An Open Letter from Grant Humphreys
The Flatiron: Oklahoma City, OK from imagiNATIVEamerica on Vimeo.
A year ago there were at least a handful of downtown developments on the drawing boards that seemed to be sure things. One of those was the Flatiron, a mixed-use development by Grant Humphreys at 5th and Harrison.
Construction was to start in the fall. And that’s where things get all messed up; have your leases and financing nailed down in July, 2008, and things are still set. But fall was a totally different story following the economic crash, and while Oklahoma City has been spared much of the pain, financing is still troublesome for pretty much everybody.
Grant Humphreys wants to make this deal work. He spent time and money on the project. He invested his creative energies and hopes.
The local economy isn’t shutting down, but it’s not immune from the outside pressures. Interestingly enough, I’m seeing more leasing activity along Broadway and in Bricktown than I have the previous two years.
By all accounts, Devon Energy is showing no hint of delaying or stopping construction of its 54-story highrise.
Yet the banking crunch is having its effort. Without any further delay, here’s Grant’s open letter:
From: Grant Humphreys
Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2009 5:03 PM
Subject: THE FLATIRON – A SYMBOL OF RESILIENCE – of our downtown, of our city, of our Oklahoma spirit
Across the nation, the economic crisis has forced many development projects to be put on hold or brought to an end. Yet Oklahoma City, despite some very real economic downturns, continues to prove itself as one of the most resilient markets in America.
After almost three years of design and due diligence, our project known as ‘The Flatiron’ is poised to become a reality. When the construction of this project begins at the gateway of downtown OKC, The Flatiron will deliver the message that Oklahoma City is still in the game. Watching this new 5-story mixed-use project be built will boost confidence in our market and help maintain or increase property values as well. No doubt the Devon Tower will deliver this same message around the world, but we’re the small business version that is ready to go. But we need YOUR help.
We need YOUR help to meet our pre-leasing hurdle. The Flatiron will create more than 73,000 RSF of Class ‘A’ office and retail space ideally located at the gateway to downtown, Bricktown and the Oklahoma Health Center. Our asking rates are $22/RSF (gross) for loft office and $22/RSF (net) for street level retail (with CPI bumps). We need credit tenants willing to sign a 5-year lease. Local tenants are great. Once we’ve pre-leased 50% of this space, we will move towards an exciting groundbreaking event. We want to work with brokers. So bring me a deal. With your help, we can meet this goal . . . and you’ll be the first invited to the party!
All the information you need is available online at www.flatironokc.com. You can find floor plans, marketing brochures and a video of the project. Make a point to watch the video. It’s awesome.
Dave Ortloff, our Director of Marketing, is handling the broker relations. He’s here for you. If you’d like to arrange a tour or receive more information about this exciting project, just call Dave at (405) 228-1000 (ext 4). His contact information is also on the website referenced above.
Let’s work together to show everyone that, despite the rest of the nation, the real estate market in Oklahoma City is alive and well. I appreciate your help!
Thanks,
Grant
Find out more by visiting their website at: FlatironOkc.com!
UPDATE: A co-worker got an interesting call from a “homebuilder” who complained about this post. The homebuilder didn’t bother contacting me directly, but apparently feels this is a ”lovefest” for Grant Humphreys and wanted to know how much Grant paid for it.
Grant paid nothing. I post what I find interesting. I found the new animation interesting. I thought Grant’s comments were interesting. There you have it, anonymous homebuilder. The same logic went into yesterday’s posting on the Prohibition Room.
I also think this might be interesting to my readers. If I’m guily of a ”lovefest” here, I guess you can also say I’ve had “lovefests” with Marva Ellard and the Sieber, Ron Bradshaw and the Maywood Lofts, Larry Nichols and Devon Tower, pretty much all of Bricktown and all of MidTown and all of Automobile Alley.
Here’s the thing people keep on missing: I cover downtown and the inner-core. That’s what I do. If I were the Sooner beat writer, I guess I’d be accused of having a lovefest with Bob Stoops.
Geez…
Silent Movies at the Prohibition Room
(Buster Keaton in ”College”)
Got the following info from Joe Rosati. This sounds like fun:
Every Sunday night the Prohibition Room will feature an original classic silent movie projected on the big screen. Movies have included Phantom of the Opera, The Chef, and Gold Rush.
The movie starts at 8:30 every Sunday and is free for the public. The Prohibition Room is located at 1112 NW 23in the historic Gold Dome.
Upcoming movies include Intolerance filmed in 1916 from director D.W. Griffith which was voted by American Film Institutes top 100 movies, and College filmed in 1927 featuring Buster Keaton in a classic slapstick comedy.
One dollar domestic beers are offered every Sunday night starting at 5 p.m. For information on upcoming movies contact Prohibition Room at 601-0363. Prohibition Room is open until 2 a.m. every night serving food until 1 a.m. every night.
OKC Central – The Online Show
Yep, the deed is done. Starting Tuesday, the weekly OKC Central segment will begin popping up weekly at www.newsok.com and here at www.okccentral.com.
This is new to me, so be patient (I’m talking to you Metro!) as I hopefully get into a comfort zone with all this.
-Steve
Brix – No New Windows Yet
Still no word on whether the upper windows will be restored, but the paint job is apparently complete at the new Brix. Thoughts?
Great Because it was Loved …
It's a New Day
Responses on Brett
I’m not so sure this year is going to be one I’ll look back at too fondly. I’ve worked at The Oklahoman for 19 years now and I can’t recall when I’ve seen so many people I’ve come to know well pass away as they have recently. Maybe this is why fellow journalists with more than 20 years have a certain look to them – they’ve been battered in ways that less experienced scribes simply can’t understand.
The rundown to date:
First came Jim Brewer. Jim and I had a love/hate relationship. I grilled him for sure, but I also provided him with plenty of moments to shine in the glory of what was always his beloved Bricktown. As recently as mid-2007 he was yelling and cursing at me over some questions he didn’t care for. A novice reporter might have been intimidated or even offended, but I just smiled the entire time. It was Jim letting off some steam. Sure enough, a year later, in June, he sat down with me at his home to tell his entire life story, warts and all. It was one of the high moments of my career. He died just a couple months later of the ailments that had been dogging him.
Then came Mark Schwartz. I’ll confess right now: I loved hanging out with this old style politician. He was living history. He made debate fun. But I also cost him tens of thousands of dollars without writing a single word. I simply asked annoying questions about no-bid contracts as he was negotiating such a deal with county officials. Mark knew it went against what he preached at City Hall; ultimately I think he was just as eager to call it off as were the county officials. The county folks couldn’t answer my questions. Mark did. His answers will stay between the two of us.
Now comes Brett. I talked with him just a couple weeks ago. Always the spinner, always the cheerleader. I think I ruined a press conference he organized for mortgage bankers and homebuilders back in November (when he was back in the world of running his own pr firm). I asked really rude questions – the kind of hardball questions I think you would want me to ask. The head of the national mortgage bankers group really seemed annoyed with each additional question I threw at him. Brett stayed cool and collected and showed no hint of bitterness at me doing my job.
Mark’s death was tough. Really tough. I spent an entire afternoon at his house once talking while he made old fashioned Jewish-style chicken soup. But I also saw it coming. He was young, but he had lived a pretty full life. But Brett…. heck, he was 41, one year younger than I. You’re not supposed to die that young.
I’ve received more than two dozen emails today, and probably about as many calls, about Brett Hamm. I just noticed a guest book is now posted at www.newsok.com. Meanwhile, here’s a small sampling of what came through my emails today:
“Unfortunately, he had a great many more friends than he must have realized. People want to “know” – even if it makes no sense, I think we automatically need to try and figure it out – and we want to help his ex-wife and children. It’s just so darn sad. ”
- Chip Carter
“I worked with Brett for many, many years in politics and business, including
Washington, DC where he worked for Sen. Nickles and Ackerman McQueen, plus with both Mayors Kirk Humphreys and Mick Cornett, and when he served as President of Downtown OKC, Inc.
Brett was always the first to show appreciation toward others through kind words and gracious expressions of thankfulness. We’ve been longtime friends, and I have lost a dear friend. Oklahoma has lost a tremendous business leader. He will be missed by his many friends and by the downtown business community. His work for downtown helped prepare Oklahoma City for our current successes that will be the foundation for our future.”- Brenda Jones
“(Brett) has served on the Red Cross board a couple of years and was our treasurer this fiscal year. He will be missed. He was always willing to provide whatever advice we sought and a great smile.”
- Kathy Williams
Best encouragement, advice, wisdom expressed during the past 48 hours (you know who you are): “If it’s not going to eat you, then you live for another day.”
Unless events dictate otherwise, these are my last words to write on this matter. Brett, I hope you’re at peace now.
- Steve
Hobby's Hoagies – Next 10 Days
George Hobbs and I have an understanding: I will admire his downtown Hobby’s Hoagies from afar when it opens (very like this next week) but I will not partake of the Philly Cheese Steak or the Philly Cheese Steak Pizza more than once a month (and honestly probably even less often than that!).
For now, I’m stuck with Subway or a Boca Burger at home (sigh). I sure do hope some of the local restaurant folks come back to me with some nutritional info!
Brett Hamm Update
Services for Brett Hamm are scheduled for 2:30 p.m., Saturday, February 28 at Crossings
Community Church located at 14600 N. Portland, Oklahoma City, OK 73134. There will be a Friday viewing from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Smith and Kernke on 14624 N. May Ave.
In lieu of flowers, donations for Brett’s three children can be sent to: Hamm Children’s Fund, c/o Maralee Hamm (important this be specified), MidFirst Bank, NW 164 and May Avenue, Edmond Oklahoma, 73013, (405) 943-8002.
How You Can Help
Funeral services aren’t set yet for Brett Hamm. There probably won’t be service information out until tomorrow.
The family’s needs are great.
A Hamm Children’s Fund is being set up at MidFirst Bank, 16401 N May, Edmond, Oklahoma, 73013, (405) 767-7882.
Will update as needed.
