Well That Was an Interesting Week…


I’m still reeling from the news that Cathy Rigby is STILL performing as Peter Pan …
So despite that and other stories getting your interest this week, let’s recap, shall we?
We’re getting a good glimpse of what’s to come downtown, and if it all comes true, then we’re looking an office market far more vibrant than its been the past 30 years.
When you read my coverage in the Sunday Oklahoman about Devon, you’ll learn more than 2,000 people will be moving into Devon Energy Center when it opens in 2012. We also know from today’s coverage that SandRidge Energy is looking at an expansion of its downtown workforce that will bring the total to 2,000 in five years, and that it will be building a second tower equal in size to its current 29-story tower.
Contemplate that for a moment. Also add into this equation that Continental Resources is looking at employing about 750 people by 2014 as it completes its move to Devon’s current headquarters at Broadway and Sheridan. And have no doubt, Continental is growing. Don’t be surprised if that 750 figure is low – very low.
Also remember that construction will be starting this winter on an 11-story Hilton Garden Inn in Bricktown. And of course the city is very intent on getting a conference hotel built in conjunction with the new convention center. Doing quick math and considering the foot print, this hotel will definitely go vertical Let’s assume it’s the same sort of footprint as the Renaissance Hotel. Add more amenities into the mix, and double the room count, and it’s easy to see it going up 20 stories or higher.
Still with me?
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – the skyline isn’t finished yet. And I expect even more yet to be announced. In the meantime, enjoy this latest time lapse video of Devon Energy Center by OKC Central contributor Will Hider.

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Comments

Steve, do you have any idea how many of those 2000 moving into the Devon Energy Center are currently already downtown? In other words, how many new workers downtown will Devon account for by itself?

This is all great news. Let’s do what we can to keep this progress going.

I just wanted say, in regards to your “Contemplate for a moment” I gave up contemplating on Sundays for Lent and I liked it so
much I bought the company and just continued not contemplating.

I like the clock.

Ignoring the gender issue, but somehow it seems appropriate that a 58(?) year old is playing the role of the boy who refuses to grow up. LOL

I’ve been contemplating this today and I’m thinking it would
be really neat if Cathy Rigby could fly with the wire thing
from the Devon Tower, swoop down by Stage Center and then
just generally fly around, down by the little happy lamppost, and by the place where the food trucks aren’t supposed to go, and then around some parking meters, down near the canal, then over near what used to be Mel’s Towing and then
circle where Jessica Alba put up the White Shark posters when she wasn’t supposed to but it was ok because she was from out of town. Or something.

…and then she could swoop near the milk bottle building, pirouette on the gold dome, taking in the fake palm trees, veer around the gold star tower, run a lap at taft stadium, and then retire for a steak and lamb fries at the cattlemen’s while sniffing the stockyards. then she could go to mass at the little flower catholic church and pray for the union station. go for the gold, cathy!

And concerning your interesting week, Steve, I bet that OPUBCO sale was pretty interesting to you as well! ;-)

As annoying as I thought Genghis Duck was the first few times, they have made me laugh the last couple of times they have posted.

Never a dull moment Reggie. And yeah Matt, I think Genghis Duck is a nice bit of spice to the mix here at OKC Central. In that one comment alone Genghis tied together at least a dozen bits of OKC pop culture. One has to respect that.

I’m pretty sure you can hear the laughter over here. Yeah,
just a little bit of spicey Peking Duck. :) :) :)
While we’re all shoveling it, let’s call a spade a spade.
I thought david ball’s comment was better than mine, mostly due to the “veer.” I was then going to comment with an old
VERA WANG! VERA WANG! joke but I decided not to because I
wasn’t sure if that was allowed. My love of the word “veer”
knows no bounds. That’s true. I also appreciated his fake
palm trees thing. That was very nice as was the pirouetting
on the gold dome, even though I would have said “golden dome.” But to each his own. As for the “never a dull moment”
remark, I certainly got a chuckle out of that one. Oh yes.
The respect thing makes me a little nervous, so I’m bracing myself, but that’s fine.

Still waiting to see if Joe, the first commenter, gets his
question answered. He’s been waiting patiently and I’m assuming he doesn’t care about Peter Pan, the milk bottle
or anything to do with quacking.

We’re all good Genghis.
Thanks for reminding to respond to Joe; yes, I believe most or all of those 2,000 Devon employees are already downtown, though I suspect there’s a chunk of new hires that will take place on the operations ends of the tower as it opens.

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