Boardwalk at Bricktown / Dream Hotel

[PhiAlpha]

In my opinion, this is such an idiotic idea in the first place.

The Oklahoman puff promotion of this project is absurd. Equating things in a public park, lake projects, etc, with somebody proposing the tallest building in the world (in the middle of the plains in the United States!) is SO over-the-top. And a PR person was involved in penning that?

Put me down as not wanting this ridiculous-looking tall tower in Oklahoma City even if it could somehow happen. It would look silly, be a laughing stock, like a city with a few small buildings with this monstrosity sticking up. No way do I want that.

Not to mention that if there really is the supposed demand for all these high rise apartments, hotels and condos, that one huge building takes away the opportunity for the 3-6 high rise buildings that could hose those units, provide needed infill and actually add to the skyline in a way that makes it more attractive instead of stupid.

[Thunderbolt]

Is his PR firm promoting the Boardwalk development? If so, that needs to be disclosed in the op-ed. If not, why write this piece?

From Sunday's Oklahoman. The author is a principal of a local PR firm.

********

Is Scot Matteson’s 1,907-foot skyscraper a pipe dream? Naysayers never build anything
Russ Florence Guest columnist

I wonder what Ray Ackerman would have thought of Scot Matteson?

If Matteson’s name doesn’t ring a bell, his project will. He’s the man behind the proposed 1,907-foot skyscraper in Bricktown, which would make it the tallest building in the country.

The plan has been met with skepticism, to say the least. Critics have questioned the wisdom of building such a structure in Tornado Alley. There are also factors of the market. While Oklahoma City is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, it also sprawls over 621 square miles. Density is not an issue.

As for Ackerman, if you don’t know his name, you know his legacy. Ray Ackerman was a visionary. He was an optimist. No dream was too audacious. In the early 1980s ― decades before Riversport OKC and the Boathouse District ― Ackerman proposed turning the blighted North Canadian River into a national attraction.

It seemed preposterous. “We have the only river in Oklahoma,” the joke went, “that you have to mow.” Who would dream of such a thing?

I’m not privy to the conversations, but I imagine that Ackerman’s idea was met with derisive cynicism. Imagine if social media had existed then. The idea would have been beaten to a pulp as soon as it left his mouth.

Is Scot Matteson’s plan a pipe dream? Could it happen? Admittedly, I’ve rolled my eyes at the drawings. But I also admire big thinkers ― people who create a plan, evangelize it to the masses, work it endlessly and prove the naysayers wrong. Can you show me one good thing that naysayers have built?

I have my doubts about Matteson’s plan. But I’m also rooting for him.

A few days ago, I stopped to read a plaque at Will Rogers Gardens about Margaret Annis Boys. You may not know her name either. She was born in 1909 and spent her career as a teacher and principal in Oklahoma City. She loved taking weekend excursions to see wildflowers and foliage across the state.

When she died in 1990, she left $1.5 million to establish a fund to support beautification efforts. The arboretum at Will Rogers wasn’t built by a cynic or a naysayer. It was built by a humble, committed dreamer: Margaret Annis Boys.

Outside of City Hall is a statue of Stanley Draper. Like Ackerman, Draper was known for his Utopian ideas. Better yet, he had the fortitude and tenacity to make it happen. Much of Oklahoma City’s mid-century progress ― Tinker Air Force Base, Will Rogers World Airport, the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum ― was because of Draper.

Fittingly, the inscription at the base is a quote from Ackerman: “He dreamed impossible dreams … then inspired and united all who could make them probable.”

Outside the Chesapeake Boathouse, on the west end of the district, is a statue of Ackerman himself, standing tall, arms crossed, gazing toward a downtown and a city that only the visionaries could ever imagine.

There’s not a statue of a cynic in sight.

Russ Florence
Russ Florence lives and works in Oklahoma City. His column appears monthly in Viewpoints.

[Mr. Blue Sky]

Not to mention that if there really is the supposed demand for all these high rise apartments, hotels and condos, that one huge building takes away the opportunity for the 3-6 high rise buildings that could hose those units, provide needed infill and actually add to the skyline in a way that makes it more attractive instead of stupid.

Yep. Wouldn’t a balanced skyline look awesome here with even two or three new mid/high rise towers that weren’t some novelty? Why anyone would even hope that supertall had a chance is lost on me. But, it’s a forum, all opinions welcome.

[traxx]

Idk who wrote that piece but Ackerman wanting water in a river is not the same as building a super tall building that the market probably can't support. Calling them both dreamers ahead of their time is a false equivalency.

[jccouger]

Idk who wrote that piece but Ackerman wanting water in a river is not the same as building a super tall building that the market probably can't support. Calling them both dreamers ahead of their time is a false equivalency.

It was maybe the worst article I have ever read, and there is a ton of competition for that title.

[Bowser214]

Yikes Developer of Brooklyn’s tallest building is in default of 240 million loan.
https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/deve...213100634.html

[okcrun]

I would be very happy if we at least get the Dream Hotel out of this project.

But they only have 6 operating hotels worldwide and list 11 more as coming soon. Doesn't inspire a lot of confidence.

Hyatt purchased Dream Hotels about a year ago and is trying to expand across all it's newly acquired brands so I wouldn't totally discount it. Hyatt has been selling it's owned hotels to independent operators to fund the expansion so they do have capital backing it.

Recent WSJ interview with Hyatt CEO: https://youtu.be/h8VX85IR7bQ?si=ZFzDlV2FbXFWPX9Z

[warreng88]

Would Hyatt taking over 21C affect this at all?

[Rover]

Would Hyatt taking over 21C affect this at all?

I believe it was the French company ACCOR that bought 21C.

[LocoAko]

Documents have been officially filed with the Planning Commission for the April 11th meeting. The staff report can be found here: https://okc.primegov.com/api/compile...6-e120fd9df71b. Note this is just the first step for the rezoning and doesn't in and of itself imply anything about the legitimacy of the development, AFAIK. Further approvals appear necessary before construction could begin.

Notably, the Planning Commission, at least in their report, does not indicate opposition to the (nominally) proposed building height. On this, Tinker AFB's statement reads,

"The height of 1,907-foot tall tower proposed will exceed the Outer Horizontal Surface (500ft elevation) as defined in UFC 3-260-01. The proposed tower is approximately 10,400 feet southwest of the centerline of runway 13/31, but not in the Approach Departure Surface. The proposed tallest tower is 3,094 Mean Sea Level (MSL); the maximum height that would not negatively impact operations is 2,000 MSL."

and the Planning Commission's explanation of building height regulations for this lot reads,

"Building Height: While not located in the DBD Downtown Business District, which allows unlimited building height, the southern portion of the subject site where the 1907’ foot tall building is depicted in Exhibit C is bordered on the west, south and east sides by DBD zoning, which does not have a maximum building height (except in Automobile Alley). The northern portion of the site abuts the BC Bricktown Core Overlay District to the north, which limits building height to 140 feet. Directly north of the site and adjacent to East Reno Avenue are two surface parking lots and one fivestory warehouse building. The proposed SPUD would limit building height within 20 feet of East Reno Avenue to 80 feet. Both the DBD and BC Districts require design review and approval, which does not apply to the subject site. The proposed SPUD requires building and site design review for SPUD conformance to be completed by the Planning Director at the building permit stage."

Additionally, I hadn't previously realized this, but this development will not connect directly with the OKC Boulevard road-wise.

Here is the master design concept document: https://okc.primegov.com/api/compile...d-614d57581912

I'm not sure if any of the renderings are new, but I don't recall previously seeing the proposed building breakdown by floor (apologies if I just missed this/am forgetting). I'm also not sure if I'd realized that the tall tower had signage that was specifically Hyatt branded.

[Pete]

Here is the site plan:

[Pete]

The three buildings in the first phase would be 345' tall.

That would make them the 8th tallest buildings in OKC, between City Place at 395 and Valliance at 321.


The planning commission rezoning is usually just a formality. The entire complex is subject to design review and that's where things can get interesting, especially since this project is nothing like anything around it in Bricktown or Lower Bricktown (or the entirety of the United States, for that matter).

Don't understand the one image that shows almost the entirety of Legends Tower covered with electronic billboards.

[Laramie]

^ ^ ^

Good news, now we'll await an announcement on ground breaking ceremonies.

[Tyson]

Here is the site plan:

Really great to see a grocery store in there.

[Richard at Remax]

The three buildings in the first phase would be 345' tall.

That would make them the 8th tallest buildings in OKC, between City Place at 395 and Valliance at 321.


The planning commission rezoning is usually just a formality. The entire complex is subject to design review and that's where things can get interesting, especially since this project is nothing like anything around it in Bricktown or Lower Bricktown (or the entirety of the United States, for that matter).

Don't understand the one image that shows almost the entirety of Legends Tower covered with electronic billboards.

at this point why not add it?

[PhiAlpha]

Really great to see a grocery store in there.

Well there’s the final nail in the coffin of this development LOL.

[David]

I do like the idea of a grocery store!

[jn1780]

at this point why not add it?

It's a gullibility test. They should add it to all 4 sides.

[Anonymous.]

This thing looks like it is actually going onto the Vegas strip. There is even a room called sportsbook lobby?

The videoboards scaling up the tower stand no chance on review. Those things could cover the like 70% of the windows, which is kind of the whole allure about being in the tallest building in America.

What a bizarre deal all around.

[Rover]

It's a gullibility test. They should add it to all 4 sides.

I’m sure you are unaware of existing technology. https://yahamled.com/applications/ou...-through-mesh/

[jn1780]

I’m sure you are unaware of existing technology. https://yahamled.com/applications/ou...-through-mesh/

Sure, I'm aware of the technology. Adds more even expense to an already hypothetical gaudy tower( for reasons?).

[BoulderSooner]

The entire complex is subject to design review and that's where things can get interesting, e

i don't believe that any of this is in a design district ..

https://www.okc.gov/home/showpublish...03976189100000

[Rover]

Sure, I'm aware of the technology. Adds more even expense to an already hypothetical gaudy tower( for reasons?).

The tower is not gaudy in and of itself. May be over ambitious. May not be feasible. May be highly unlikely. But the tall sleek glass tower itself is not gaudy.

[Pete]

i don't believe that any of this is in a design district ..

https://www.okc.gov/home/showpublish...03976189100000

I think you are right. That entire stretch between the Boulevard and Reno -- which is basically Lower Bricktown -- is not inside the boundaries of any design district.

This means that once this passed the Planning Commission, they can file building permits and start work.

[pickles]

A mere 86 levels of luxury residences simply will not do.