtually zero in 2004 and about 40,000 square feet last year, and virtually none in the works for 2006, according to Grubb & Ellis.

The conversions to living space reduced the amount of office space downtown by 2.2 percent in 2005 and will reduce it another 5 percent this year, Beffort said.

Other plans
Kerr-McGee Corp. and Corporate Redevelopment Group's plans to renovate three Kerr-McGee-owned buildings downtown into housing will convert 270,000 square feet of office space into living space, but it won't change downtown office vacancy rates.

Why? The long-vacant buildings have been empty, but the space hasn't been on the market, so it hasn't been listed on office property rolls, said Mark Beffort, office specialist with Grubb & Ellis-Levy Beffort.

Converting the Kerr-McGee buildings will mean more living space downtown, but not less office space on the books.

The Kerr-McGee development will result in about 70 condominiums and penthouses in three buildings: 111 Robert S. Kerr Ave., 135 Robert S. Kerr and 324 N Robinson.

I suppose I ought to mention that the USA's 3rd largest retail site is being built along I-35 between the Robinson Street and Tecumseh Road exits in Norman. It's gonna be called University North Park, and it's being developed by the University of Oklahoma Regents. OU has not mentioned any tenants yet, or unveiled any plans other than how huge it will be, other than that it will include a Target. That came up only because it will result in the closing of the current Target off of West Main Street. What's likely is that all of the tenants iin Sooner Fashion Mall at I-35 and Ed Noble Parkway will probably move down the interstate, and the mall might become an office park.

On the city of Norman's council meeting archives, plans were discussed to include residential and office space, and not just retail.

More Residential
New information and projects from the Skyline Snapshot quarterly publication. (Downtown OKC, Inc.)

The Hill (new picture - Info in post #105)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/hill.jpg

The Triangle (Info in post #105) Initial Phase
Brownstones at Maywood Park
15 units from 2,500-3,500 sf, $400,000-$800,000.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/brownmay.jpg

Bricktown Condos (new info - picture in post #105)
30 residential units, canal-level retail, enclosed parking.

Central Avenue Villas
30 units, 735-2,800 sf. $175,000-$500,000.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/cav.jpg

Film Exchange Building
Conversion. 6 apartments with 12,000 sf of retail/office space.

222 E. Main
4 units, 2100 sf retail, enclosed parking. This will fix a major eyesore. Look at that grimy building... Not a huge project but it should be done soon and will be the first Bricktown residential.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/222.jpg

New Total: 2,048 units.

More than 2,000 units! Wow...

East Main, which goes between B'town and Deep Deuce, is a pretty mean street at night. I should go down there though and take some pictures of the excellant urbanity (some grit) and the brilliant skyline view from where they're building the new police station. I don't think they could have chosen a better location in Bricktown for it, now that I think about it.

The development off of East Lindsey and 12th in Norman, east of the campus, is probably starting to go up about now.

I went out for a bite of pizza in Campus Corner and saw some buildings under revitalization in there as well. The streets in the district were as crowded as ever, and it was tought to find a spot to park in by the Hideaway. I ended up parking on the oval and walking across Boyd at University Ave. That's how limited parking was!

Looks like OKC will be a major league city for at least one more season.

1) The Oklahoman, Hornets will return
2) Charlotte Observer, Shinn's next move

Hornets will return next season

By Andrew Gilman
The Oklahoman

MEMPHIS - The Hornets are coming back to Oklahoma City next season for a majority of their schedule, but their long-term future is still uncertain, despite reports.

The New Orleans Times-Picayune reported Saturday that there was "an understanding" the team would return to New Orleans for the 2007-08, according to league sources.

“That’s somebody leaking out the final proposal (the Hornets) haven’t agreed to,” a source close to the NBA told The Oklahoman. “There is no deal (for the long-term). What was in the Times-Picayune was inaccurate. The Hornets have not agreed to anything.”

The NBA is set to announce this week their plans for the Hornets future - at least in the short-term.

The plan will be similar to this season, according to sources, with the team playing a majority of its games in the Ford Center, with a handful in New Orleans.

“I don’t think anything has changed,“ said Oklahoma City mayor Mick Cornett, who was part of the negotiations which relocated the team to Oklahoma City following Hurricane Katrina. “I think we’re fundamentally where we’ve been all season, with people wondering if New Orleans will be ready next season. Doesn’t seem likely. Who knows after that?”

The long-term future of the team rests in New Orleans’ ability to support the team - both in the stands and through corporate support - as well as the continued negotiations over the team’s lease.

According to the lease, the Hornets would pay the state of Louisiana an exit fee of $10 million to break the lease “in the event this agreement shall not have been terminated prior to June 30, 2012 and if the Hornets do not renew this agreement...” It is unclear whether the Hornets would be responsible for an exit fee if they left New Orleans before 2012, though it has been reported that they could not break the lease at all before 2012.

“We believe the Hornets’ lease agreement requires them to return to New Orleans for the 2006-07 season,“ Superdome Commission chairman Tim Coulon told the New Orleans Times-Picayune in a statement. “We are aware of their concern regarding the ability of the market to support a 41-game season.”

The Hornets also have a deal with Oklahoma City, which includes an option for next season, which includes revenue guarantees of between $35 and $40 million.

Since coming to Oklahoma, the team is averaging 17,641 fans, 11th in the league. In their final season in New Orleans, the team was last in the league in attendance. Meanwhile, coach Byron Scott and many of the players have said that they want to return to the Ford Center, due in large part to the home-court advantage Oklahoma City has provided.

And while the long-term decision won’t be made by Scott or the players, Scott may have helped facilitate moving two games from Baton Rouge, La., back to Oklahoma City, suggesting his team would have won a December game agains Phoenix in Baton Rouge if the crowd (7,302) would have been similar to the Ford Center’s regular crowds.

The Hornets won both of the games they moved out of Baton Rouge, beating Sacramento in Norman on Jan. 18 and beating Memphis at the Ford Center on Jan. 25.

------

Shinn's next team move the right one
RICK BONNELL

George Shinn isn't foolish enough to move his team back to New Orleans.

The Hornets will make their only trip to Charlotte on Monday, for a Martin Luther King Day matinee. Right now their name sounds like a run-on sentence: "The New Orleans-Oklahoma City Hornets." I suspect the best the Big Easy can hope for from the Hornets is a handful of games annually in the future.

That wouldn't be unprecedented in the NBA. When the Kings were in Kansas City, they played some regular-season games in Omaha, Neb., and the Celtics once did the same in Hartford, Conn.

Oklahoma City is already a phenomenon. Ford Center is packed or nearly packed every night and the volume would remind you of Charlotte Coliseum, circa 1990. The NBA loves virgin territory -- that was Shinn's original sales pitch for expansion to Charlotte -- and OKC is just large enough to support one major-league team.
From what I hear, the Hornets generate about $1 million in revenue every home game there. Their lucrative cable-television deal with Cox transferred to Oklahoma City, because Cox operates both there and in New Orleans.

Shinn is genuinely conflicted about New Orleans for practical and sentimental reasons. I'm sure he doesn't want to be remembered as the guy who moved a team twice in five years.

But this time he bears no fault. Hurricane Katrina didn't just wreck New Orleans, it emptied the city. The arena can be fixed, and will be in time to host three Hornets games this season. But will there again be the population and corporate base to support a team, particularly with the NFL pressuring the Saints to stay there as well?
Whatever you think of Shinn, the man knows a good business deal. Whatever flaws the Ford Center has as an NBA venue can be fixed. Oklahoma City sees the Hornets as validation, and that town will keep buying tickets and T-shirts.

Who would turn his back on that?

The name needs to be changed. But I would love if the two cities could share, and NOLA get about 5-6 games a season, which is generous compared to other situations like Boston or the ex-KC Kings.

Yup. The Oklahoma City Hornets will be "Playing in the Heart of OKC" for another year.

The downtown airpark has been on its way to shutting down for a while now. With its prime location along the Oklahom River, it is sure to be a really great spot for development. Oh, wait, it's already going to be developed...

Grant Humphreys made 7.2 million dollar bid, he's the same guy that is doing Block 42 residential in downtown. Their master plan for the airpark property to come before the end of the year. Great news.

Mixed-use project planned for former airpark

By Steve Lackmeyer
The Oklahoman

Developers' $7.2 million bid accepted
A casino is out and mixed-use development is in for the former Downtown Airpark after a winning $7.2 million bid Thursday by developer Grant Humphreys.

Humphreys, whose partners include his brother Blair and father, former Mayor Kirk Humphreys, said Thursday they are buying the airpark because of its proximity to downtown, the Oklahoma River and the realigned Interstate 40 Crosstown Expressway, and they will block any attempts to turn it into a casino.

"In the next four years, as the I-40 realignment becomes a reality, this property will become a critical component of the river's redevelopment," Grant Humphreys said. "We're big believers in downtown's continued growth and success."

Receiver David Rhoades, appearing in Oklahoma County District Court on Thursday, recommended the bid over others that included parties interested in developing the 81-acre property into a tribal casino. Rhoades said the Humphreys bid was chosen because it met "all the rules" and not because of development plans.

"The deal was to accept the highest and best," Rhoades said. "There were certain rules that the judge set forth in the order. Some of the people didn't comply with the judge's rules -- they either didn't put cash up front or didn't have a contract that was acceptable."

Rhoades said a closing will occur within 30 to 45 days -- and added he has no concerns the deal won't be completed. The Humphreyses and partner Robbie Aduddell, whose family owns Aduddell Roofing, submitted a $100,000 check and signed a contract as part of their winning bid.

"They're solid," Rhoades said.

The Downtown Airpark closed in May and went into foreclosure owing "in excess of $7 million" to creditors, including actress Suzy Amis and a trust connected to James Cameron, Amis' husband and producer of the movie "Titanic."

Downtown Airpark Inc. was owned by contractor David Amis III and riverfront development consultant Pat Downes when it ran into financial difficulties.

The property is along the west side of Western Avenue and the south shore of the Oklahoma River. After the realignment of I-40, Western will be the only "full diamond" intersection in downtown, meaning east- and west-bound can both enter and exit the interstate at Western Avenue. Highway mitigation plans include creation of a large green space on the north side of the river adjacent to the airpark.

"We became interested in the property because of its great views of the downtown skyline and prime riverfront location," Aduddell said. "It's by far the biggest single development site in close proximity to downtown."

Grant Humphreys said they envision a mixed-use master-planned development that could include offices, housing, hotels and retail. He said a master planner will be hired within the next year.

Blair and Grant Humphreys promised a casino won't be a part of the development.

"We believe that a corporate anchored mixed-use development will be the highest and best use for the property," Blair Humphreys said. "This will build on the success of MAPS and be another boost to the momentum of downtown Oklahoma City."

I was shocked when I remembered what side of the river that the airpark is on.

The current master plans for the Oklahoma River/Riverside district. Truly a huge project, encompassing 7 miles of the newly dammed and named "Oklahoma River."

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/okcriverside3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/okcriverside.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b26/okcland/12-05downtown.jpg

Wow! That is a great shot! :)

I'm curious if any of that has been proposed, and if this is something simillar to the Arkansas River Masterplan that Tulsa's got.

I haven't seen that. But it looks like you'll get your wish of riverfront housing.

A Colorado company wants to stir up some rapids in the Oklahoma River. The city loves the idea, and claims OKC would be well served by such a waterpark, especially in the event that Six Flags (formerly HQed in OKC) closes both Frontier City and White Water Bay.

It would be really interesting to have such a unique activity on the Oklahoma River. With the Matt Hoffman Action Sports Park and boathouses, the River would be a really great recreational area and will funnel in even more people to downtown area attractions and businesses.

The article said that if the flow and dynamic of the river turn out to be unsuitable for such a whitewater rafting park, there would be an option of building the same attraction artificially outside of the river, which would be just as good.

I'm assuming that city leaders wouldn't agree to anything that would render the boathouse and sailing, rowing, etc events impossible.

Mr. Lackmeyer says that OKC's former Hollywood is "the best bet bet for downtown's next success story."

The race is on to save historic Film Exchange
By Steve Lackmeyer
The Oklahoman

A quick glance at Sheridan and California Avenues west of the Myriad Gardens in Oklahoma City might suggest the strip isn't the best bet for downtown's next success story.

Film district

The odds seem so high. City planners and developers forgot this stretch as they recast most of downtown this past decade as a 21st century, major-league city. Sidewalks are crumbling, cracks filled with weeds and about half of the old street lights don't turn on at night.

Homeless people and panhandlers nap in entryways of abandoned buildings by day, sometimes walking over to nearby fast-food restaurants to beg for some change.

But a mix of developers, civic leaders and idealistic filmmakers say this last, undeveloped corner of downtown once known as the "Film Exchange" could become yet another destination spot.

Amidst the dreamers, Bradley Wynn and the Oklahoma Film Society appear to be the most ambitious -- and last week signed a lease to bring life back to the district's former Paramount Pictures building.

"We had Paramount, Warner Brothers, Fox, Columbia Pictures all right here," Wynn said. "The first automobile commercial was shot here. The birth of cable television occurred here. Even the Mafia was involved. There is a lot of great history in the area and it would be a shame to lose it."

Where movies were chosen
During the heyday of downtown movie palaces, theater owners screened movies and bought supplies and equipment in the Film Exchange district, centered at Sheridan and Lee. The last vestige of that era, Oklahoma Theatre Supply, opened in 1930 and operated until 2004 upon the death of its owner, Maxine Peak.

Wynn met Peak shortly before her death, just as he was starting to explore the area's history.

"The area was so dilapidated, so much in danger of being destroyed," Wynn said. "Maxine Peak passed away with a broken heart, in my opinion. This area was her life."

Peak left Wynn with some of the vintage silent projectors, blueprints from long-lost downtown theaters and other antiques he hopes to display in an Oklahoma motion picture museum.

But more than being a tribute to days gone by, Wynn thinks the Film Exchange can once again be a thriving area for the state's filmmakers.

In just the past few weeks, the former Paramount Building has already become an early seedling for that dream. Oklahoma Casting recently became the building's second tenant, and owner Ron Smith reports leases are being negotiated with two other independent film companies.

Wynn said he learned early on that Oklahoma's film community needs a base -- one he thinks could be the Film Exchange.

"There was a cohesiveness problem, communication problem -- one guy who might need lighting, but didn't know this other guy who could provide the lighting," Wynn said.

He also argues Hollywood is filled with Oklahoma natives who might want to return home.

"Today, the running joke in Hollywood is that 50 percent of it is made up of people from Oklahoma or with Oklahoma connections," Wynn said. "Ron Howard was from Duncan, Brad Pitt was from Shawnee. The list goes on and on. My question is, 'Why didn't they stay? Why did they move?'"

If the Film Exchange could offer the infrastructure needed by filmmakers, Wynn argues, maybe the next Ron Howard and Brad Pitt will stick around.

Property owners seem ready to help that dream come true.

Smith, a transplant from the northwest United States, bought the former Paramount Building in 2003. His plans include a restoration that would remove the fake siding and paint -- once the building is leased and he is assured it can be safe from vandalism and break-ins.

"When we came to Oklahoma City, we saw a mini-Seattle," Smith said. "We see that it's going to happen; it's just a question of when and how."

Veteran Oklahoma City businessman and developer Chip Fudge is making the same bet. When the Oklahoma Film Association recently hosted its first brain-storming meeting about the district, attendees included notable developers such as Fudge, whose early efforts included the Paseo and Kamps Grocery, and Richard Tanenbaum, whose downtown projects include the Montgomery and the Park-Havey Apartments.

Fudge said he was drawn to the area by architect David Wanzer, whose office is in Deep Deuce.

"I try to go where I can find undervalued real estate that is cool," Fudge said. "We felt like we could take this and do something -- and it has a very marketable brand, having been the film exchange."

Fudge owns the actual "Film Exchange" building, 700 W Sheridan, and is working with Wanzer and owners of Bricktown's LIT lounge to renovate the property into lofts on the top floor and street level shops, restaurants and galleries.

"I have fun with these," Fudge said. "I have a day job that keeps me busy, but I really enjoy finding real estate that I can put back together."

Challenges remain
The momentum, Wynn said, points to the Film Exchange becoming another vibrant downtown district. But the area also comes with some challenges that won't be easy to overcome.

Unlike the rest of downtown, the Film Exchange area has seen no sidewalk or lighting improvements in at least a quarter-century. More than three dozen people showed up at the recent brain-storming session, and concerns about problems associated with nearby homeless shelters were raised throughout the discussion.

Councilwoman Ann Simank, who has supported similar efforts in the Plaza District on NW 16 and in Capitol Hill, encouraged the filmmakers, developers and property owners to form an organization, and to pursue a Main Street designation that could help pay for their efforts.

She also indicated the city could "streetscape" the area, giving it new sidewalks and lighting, as part of a bond issue that will be presented to voters in the next few years. Simank, however, wasn't bombarded with demands that the nearby homeless shelters be moved elsewhere.

By being the first to move in, Wynn hopes to show others the area is ready for redevelopment. He is quick to remind others that Bricktown and Deep Deuce also once struggled with the homeless issue.

"It's an obstacle just like anything," Wynn said. "Our goal is to embrace the homeless shelters, to better their environment, their living conditions, and to look at things we're doing that might provide them with opportunities."

I don't think it would hurt to do a streetscape project in west of downtown. We have to enter that part of town only once we have time on our hands to focus on it, which we really don't. We're focusing on downtown in every other direction to our maximum capabilities, and we're spreading the success we've had in Bricktown throughout the downtown area in every direction but west. But I think we can afford the attention span to do a little streetscape, and let the district do its own thing till we can add amenities and work on the homeless problem as a city. But yes, it too has potential.

As mentioned in there, Chip Fudge has got a loft project going somewhere in the Film Exchange district, so it's not like the city doesn't have developers down there yet. We do. But we've really got our prioritees fixed about now.

Yeah there must be a lot of pressure on you guys from all directions--- Developers and property owners are forming camps in the Arts District/Quarter, Midtown, and now Film Exchange too. All of them believe their district has the most potential and all of them want city assistance in their grand plans for their corners. The loft project is in the actual Film Exchange building, and it will have retail and possibly an entertainment venue on the first floor.

Film Exchange's proposition is cool because basically it would balloon the blooming film industry in OKC, but right now my personal favorite is Midtown, especially with the number of jobs already in that area at St Anthony's and the determination of those developers, so be sure to put my vote in at your next meeting. ;)

Well Saint Anthony's is really doing its own thing in Midtown. They've got one of the largest reconstruction plans (in terms of $$$) that this state's ever seen, probably second in the OKC area to the Oklahoma Medical Center's reconstruction plan.

I think we need to wait and see how a burgeoning Saint Anthony's will effect Midtown. Keep in mind that Midtown buildings suffered a lot of property damage in the bombing.

Lt. Governor Mary Fallin, who's running for a seat in the US House, went to the media and blurted out what I've been working on for a couple months now. The Florida Marlins are looking to move to Oklahoma City, and we want to convince them that we're better than San Antonio, Portland, Ore, and Norfolk, Va. I wish she didn't do that, but because she did, there ya' are.

Lt. Governor Mary Fallin, who's running for a seat in the US House, went to the media and blurted out what I've been working on for a couple months now. The Florida Marlins are looking to move to Oklahoma City, and we want to convince them that we're better than San Antonio, Portland, Ore, and Norfolk, Va. I wish she didn't do that, but because she did, there ya' are.
I saw that earlier. That would be great if OKC got the marlins, but I dont think its going to happen. If OKC did get the marlins do you think they would just add on to the bricktown ballpark?

Hopefully they would add on. I would hope that such a large draw would be used to get people downtown/bricktown, but I wouldn't really want to have two baseball stadiums downtown. Even with its current capacity of 13,000, it is the second largest stadium of all the cities on the MLB's look-list behind Portland's 19k seater.

The Kerr McGee Bell Tower (50ft) is scheduled for completion this spring. Construction should begin soon.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/eyeblink/plaza2.jpg

That's a nice skyline shot.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b26/okcland/12-05downtown.jpg

Wow! That is a great shot! :)
OKC does indeed ROCK!!!! :okay: :okay: :okay: :okay: :okay: :okay: :okay:

Ever been? I personally adore the skyline shot that Shane posted, taken from the river. But the view from the new Classen Condos is also good.

The view from the river will just keep getting better. I'm giving it no more than 7 years before Riverside starts developing its own skyline.

A few new developments in OKC:

--------

- Mayor reelected by a record-setting 87% margin, probably due to the incredible success of his first term.

- Security cameras to be installed all around downtown as part of the city's beefing up on security in the area, especially the courthouse and city buildings.

- The already outstanding OKC zoo has almost finished with its new $9.3 million 7.7 acre exhibit, "Oklahoma Trails," which highlights the 11 "life zones" of the state of Oklahoma.

- Art Deco-era Tower Theater to be revived as a live-music venue, offices, and retail. Its owners hope to anchor the reemergence of Uptown (23rd street area), following in the footsteps of Bricktown, the Arts District, Film Exchange, Midtown, and Automobile Alley.

-----

from http://okctower.com

http://okctower.com/dt5.jpg

"The Uptown Development Group's mission is to restore a portion of historic NW 23rd, a blighted urban area with 40 years of decline, in to a thriving entertainment and retail district. Restoring and renting the historic theater, retail spaces and offices will anchor the NW 23rd corridor, providing a catalyst for future growth in the area."

"The Uptown Development Group's Tower Theater complex is more than 24,000 square feet of historical property on NW 23rd Street including the landmark Tower Theater. The property, on the original Route 66, is nestled between the historically preserved neighborhoods of Heritage Hills, Jefferson Park and the Paseo Arts District. The group plans on renovating the property under the guidance of Oklahoma Historical Society and the National Parks Service, into a thriving arts and entertainment destination. The property, built in 1926, includes 8000 square feet of retail space on NW 23rd, 8000 sq. ft. of office space (above retail), 50,000 sq. ft. of parking on NW 23rd and the 8000 square foot theater, which was built in 1937."

Can't say I'm surprised by the election...

Oklahoma's largest publicly traded company, Devon Energy, has leased an additional 100,000 square feet in downtown Oklahoma City, bringing their downtown OKC total to 600,000 square feet. They own a 17 story building and lease in I think three others.

This brings the Class A/B vacancy rate down to 17%.

One is led to wonder when Devon will become tired of having employees in three different buildings and spend the money to build a 60-story tower.

The Brownstones at Maywood Park, the first phase of the massive Triangle mixed-use urban district project with an ultimate total of 781 units, includes the first fifteen townhomes of the project. The Triangle's developers have begun an advertising campaign through billboards throughout OKC's suburbs with slogans like "Reinvent your morning commute." The website for the Brownstones at Maywood park is http://reinventokc.com.

The Triangle's website is thetriangleokc.com

With St. Patrick's Day festivities Thursday-Saturday in Bricktown and the NCAA National Wrestling Championships at the Ford Center, this could be the biggest week on record for downtown businesses.

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Bricktown grapples successfully with visiting NCAA wrestling fans
By Steve Lackmeyer
The Oklahoman

If the beer man, baker and waitress at Hooters are to believed, no major downtown event, not even last year’s NCAA basketball regionals, can come close to the amount of business being generated by fans attending this week’s NCAA Wrestling Championships.

As expected, some of busiest rushes occurred at odd hours as fans made their way to restaurants between sessions.

The overwhelmingly male fan base stood in line for two hours to get into Hooters at 2:30 p.m. Friday, while similar crowds were seen at Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill, Bricktown Brewery, Spaghetti Warehouse, Nonna’s and other restaurants within walking distance of the Ford Center.

Like last year’s basketball tournament, the wrestling championship has filled downtown hotels and coincides with the annual St. Patrick’s Day festival that kicks off the spring season for Bricktown.

“The numbers appear to be very similar or even substantially higher than they were last year,” Bricktown Association director Frank Sims said. “Virtually everybody I’ve talked to seems to be from out of town, and it’s easy to tell by the university apparel they have on.”

Most restaurant operators were too busy Friday to provide an estimate on sales. However, if beer sales are an indicator, this week may be one for the record books. Dewite Bennett, a sales manager at Premium Beers, said business is up across the city, especially downtown.

“Bricktown is getting the brunt of it, but we are seeing increased business to the north and to the west,” Bennett said. “I’ve never seen Oklahoma City like this.”

For the first time ever, Bennett said, his company had to make twice-a-day deliveries to Bricktown. Daddy Hinkles, a steakhouse that usually sells 50 to 70 cases of Budweiser brands a month, sold 110 cases of just Bud Light on Thursday, Bennett said.

Bennett said his company delivered 987 cases and 67 kegs to Bricktown in the first 24 hours of the tournament and estimated sales Friday would top 750 cases.

“It’s just phenomenal,” Bennett said. “These people are here, they’re enjoying the city and it’s awesome.”

Michael Brown, whose Brown’s Bakery provides bread to 200 restaurants and hotels across the city, reported similar sales.

“Last year, when we did the NCAA basketball, we serviced a lot of Bricktown, including Mickey Mantle’s, Deep Deuce, Bourbon Street, the Brewery - and we’re seeing a significant increase at those same places this week versus last year,” Brown said. “The wrestling fans seem to have a lot more money to spend, and they’re spending a lot of it on food.”

Brown said the wrestling fans also are finding their way to his MidTown bakery, which is on the northwest edge of downtown. He also has seen an increase in sales at hotels hosting fans and alumni, including the Embassy Suites and Hampton Inn along the Interstate 40/Meridian Avenue hotel corridor.

“It seems like they are all over town,” Brown said.

Servers at Bricktown eateries were rushing to clear tables to make room for new parties as soon as diners left. At Bricktown’s Hooters, one server could be heard asking another if she had ever seen business so brisk.

“No - it’s never like this,” the server yelled before escorting six Iowa State fans to their table.

All of the visiting fans interviewed by The Oklahoman had high praise for downtown as a host site for the tournament.

Bob Wilson and Joe Hanning, Iowa State fans from Washington, Pa., said they had spent their free time Thursday touring Bricktown and the nearby Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum. Friday afternoon, they were hunting for “a great steak” and were browsing along the Bricktown Canal.

“I love it,” Wilson said. “This is the most wonderful city for the tournament.”

The memorial, they said, was “very moving.”

“Ford Center is just fabulous - very good seating,” Wilson said.

Their only complaint was paying $20 for parking at the garage next to the arena (most lots were charging $10 or less).

“But that’s OK,” Wilson said.

Both men liked the proximity of the tournament to restaurants, shops and clubs in Bricktown, and to other downtown attractions. They said they attend the tournament every year and already are planning to attend next year’s championships in Detroit.

They said they would welcome a return visit to Oklahoma City.

Linda Fennelly, staying with her family at downtown’s Sheraton Hotel, spent her afternoon buying gifts at Boone’s General Store. Her gripe? She couldn’t find more stores to shop.

“The town is lovely,” the Iowa fan said. “In Bricktown, we’re having a great time with the different restaurants.”

Fennelly said her family attends all the nationals and said Oklahoma City is “right at the top” as a host city.

“With access to the arena, it’s all very easy,” she said. “Even coming into town, finding the area and coming off the interstate, it was very nice.”

Sims could only wish that despite the ongoing drought, she would like for the rain expected today to hold off another 24 hours.

“We’re told this will continue through Saturday evening, and that will be the crescendo with everybody out on the town, getting ready to go home on Sunday,” Sims said. “Every merchant in Bricktown is enjoying the impact, and it’s all been very positive.”

Oklahoma City CMSA
2005 Estimates
.Oklahoma County 684,543
.Cleveland County 224,898
.Canadian County 98,701
.Pottawatomie County 68,272
.Grady County 49,369
.Logan County 36,894
.Lincoln County 32,311
.McClain County 30,096
OKC CMSA: 1,225,084

# Growth
OK County:5,045
Cleveland:3,774
Canadian:3,120
Grady:1,104
Logan:380
Lincoln:17
McClain:982
Pottawatomie:553

Total growth: 14,975
That's 15,000 new citizens every year, meaning 1,300,084 by 2010 Census.

I have not seen a single one of those billboards. But I have seen plenty of odd billboards with simple, mysterious statements like "Norman has a plan" and "Norman can treat the ladies" and whatnot.

Okay, so I only saw one billboard at like Santa Fe and Memorial, but I assumed they had more.

Louvre Exhibit coming to OKC Museum of Art in 2008

The lineup of exciting travelling art exhibits continues to get better and better for the Oklahoma City Museum of Art. The Mexican Masters exhibit is just coming to a close, an Egyptian artifact exhibit is coming later this year, and now a selection of Roman art is headed for this outstanding museum in summer 2008.

Oklahoma City is one of only three cities selected for the exhibit; Seattle and Indianapolis will also be visited.

For the new OKCMoA, this just adds to the world-class attention that it has been receiving since its construction at the beginning of the decade. With a central location and a beautiful facility located conveniently within walking distance of downtown Oklahoma City's many attractions, the Museum looks to be positioned perfectly for future travelling exhibits.

City featured on CNN Travel Section

Oklahoma City's "vibrant" downtown was featured today on CNN.com's travel section. The article highlights the great concentration of activities in downtown Oklahoma City and the various other hotspots around town like Stockyards City and Adventure District. From an Oklahoma City point of view, I can tell you that "vibrant" is a word that we never would have expected to hear about our downtown 10 years ago. Now it seems silly that there was a time that it was boring!

This condo project was announced at the end of last year for Lower Bricktown. The building is in a prime site next to the movie theater and across the canal from the Centennial Fountain. New details have been released about the project.

11 units of the total 30 are already sold, and some of the retail space is leased. A 10-lane bowling alley and lounge and a Starbucks will be the anchor retail tenants. Two levels of retail will be constructed- canal level and second level walkway, similar to upper Bricktown designs. The remaining three levels will be the 30 residential units, and underground parking will be provided for tenants. It's a small but nice project, and the bowling alley is very nice to add another activity to Bricktown's menagerie.

Construction will begin May 1 and the project will be complete by summer 2007.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v671/Simwiz/lb2.jpg

Okay, so I only saw one billboard at like Santa Fe and Memorial, but I assumed they had more.

So would I, but south of downtown we've got these WEIRD, vague, Norman statements that are starting to creep me out. :runaway:

OKC Asian District to receive $2.25m for streetscaping, signage

$1.25m is approved for sidewalks, curbs, and landscaping that is tied into the Asian architecture of the area, and $1m is scheduled for a bond in the near future, possibly to be used for a gateway based on the one that is the entrance to San Francisco's Chinatown.

More than 20,000 Asians live in the Asia District which has in the past been called Little Saigon, most of them Vietnamese, and several Asian businesses line the streets (again, mostly Vietnamese). It is a recent trend with new developments to take it even further by adding Asian architectural themes (before it was just normal buildings with all of the signs and billboards in Vietnamese). It's nothing close to the touristy Chinatowns of big cities, it's really just a collection of businesses and culture that doesn't attract a lot of outside attention, it's just there to serve the community.

The article:

Asian district project advances

By Bryan Dean
The Oklahoman

The curbs, sidewalks and landscaping on Classen Boulevard between NW 23 and NW 30 will soon take on the look of the growing Asian District along the street.

The city council voted to hire an engineer for a $1.25 million streetscape project on Classen and on NW 25 from Western to McKinley Avenue.

The project will provide more pedestrian-friendly sidewalks, rebuilt curbs and added landscaping. The new look of the street will better represent the architectural themes of the businesses in the area.

Community leaders and business owners in the area said they are excited about the project.

"It's kind of nice to actually see new sidewalks and see a little bit of improvement in the area," said Ba Luong, executive vice president of the Super Cau Nguyen at 2668 N Military Ave. "It's really nice to see the city wanting to listen to different ideas rather than just having regular plants and trees."

Ward 2 Councilman Sam Bowman said a long-planned gateway to the area at NW 23 might also be included in the project. The gateway has been described as a miniature version of the gateway that welcomes visitors to San Francisco's Chinatown.

"I'm not so sure we can't do some of that gateway," Bowman said. "If not with the bond issue, I think there is enough push for it that we can do it privately."

A second, $1 million phase of construction is planned for a future bond sale.

The Asian Business District is a mixture of Asian and non-Asian-owned businesses in the area. The group has privately funded signage and developed a logo for the area.

Tuan Khuu, an attorney and president of the Asian Business District, said it is nice to see some public investment in the area. Private investment has been the driving force behind the district's recent success.

Khuu said the city's willingness to embrace the Asian themes in the district is encouraging.

New developments in the area are also embracing the Asian architectural themes that make the area stand out.

Bowman said he believes the area is on its way to being a popular tourist attraction.

"We are going to see a miniature-type big city Asian District," Bowman said. "They're not waiting on the city to do it."

3 Articles:

1) PHF Reseach Park now has no vacancy as it begins construction of more buildings
2) Oklahoma River might be extended/routed into former airpark property to increase development options and property values
3) 30-acre Memorial Corridor mixed use office development

Research park fills last available space

By Jim Stafford
The Oklahoman

24 tenants added in past 20 months

The "no vacancy" sign has gone up on the Presbyterian Health Foundation Research Park.
The last 1,800 square feet of space in the park -- out of almost 600,000 square feet -- has been committed, Mike Anderson, president of the foundation, said Tuesday.

"In the last 20 months, 24 new tenants have been added to the Research Park," Anderson told an audience of about 150 people attending a health research conference at the park's Conference Center. "There are now 44 tenants here."

The latest tenant is a company created by University of Oklahoma researcher Dr. Jian-Xing "Jay" Ma, called Charlesson LLC and its subsidiary, Lifetrees LLC.

Both companies were formed in 2005, said Mike Moradi, a partner in the companies through his Venture Development Associates.

Charlesson is an analytical research lab performing research for big pharmaceutical companies on a contract basis, while Lifetrees is working to develop products to battle eye disease, Moradi said.

Two patents have been filed based on Jian-Xing's research, and he has won six National Institutes of Health Phase I Small Business Innovation Research grants to support his work, Moradi said.

Jian-Xing's companies are in the same Research Park building where Oklahoma's biggest biotech success story, Novazyme Pharmaceuticals, began. Its successor, pharmaceutical Genzyme Corp. operates its Oklahoma City laboratories there.

Genzyme bought Novazyme in 2001 for $229.1 million.

"A lot of big success stories and serial entrepreneurs are located there, and we're happy to be part of that," Moradi said.

Anderson said the foundation plans up to 10 buildings on the Research Park campus, with planning already under way for a second parking garage and a seventh building. No definitive dates for construction have been established, Anderson said.

The sixth building, which is the location for the Cytovance Biologics biopharmaceutical plant, is complete and awaiting FDA approval to begin operations.

"The FDA is over there right now," Anderson said. "It has begun validation of the Cytovance bioreactors, which have been installed. We look toward manufacturing protein therapeutic biologics within this year."

A local partnership that includes Chesapeake Energy Corp. founders Aubrey McClendon and Tom Ward took over the completion and operation of the Cytovance plant earlier this year after the original group failed to obtain financing.

Meanwhile, the Research Park won't be finished when the 10th building has been built. The foundation has obtained land across Lincoln Boulevard on the south side of NE 8 Street that will allow more development, he said.

The value of the Research Park's six buildings and parking garage approach $100 million, Anderson said.


--------------------------

Airpark development may include river reroute: Downtown OKC property stands to gain value if plan proceeds

by Brian Brus
The Journal Record
4/6/2006

OKLAHOMA CITY - Developers may seek to divert Oklahoma River water to the former Downtown Airpark to enhance its value, investment group partner and former Mayor Kirk Humphreys said.

"It could involve modifications to the river," Humphreys said. "Basically, you'd try to do whatever you can to get the maximum value and utilization out of it.

"But our plans are not firm," he said. "And the land will not come into play until the highway moves. … And that's when it'll really start to realize its value."

In February, Aduddell-Gibraltar Partners LLC placed the winning bid of $7.2 million for the 81-acre airpark property. Last year the airpark was closed and put into receivership after Downtown Airpark Inc. faced financial challenges, owing more than $7 million to creditors.

The new investment partnership is composed of Aduddell Cos. and Gibraltar Investments, headed by Grant Humphreys. His brother Blair and father, Kirk Humphreys, also are involved in the deal.

Kirk Humphreys said he expects environmental-impact studies on the area to be ready for review within a few weeks, with closing on the deal to follow shortly thereafter. Developers will weigh options for the land then, he said.

"Who knows what direction it could take?" Humphreys said. "We haven't even hired a planning firm yet."

Pat Downes, who had a small interest in the property when it was turned over for sale, said river diversion or the creation of an inlet from the river nearby was explored in the conceptual master plan originally published by the River Development Trust.

"It shows an architect's rendering of what that property might look like with water features brought onto the property itself," said Downes, who is also director of development for the Oklahoma City Riverfront Redevelopment Authority.

"They've acknowledged the existence of the concept," Downes said when asked if developers had approached him about possible river diversion. "But nobody has said, 'We're going to go do X, Y or Z.' I don't think they're there yet."

As an example of one possible outcome, Downes pointed to the inlet created near the Chesapeake Energy-sponsored boathouse near the Bricktown Canal. He said such construction off the river "is a fairly simple process."

"I know they're discussing some possibilities," Downes said. "I suspect they're thinking about those opportunities."

Oklahoma County assessor's office records show much of the airpark lies in Federal Emergency Management Agency's 100-year floodplain zone. Such FEMA-defined boundaries describe zones of the probability of water covering an area within a particular period - a 100-year floodplain means that historical records show a 1-percent probability of flooding each year.

Downes and Kirk Humphreys both said the park was not in the 100-year floodplain. Assessor's records, which are based on FEMA data, show otherwise. Humphreys said the construction of river dams in recent years would likely change those zones.

The Oklahoma City Zoological Park was founded at the site and was moved to NE 50th Street because of flooding problems in the early 1920s before the Army Corps of Engineers straightened the river. The airpark was built later.

City Manager Jim Couch said city officials would be open to a proposal to somehow divert river water to development.

"We'd work with them on that. We think that could be an amenity to the river, if they'd like to do that," Couch said. "I have talked with Kirk (Humphreys) about it, his development, but that particular option was not discussed."

Downes said, "Typically by adding shoreline, you add value. But you have to be careful how much money you spend creating that shoreline. … In general, waterfront property has a higher value than not waterfront."

Downes said residential or commercial development, "along the waterfront with views of the Oklahoma City skyline across the water, would be a very attractive development model."

Grant Humphreys said earlier that the property would likely be held without development for three to five years while Interstate 40 is realigned.


-------------
Mixed-Use Office Development for Memorial Corridor

BY KEVAN GOFF-PARKER
THE JOURNAL RECORD

From The Journal Record
Site for sore eyes

OKLAHOMA CITY – The 31.13-acre Memorial Business Park planned for northwest Oklahoma City may just be in the platting stage at the Oklahoma City Planning Commission, but for brothers Matt and Eric Roberts, managing members of Colonial Development, the vision is clear.

“This is a continuation of the Memorial corridor,” said Eric Roberts on Thursday. “This has finally come our way, and the time is right.”

As developers, the brothers said they envision a business park with a mix of upscale restaurants, retail shops, businesses, garden offices and possibly several hotels. If approved, new streets will be developed with names like “Memorial Park Drive,” and “NW 135th Street.”

A family-owned business, Colonial Development was started by the brothers’ grandfather, Temple Thompson, in 1961. Thompson had a knack for putting together business deals and land development. His daughter, Phyllis Brawley, and grandsons followed suit. Brawley is the mother of the Roberts brothers.

Once approved, the development should be built on the southeast corner of Lake Hefner Parkway and Memorial Road. The development is adjacent to the Kilpatrick Turnpike.

“We’re working all aspects of Memorial Business Park’s development,” Eric Roberts said. “We’re the third owner of the property. Our grandfather purchased 80 acres in 1958. Part of it was sold off for the Quail Creek Golf Course and houses in Quail Creek.”

Colonial Development has been busy in recent years developing the 40 acres that were left. About 10 acres of the land was used to create Stone Brook, a gated community with homes that average $300,000 to $350,000 at Clear Brook Road and Memorial Road. What remains of the original 80 acres will be used to develop Memorial Business Park.

The development company also sold different parcels of land that were later used to develop northwest Oklahoma City’s Nantucket Condos. The company also owns Colonial Plaza at May Avenue and Britton Road.

“It feels great,” Matt Roberts said. “We’re excited, and we’re ready to put this deal together and get busy. We’re ready to start once the City of Oklahoma City approves our plans.”

I don't think anyone reads this anyway.

- Boeing has moved more jobs to OKC. They moved the management of KC-135 production at a facility in Wichita to their new facility which is the anchor tenant of a new aerospace park in east OKC.

- A $50 million dollar Embassy Suites and conference center has been announced for Norman's new University North Park new urbanism center.

- Edmond, a prosperous northern suburb, has begun a "zoning binge," including the development of several new urbanism-style mixed use projects. Also in planning are a full service hotel with convention center and a large mall.

- The Downtown Arts Festival is currently ongoing in downtown OKC.

- Two tornadoes ripped through the east metro this week, damaging a municipal airport in El Reno.

I don't think anyone reads this anyway.


Don't be so sure. ;)

- Two tornadoes ripped through the east metro this week, damaging a municipal airport in El Reno.
It should be noted that the first tornado did very little "ripping" of anything and hasn't been given and F-rating yet because it did practically no damage. Not even to plant life.

It should be noted that the first tornado did very little "ripping" of anything and hasn't been given and F-rating yet because it did practically no damage. Not even to plant life.

I can't help it; I'm a sensationalist.

Purchased 7 years ago for $5.5 million, sold now for $21 million! Can you believe that price increase?!?! Crazy! DT OKC real estate values have truly skyrocketed. Not only did the mysterious California investors buy the tower but also the 14 story buildings attached. It sounds like they're going to refurbish all of the offices but also we can't rule out some residential uses. Either way it will take a lot more vacant space away- either by signing new tenants or converting away to residential. Great news!

The beautiful 32 story tower with its grand banking hall and two 14 story buildings are included in the sale.

It's almost a million square feet of office space! (999,651 sf)

http://www.dougloudenback.com/downtown/63.jpg

First National Center bought for $21m


By Richard Mize
The Oklahoman

California investors bought First National Center Friday in a $21 million deal that could change the tenor of an already dynamic downtown Oklahoma City.
The buyers, who were not revealed, have no connection to Oklahoma, said Tim Strange of Sperry Van Ness, which handled the sale of the city’s largest downtown office property.

"Plans are to bring it back to its former glory as the crown jewel of downtown Oklahoma City. To fill it up — and dress her up and take her to the ball. Have a centennial ball in the Grand Banking Hall," Strange said. "This deal really came together, from inception to closing, in 48 hours," he said.

Sperry Van Ness’s Jason Little, who represented the buyers, said he could not provide specifics on the new owners’ plans for the office buildings.

"They’re pretty creative and they’re not ruling anything out," Little said.

First National Center comprises the original 32-story tower of 451,086 square feet built in 1931 at 120 N Robinson, a 14-story building of 201,915 square feet built in 1956 at 120 Park Ave. and a 14-story building of 346,650 square feet built in 1974, also at 120 Park Ave.

The purchase puts the distinctive yet largely empty property in new hands for the first time since 1999, when developers Joel S. Hoffman and Mitchell Wolff of Parsippany, N.J., formed First National LLC and bought it from the nonprofit Feed the Children for $5.5 million.

I'm pretty much not updating this anymore. 0 feedback. Perhaps the words Oklahoma City just make people think nothing good could possibly be going on in terms of the urban world? I don't even get replies when I post single threads in the main board.

What an incredible read! I'm so thrilled that so many others are noticing the renaissance of OKC!

What an exciting time to live and work here... I appreciate all the articles and information. I love the input and opinions on OKC's growth.... keep it up!

I would love to see those enthusiastic about this city visit okctalk.com as well as this site - we have so many people who follow the downtown expansion and we have many 'completely hooked on Hornet's fans' (me being one of them - Go Hornets!) that absolutely love the team, not to mention the positive media attention towards our city. Can you believe our support!???

I enjoyed every minute of reading these articles.. some I had seen before but many I had forgotten. Thanks again for providing a walk down memory lane and an optimistic look towards the future of OKC.

No don't quit! I just spent hours reading every article. I can't wait to read when we can actually move into these new condos and apartments. I'm ready to move into one today!

Wow thanks. Please continue to check out SSC and help me continue this thread! I'm so happy new people have come. I was getting discouraged because no one ever looked/commented/discussed OKC anymore. Thanks so much.

I am a member at OKCTalk, you might have seen me before as I have about 70 posts there, but I actually prefer UrbanOK forums, something I don't think you're allowed to mention at OKCTalk. It's a better place for people like me who like to chat about all of Oklahoma's cities.

Hi Shane!

I loved reading this - I'm thinking it might be read more in the forum for the Southern region as it looks like the admins here have classified OK as South (unless I didn't read it correctly) maybe they can move the thread?

I'm a mod at OKCtalk and trust me you can mention other sites on OKCTalk .. there were some problems awhile back with a few posters who didn't follow the TOS (terms of service) and they went where they feel more comfortable. Some came back and some didn't.. I think that if people are excited about OKC they should be more than welcome.. but that's something they all have to work out.

I know people get opinionated on message boards and they are passionate about our city so it is to expected that differences of opinions will occur.

At any rate, maybe start a new thread about OKC on the Southern forum...it truly is an exciting time for our state and especially OKC!

Yes, Oklahoma is listed in the Southern category but pretty much anywhere I post I get either 0 responses or a request to post in one of the other regions. This is where the thread was before I got here and I was told that a request for the thread to be moved to the Southeastern forum had already been denied.

I don't think anyone reads this anyway.

I've said it in other threads that come up with this same assumption (I.e. Minneapolis) - just because people don't respond doesn't mean they're not reading about it. Quite honestly, I love to read about all city development news. I simply don't respond all the time. Unfortunately, OKC doesn't interest me as much as other cities closer to my hometown, so I just don't have much to say. I read, go "hmm," and move on to the next city thread. Don't stop posting... we need people like you on SSC.

I'm pretty much not updating this anymore. 0 feedback. Perhaps the words Oklahoma City just make people think nothing good could possibly be going on in terms of the urban world? I don't even get replies when I post single threads in the main board.
It's not that I think nothing good is happening in OKC, it's just that it's too far from home
and seems more like a southwestern city than a midwestern city.

So that you don't think that we can't give OKC alittle love and appreciation,
here's a few pics to decorate this thread! I really do love OKC!

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h237/paule17/OKC/16912950_c06919c196_o.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h237/paule17/OKC/115568229_5615c65cc7_b.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h237/paule17/OKC/24477815_c08b36e5ce_o.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h237/paule17/OKC/51048292_36942f02b5_b.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h237/paule17/OKC/136691816_7422696d2a_b.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h237/paule17/OKC/137749617_1dde1459c8_b.jpg

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h237/paule17/OKC/137734599_ac4c19dcb4_b.jpg

Wow, thanks guys... I guess I won't get too discouraged... ;)

Great pictures Paule! I love them.

Those were just a few pics I found at Flickr the other day, these were my favorites. I also found quite a few quality pics of Tulsa. I did my basic training at Ft. Sill back in the 80's and since then have always had an interest in the state.

That's great news that that FNC building was sold to investors who plan to fix it up! A building like that in any downtown should not fall into disrepair.

Here's an old pic that you might find interesting. It's shows very well how far along the downtown has come.

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h237/paule17/OKC/43694407_72e03e731f_o.jpg

And also how much quality stuff we tore down... If you doze it they will build. And they did... For a few years.

Progress on the canal-side Residence Inn, courtesy Doug Loudenback.

http://www.dougloudenback.com/downtown/marriottresidence3.5.21.6.jpg

Shane, don't stop posting. I read this thread everytime it's updated. Thanks a lot! I attend OU and since I am from out of state, I enjoy reading up on OKC and learning more about it.

Commentary from a local newscaster on OKC's recent explosion of major sporting events. "Loud City" as we have come to be known since the Hornets showed up on our doorstep, is truly a hotbed for sports. Just this weekend we have the Big XII Baseball Tourney and the Sr PGA Tournament going on.


My Two Cents: Close to the big time


By Kelly Ogle
News 9

Kids today you don't know how good you've got it.

When I was growing up we had the 89ers, an on again off again hockey team, the Jaycees Track Meet and the occasional visit from the Harlem Globetrotters.

That about summed it up for sports here in Oklahoma City.

Not that sports boosters didn't try, they did my dad was one of them and I saw it first hand.

But Oklahoma City was quite frankly small time.

It's true.

We're not anymore. I'd say we're somewhere between medium time and big time... inching toward big time.

Don't believe me think I'm just a homer?

Look what's going on this weekend.

Thousands will attend the Big 12 Baseball tournament at our beautiful Bricktown Ballpark.

Thousands more will watch Sr. PGA Championship at Oak Tree.

We just wrapped up the NBA season with the Hornets.

The Blazers Hockey team had another good year.

The Redhawks are drawing good crowds.

Oklahoma City hosted the NCAA Wrestling National Championship.

The Jim Thorpe award for the best college defensive back.

The Big 12 softball tournament wrapped up two weeks ago at Hall of Fame Stadium.

The College Softball World Series starts here next week.

The Yard Dawgz, our arena football team, is playing at the Ford Center.

We've had major rowing regattas on the Oklahoma River the Memorial Marathon is drawing an international field.

And next year, add the Big 12 basketball tournament to the list.

Hats off to Tim Brassfield and the All Sports Association and other sports boosters in the metro you're hard work is paying off.

I'm Kelly Ogle and that's My 2 Cents.

--------

He forgot to mention we just hosted the NCAA Mens' Gymnastics Finals and the Junior Olympics.

I've said it in other threads that come up with this same assumption (I.e. Minneapolis) - just because people don't respond doesn't mean they're not reading about it. Quite honestly, I love to read about all city development news. I simply don't respond all the time. Unfortunately, OKC doesn't interest me as much as other cities closer to my hometown, so I just don't have much to say. I read, go "hmm," and move on to the next city thread. Don't stop posting... we need people like you on SSC.

Exactly. There are more readers than you think. :)

OKC may not necessarily be the most exciting city for urban development, but surely with posters like Shane - the word will get out that OKC "DOES" have great urban development.

Rome wasnt built in one day and surely with more posts - OKC will become part of the "league" of urban cities. Im sure there are many who read the OKC development, dont comment, and move on [look at me, this is only my 4th post on SSC period!!!].

However, if you continue to update, over-time, many more will comment and add to the forum - as they get "used" to OKC making headlines!!
:dance:

I say, Continue the Renaissance of downtown Oklahoma City AND please, continue the thread - Shane!!! Great Work!!

This is interesting

Southeast (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/forumdisplay.php?f=283) ... Includes TX, OK, LA, MS, AL, GA, NC, SC, VA, TN, KY.

If you look at the forum, the Southeast section has OK in it. Perhaps we should move this thread to the Southeast?? I mean, OKC does have more in common with southern states than midwestern ones... :runaway:

^There are basically two problems with this thread: 1. It is simply in the wrong forum and 2. There are very few dedicated Oklahoma forumers aside from Shane.

On a side note, I wonder where SRG has gone? He always used to be the big Oklahoma booster around here but now he just disappeared. Wierd.

Anyway, back on topic...

"We just wrapped up the NBA season with the Hornets. "

Thats all well and good but I will start calling OKC bigtime when they finally secure the Hornets on the permenent basis.

I'll send a message to a moderator now, see what they say about moving this thread and the Tulsa Development thread to the Southeastern Development forum.

I'll send a message to a moderator now, see what they say about moving this thread and the Tulsa Development thread to the Southeastern Development forum.


Good idea. I think you would get more hits in the SE forum. WHat does OKC plan to do when the Hornets move back to NO? Any active attempts to lure a team?

There have been attempts to lure pro teams to OKC for a long, long time. The difference now is that people understand OKC is serious, and no longer belongs in the ranks of minor league-only cities. It can handle pro sports and it can handle them quite exuberantly.

Clayton Bennett, a local businessman, has assembled a group of investors that has supposedly handshake-agreed with Shinn to buy 49% of the team. They would certainly be prepared to buy the team and move it to OKC if they could.

Mayor Mick Cornett has been contacting NHL and NBA for a while- that's why we so easily secured the Hornets- because Cornett already had a relationship with the commissioner. I think that if Shinn is serious about moving the Hornets back to NO, then OKC will get the next relocated team in either NHL or NBA either by buyout or by the team owners' decision.

I forget when I read it but I remember that in the Dallas Morning News the owner of the Hornets was interviewed about a tour he took of NOLA and was very dissapointed by the slow recovery and questioned the profitability of moving back. Not that i'm wishing bad fortune on New Orleans but it seems very likely that the Hornets will stay in OKC. The turnout for games at the Ford Center was excellent and the Hornets don't really have a long history in New Orleans.

Irregardless of what happened in NOLA, OKC deserves a team. Be it the Hornets who are already here and getting established or some other team. This we all can agree to.

Now, as for the OKC stealing the team - those who claim this do not know anything about business. Cities around the nation (and world) court businesses all of the time - to try to get them to relocate to their city. OKC does this, as does Chicago, and New York, and LA, Seattle, and Im sure NOLA will start. Once a business relocates, it is done because it made sense to do so.

It could make sense financially, or politically, or some CEO wants to be close to his hometown.. .. Once a business moves, it was for a number of legitimate reasons - not because the city stole it. No city will RUN a business, and OKC is not stealing the HORNETS.

Time will tell whether it makes sense to remain in OKC or return to NOLA. Right now, there is POLITICAL pressure for the team to move; but there is FINANCIAL and SOCIAL reasons for the team to remain in OKC. It will be up to the NBA, Shinn, and Stern et al - to determine what is the BEST for the team and the league.

I would motion, that in this case - the Political pressure to move is not enough to justify the Financial possiblities of remaining in OKC. The city may very well sell 12,500 season tix in 2006-7 and is even raising concern that 14K or more is possible. That would mean every game should sell out, as only 5K or less would be sold on the street. This is very very probable and makes a great reason for the team to remain in OKC.

Another reason is Social. Nobody can deny that NOLA has great history and was once a very powerful centre of business and commerce. But some things have changed, not necessarily Katrina (although she had a BIG hand in it), because the city has been slipping since the 1970's (depending upon who you ask). So why should a team be necessary for a city that has identity around the world yet is slipping below the margins of profitability??? NOLA never supported the team (until now, supposedly they care all of sudden) because perhaps there just are not enough people/businesses to do so anymore.

On the other hand, OKC has also delt with tragedy on the billion dollar scale (as well) yet the city is on a great rise. It has been rising since the 1940's (more or less) and is currently under a rapid boom not seen since the 1970's. The city is currently seeking big league recognition and is at the same level as many other "medium metro" markets - like NOLA. So why shouldn't OKC have a team? We're just talking one team at this point - that OKC can and has supported very well; the HORNETS.

People talk about NOLA didnt support the Hornets because they sucked - well, they sucked (last place) when they moved to OKC - yet the city supported them and now they aint last anymore!!! Memphis did the same for the Grizz, did Mem steal the team from Vancouver? SLC supports the NEW ORLEANS JAZZ, yet why arent NOLA trying to get them back? That was their NBA TEAM, not the Charlotte Hornets.

Seems to me, that the Financial incentives the team would receive as well as the overwhelming Social support OKC has provided greatly shadows the Political reason to return the team to NOLA. At least, that's the way I see it.

There may be those who disagree, and I say - only time will tell.
__________________
Continue the Renaissance!

^^ Good points, Hot Rod.

I sent the URLs of our Oklahoma development threads to a moderator and he said that he would move the threads to Southeast. I assume he'll do it when he has time.

I would love to see OKC cling on to the Hornets.

Oh my god, how dare you say that!! lol

http://okchornetscentral.com

I've been helping fend off Norlanite nuts and psychos. People over there love me. And I've been inable under circumstances to post development news lately, so they've been helping me kick back some time. But I'm back for a while at least. :)

Good idea. I think you would get more hits in the SE forum. WHat does OKC plan to do when the Hornets move back to NO? Any active attempts to lure a team?

Please let's not start that up again. The mods will automatically try to blame it on me, and I don't have the patience to take that tonight. :) lol

It's been settled between me and the mods that OKC is a dusty plains city out in the middle of nowhere and thus goes in the midwest.

More news coming out of Midtown- Greg Banta has purchased two more Midtown buildings to add to his inventory of reinvention. He's determined to make Midtown a vibrant live/work/play urban district, and he's doing a very good job setting the stage for that.

The two new purchases will either be office space or more residential space. Knowing Banta, there will be some retail on the ground level of the buildings.

Midtown OKC is one of those things that goes along kind of quietly- not at all like Bricktown- but in a couple years I think we will really be surprised at the changes that take place not only as a result of Banta's efforts but also because of St. Anthony Hospital's new developments and downtown itself.

Another Midtown project was detailed this week- some new townhomes in the Plaza District.

Marion Hotel

http://members.cox.net/gpugh1/Pictures/Marion.jpg

-----

Two hotels join rebirth of MidTown
By Steve Lackmeyer
The Oklahoman


Two MidTown hotels, both almost a century old, were recently added to Greg Banta's growing MidTown Renaissance development.
Banta completed a $265,000 purchase of the 98-year-old Hotel Marion, 110 NW 10, on Thursday. He bought the 96-year-old Cline Hotel, 1018 N Harvey, on May 31 for $389,380.

Both hotels are considered longtime eyesores along NW 10, which is being targeted for redevelopment by the city as a connection between St. Anthony Hospital and the Oklahoma Health Center.

"It's really good timing for the community," said Dave Lopez, president of Downtown Oklahoma City Inc. "So many of Greg's investments are helping the area move forward."

Banta has already started work at the Cline Hotel, which was a flop house until his purchase. All residents were evicted last month, he said, and crews are cleaning out debris and gutting the interior of the three-story building.

Banta also demolished a burned-out home on an adjoining lot.

Banta said "Cline" was his grandfather's last name -- something that drew his attention as he first began acquiring properties in MidTown. During the past year, Banta has bought several blocks between Western Avenue, Broadway, NW 10 and NW 13, an area known as MidTown on the north edge of downtown.

Renovations are under way at more than a dozen of the old homes, duplexes and office buildings, including MidTown's landmark Plaza Court Building.

Banta said he will soon seek permission from the Urban Design Commission to replace windows on the Cline Hotel, and will follow with roofing repairs and a marketing plan.

"I'm assuming it will be office space. ... It could be residential, too," Banta said. "We won't be operating it as a hotel, I can tell you that."

The Marion Hotel has been empty for about 20 years, and has passed through at least three owners in the past decade, all of whom attempted renovations.

"It's a difficult building; it's been in disrepair for a long time," Banta said. "Our plan is to go to the Urban Design Commission, get approval to put in windows, put a new roof on it and get it stabilized structurally. It's a neat old building -- and in a perfect world, we will keep it and try to take advantage of the architectural details."

Banta agreed with Lopez that the former hotels and the residents at the Cline were an obstacle for creating a medical corridor between St. Anthony Hospital and the Oklahoma Health Center.

"This is going to be a gateway," Banta said.

"It's important these properties are cleaned up, both for the city and for our investments."

Wow I didn't see that coming...

New OKC city population estimate (2005) is 531,324.

Some metro cities of interest:

City 2000 2005 % change

Moore 41,138 47,697 15.94%
Edmond 68,315 74,881 9.61%
Norman 96,780 101,719 5.1%

Kerr McGee was acquired by Anadarko Petroleum, and the corporate headquarters will be moved from Oklahoma City after 75 years. Only 200 or so employees actually worked at the OKC headquarters- but the company was an active, charitable corporate citizen, and its founders were OKC civic leaders (so much so that they have parallel streets named "Kerr" and "McGee" downtown).

Several of the company's properties- notably Braniff Towers- had been under redevelopment into residential space before the move, and the redevelopment will continue. Also, on Friday it was announced that the three midrises were not the only properties comissioned to TAP Architecture (developers responsible for the Triangle). Additionally, surface lots from 4th to 6th along Broadway will be developed in some way, and 70 acres on the south side of the Oklahoma River will also be developed by TAP... Looks like TAP will continue to be a major player in large-scale redevelopments on the River.

The plans for their digs on the southside of the river area available at the TAP buildings and have been for a while. They let me take a lot of photos inside their building and of their rendering, and it was very cool.

The fastest growing city in the metro right now is actually Piedmont, which is then followed by Mustang (which is surrounded by rural OKC).

Some new players in metro sprawl, it looks like...

Cheesecake Factory has begun construction at Penn Square.

OKC is not in compliance with EPA guidelines this year. If we don't improve over the next two years, we will lose our clean city rating and have some fines/conditions. We're one of the few large metros still in compliance, anyway.

Found some new renderings of Central Avenue Villas at the project's website, http://centralavenuevillas.com.

http://www.centralavenuevillas.com/Assests/exterior6.jpg

Thanks for the 411 Shane, et al.

You may have already heard, Chinese automaker Nanjing is planning to manufacture their formerly British MG brand in Ardmore, Oklahoma, and move their N. America/Europe headquarters to OKC. It will mean about 150 high-paying jobs in OKC and a new international HQ, 35 jobs in Norman at a new research and development center, and over 300 jobs initially at the assembly plant in Ardmore, 90 miles south of OKC.

When asked "Why Oklahoma?" the company's president said that Oklahoma blew other potential US sites out of the water as far as incentives packages, economic development initiatives, location, and business/commerce factors. He referred to our state as a "dream" and "the best kept secret" for businesses.

--------------

In other news, Midtown developer Greg Banta has begun to market his Midtown renaissance, putting up more than 30 banners on his properties along Tenth Street. He now owns more than half a millioin sf in Midtown and is developing mixed-use plans for all of the sites.

Sounds like we'll know all of the tenants at Plaza Court soon, and Banta will be creating a really cool entertainment area along Tenth with restaurants, shops, and an event center, and residential spaces above all of the retail/offices.

No question, Banta is my favorite developer in OKC. I can't wait to stroll down Tenth Street two years from now.

------

Banta continues spending spree in MidTown
Posted: Wednesday, July 12, 2006
By Heidi Rambo Centrella
hcentrella@okcbusiness.com

In the past several months, Greg Banta, chairman and CEO of The Banta Companies, has closed deal after deal on several properties in Oklahoma City's MidTown area. His current purchase of a 21-property package will bring Banta's total holdings in what he calls the “MidTown Renaissance” to more than $20 million. That number, however, pales in comparison to the amount he will invest in renovating the commercial, residential and multi-family properties.

When all is said and done, his MidTown Renaissance will consist of 30 structures stretching from NW 10 to NW 13 streets, between Broadway and Classen avenues. These recent acquisitions will bring Banta's total square-footage-ownership to approximately half a million in MidTown.

His most recent deals, set to close around the end of the month, include: A two-story historical structure at 1100 N Broadway, currently owned by Chris and Meg Salyer; Pat's Lounge, 201 NW 10; Fellowship Travelers building, 215 NW 10; Guardian Garage, 1117 N Robinson, and an office building next door at 1133 N Robinson; the Osler Building, 1200 N Walker; an office building owned by Corsair Cattle Company at 430 NW 12; three buildings across the street from the Osler Building; as well as numerous lots in the MidTown area.

Banta's promotional campaign kicked off last weekend as he branded the MidTown area with banners reading “MidTown Renaissance.”

“We've really isolated an area and our purchases have been very strategic,” Banta said. “There's a method to the madness, and I think a lot of people thought these were random investments, but they weren't. It was a very carefully thought-out plan, and now it's time to execute it and get to work.”

While his project has been more than a year in the making, he says “it's paid off.”

“There will be visible changes immediately,” Banta said. “By the end of year, there will be all new windows up and down the corridor which will change the look tremendously.”

Banta's plans include re-roofing all buildings as needed, installing new windows, gutting interiors, upgrading all utilities and finalizing a development plan for the corridor.

His first stop, he said, is going to Urban Design Commission to get approval to replace windows, which should be completed by end of year.

The planned mixed-use development will include residential housing, office space and retail.

“I have a number of people looking in the area, and have begun negotiating several leases already,” Banta said.

The properties had few existing tenants, he said, and every building acquired has basically been vacated.

Plans for the Osler Building include office, residential or a combination of the two.

“That's a great building,” Banta said. “I use to office there in '93.”

Plans are in place to renovate the property at 1133 N Robinson as an event center for weddings and other such events.

“We're negotiating with a couple of groups,” Banta said. “Because it has several large rooms and full facilities, we're hoping to get someone to come in and operate it as a wedding chapel and event center where people can host parties.”

The Guardian Garage, he says, has the potential for residential on the top floor and mixed-use office and retail on the ground floor.

Pat's Lounge likely will have mixed-use office and retail on the ground floor, as well. Currently he is negotiating with a couple of restaurants, names of which he would not disclose; nor would Banta disclose the agreed-upon purchase prices of each individual property.

“Everything that we have currently under contract will be closing in the next few weeks,” he said.

On June 30, Banta closed on the old Bolen Auto Group building, 1101 N Broadway, in historic Automobile Alley for $2.4 million at $36 per square foot.

Banta said he is considering everything when it comes to the building and its future plans, whether it becomes office space or residential housing. He also said he continues to buy in MidTown because he believes it is an area the city wants to see improve and he's already committed to the area with other recent purchases.

Those other purchases include the following properties: Plaza Court, 1100 Classen Drive, for $2.5 million; Marion Hotel, 110 NW 10, for $265,000; Cline Hotel, 1018 N Harvey, for $389,000; and Pasteur Medical Building, 1111 N Lee Ave., for $2.5 million.

“We will be naming several tenants in Plaza Court shortly,” Banta said. “The leasing in Plaza Court has been overwhelmingly successful, and we plan to carry that all up 10th Street - it's going to be a really fun place.

“We want to make it visually interesting and have a lot of places for people to live, work and play.”

The Chinese have come to Oklahoma to build English cars.

Say that with a straight face.

while not skyscraper development, this certainly deserves mention in the OKC development thread. This will only add to OKC's quality of life offerings:

July, 18, 2006.

Just hit the Seattle Media (KIRO-7 TV 12:20pm PST newscast). Seattle Mayor Greg Nichols is supposed to have a press conference in a few hours to confirm the sale of the team to an OKLAHOMA CITY investment group!!!

Look for the Sonics to move to OKC in 2008, after the Hornet's temporary lease expires. .. if not sooner. :runaway:

OKC is now Major League, permanently!!!! Congratulations to OKC. :yes:

This just broke on the Seattle Times website:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...icssold18.html


Sonics sold to Oklahoma City group
By Seattle Times staff


The Sonics have been sold to a group from Oklahoma City led by businessman Clay Bennett, according to multiple sources. A news conference to announce the sale has been scheduled for 3 p.m. today.

The New Orleans Hornets, displaced by the hurricane, played their games last season at Oklahoma City, and are scheduled to play there again next season.

Bennett owns an investment firm and rallied the city's business leaders to attract the Hornets to Oklahoma City. Bennett was previously on the board of directors for San Antonio Spurs.

It was not immediately known if the Sonics would move to Oklahoma. :runaway:

Copyright © 2006 The Seattle Times Company

my one buddy from h.s. was from Ardmore.

In addition to the news about the Seattle Supersonics, we have some downtown development news.

A 400-space, 8-level parking garage will be built on the Kerr-McGee complex, adjacent to the two buildings being converted into condos. LOTS of new parking for that area, which already has quite a bit, but since there are only 70 condo units, I'm sure there will be many spaces that will be rentable or public. Since McDermid of TAP Architects is doing it, there's a good chance that it will look good and maybe have retail on the first floor.

Congrats on the Sonics! My gpa was from Ardmore and is buried there. Back in his day it was just a little dirt town. I don't know if anyone remembers but in USA Today a long time ago, there was an article on booming areas, which featured Ardmore. Pretty sweet.

Ardmore is still a bit of a boomtown, if not more than it was back then- midway between Dallas and OKC it is close enough for occasional commuting to either one. It has been attracting manufacturers and distributors to its airpark area- the "logistical dream" that MG fell in love with. Someone in an article recently predicted that Ardmore would become a metropolitan area, but in the same article it was referred to as a "Dallas suburb" which I don't believe for a second.

Yeah, there is no way Ardmore is a suburb of Dallas. Those OKC media people never cease to amaze me with their PRO Dallas stance all of the time (nothing against Dallas, but OKC media are notorious for 'bashing' anything OKC and Dallas-bumpin' all of the time). Are they even based in OKC? Perhaps THEY should move downtown so they can "catch" the spirit of Oklahoma City and report the facts instead of rhetoric!

Nonetheless, I'd characterize Ardmore as an Exurb of DFW - given that Im sure many Ardmorites use DFW airport over OKC and probably shop there more. But, for governance (and probably finance/entertainment) I'd bet they come up to OKC. Its cheaper to entertain in OKC and it has many options that are favorable to Dallas. Plus, OKC is the capitol, so ...

But since DFW does sprawl mightly close to Ardmore, I'd say it might be more of an Exurb of DFW or better yet, a city in the middle of the OKC-DFW region.

The article was printed in the Oklahoman, which is owned by the Gaylord Family- insanely wealthy civic patrons in OKC and central Oklahoma, but other than this I've never noticed anything anti-OKC. They actually print a lot of "Wee, look how good our city is" article themes, which I don't mind.

Their office building is on the Broadway Extension several miles north of downtown, but it does have a nice skyline view, so that's close. ;)

There have been hundreds of press blurbs about the Sonics deal recently. Everyone is shocks. On ESPN, they had a panel where 1 guy was in favor of OKC being the n ext great pro market, and two were just going with the flow, while the last one kept chanting that all the Hornets will ever go down as in OKC is a one night stand and the circus coming to town and that OKC is nothing but a college market located between Norman and Stillwater.

It may sound like we've been severely dogged by EVERYONE in the media since this when the Hornets came, and that the root is definately non acceptance of OKC as the next emerging major city, there are 2 people in favor of OKC with kindly words to say of us for every 1 who wishes to detract from her splendor, e.g., Craptain on SSP.

Well, these cities that haven't been supportive of their teams fear us now because we have proven ourselves as not only a possible market but a PROFITABLE market for pro sports, despite our population and TV market size.

It is strange that as OKC begins to embrace the fact that it is becoming a major city, everyone getting excited about the city finally and everything, more people seem to come up that have terrible things to say about us.

And why is it always taken out on the city when we happen to be a really attractive market and NBA teams want to be here? OKC has "stolen" (aka been kind enough to provide a home, there just happened to be something in it for us) the Hornets, and now we have "Stolen" the Sonics who were bound to leave Seattle and its 14k seat-arena with or without a buyout.

Seattle must build an arena or OKC will have the Sonics.

Actually it is an entire 17,000 seats. :)

Hopefully this isn't premature, but I'd just like to say to Oklahoma City:

Welcome to the NBA.

Thank you very much. We've enjoyed being upgraded from a piss stop between Miami and LA in the eyes of America.

Thank you very much. We've enjoyed being upgraded from a piss stop between Miami and LA in the eyes of America.

Got that right.

For those of you who might not know, KCGridlock posted some great aerials of Downtown OKC on SSP. Below is the link:

Oklahoma City Aerials, via KCGridlock (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=111431)

His pics show our downtown urban core, with its developing districts. Very commendable, even though OKC usually doesn't get much respect in the urban regards.

In Moore they will demolish everything across I 35 from the Riverwalk development to build a new shopping center. At Riverwalk, the Starbuck's is fixing to open as is TGY, Earl's Rib Palace, and the Warren Theater broke ground on their new art deco movie palace which will have two-story auditoriums, bars in the auditoriums, and OKC's first year-round art-film selection (Bricktown Harkins, Quail Springs AMC 26, and the Noble Theatre often show art films).

http://www.amarillo.com/stories/072606/nba_5199214.shtml

Clarkson: Oklahoma City Sonics would face difficulties
By Roger Clarkson
Opinion
Roger Clarkson
ARTICLE TOOLS
E-mail This Article
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NBA basketball might be on its way to the Sooner State - permanently.
Last week a group of high rollers from Oklahoma City announced an agreement to buy the Seattle SuperSonics and the WNBA's Seattle Storm. While the investors insist they have no plans to move anybody from the Pacific Northwest, professional sports owners are notorious for playing fast and loose with the truth. Longtime Sonics season-ticket holders were certainly not reassured when the leader of the group, Clayton I. Bennett, made the sale announcement at the Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City.

One of the investors has an Amarillo track record for corporate carpetbagging. Tom Ward bought Amarillo-based Riata Energy and moved it to Oklahoma City.

Only days after the announcement, Bennett said he was disappointed at fan and media reaction in Seattle. Did he really expect residents of the Emerald City to hoist him on their shoulders and dance through town singing "Ding, Dong the Witch is Dead"? People tend to know a looter when they see one.

The deal still must be approved by the NBA, but it looks like it will go through. Any move hinges on either major renovation of the Sonics' current home, Key Arena, or assurances to build a new coliseum complete with all the luxury boxes, sweetheart leasing agreements and conspicuous consumption amenities demanded by professional sports owners of the good tax-paying citizenship.

While Bennett's name might not be familiar, the money behind him might. Bennett's father-in-law is now-deceased Oklahoma tycoon Edward L. Gaylord, the founder of the Gaylord entertainment giant that made Country Music Television a cable staple and brought Lorianne Crook and Charlie Chase into our living rooms whether we wanted them there or not. Bennett also has a built-in spin doctor. The Gaylord family founded Oklahoma's largest newspaper, the Daily Oklahoman. Since the announcement last week, the paper's salivating over the prospects has threatened to flood the Broadway Extension all the way to Bricktown.

Oklahoma suffers from an inferiority complex. It wants to show that there is more to the state than mullets, trailer parks and meth labs. It has always been overshadowed by a neighbor that has no confidence issues, and loyal Texans are more than willing to describe at length about how much better we are than everybody else (we just are). Oklahoma's desperation to embrace success goes so far to deify the patron saint of outlaw college football programs, Barry Switzer.

Oklahoma City wants to join the confederation of major league cities, and it might work. Oklahoma City welcomed the homeless New Orleans Hornets with open arms and deep pockets in 2005-06. Chris Paul gave the franchise an immediately marketable name. Fans responded with sellouts and corporate sponsorship despite the team's losing record. The Hornets' future is not in Oklahoma City. Hornets owner George Shinn did not want to sell the team to Bennett and company, and NBA commissioner David Stern is adamant about returning the team to New Orleans.

Oklahoma City (531,324) and Seattle (573,111) have similar populations. Oklahoma has no competing major league professional franchises in the entire state. Hamburger chain Sonic has its corporate offices in Oklahoma City, so the team has a natural sponsor for drives through the lane. Oklahoma City is also home to arguably the nation's most successful minor league hockey franchise.

But for every reason the NBA can work in Oklahoma City, a negative pops up to cancel it out. While Oklahoma City and Seattle have similar populations, the metropolitan areas are much different. Seattle has 3.8 million souls in its immediate vicinity, and Oklahoma City has only 1.2 million. Seattle has a much higher median household income ($45.736) than Oklahoma City ($34,947), and NBA tickets are not cheap.

The Dallas Mavericks have about a quarter-centrury head start in building a following in Oklahoma. Mark Cuban, Dirk Nowitski and Avery Johnson are coming off a trip to the NBA Finals, so it might be difficult to break into the Mavericks' turf.

Most of the new Sonics' investors have strong ties to banking and energy companies. The oil business has historically driven Oklahoma City's economy. So much money tied to the combustible petroleum market does not inspire long-term confidence.

Oklahoma City's pre-Katrina venture into professional basketball ended with a flop. The Oklahoma City Cavalry won the Continental Basketball Association title in 1997, but the franchise folded before the start of the next season.

Oklahoma City has always had a problem with public perception. Seattle and Oklahoma City are as philosophically opposed as Courtney Love and Toby Keith. Seattle is the home of the Space Needle, Mount Ranier and Microsoft. Oklahoma City has Lake Hefner, Frontier City and the Magnificent Mile of Cars.

But give Bennett and his fellow speculators credit. They've dared to dream big. If Oklahoma City lands a franchise in a league somebody actually cares about, it would give the entire state something to get excited about other than opening a new Wal-Mart supercenter.

Good luck, Oklahoma City. But the road to the major leagues has more potholes than your Northwest Expressway.

Roger Clarkson is a Globe-News sports writer. He can be reached at 345-3315 or roger.clarkson@amarillo.com

-------

Amarillo jumps on the national 'Insult OKC' bandwagon. What's next, Dodge City?

Honestly. I love how these po-dunk towns up on the God-forsaken Great Plain look down at OKC and see us trying to make something of ourselves, and decide that it's offends them and they should try and bring us down with them. At least we have something called trees, green grass, and hills... but alas, Amarillo can't help getting only 2 inches of rain a year.

I don't know where to start in on all of the CBS Sportsline writers, the Amarillo paper, or any of that nonsense. You would think the only city entitled to be this way towards OKC is Seattle, but even they are better than that. It's as if every paper in the nation is now echoing what the Norlans Times-Picayune's been scribbling in crayon for the last 6 months.

First of all, Oklahomans do not support Texas teams. The Mavs are a Texas team. Oklahomans do not support the Dallas Mavs, never had, never will, no idea where they came from.

Second of all, if you like the potholes in the Northwest Expressway, at least the urban scenery is nice because there's something called high rises... how do you like the view of our new Cheesecake Factory from that pothole over there, Amarillo?

Meth labs have been half-way eradicated in this state with ground breaking legislation which places hassles on regular joe's with a headache. That's more than any other state can say. Noone where's a mullet anymore, and Texas is Spanish for 'Trailor Park' so I don't know what to say about that...

Oklahoma City has about as much disposable income as Seattle because the average house in OKC closes for around $135,000 according to the Realtor's Association, whereas it costs half a million dollars for anything as decent in Seattle. The only reason we don't have way more disposable income is because Seattle has more people that work for a living.

And Amarillo has just about the worst economy in the entire nation, and it's no cheaper to live there either than San Antonio, OKC, or Tulsa or actually decent places.

The Cavs folding had nothing to do with support, the entire legue folded and is no more. Sucks for OKC...

Sounds to me like the only justification this dude has for hating OKC is because our investors carpetbag energy companies from his town and because we brought the World country music long before Nashville recorded it.

This isn't OKC development but it's close enough. Moore is a near south suburb of OKC for those that don't know.


From the Norman Transcript via the Warren Theaters website:
http://www.warrentheaters.com/new.asp

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g34/Jeramie_Hurt/render.gif

Art deco style movie theater coming to Moore

By Jennifer Griswold

Transcript Staff Writer

MOORE - A movie theater company new to the state of Oklahoma has announced it will build a multi-screen facility in Moore.

Bill Warren, president of Warren Theatres, LLC, made the announcement Friday morning to a standing-room-only crowd in the Moore City Council chamber.

Around 150 people snacked on popcorn and chocolate bars and drank pops as the plan for the $30-million project was unveiled.

The theater will be built on a 25-acre site, located off the west I-35 Service Road south of the post office and hospital.

The company owns and operates three theaters in Wichita, Kan., under the Warren Theatres name. They also operate several Palace Theatres in and around Wichita and in Springfield, Mo.

A short video giving a tour of the interior of a theater was shown, touting the facility as "more than just a place to see a movie but a step back in time."

The interior has an art deco style and includes marble, granite and hand-painted murals. Theater staff are attired in uniforms with tuxedo jackets and bow ties, similar to movie employees of the '30s and '40s.

The theater will have a diner, game room, waiting room with a fireplace, and an upstairs lounge serving adult beverages. The ground floor will be more than 150,000 square feet.

The 7,000-seat complex will have 20 screens, all with waterfall curtains. The auditoriums will have stadium seating and will vary in size, from more than 700 seats in the main auditorium to around 175 seats in the smaller auditoriums.

Screens in the largest auditoriums will be more than 80 feet wide and four stories tall. The main auditorium also will have a balcony that will seat around 100 people, with at-your-seat dining and cocktail service.

Warren said ticket prices will be comparable to area theaters, $7.50 to $8. He said balcony seats will cost more, around $15. Movie-goers will be able to purchase tickets by phone, Internet and from a 24-hour ticket machine located outside the theater or at the door.

Another unique theater feature, according to Warren, is no advertising is shown on the screens.

"We are in the business to entertain you, not to sell you soap," he said.

When asked whether the theater would show independent or classic films, Warren said it was a possibility if the demand is there. He said one of his theaters in Kansas did show independent films.

Construction on the theater will begin in about five months, and it will take a year to complete, he said. Two hundred employees will be hired to staff the facility.

Moore City Manager Steve Eddy said the theater will fill a gap in the city.

"We do surveys all the time and one of the things people are always saying they are wanting is to go to a movie in Moore," he said, "the other thing is to be able to buy a two-by-four."

Councilperson Shelia Haworth said Moore residents are "starved for entertainment," and she couldn't wait for the theater to open.

Warren said he has spent more than two years deciding where to locate a theater in the Oklahoma City metro area.

"We picked Moore because we think Moore is more," he said and then joked he would be selling two-by-fours with or without butter in the concession stand.

Warren said his company's approach was to re-create the "glamour" of the movie -going experience. He hopes the theater will have "a big economic impact on Moore and will become a regional draw."

Also, I read in Boyd Street Magazine (a publication at the University of Oklahoma) that the theater will contain a "Las Vegas style" casino, a lavishly furnished waiting room with a fireplace, an arcade, and even a "cry room" for parents with upset children that can be calmed down in a private environment. :cry: :)

Let's just hope that with this shiny new theater Moore doesn't continue being a magnet for F-5 tornados.

The theatre's been downsized to no more than 21 screens. The project's been in limbo for a year now because of construction prices.

OK... urbanok was just hacked and has probably been finished for good. The new url is http://okmetropolis.forumer.com , and we greatly appreciate your support and member contributions at this time, more than ever before. We will be back up and active soon, and Oklahoma Metropolis will be far better than Urban OK once we're finished making it.

Hey guys, im wondering if u could post some pic of OK, i think the city looks awesome and am impressed with what the city has been doing. I post a thread called "Wanted Pictures". so post em' please if ya could, thanks!

Well we had over three-thousand photos on the urbanok forum before it was hacked. When I find where I had them hosted and repost all of them I'll post some over here for sure. :)

The theatre's been downsized to no more than 21 screens. The project's been in limbo for a year now because of construction prices.
Actually that would be an increase. The articles I have read regarding this project said it would have 20 screens. It is in limbo but most likely will go forward.

No more than 18 and no less than 14. My apologies.

^That might be for the best anyway. Personally, I don't really like huge multi-plexes. Hopefully the theater will remain as posh as it was originally intended.

There's also going to be a theatre in University Town Center, and whenever it goes up will probably speerhead the construction of the lifestyle center on that site.

Besides, the south side of the metro can support more than two movie theatres. I mean heck, there's about 300,000 in Cleveland County alone, that could support a lot of movie theatres...

Lots of new developments... haven't been on here in a while. Recently they just announced a renovation of a mostly abandoned wharehouse on the upper canal. A few lofts, retail, offices. Possibly a new hotel behind, at Brewer's mercy.

Here's some OU photos I recently took:

________________________________

It just so happened before I left for Homecoming today I thought I would bring my camera with me. Well it was a cold game indeed. I would personally prefer the chilly weather, but I only brought a red fleece pullover with me so I was probably not prepared for how windy it was. I believe when I was driving home my dashboard said the wind chill outside was in the lower thirties...I just got home about an hour ago, and all this time I've been working on these pics to be honest.

Now I won't whine about any bad calls, I will instead accept it as my Sooner-born and Sooner-bred fate and hope that some day the officiating aspect of the game can be resolved for the good of the game.

I can say it was very cold. Numb hands were of no use in Sooner spectating tonight, so fans mostly had to use their voice...I think the cold made the atmosphere more interesting. Only great football fans show up for really cold games. Would the weather had been better, the typical...highly drunk OU fans would have shown up as usual. Seems we're renowned for being drunk fans.

The photo series that I am proud to present is of the best views Norman has to offer and a great OU football game. Now without further ado, the photography...

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A modertor may want to split that post from this thread into it's own thread titled "Boomer Sooner".

Wow, it's been a while. I'll do a quick overview of progress of some of the developments in OKC.

Several of the major residential projects in downtown OKC have now broken ground and many are nearing completion or are complete.

The 17-story Park Harvey Apartments are ready for move-ins.

303-unit Legacy Summit is rapidly completing after a couple of years of setbacks and we doubted that it would even be started just a few months ago.

Block 42 has foundation and first story walls up. Central Avenue Villas have about the same amount of work complete.

Ground is turned at the 5-story retail/condo Centennial building on the lower canal, at the Hill, and the Brownstones at Maywood Park.

Greg Banta continues to purchase properties in Midtown and is rapidly renovating them with new windows, new or restored brick, and even new construction. His Plaza Court retail development has announced that it will include local hamburger joint Irma's and a two-story version of the Tulsa-based Irish pub McNellie's. The Sieber Apartment Hotel is finally under construction in Midtown, too.

Other developments continue in OKC:

The hotels are moving fast. Boutique hotel in the historic Colcord building has now opened, along with first floor restaurant Soleil and basement club XO. Skirvin is being restored to its grandeur as workers polish the brick and uncover and restore old masonry and detailing- the Skirvin Hilton should be opened by March. The Bricktown Residence Inn is looking more and more like a completed building, and we've begun to bear the brunt of having another ugly green pitched roof looming over Lower Bricktown.

In suburban news, plans have been announced for a 15-story office/loft tower along I-35 in Norman.

http://okmet.org/bb/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=713.0;id=153;image

Photo courtesy OKMet.org.

There's new lifestyles on Broadway at NE 122nd and in Edmond at S 33rd. Work is continuing in Norman, and there's a rumour of a Cabela's in Moore, where progress is just chuggin along as usual. Lindsey Square, at SW 59th and Lindsey, is also a bunch of townhomes in the middle of the ghetto (interestingly) that are underway, and hoping to allure a hispanic tenant base that would otherwise graduate to the suburbs. I value this as a great project because this on a greater scale would help restore the inner southside as a good part of town, while still taking full advantage of the area's Hispanic culture.

A lot of projects now just haven't hit the news. The Osler Building is being restored into lofts and added onto, there's a new Embassy Suites fixing to be announced within the next half year (it's already on Emporis according to some, though I personally can't find it) and there is a rumour of a 40-story design for a project that is a "go" that Frankfort Short Bruza did.

It's on Emporis alright. How they got the data for how tall it would be is beyond me.

good to h-ear nonetheless.!

It's on Emporis alright. How they got the data for how tall it would be is beyond me.

It's ironic, because I'm pretty sure it's the only thing I haven't leaked...

There we are with the registration and everything. You see, Shane? People are interested in the developments here. I just have nothing to contribute, other than being the "Oh that sounds awesome," guy :-) .

It's on Emporis alright. How they got the data for how tall it would be is beyond me.

We have our ways... ;)

Mark, if you really are with Emporis...you all have LOADS of incorrect info for OKC, even though I have to confirm the height and number of stories of the Embassy Suites. But it was not built in 2006, hell it aint even announced yet....

Mark, if you really are with Emporis...you all have LOADS of incorrect info for OKC, even though I have to confirm the height and number of stories of the Embassy Suites. But it was not built in 2006, hell it aint even announced yet....

I am an editor/photographer with Emporis for the city of Milwaukee so I am not officially responsible for OKC. However, I'd be perfectly willing to help correct erroneous information for your city.

Please send me a message with regard to any errors you need corrected and we'll go ahead and have them changed. Thanks.

There will be a new breast cancer research facility in OKC.

In all those OU game pics I think I like the Sooner Schooner pic the best!

A lot of projects now just haven't hit the news. The Osler Building is being restored into lofts and added onto, there's a new Embassy Suites fixing to be announced within the next half year (it's already on Emporis according to some, though I personally can't find it) and there is a rumour of a 40-story design for a project that is a "go" that Frankfort Short Bruza did.


That would be awesome if OKC gets a new 40 story! Imagine how awesome the skyline will look.

That would be awesome if OKC gets a new 40 story! Imagine how awesome the skyline will look.
Yes that would be awesome! Does anybody know what type of biulding it would be? Residential, office, mixed use?

A lot of projects now just haven't hit the news. The Osler Building is being restored into lofts and added onto, there's a new Embassy Suites fixing to be announced within the next half year (it's already on Emporis according to some, though I personally can't find it) and there is a rumour of a 40-story design for a project that is a "go" that Frankfort Short Bruza did.

The Osler Building is not on Emporis. Nor is it listed under "Heritage Building" as it was once known.

Again, I'd be happy to add it to the database and make changes to errors with solid resources.

Sure.

http://okmet.org

Watch that. This will make it easier for you to make changes to the OKC database, because of a new feature we're working over time on...mums the word for now.

We're fixing to break ground on a new 9-story hotel in Bricktown...

W Hotel, Hotel Indigo, and Hyatt have been reportedly interested in a site in the 360 at Founders Tower development on the Northwest Expressway... this was reported in the Daily Oklahoman today.

^^

Here's a sort of summary from the Oklahoman's report.

-------

We've known for a while that the iconic 20-story Founders Tower in NW OKC would be converted to condos, but more info came out yesterday about the future of the 7 acres purchased by the Bridgeport Development Group last year.

http://static.newsok.biz/article/2981813/biz-founders_12-06-2006_GH1OU04.jpg

If you've ever driven through Oklahoma City on the NW Expressway or Lake Hefner Parkway, you couldn't have missed the circular, unique Founders Tower. Next time you drive by, the tower will look much different. You can see at the bottom they have begun replacing the windows on the building with lighter, blue tinted glass that is supposed to be energy efficient. The 68 condominium units in the tower will range from 1,200 to 2,100 sf and $200k-600k in price. According to the article in the Oklahoman, most units will have three outdoor balconies with views of the downtown skyline, NW OKC skyline, and Lake Hefner.

Famed OKC restaurants Nikz at the Top, which rotates atop the newly renamed 360, and Queen Ann's Cafeteria in the first level, will likely remain as tenants of the building. The first level will offer other retail tenants- a banking center, jeweler, and cleaners, plus a concierge and room service for the condos.

The biggest news we got yesterday was what the developer plans to do with the rest of the expensive property. A two-story parking garage and two-story office tower will be built (the office tower should be MUCH larger- demand for quality office space in the NW submarket is crazy), and they are looking for a hotel to fill about a 5-story tower. They already have three hotel chains interested in the site- Hyatt, W, and Hotel Indigo have all expressed interest.

Another 11-story condo project is pending for the Lake Hefner/East Wharf area.

Welcome back, Okies. We missed you :happy:

http://static.newsok.biz/article/2981813/biz-founders_12-06-2006_GH1OU04.jpg

Retro architecture :lol:

^^ We were busy with the other forum! I'm actually glad to be back... :)

Yeah, the Founders Tower is really retro... built in the height of the 60s! The lighting (which has also been redone, or at least was special for the announcement of the plans) features weird colored lights that flash on the balcony columns in a circle around the building... Very retro!

The 11-story condo tower that is pending up at Lake Hefner is called The Lighthouse. There are watchdog groups concerned that it may take a piece out of the greenbelt. In reality... it is located across a freeway arterial (the Lake Hefner Parkway) from the expansive greenbelt along the east side of Lake Hefner, popular with joggers and bicyclists.

Proposals were due Friday for an old Mercy Hospital site in Midtown, which was cleared in 2002 by Urban Renewal.

A map of the site:

http://olive.newsok.com/Repository/getimage.dll?path=DOK/2006/12/05/19/Img/Pc0191000.jpg

As you can see, the site is within blocks of three other ongoing residential developments (Harvey Lofts, Sieber, and Osler/Heritage buildings), and the rapidly forming "Restaurant Row" in Midtown's Plaza Court district. The Plaza Court building will have a local burger place (Irma's) a two-story Irish pub out of Tulsa (McNellie's) and an upscale bakery, among others. One of the restaurants behind Plaza Court has been announced as a new world latin cuisine restaurant- which will go nicely with Cafe do Brazil. All of these establishments are locally owned, so it's really shaping up to be a cool area.

Here's a rundown of both proposals (I thought there would be more than two!) Info from the Oklahoman

Mercy Park
Proposal by Marva Ellard (among others; Sieber Hotel developers)

http://olive.newsok.com/Repository/getimage.dll?path=DOK/2006/12/09/26/Img/Pc0260600.jpg

- 3-6 story buildings
- 111 Apartments 900-1200 sf
- 22 Condominiums
- 24,000 sf retail space (calls for grocery)
- 72-room hotel
- 305 underground parking spaces
- $50 million ($2 million TIF money request)

Overholser Green
by Wiggin Properties (Mayo Hotel in Tulsa, 101 Park office condos)

http://olive.newsok.com/Repository/getimage.dll?path=DOK/2006/12/09/26/Img/Pc0260500.jpg

- 109 Condos ($340-742k)
- three 4-story buildings, one 8-story building
- 220 underground spaces
- $60 million ($1 million TIF)

Don't forget I told you it would be Marva Ellard (The Seiber, and my fave, The Hill), Shane.

I favor Overholser Green, even though I think Mercy Park is a better building. It's all about location, location, location. The site backs up to the neighborhood north of Mid-Town that has some of OKC's grandest and most expensive homes.

Proposals were due Friday for an old Mercy Hospital site in Midtown, which was cleared in 2002 by Urban Renewal.

A map of the site:

http://olive.newsok.com/Repository/getimage.dll?path=DOK/2006/12/05/19/Img/Pc0191000.jpg

As you can see, the site is within blocks of three other ongoing residential developments (Harvey Lofts, Sieber, and Osler/Heritage buildings), and the rapidly forming "Restaurant Row" in Midtown's Plaza Court district. The Plaza Court building will have a local burger place (Irma's) a two-story Irish pub out of Tulsa (McNellie's) and an upscale bakery, among others. One of the restaurants behind Plaza Court has been announced as a new world latin cuisine restaurant- which will go nicely with Cafe do Brazil. All of these establishments are locally owned, so it's really shaping up to be a cool area.

Here's a rundown of both proposals (I thought there would be more than two!) Info from the Oklahoman

Mercy Park
Proposal by Marva Ellard (among others; Sieber Hotel developers)

http://olive.newsok.com/Repository/getimage.dll?path=DOK/2006/12/09/26/Img/Pc0260600.jpg

- 3-6 story buildings
- 111 Apartments 900-1200 sf
- 22 Condominiums
- 24,000 sf retail space (calls for grocery)
- 72-room hotel
- 305 underground parking spaces
- $50 million ($2 million TIF money request)

Overholser Green
by Wiggin Properties (Mayo Hotel in Tulsa, 101 Park office condos)

http://olive.newsok.com/Repository/getimage.dll?path=DOK/2006/12/09/26/Img/Pc0260500.jpg

- 109 Condos ($340-742k)
- three 4-story buildings, one 8-story building
- 220 underground spaces
- $60 million ($1 million TIF)

Looking good OKC!

i just signed up today. i'm not sure why i waited until now... i've just been lurking.
please check out my profile for our fair city on myspace. www.myspace.com/oklahomacityrocks
i used pics i snagged off the internet and even ones off of here! it's been quite successful, seems that there are a good amount of people that are proud to be okies nowadays!
ya'll have kept me "in the know" on what all is goin on! you guys rock!


p.s. btw, if you do check out that okc profile and see any info that needs to be updated or have any pics that you think would be nice on there... just p.m. me!

I've seen this before I believe. Someone posted a link on OKC Hornets Central...

I can't help but notice you turned the music off. We were getting a huge kick out of that, Doug Loudenback said it wasn't a half-bad tune, probably the funniest thing said in that thread coming from him. Anyway, I must first apoligize if you're using this thread to 'stay in the know'.

At times I really don't even want to update it. But I'm glad you've joined, and I hope you find the thread interesting to come.

I can't help but notice you turned the music off.
hmmm... i haven't turned anything off.. sometimes it takes a sec to load due to buffering... and i do change it ever so often.


Anyway, I must first apoligize if you're using this thread to 'stay in the know'.
At times I really don't even want to update it.

hey, my friend, no need for apologies... it really helps me out greatly! i appreciate it.

Wow, the second structure is beautiful!
Such craftsmanship!

Ed, your myspace OKC page is really awesome, I loved reading the positive comments on it! And the photos there are pretty good too, it's a nice collection.

---------------

More Bricktown Condos coming!

That big vacant space on the upper canal and the smaller piece of land across from it, both next to the canal loading dock, are finally going to be developed. I think they're the last significant pieces of land in upper Bricktown. The larger piece, on the west side of the canal, is the planned location for a 12-story condo building with retail, and the small piece across from the ballpark will be a 3-story retail and office building.

No renderings have been published.