Yes, the clock at First National is ticking again - we are glad people have taken notice. More changes are in the works.
First of all, we would like to thank the majority of our tenants who are applauding our efforts to enact the first real improvements to this building in a long time. A common thread among many diverse projects we have undertaken across this great country is quality. We will not compromise quality and we will deliver what we promise.
We would like to address a number of discrepancies at this time, starting with the topic that speaks the loudest: money, and in this case – rent. The market dictates pricing in every industry, not just real estate; in turn, proper pricing brings in quality. We are charging what the market will bear, and the market is bearing it. The First National Center has been passed through a number of hands, but we are the ones who have made the biggest financial commitment of the last 25 years.
We have committed our finances, our resources, our personnel and our time to starting this effort off right. Doing it right means doing our research, which means taking out the controversial marble in the West entry hall. The original design matched the marble that graces the floors of Grand Banking Hall, and despite the unfounded allegations of a few, we are committed to restoring the First National Center to its historical character, including the flooring in the West Building’s entry.
Of course, we are still learning about this great building every day and we welcome comments from our tenants. We know there are challenges; although, we prefer private meetings to public chastisement. Our office is located on the third floor above the Grand Banking Hall.
Please, stop by.
First National Center is the largest footprint in commercial square feet in downtown Oklahoma City and the sheer size of the building makes any renovation a lot to bite off.
Instead of telling our tenants that we’ll take it all on and appearing to break our promises we have decided to phase in our improvements and deliver on these promises in measurable stages.The clock may be ticking, but we are in the business of quality, not slipshod. Quality takes time. Don’t judge us now; judge us a few years from now.
M. Aaron Yashouafar, Milbank Real Estate
Read more about First National Center and views of upcoming improvements in Tuesday’s Main Street column.
March 27th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
I feel like people are being too hard on these redevelopers… I believe that they mean what they say- they don’t want to make promises they can’t keep, so they’re taking small steps. They’re doing it though.
To me, it’s kind of bad that people are jumping all over this firm that is from out of state and came in to try to fix up downtown’s crown jewel.