View Full Version : Tall Buildings



Doug Loudenback
03-18-2008, 03:06 PM
Since we're getting "building fever" with the Devon announcement, and since Steve is torquing up our curiosity with his article today, I've started a post at Doug Dawgz Blog: Tall Buildings (http://dougdawg.blogspot.com/2008/03/tall-buildings.html) on "Tall Buildings," defined as 8 floors or more. There, when it's done, I'm giving a trace of information on each such Okc building, past, present, future, and those that were hoped for but didn't happen ... I'm going to snarf some images from Steve & Jack's Okc: 2nd Time Around for that before it's done.

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/tallbuildingss.jpg

A crop of the top of the table is this:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/8ormore.jpg

I've probably left some out ... please let me know.

JWil
03-18-2008, 03:10 PM
If only the two Leadership Square towers were one it would be over 40 stories, right? Either way, that's a beautiful complex that totally gets buried in the fray of the other buildings.

Doug Loudenback
03-18-2008, 03:19 PM
According to DowntownNow, Commercial (http://www.downtownokc.com/Default.aspx?tabid=82&categoryid=0&currentpage=3) , Leadership Square contains 735,514 square feet, more than Chase (514,642 ) or Oklahoma Tower (568,960). So, yeah, that might be so.

Doug Loudenback
03-20-2008, 07:00 AM
I drove around town taking a bunch of pics to populate the images in my Tall Buildings blog post ... Doug Dawgz Blog: Tall Buildings (http://dougdawg.blogspot.com/2008/03/tall-buildings.html) yesterday, and still have a few to go (the list as it exists includes 97 buildings, old and new).

Some of the better are shown below:

Click a link for a larger image ...

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/statecapitol02.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/statecapitol02s.jpg

Valliance Tower
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/valliancetower.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/valliancetowers.jpg

The Classen

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/classenbuilding.jpg

Founders Plaza (this one was taken a few months ago)
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/unitedfounders_10_29_07_a.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/unitedfounders_10_29_07_as.jpg

Union Plaza
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/unionplaza.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/unionplazas.jpg

50 Penn Place
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/50pennplace.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/50pennplaces.jpg

Lakeview Tower Apartments
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/lakeviewtowers.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/lakeviewtowerss.jpg

Okc Marriott
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/okcmarriott.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/okcmarriotts.jpg

Oklahoman Building
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/opubco.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/opubcos.jpg

Children's Physicians Building
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/childrensphysicians.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/childrensphysicianss.jpg

OK Department of Health
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/deptartmentofhealth.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/deptartmentofhealths.jpg

VA Medical Center
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/vahospital.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/vahospitals.jpg

Hertz Financial Center
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/hertzfinancialcenter.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/hertzfinancialcenters.jpg

Crowne Plaza Hotel
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/crowneplazahotel.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/crowneplazahotels.jpg

One Benham Place
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/onebenhamplace.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/onebenhamplaces.jpg

Waterford Marriott
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/waterfordmarriott.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/waterfordmarriotts.jpg

Integris Baptist Main Building
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/baptist01.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/baptist01s.jpg

Presbyterian
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/presbyterian.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/presbyterians.jpg

Mercy Health Center
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/mercyhospital.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/mercyhospitals.jpg

Integris Baptist Bldgs A & B
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/baptist02.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/baptist02s.jpg

Here's one that didn't make the "8 floor" cutoff to be included in the list ... the Signature Place building ... would be nicer if it didn't have the "rent me" ads posted on the building, though ...
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/signatureplace.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/signatureplaces.jpg

Here's one I don't have a good picture of, the 1960 and now destroyed Plaza Court Hotel on Shartel, south of the Physicians & Surgeons Building ... all I could locate was an image in an old Oklahoman and its poor in quality ... if anyone has a picture of this hotel, I'd be pleased to have it! Anyone?

Plaza Court Hotel
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/plazacourthotel.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/plazacourthotels.jpg

If you find any errors or omissions, I'd be glad to have the input.

metro
03-20-2008, 07:18 AM
Good work as always Doug. FYI, Founders Plaza is now called The 360 at Founders Plaza and Hertz Financial center is no more, it has a new name. I forget what it is but the new sign is out front. I think there is a post on it with the new name. Didn't know if you wanted the new names for your post.

Doug Loudenback
03-20-2008, 07:49 AM
Thanks, Metro, yes, I do want to use current names ... I'll amend ... and check out the new name for Hertz.

JLCinOKC
03-20-2008, 09:29 AM
Was the Plaza Court Hotel located near St Anthony? Maybe across the street from the Pasteur Building?

Doug Loudenback
03-20-2008, 09:54 AM
Yes, pretty close. The physical street address was 1115 N. Shartel. The hotel opened in August 1960 but didn't last long as such, according to the Oklahoman archives. St. Anthony's was negotiating a purchase to be used for its nursing students (7/1966) but I don't know if that happened. It became the "Shartel Professional Building." I've not researched its destruction date.

On Edit: See Solitude's reply, below.

solitude
03-20-2008, 09:54 AM
Was the Plaza Court Hotel located near St Anthony? Maybe across the street from the Pasteur Building?

Yes, JLC, it was immediately to the west of the Pasteur Building. At one time, it also was a nursing college.

solitude
03-20-2008, 09:56 AM
Doug, We were posting at the same time - yes, it was used for nursing students in the late 60's and early-mid 70's. I wish we had a better picture, that's too bad. Maybe somebody out there?

Doug Loudenback
03-20-2008, 10:17 AM
Doug, We were posting at the same time - yes, it was used for nursing students in the late 60's and early-mid 70's. I wish we had a better picture, that's too bad. Maybe somebody out there?
I'm hoping to find one ... it was a very interesting looking building ... a hexagon ... back in my "religious period," I remember that the Episcopal Church diocesan offices were located there before moving to Plaza Court (shopping center) ... or was it vice versa? ... and later built its office downtown on N. Robinson, a block north of St. Paul's.

An August 1960 Oklahoman article says that it was the 1st hotel built in Okc since the Skirvin Tower was done in 1936 ... and that's a huge gap in time for no hotels to be built (aside from the proliferating motels all around town).

metro
03-20-2008, 10:19 AM
Doug, the former Hertz Financial Center is now called Caliber Center and Hertz no longer occupies the space to my knowledge. I know they have some ugly property off N. Penn. They also have another currently used large property on NW Expressway, just east of MacArthur. Love's also has a HQ on N. Penn. It'd be neat if they both would build a downtown HQ in the CoreToShore area.

Here's the link to the purchase if interested:

http://www.okctalk.com/okc-metro-area-talk/11760-hertz-financial-center-purchased.html?highlight=hertz

Doug Loudenback
03-20-2008, 10:28 AM
Thanks, Metro. I'll amend the table accordingly.

JLCinOKC
03-20-2008, 11:02 AM
I remember the Plaza Court Hotel. My pediatrician was in the Pasteur Building. It's too bad it was destroyed! It would have made great residential.

solitude
03-20-2008, 11:51 AM
I remember the Plaza Court Hotel. My pediatrician was in the Pasteur Building. It's too bad it was destroyed! It would have made great residential.

Was your pediatrician Dr. Freeman? Bohan? I remember my trips there well.

JLCinOKC
03-20-2008, 12:05 PM
Dr. Bohan

Doug Loudenback
03-20-2008, 08:05 PM
Here are some new or substituted pics which are in the blog post, taken today:

Oklahoma Tower Larger image: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/oklahomatower.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/oklahomatowers.jpg

Leadership North Larger Image: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/leadershipnorth.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/leadershipnorths.jpg

Leadership South larger image: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/leadershipsouth.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/leadershipsouths.jpg

1st National Addition larger image: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/1stnationaladdition.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/1stnationaladditions.jpg

Larger Integris Southwest: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/integrissouthwest.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/integrissouthwests.jpg

Larger Physicians & Surgeons: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/physicianssurgeons.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/physicianssurgeonss.jpg

Larger Everett Tower: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/everetttower.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/everetttowers.jpg

Alternative Landmark Towers: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/landmarktowers2.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/landmarktowers2s.jpg

Biomedical Sciences: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/collegeofmedicine.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/collegeofmedicines.jpg

Hampton Inn: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/hamptoninn.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/hamptoninns.jpg

Baptist Building C: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/baptist04.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/baptist04s.jpg

Baptist Building D: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/baptist03.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/baptist03s.jpg

There are a few others (jail, OkS&L) that are different or new. The last item on the list, an 8 story hotel on Western, I've not located yet. Maybe Emporis got that wrong.

Do you know?

RabidRed
03-20-2008, 09:12 PM
Did I miss OPUBCO building?

FritterGirl
03-20-2008, 09:19 PM
Did I miss OPUBCO building?

Try Doug's Post #4, just under the photo of the Marriott hotel. It's kind of a different angle, and a fairly close frame, so not as easily recognizable.

Thanks for all of these great photos, Doug!

Doug Loudenback
03-21-2008, 01:27 PM
Spartan at OkMet gave me a heads up about the missing building ... which I though was a hotel or motel.


I believe that the Western Tower is the ugly red mid-rise located on Western south of the SW Medical Center.

He was right. I almost wish that I hadn't found it ... it's an office building, not a hotel/motel as I'd thought. 8 stories makes the cut, though, so ...

Larger pic: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/westerntower.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/westerntowers.jpg

Seeing that (it looks better in the pic than in person) made me want to have a drink, so I left southwest Okc and drove toward Byrons at 23rd & Broadway. On the way, I passed near a favorite old building of mine, the Aberdeen Apartments, built in 1927, on NW 15 between Broadway & Robinson. So I detoured ... looking at it from its east side, it appears to have 8 floors, even though I know that bottom floor to be a very nicely furnished basement. So, what the hey! I decided to include it. It's my party ... er, blog ... and I can do what I want to! :dizzy:

Larger pic: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/aberdeen.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/aberdeens.jpg

The building table now tops out at 99. I think I'll reformat the table, though, to show 2 buildings per row for easier viewing.

metro
03-21-2008, 01:41 PM
The Aberdeen caught on fire last week, don't know if it affected it structurally or not.

Doug Loudenback
03-21-2008, 02:23 PM
The Aberdeen caught on fire last week, don't know if it affected it structurally or not.
When I took the above pic today, all looked fine. Saw no signs of a fire. People coming and going as usual.

jbrown84
03-21-2008, 02:25 PM
Really?? I can't find any news articles about it.

FritterGirl
03-21-2008, 03:36 PM
Spartan at OkMet gave me a heads up about the missing building ... which I though was a hotel or motel.

Speaking of hotels or motels, what about that ugly Country Inn and Suites near the Border's books on NW Expy. It is just south of where the old Continental theatre used to be and was formerly a medical tower, I believe. It had a black facade and now it is beige and red stucco..... :eek:

Doug Loudenback
03-21-2008, 03:40 PM
Speaking of hotels or motels, what about that ugly Country Inn and Suites near the Border's books on NW Expy. It is just south of where the old Continental theatre used to be and was formerly a medical tower, I believe. It had a black facade and now it is beige and red stucco..... :eek:
Agreed on the "eek," but there it is. It's #62 in the table, and there you are! :dizzy:

Doug Loudenback
03-22-2008, 08:48 AM
I've reformatted the table with 2 buildings per row and it should be better for viewing. In the next few days, I'm intending to add "Buildings That Might Be, or Might Have Been," or something like that.

Doug Dawgz Blog: Tall Buildings (http://dougdawg.blogspot.com/2008/03/tall-buildings.html)

Many thanks to those who helped with this project!

metro
03-22-2008, 09:29 AM
Doug, I thought of a few more buildings that I think you may have missed (or maybe I did and just didn't see them on the list), I'll repost later when I have more time.

Doug Loudenback
03-22-2008, 04:02 PM
Doug, I thought of a few more buildings that I think you may have missed (or maybe I did and just didn't see them on the list), I'll repost later when I have more time.
Cool! Let me know ...

solitude
03-22-2008, 04:17 PM
Hi Doug!

How tall is that building on the south side of NW 23rd between MacArthur and Rockwell? I don't know what it's called, but years ago a restaurant was on the top floor called "The Captain's Table." I'm not sure if it's eight stories - but that seems about right. Neat thread and good job with the blog post!

CCOKC
03-22-2008, 04:44 PM
That is the West Oaks Tower and it may very well qualify as a tall building under Doug's criteria. And I think it is in between Rockwell and Council (the address is 7300 NW 23rd) and is technically in Bethany. I must say it is one of the least attractive buildings in town.

solitude
03-22-2008, 05:15 PM
That is the West Oaks Tower and it may very well qualify as a tall building under Doug's criteria. And I think it is in between Rockwell and Council (the address is 7300 NW 23rd) and is technically in Bethany. I must say it is one of the least attractive buildings in town.

Yes, I think you're right. It's in that strange part of NW OKC where there is actually a hill or two and very leafy. I agree about the building, it has a very early 70's look. It may be older than that, but that's the look anyway. I remember going to eat at the Captain's Table a few times back around that time - maybe '74 or so.

Doug Loudenback
03-22-2008, 08:19 PM
Ok, I've googled for "West Oaks Tower" and draw nada. I DO generally recall a building that size in that vicinity but it's been a long while since I've been there. I doubt that it was 8 floors, but it may be!

Help me out, girls! I also looked for 7300 NW 23rd but found nothing helpful.

I'll check the county assessor's records for that address ... internet pause while I check ... on return ... ok ... I find this at Leonard Sullivan Oklahoma County Assessor Real Property Detail Sheet (http://www.oklahomacounty.org/assessor/Searches/AN-R.asp?ACCOUNTNO=R173931000) ... that page shows that it was built in 1972 ...

http://www.oklahomacounty.org/assessor/Searches/sketches/picfile/2913/R173931000001zA.jpg

Hard to tell from the pic ... it may be 8 floors but it appears to be 6 or 7 ... certainly something to check out ... may have to visit the building and get in the elevator to know for sure! This assessor's page seems to indicate 6 floors ... http://www.oklahomacounty.org/assessor/Searches/Sketches/sketchfile/2913/R173931000001.jpg

Unless someone can save me the trip! :bow:

As far as being in Bethany, I'll include any building in Oklahoma County that is 8 floors ... certainly this building is better looking than that ugly one on S. Western, shown below, known as the Western Tower ... though that in-your-face-vision did give me a good reason to go buy some booze after looking at it yesterday ...

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/westerntowers.jpg

... and on the way to the booze vendor I did find this charmer ...

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/aberdeens.jpg

All's well that ends well! :dizzy:

solitude
03-22-2008, 08:32 PM
Hard to tell from the pic ... it may be 8 floors but it appears to be 6 or 7 ... certainly something to check out ... may have to visit the building and get in the elevator to know for sure!

Unless someone can save me the trip! :bow:

Good thinking on the going to the assessor's website. It actually says in the details that it's six stories. SO, one mystery solved.

That second building (is that The Aberdeen?) is only seven stories. The bottom windows belong to the basement. There are steps under the canopies that go to the first floor.

On edit: Well, I don't know now. When you look closer...heck...I don't know.
With your stop after your photo-tour you're probably having too much fun now to count! :)

Doug Loudenback
03-22-2008, 08:47 PM
Good thinking on the going to the assessor's website. It actually says in the details that it's six stories. SO, one mystery solved.

That second building (is that The Aberdeen?) is only seven stories. The bottom windows belong to the basement. There are steps under the canopies that go to the first floor.

On edit: Well, I don't know now. When you look closer...heck...I don't know.
With your stop after your photo-tour you're probably having too much fun now to count! :)
I DID fudge to include the Aberdeen. I'm familiar with the building and it has 7 floors from street level ... but since it has a full basement, very nicely appointed, I bent my "rule" ... I made it, I can bend it! :dizzy: If viewed from the east side (as in my pic), it DOES show 8 stories if you count 'em ... do that and you'll agree ... in my table, I list the floors as 7-8!

In truth, it is a 7 story building, but also in truth, it was too cool a building to be left out on a technicality, particularly given the full and very beautiful basement, which makes 8! :bow: So there you are!

Having fun! You bet! This is all fun stuff, "dry" or not! I never said that I actually finished my trek to Byrons, did I?

I did.

solitude
03-22-2008, 08:51 PM
I DID fudge to include the Aberdeen. I'm familiar with the building and it has 7 floors from street level ... but since it has a full basement, very nicely appointed, I bent my "rule" ... I made it, I can bend it! :dizzy: If viewed from the east side (as in my pic), it DOES show 8 stories if you count 'em ... do that and you'll agree ... in my table, I list the floors as 7-8!

In truth, it is a 7 story building, but also in truth, it was too cool a building to be left out on a technicality, particularly given the full and very beautiful basement, which makes 8! :bow: So there you are!

Having fun! You bet! This is all fun stuff, dry or sober! I never said that I actually finished my trek to Byrons, did I?

I did.

And on the playground we all sing together:

Doug's been to Byron's, Doug's been to Byron's, Doug's been to Byron's!!!!

There's something in my glass too, it just didn't come from Byron's. But someplace similar.

Doug Loudenback
03-22-2008, 08:55 PM
And on the playground we all sing together:

Doug's been to Byron's, Doug's been to Byron's, Doug's been to Byron's!!!!

There's something in my glass too, it just didn't come from Byron's. But someplace similar.
Yep. Your trio of phrases reminds me of a tune ... what is it ... maybe that's what you had in your mind ... WE'LL ALL GO DOWN TOGETHER ... or something like that. Gotta find it on the internet!

solitude
03-22-2008, 09:06 PM
Yep. Your trio of phrases reminds me of a tune ... what is it ... maybe that's what you had in your mind ... WE'LL ALL GO DOWN TOGETHER ... or something like that. Gotta find it on the internet!

You got it! That's exactly what I was hearing. I think. If by "We'll all go down together" you mean "all fall down"....as in....

Ring-a-round the roses,
A pocket full of posies,
Ashes! Ashes!
We all fall down!

Doug's been to Byron's,
Doug's been to Byron's,
Photos! Photos!
They wore him out!

Doug Loudenback
03-22-2008, 09:23 PM
You got it! That's exactly what I was hearing. I think. If by "We'll all go down together" you mean "all fall down"....as in....

Ring-a-round the roses,
A pocket full of posies,
Ashes! Ashes!
We all fall down!

Doug's been to Byron's,
Doug's been to Byron's,
Photos! Photos!
They wore him out!


Actually, not. I was thinking along the lines of what I said, "We'll all go down together," which is a totally different tune. Good try, though! I'm not worn out ... yet!

OKCDrummer77
03-22-2008, 09:52 PM
Are you thinking of Billy Joel's "Goodnight Saigon"? That's what came to my mind.

Doug Loudenback
03-23-2008, 05:40 AM
Are you thinking of Billy Joel's "Goodnight Saigon"? That's what came to my mind.
THANK YOU! Parts of the tune have been rolling around in my head since these messages but I couldn't make a fit!


And we would all go down together
We said wed all go down together
Yes we would all go down together

Joel Billy | Goodnight Saigon lyrics (http://www.lyricsfreak.com/j/joel+billy/goodnight+saigon_20073008.html)

Doug Loudenback
03-24-2008, 12:35 PM
I've now completed, for the present, the Tall Buildings post, Doug Dawgz Blog: Tall Buildings (http://dougdawg.blogspot.com/2008/03/tall-buildings.html) . It turns out that there was a 13 story auto hotel which got destroyed during Urban Renewal ... you can see its location in the picture after this one ...

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/autohotel2s.jpg

And, with thanks to Steve Lackmeyer, I've included several images from his and Jack Money's OKC: 2nd Time Around which are reflective of the Urban Renewal Period ... Buildings Not Done.

The next 2 images generally show the downtown area marked for destruction in the plan:

Credit OKC: 2nd Time and OCURA
Larger pic: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/okc2ndtime_downtown_ocura.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/okc2ndtime_downtown_ocuras.jpg

Same pic but with annotations by me
Larger: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/okc2ndtime_downtown_ocura2.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/okc2ndtime_downtown_ocura2s.jpg

The City of Tomorrow
Credit Okc2nd Time, Greater Okc Chamber of Commerce (COC)
Larger: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/okc2ndtime_pei_coc.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/okc2ndtime_pei_cocs.jpg

High Rise Apartments
Credit OKC: 2nd Time and OCURA
Larger: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/okc2ndtime_pei_ocura.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/okc2ndtime_pei_ocuras.jpg

Retail Galleria Near Myriad Gardens
Credit OKC: 2nd Time and OCURA
Larger: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/okc2ndtime_pei_ocura_3.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/okc2ndtime_pei_ocura_3s.jpg

Expansion of Skirvin Tower (101 Park Ave)
Credit OKC: 2nd Time and Greater Okc Chamber of Commerce
Larger: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/okc2ndtime_skirvintower_coc.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/okc2ndtime_skirvintower_cocs.jpg

Ron Burk's Office Tower By The Skirvin
Credit OKC: 2nd Time and Howard & Porch
Larger: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/okc2ndtime_nearskirvin_howardandpor.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/okc2ndtime_nearskirvin_howardand-1.jpg

Ron Burk's Hilton Hotel By Myriad Gardens
Credit OKC: 2nd Time and Howard & Porch
Larger: http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/okc2ndtime_myriadhilton_howardandpo.jpg

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/okc2ndtime_myriadhilton_howardan-1.jpg

I close with a section identifying buildings which may yet be but the pics you've already seen of Overholser Green & Cotton Exchange.

jbrown84
03-24-2008, 02:15 PM
Who's Ron Burk?

Doug Loudenback
03-24-2008, 04:14 PM
I see that I spelled his name incorrectly ... it is "Burks" so the possessive should read "Burks'". Anyway, he became one of the owners of the Skirvin in 1979, along with Bill Jennings, John Kilpatrick, Jr., Bob Lammerts, Jerry Richardson, Dub Ross, and Joe Dann Trigg. See Bob Blackburn's article, A Tradition of Elegance (http://www.okc.gov/history/skirvin/) . According to Steve's book, and if I interpret it correctly, he was principally responsible for opening up the Skirvin lobby (to make it 2 open stories instead of 1), the purchase of a new chandeliers from Europe, and other stuff. At one time, he also owned the downtown Holiday Inn. See pp. 72-73 of Steve's book.

Doug Loudenback
04-16-2008, 07:12 AM
Here's one I left out ... the 10 story Midwest Building built in 1930, which housed the Midwest Theater (Warner Brothers). Here's the building pictured in an Oklahoman 8/1/1930 "congratulations" ad, though better pics are available:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/miscbuildings/midwestbuilding_1930.jpg

Here's a 1970 image from the Stan Chapman collection ... CinemaTour - Cinemas Around the World - Midwest Theatre, Oklahoma City OK (http://www.cinematour.com/tour/us/18302.html)

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/DougLoudenback/movies/chapman_midwest1.jpg

solitude
04-16-2008, 10:46 AM
And the good old Coney Island.