Bad News for Aesthetics: Bricktown Cotton Gins Expanding

[jbrown84]

Co-op oil mill plants seeds for growth with expansion
Agriculture Canola, sunflowers, seed oil crops added to crushing capacity
BY JIM STAFFORD
Published: October 24, 2008


The promise of a ready market for alternative crops for Oklahoma farmers has become a reality with a $3 million expansion of the Producers Cooperative Oil Mill, located at 6 SE 4, just south of Bricktown.

For more than 60 years, the Producers Co-op has processed cotton seeds into oils and other products. Now it has added canola, sunflowers and other "oilseed” crops to its processing menu, said Gary Conkling, president and chief executive officer.

Conkling joined a range of state agriculture and industry officials Thursday in celebrating the expansion in a news conference at the American Farmers and Ranchers downtown headquarters before opening the cooperative to plant tours.

Producers Cooperative Oil Mill claims 58 cotton gins in six states among its members, with annual sales of $70 million, Conkling said.


What changed
The cooperative has added capacity to crush between 500 and 700 tons of canola and sunflowers per day in addition to its current 1,200-tons-per-day capacity of cotton seed, Conkling said.
It accepted into its membership the farmer-owned Plains Oilseed Products Cooperative in 2007.

"We feel like expanding our crushing capabilities, that we are positioning ourselves to be an even more viable entity and more valuable not only to our member gins and cotton producers but producers of canola and sunflowers and other oilseeds,” Conkling said. "That in turn should bring diversity and economic stability to local co-ops,” he said.


Background to plan
American Farmers and Ranchers helped organize the Plains Oilseed Products Cooperative, which provides the promise of a ready market for alternative crops, said Ray Wulf, president and chief executive officer. The concept began with some brainstorming in Wulf’s office and was followed by a feasibility study funded by the U.S. Agriculture Department.
"The feasibility study went on to look at the dollars and cents that would allow producers to put those dollars from an alternative crop into their pockets and back into the economy of the state of Oklahoma,” Wulf said. "We felt it was a win-win situation for everybody.”

[NE Oasis]

I've never really considered the co-op bad for aesthetics. It adds quite a bit of charm to the parking lot view from Bass Pro. I don't know that increased capacity actually means a physical expansion, probably just more efficient use of the space inside. Consider it an opportunity for the visiting hicks (no flames, please) to feel a connection to the big city.

[jbrown84]

I don't know that increased capacity actually means a physical expansion, probably just more efficient use of the space inside.

That's probably true. It's not very clear in the article.

[Kerry]

They know they are getting ready to be bought out by the city so they are increasing the cost of the buyout. They have several other processing facilities that could have been used for the expansion.

[CuatrodeMayo]

I've never really considered the co-op bad for aesthetics. It adds quite a bit of charm to the parking lot view from Bass Pro. I don't know that increased capacity actually means a physical expansion, probably just more efficient use of the space inside. Consider it an opportunity for the visiting hicks (no flames, please) to feel a connection to the big city.

I agree...I don't mind them a bit.

And I doubt the city will "buy them out" anytime soon.

[andy157]

They know they are getting ready to be bought out by the city so they are increasing the cost of the buyout. They have several other processing facilities that could have been used for the expansion.

So, if the City is going to buy them out, I guess that means we'll be having another Bond issue to vote on.

[Kerry]

It will probably be part of MAPS III. You can't build a world-class boulevard with a cotton seed pressing operation fronting it.

[yukong]

It will be quite a while, if at all (I predict) before the city buys them out and they move. Their operation is huge, but more importantly, it depends completely on rail access, and there aren't many places around this area where they could have immediate rail access. Unless they doze Crossroads and move the operation to that location. The fair market value of that facility if enormous. The cost of moving the infrastructure of that facility will cost 100s of millions of dollars. The city will have to plunk down 100s of millions of dollars to buy them out. Thus, I predict, it will be the last thing to be done if it is ever done.

I don't really mind the appearance of the gins. Sort of reminds me of the agricultural heritage of our great state.

[PapaJack]

I agree that the cotton gins add more to OKC and Bricktown than they detract. Its kinda like Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. Tacky looking and smelling to high heavens, but part of the culture. Or like the mounds of rotting garbage piled on the sidewalks of NYC.

[bombermwc]

They could probably do a lot to make the outside not look so crappy, but it's almost iconic to the city it's been there so long. I believe it does fall into C2S....if OKC Rocks, or whatever they call themselves now, does then the cotton has to since it's farther east. I'd like to keep both...sort of an urban/rural mix. You could totally have a whole district over there related to it....the Cotton Exchange rises again...LOL.

[The Old Downtown Guy]

The gins are just part of the landscape. Much better to have these familiar structures on view from the new downtown boulevard than to create a Disney Land OKC that lacks any feel of a real city.

[OKCMallen]

I agree. I'd like them to be kept. You know, we ARE an agricultural city. Why deny it?

[betts]

I'm fine with them too, and agree we don't need Disneyland......or more of Stuccotown.

[hoya]

I found an article from last year that discussed the city's buyout of the Cotton Mill (I looked, but I couldn't find it again). Cornett has already met with the owners and they've already discussed this expansion. The city plans to purchase the mill at some point in the future, but since it will cost a lot of cash, and they don't really have anything specific to put there, the plan is "wait and see". Neither side is attempting to screw the other. Both are just feeling their way along.

[metro]

I agree. I'd like them to be kept. You know, we ARE an agricultural city. Why deny it?

We ARE? or WERE? I agree, it is a part of our city's history and it's fine with me if it stays or goes. I wouldn't say we are an agricultural city though.

[yukong]

I found an article from last year that discussed the city's buyout of the Cotton Mill (I looked, but I couldn't find it again). Cornett has already met with the owners and they've already discussed this expansion. The city plans to purchase the mill at some point in the future, but since it will cost a lot of cash, and they don't really have anything specific to put there, the plan is "wait and see". Neither side is attempting to screw the other. Both are just feeling their way along.

I have never thought that either side wanted or would screw the other. My point above was that due to the enormous cost of replicating or replacing the current infrastructure to another location, that this part of C2S or Maps *** or whatever vehicle will most likely be the last one and many many years down the road. Too much other land (that will be cheaper to develop) to develop first.

[hoya]

I have never thought that either side wanted or would screw the other. My point above was that due to the enormous cost of replicating or replacing the current infrastructure to another location, that this part of C2S or Maps *** or whatever vehicle will most likely be the last one and many many years down the road. Too much other land (that will be cheaper to develop) to develop first.

Well, somebody above had mentioned something about the mill was just trying to up the buyout price. That didn't seem to be the case from the article I read. They were a bit reluctant to sink the 3 or 4 million dollars needed for the upgrade if the city were just going to turn around and buy them out.

Basically, Cornett was trying to be diplomatic. The thing is ugly as hell and most everybody wants it to move. But it will be very pricey to move all that equipment to a new location, and everybody knows it. If it costs $100 million to buy out that land, then it's going to be a while before the anyone gets around to moving on it. The quote I found interesting was from the mill people, and said something like "Core to Shore is a long-term project. It's going to take 20 or 30 years to do everything." So while something will happen eventually, I wouldn't count on rapid movement on the cotton mill front.

[OKCMallen]

We ARE? or WERE? I agree, it is a part of our city's history and it's fine with me if it stays or goes. I wouldn't say we are an agricultural city though.

You're right metro, agriculture does not affect OKC in any way now.


Are you just trying to be contrarian today?

[metro]

You're right metro, agriculture does not affect OKC in any way now.


Are you just trying to be contrarian today?

No, just trying to have a diplomatic discussion. Do you really think we're more of an agricutural based city? I guess if you classify executive oil jobs as agriculture, then yes we are. Otherwise, our city has long diversified past the stockyards and mills days. We have a strong energy, government, health science, and aviation industries that far outweight the agricultural segment. Now, if you said agricultural state, then I might go for that, but I don't feel/see our city as an agricultural based city.

[Tom Elmore]

Producers Coop Oil Mill -- one of Oklahoma's great, historic businesses. Plants like these are the muscle and sinew of our urban industrial base, and should be encouraged, not talked down. Gritty, real -- and "all American."

It'd be very interesting to know how much tax revenue this plant has created over its life.

TOM ELMORE

[CuatrodeMayo]

For once...I agree.


*spits, hacks*

[Kerry]

Producers Coop Oil Mill -- one of Oklahoma's great, historic businesses. Plants like these are the muscle and sinew of our urban industrial base, and should be encouraged, not talked down. Gritty, real -- and "all American."

It'd be very interesting to know how much tax revenue this plant has created over its life.

TOM ELMORE

Probably not near as much taxes as 300 townhomes and a shopping center.

www.atlanticstation.com

[Pete]

I used to really dislike those structures but after I joined this board and heard the perspectives of others, I now think they are part of the city's history and have been part of our landscape for as long as I can remember.

Also, there is soooo much un- and under-developed property all around downtown that trying to displace such a thriving operation is going to be a very low priority for quite some time.

If and when Core to Shore gets built out along with the dozens of other infill projects and we start to run out of room, then we can take another look. But I suspect those things will be there for most of our lifetimes.

[Kerry]

... But I suspect those things will be there for most of our lifetimes.

I am sure they said the same thing about a cetain steel mill west of mid-town Atlanta until someone proposed a $2 billion development called Atlantic Station.

[progressiveboy]

Personally, I'm concerned about the aesthetics too! It does not fit in well with all the development going on. They are building boathouses and developing the river so why would someone want that dirty gin exchange sitting right in the middle. It is very unattractive and does not sit well architecturally near the boathouse. It is time to raise the bar on aesthetics in OKC and make DT and all parts of the city cleaner and well maintained.