They poured the concrete for the ramp this morning, crews are out troweling now

Looks like they are about to start moving a lot faster with the ramp structure:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/fnc070520a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/fnc070520b.jpg

This parking garage ramp seems to be moving at the slowest pace. I’m sure therr is work begins the scenes but it’s still on the 1st level

Has anything started to gut the actual tower yet?

Has anything started to gut the actual tower yet?

Yes.

They are actually pretty far along.

I believe the two ramps to the left are for exit and the two on the right are entrances.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/fnc081620a.jpg

Man this project may finish at the perfect time to put out some advertising to major metro areas to get some people to come take a look and stay at an awesome hotel.

Is this what the front of the parking garage is supposed to look like or have I got things turned around?
16337

^

That is correct.

so it will still appear to be an office tower. Interesting.

my guess is the big ramp is entrance and exit for the residences/hotel and general public, the lower ramps will be for operations/freight (left) and bldg staff/management (right).

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/fnc090720a.jpg

Beginning to better visualize how that parking garage is going to work.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/fnc092720a.jpg

At city council it was stated that the garage is 75% done

At city council it was stated that the garage is 75% done

It doesn't look 75% done. Maybe the remainder of the ramp will go up quicker?

If they are talking about the garage itself, I could believe 75% done. With the ramp building included, that would seem to be a stretch.

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/fnc101120a.jpg

West arcade in main street parking has new window decals advertising living at the First National, along with a website: https://liveatthefirst.com/

Is it just me or does the height of each deck look really low for a garage? Could just be the angle. Looks like no Suburbans or big wheeling trucks are going in this one.

Is it just me or does the height of each deck look really low for a garage? Could just be the angle. Looks like no Suburbans or big wheeling trucks are going in this one.

surburbans are under 7 feet ..

Is it just me or does the height of each deck look really low for a garage? Could just be the angle. Looks like no Suburbans or big wheeling trucks are going in this one.

Take a look at the left side and compare to the Main Street garage that you can see in comparison looks to be about same size or actually taller per floor

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/fnc102520a.jpg

The death of Mike Samis has reminded me of something, and I am hoping someone on this thread can square my recollection:

In the mid-1990s the First National Center was sold, IIRC, to Mike Dillard from Century Martial Arts Supply and Mike Samis? I'm 99% sure on the Mike Dillard part, it is the Mike Samis that I am unsure of. Since there was no mention of that in any of the stories I read about Mr. Samis dying, I am second-guessing my memory.

The rest of the story, as I recall, was that Dillard & partner bought the First National Center and an affiliated parking garage. They kept the parking garage, and donated everything else to Feed the Children. At the time, I was a neighborhood friend and acquaintance of Richard Cain, who owned the Aberdeen Apartments at 15th & North Robinson. Because I was a real estate and business rube, I asked him what was the reason for the deal? He said he guessed the parking garage cash-flowed and was the main thing they wanted out of the purchase. The tax benefit of the donation to Feed the Children made the transaction much more attractive.

The

The death of Mike Samis has reminded me of something, and I am hoping someone on this thread can square my recollection:

In the mid-1990s the First National Center was sold, IIRC, to Mike Dillard from Century Martial Arts Supply and Mike Samis? I'm 99% sure on the Mike Dillard part, it is the Mike Samis that I am unsure of. Since there was no mention of that in any of the stories I read about Mr. Samis dying, I am second-guessing my memory.

The rest of the story, as I recall, was that Dillard & partner bought the First National Center and an affiliated parking garage. They kept the parking garage, and donated everything else to Feed the Children. At the time, I was a neighborhood friend and acquaintance of Richard Cain, who owned the Aberdeen Apartments at 15th & North Robinson. Because I was a real estate and business rube, I asked him what was the reason for the deal? He said he guessed the parking garage cash-flowed and was the main thing they wanted out of the purchase. The tax benefit of the donation to Feed the Children made the transaction much more attractive.

The

I don’t recall it was Mike Sami’s involved, but rather John Kennedy. ??

I don’t recall it was Mike Sami’s involved, but rather John Kennedy. ??

Samis & Kennedy bought it together.

Samis & Kennedy bought it together.

So, was Mike Dillard involved in the deal at any time?

When limestone slabs fell off the First National Center in 2018, it was a sign more work was needed than anticipated
https://oklahoman.com/article/5675132/when-limestone-slabs-fell-off-the-first-national-center-in-2018-it-was-a-sign-more-work-was-needed-than-anticipated

This building is going to be incredible. I can't wait until it's finished.

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/fnc112120a.jpg

First National Center & BancFirst Tower will make an immediate impact on the skyline once these to projects are completed.

Pete, you should take your drone up there to that scaffolding at the top and see what's cooking.

It's really not that interesting; just making sure the limestone is attached properly:

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/fnc112320a.jpg

Any idea when the building was last given any attention top side

I am so sad that I probably will never be able to afford a place in this building... short of winning the lottery or something

There would have to be a full blown 5 alarm fire before I would step foot on that fire escape.

From Gary Brooks’ Instagram 16597

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/fnc112820a.jpg

There would have to be a full blown 5 alarm fire before I would step foot on that fire escape.

....I guess you're out for changing the light bulb when it burns out too huh?

Light bulbs are a whole different story.

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/fnc120520a.jpg


HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/fnc120520b.jpg

Here’s a nice write up about some of the history and progress being made:

https://www.velocityokc.com/blog/development/first-national-renovation-a-special-project-to-brooks-as-well-as-to-okc/?back=super_blog

I’m not sure if this has been posted here before but a website for the residences portion is now live:

https://liveatthefirst.com/

I love this project so much. I'm happy Gary is seeing through his vision for the property, he's a standup guy and knows how to get things done. I've heard quite a bit about the financing of this property and it makes my head spin. These will test the top end of the rental market but I think the apartments will actually do quite well. It will be interesting to see how the hotel does given the market disruptions but I see it doing solid as well. This should continue bringing life to the core.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/fnc122020a.jpg

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/fnc122520a.jpg

There would have to be a full blown 5 alarm fire before I would step foot on that fire escape.



For some reason I was thinking First National was the building with a "slide" for a fire escape.

For some reason I was thinking First National was the building with a "slide" for a fire escape.

That's the City Place building across the street.

That's the City Place building across the street.


Ahh Gotcha

Parking ramp structure has topped out.16708

Parking ramp structure has topped out.16708
Wow, that happened quickly.

Wow, that happened quickly.

Yeah, it seemed like it was so slow at first and then BAM!

I think i might get carsick going up that many levels in a circle....barf.

Yeah, it seemed like it was so slow at first and then BAM!

I think i might get carsick going up that many levels in a circle....barf.

No kidding! - They should have put a Carvana like elevator in the middle. Push the floor you need and enjoy the ride.

No kidding! - They should have put a Carvana like elevator in the middle. Push the floor you need and enjoy the ride.

They used to have that type of setup in the Globe Life Parking garage that was torn down by SandRidge for the Parkside Building (now owned by Echo Energy). I believe it was 12-14 levels.

Anyone have the stats on how many levels this parking garage is?

Anyone have the stats on how many levels this parking garage is?

I believe there are 12 parking levels.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/fnc030621a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/fnc030621b.jpg

Some marble has gone up at the entrance to the garage. Glass should start soon.

HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/fnc031321a.jpg


HTTP://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/fnc031321b.jpg

We’re in the home stretch. These upcoming months will be real exciting to see how quick it all comes together

The marble looks awesome...but is that a good placement since cars could possible graze it going in or out of the garage.

The marble looks awesome...but is that a good placement since cars could possible graze it going in or out of the garage.

Can't imagine they wouldn't have some type of steel post yellow caution colored barriers up as you enter the entrance. Probably in storage...