Comments on: Open Topic

By: Lee

Lee — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 17:25:47 +0000

Speaking of drawings and plans, and since this is Open Topic.

Steve, have you seen anything on the Whole Foods drawings or plans?

By: Nick Roberts

Nick Roberts — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 01:42:29 +0000

I imagine McKown, as the developer, would be able to turn around and break ground on something right after project approval since he is a builder himself. It’s not like Jim Thompson having to work separately to come to terms with construction contractors..

Not really backtracking or defending anything, I just think that this guy is moving along way faster than everyone else–these could be way more than preliminary drawings, but its evident how fast he’s moving on this. They’re still compiling data about the site–although that may just mean that they’re in the final stages of drawing up the final designs.

By: AJ

AJ — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 23:41:47 +0000

nick i think the goal is to get approval and to break ground in January so i would think that these are more than preliminary

By: Kris Bryant

Kris Bryant — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 21:36:55 +0000

Speaking of Preftakes, Main Street between Walker and Hudson has the potential to become a truly activated and charming corridor. It has great retail frontage, wide sidewalks, street trees, landscaped median. It only needs a little rehab from Preftakes, plus a new development on the north side of the street to replace the surface parking lot used by city employees. If you fill in the missing teeth, it can become one of the city’s best urban experiences.

By: david ball

david ball — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 21:04:03 +0000

i like the street-friendly design, but there’s too much glass and not enough (any!) architectural detail. it’s scared the poor people into looking like ghosts…;)

By: Nick Roberts

Nick Roberts — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 20:00:07 +0000

I think we are finally starting to see the smaller infill projects catch up to the major things we have in the works, and that’s exactly what we need for downtown to be successful–that’s what is imperative in order for Devon Tower and MAPS3 to actually translate into momentum for downtown. I’m even more impressed by all of these suburban guys getting involved downtown.. I understand that the suburban market is the big money maker, but it’s awesome to see more people in OKC business involved downtown, more diversity among developers, see downtown win over some suburban builders, and so on..

If this is open topic though, I think that the biggest question we’ve got going on right now is Nicholas Preftakes. The fact that a developer just bought up an entire block across from Devon Tower has completely fallen off the radar, despite that we all know Preftakes is up to something. I am dying to get some idea of what..

By: Nick Roberts

Nick Roberts — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 19:44:29 +0000

The design is probably going to change somewhat, although the rendering is important because it shows us what the developer is thinking right now. It looks amazing. They only just completed soils testing, according to some eyewitness accounts that were on OKC Talk, and these are very preliminary renderings is my understanding.

By: Kent

Kent — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 18:27:41 +0000

Finally someone looks like they get it, an apartment complex with structured, interior parking. Its taken too long for someone to get this done. I look for this to be a big hit.

By: Michael Heaton

Michael Heaton — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 17:21:32 +0000

Thanks for posting the renderings, Steve!

By: Kris Bryant

Kris Bryant — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:57:33 +0000

Thunderdome is the nickname and always will be. You can’t really strike a business contract with someone without using their name, that’s kind of the whole point.