The owners of the Wormy Dog Saloon are proposing a new live music venue for the east end of Bricktown, dubbed Criterion Concert Hall.

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In 2012, the group bought two properties that were part of the former Stewart Steelworks. This project would be on the eastern end of the block, a parcel of .77 acres with the .73 acre parcel directly to the west. The existing metal buildings on the eastern lot are to be demolished.

The largely brick building would be 39,606 square feet with a u-shaped upper mezzanine and a capacity of 4,200, coincidentally the exact same as the Brady Theater in Tulsa.
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The University of Central Oklahoma is moving forward with plans to open classrooms in the heart of downtown.

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A building permit application was recently submitted to finish out 8,400 square feet on the lower level of Carnegie Centre.


UCO plans to use the space to expand their presence by reaching out to working adults with a broad range of lower division, upper division and graduate courses.
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TEEMCO LLC, an oilfield engineering company based in the Oklahoma City suburb of Edmond, thrust themselves into the spotlight over the last year, signing huge endorsement deals with the Oklahoma City Thunder, The University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, and local CBS television affiliate KWTV, among others.

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TEEMCO made another big splash when they announced plans to purchase and renovate the historic Gold Dome building in central Oklahoma City, with their CEO Greg Lorson comparing the building's positive electromagnetic energy to golf bracelets and revealing plans that included massive aquariums and the world's largest salt crystal lamp.

But as these audacious deals were being signed and promoted, TEEMCO and its chief executive were mired in legal and financial issues, and the troubles appear to be quickly escalating.
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The old Bank of America drive-thru facility at 425 Robert S. Kerr has sold to local investors who are planning a building with retail, parking and offices.

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The .7231 acre parcel was sold for $1.8 million to an LLC owned by Mazaheri Properties of Oklahoma City. Mazaheri owns the Bricktown Power Alley Parking Garage and several shopping centers and commercial properties primarily along the Memorial Road corridor.
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As we were first to report in March, Corner Bakery will open it's first location in Oklahoma on N. Pennsylvania Avenue, just north of Memorial Road.


Construction is moving quickly, and the local franchisees have targeted December 18, 2014 for opening.

A total of 3 to 4 locations are planned for the Oklahoma City area. The next location will be in Norman, as negotiations are in the final stages to acquire property near I-35.
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Plans are in the works to convert an old electric sub-station into offices and a yoga studio.

There will be a small addition but apart from new windows and some clean up, the original building will be left largely as-is. Note the cool old wire insulators that are still embedded in the building's walls.

Location is 2412 N. Ollie, on the southeast corner of Ollie and NW 24th.

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This week heavy demolition equipment moved onto the site of the Morris A. Mechanic Theater in the heart of downtown Baltimore.


The Mechanic opened in the late 60's, was designed by renowned architect John M. Johansen, sported highly polarizing concrete architecture from the genre now known as brutalism, had been abandoned and neglected for a number of years, experienced several failed revitalization efforts and campaigns to save it, and was purchased by a local developer who won controversial approval to raze it in favor of a high rise complex.

Haven't we seen this movie before?

It turns out people in Oklahoma City certainly have, ...

In August of 2013, an LLC headed by local developer Ron Bradshaw purchased the old Page Woodson School and announced plans to redevelop the historic structure into housing. The school is just to the south of the booming Health Sciences Center in near Northeast OKC.



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The school is situated in the middle of several blocks owned by the Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority (OCURA) and after receiving a proposal from Bradshaw's group to develop the surrounding properties as well, OCURA decided to issue a formal RFP to determine if there may be other developers who may be interested.

In OCURA's meeting this Wednesday, they ...

As we first reported in April, Oklahoma City will get it's first Vitamin Shoppe across from Quail Springs Mall on Memorial Road.

Vitamin Shoppe is a New Jersey-based chain of 500 stores that offers thousands of nutritional supplements through it's stores and website. They have a location near Woodland Hills Mall in Tulsa.

The OKC store will have just over 3,000 square feet and is set to open September 20th.
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The Western Avenue Association is planning to enhance the community along its district’s corridor by commissioning local artists to create murals at five different sites. The participating artists have been vetted by the Association’s Selection Committee and chosen based on established criteria.

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As OKCTalk first reported in early June, several key properties in the heart of Bricktown were under contract to be sold to a group headed by local broker/investor/developer Andy Burnett.

The County Assessor just recorded the sale of the half of these properties (labeled 5 through 8 below) in a $5.8 million transaction that closed September 2nd.

The four properties represent 3 historic buildings that total 34,800 square feet of office space and a surface parking lot. We have heard from reputable sources there are active plans to sell off the parking lot to another ...

This 32-unit apartment complex in the heart of the Paseo Arts District just sold to an investment group headed by Jeremy Foraker for $1.35 million. Foraker is also the developer for the newly announced restaurant and office complex proposed at NW 28th & Walker.

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The Market at Paseo was built in 1966 in the Mediterranean style that is typical of the district, and features a well-landscaped courtyard.
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The City of Oklahoma City recently contracted with Populous, a large architectural firm and master planner who is also behind the planning for the new MAPS 3 convention center.

The stated goals of the Convention Center District Concept Plan:

• Identify the most viable sites for private development relating to and integrating to the convention center and hotel facilities
• Define the recommended character of the district to facilitate its function as “center for conventions”, weaving the project into the existing urban framework
• Create a unified pedestrian experience, connecting each primary hug of activity and linking

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Chase Bank has submitted an application to the Downtown Design Review Committee to rebuild on the triangular property they own at 3rd & Brodway.

The existing structures -- a small bank building and two large banks of drive-through lanes -- were built in 1972 by Liberty Bank. At that time, Oklahoma Banking laws prohibited banks to have more than one location and any ancillary facilities were required to be within a few blocks of the headquarters. This is one of several old banking drive-through facilities around the periphery of downtown, all remnants of failed downtown banks and defunct laws.

The proposal calls for a 4,000 square foot bank building on the far north end ...

The Clark Building and small parcels on either side have sold to Robert Meinders for $3.75 million.

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The historic warehouse was purchased and the renovated into a dream home by Larry and Regina Waters, with commercial space on the ground floor. Recent health problems prompted the couple to put the property on the market.

Meinders is a local investor and developer who recently sold the former Stewart Metal buildings in east Bricktown to Gary Brooks, which is now being developed into the Steelyard. He also owns property on the NE corner of Walnut & NE 4th which ...

$28.9 million in building permits were filed today for the first phase of the Steelyard, the first large apartment complex in the Bricktown district.

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The project is being developed by Gary Brooks who is currently wrapping up a similar project in Midtown called The Edge at Midtown. That complex is expected to open to new tenants in the next month.

Steelyard will offer 250 apartments, retail space along Sheridan, a parking structure and a Hyatt Place hotel, which will be developed separately.

The site was the former home to ...

In August of 2012, an LLC affiliated with SandRidge Energy purchased the 1.83 acres shown in yellow below from OPUBCO for $1.97 million.

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We know from several good sources that LandRun Commercial (developers of The Rise) now has the property under contract.

This parcel is surrounded by land owned by the City of Oklahoma City (show in pink) and was once considered for the new headquarters of the Chamber of Commerce. Combined with the SandRidge property, this vacant site is over 3.4 acres; by way of comparison, the ...

A building permit application was filed today to renovate and expand the historic Flatiron Building at 126 N. Harrison.

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The structure is being redeveloped by Chuck Ainsworth in conjunction with the Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority and will be the new home for Physicians Liability Insurance Co. (PLICO) with the possibility of retail on the first floor. There will be a third floor added to the two-story structure. Total cost is estimated at $4 million.
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The heart of downtown will soon have a new YMCA location to be located in the Century Center, which is currently undergoing a massive development effort.

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To be located between the new headquarters for OPUBCO and the existing Sheraton hotel, the Y will feature large locker rooms, extensive areas areas for cardio and weight machines, as well as free weights and cardio / group exercise rooms.

This would be the third Y in central OKC, with the main branch at 4th & Broadway and a smaller sattelite location at Plaza Court in ...

WSKY Cigar and Whiskey Lounge has been such a success at NE 2nd and Central Avenue in Deep Deuce, the proprietors decided to open a new concept in the space immediately south to be called Slaughter's Hall.

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This new operation will be non-smoking and feature east coast deli options including house made pastrami, corned beef, sauerkraut, and pickles, as well as 30 beers on tap and another 40-50 in bottles.
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Nourished Food Bar is coming late fall to Carnegie Centre.

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Nourished is a food coaching operation: "We coach and consult people with food allergies, sensitivities and habits – who are seeking a change in how they eat, think and feel."

They will be moving their business to Carnegie and also opening a food bar which according to their owners "Will be a grab-and-go clean eats with a menu that features fresh and seasonal soups, salads, wraps, smoothies, and bites."

Initially, they will be a lunch-only ...

TierPoint, a Saint Louis-based data center operator, is adding a 70,000 square foot building to their 15-acre campus in northwest Oklahoma City.

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An $8 million building permit has been issued and construction has commenced adjacent to their existing 20,000 square foot facility that opened in 2009.

The expansion is due to increased demand for off-site and contingency data centers. TierPoint's Oklahoma City clients include American Energy Partners and BancFirst.
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A group of local investors have obtained a franchise from Dallas-based D-BAT to build and operate a huge new indoor softball training complex near NW 122nd and Western.

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The facility will offer 14 batting and pitching cages, a pro shop, and a full baseball infield with a 65 foot roof. The building will span almost 50,000 total square feet. Construction has commenced.
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The old Pearl's at 1920 S. Meridian was sold in May to Sooner Traditions (homebuilders) for $650,000. This location is directly north of Charlestons.

7/7/14: Building permit application for $260,000 to convert to a new restaurant called Five Star Grille.

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Local developer / investor Nick Preftakes owns everything on this block but #'s 2, 3, 4 and 16. The buildings shaded green are probably safe from demolition.

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The likely scenario is that buildings 5 through 8 will make way for a new office tower that would likely stand 20 to 30 stories. Reputable sources tell us that Bank of Oklahoma and Devon would be the primary tenants. As we've reported, Devon is leasing quite a bit of space in Corporate Tower and Robinson Plaza (formerly known as the IRS Building) and needs room ...

8/27/14 Update: $12.15 million building permit application for 80,030 square foot building at 1200 W. Memorial.

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As we've reported, Cabela's is very close to announcing it's first location in Oklahoma, most likely in the Chisholm Creek development at Memorial and Western -- same development as TopGolf.
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This building is under contract to a group of local investors and set to close 8/15/14. It was sold just last year to an LLC that tracks back to Don Karchmer. We know the name of the primary investor but will withhold until closing; it is yet another local businessman (with partners) entering urban development.

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Preliminary plans are to renovate and include a bar facing Walnut with residences behind. Future improvements may include a new structure on the east end of the property, as there is a large parking area behind the main structure.

This was ...

Plans have firmed up for the first MAPS 3 Senior Wellness Center, to be located in far north OKC.

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$52 million has been allocated for 3 centers and this location will be operated by Healthy Living, Inc., an affiliate of Putnam City Baptist Church.
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In addition to a great new look across the entire OKCTalk site, the homepage is now NEWS, which will highlight breaking stories and featured articles summarized in one central place.

The Forum is unchanged, it is merely accessed through the “Forum” tab in the navigation bar – which now conveniently moves with you as you scroll down any page. ...

Schlumberger -- the world's largest oilfield services company -- is building a large office and manufacturing facility in far west Oklahoma City for it's PathFinder division.

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PathFinder makes tools which are used to steer horizontal wells, an increasingly common strategy in oilfields.

When contacted, Schlumberger corporate communications issued the following statement: "No details on this facility are being released at the moment."

However, the location of at the southwest corner of NW 10th and Sara Road is already being cleared and we have obtained construction plans shown below. ...

As we first discussed back in July of 2013, a national retailer has been scouting for 4 sites in Oklahoma City and we can now report that it is WinCo Foods.

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Several sources have confirmed they have agreed to terms on four locations: Memorial & Penn, 39th & I-44 and Reno, Midwest Blvd. in Midwest City, and 19th Street in Moore.

WinCo Foods is based in Boise, ID and has been on an aggressive expansion bent. Primarily based in the western states, they just opened two stores in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area in February with several more already in the works for that market. They are also ...

Another huge warehouse / distribution center for far west Oklahoma City, this time for American Tire Distributors.

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The building is under construction on the NW corner of Council and Highway 152. It will be 233,340 square feet on 25.8 acres and with construction costs of $8.3 million. The property and are owned by an North Carolina LLC and the company will lease from them.

American Tire currently leases about 92,000 square feet near SW 36th & Meridian; this will represent a significant expansion. They serve several states ...

This tiny (392 square feet) historic building built in 1920 at NW 24th & Classen is set to get a full renovation.

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The windows and doors will be replaced, the awning will be removed and replaced with a metal version, and period light fixtures will be installed.
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In yet another attempt to stay on top of the hundreds of projects in the central core, we have created a new series of labeled maps which in turn link to articles on each project. Click on name of district below to jump to that particular map. ...

Hobby Lobby has submitted plans for yet another huge warehouse, and at 1,906,000 square feet and a cost of $88 million, this will be their largest yet.

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Labeled as the "Moore Tract" below, it would bring their total warehouse and office space to over 8,000,000 square feet in far west Oklahoma City. For perspective, the old GM plant is roughly half that size.

They are also very close to finishing their new corporate headquarters.

Hobby Lobby is now the largest private sector employer in Oklahoma City with over 4,000 employees. Their ...