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  1. #1

    Classen OKC Public Schools Headquarters

    615 N. Classen
    finish=1978
    height=3 stories
    sq. feet=28,141
    acreage=2.135


    Information & Latest News

    3/4/14: OKC Schools look to purchase
    Links

    County Assessor Record
    Gallery


  2. #2
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    Default Re: 615 N. Classen

    Thoughts at what might happen to the existing property on Klein? Worth saving, given the problems we know it has, or demo for alternate use of the property?

  3. #3

    Default Re: OKC Public Schools Headquarters

    This property was transferred to the OKC Public Schools on 3/31/14, so this has clearly gone from a proposal to a deal.

    I'm sure they are working on plans for the renovation, although I haven't seen anything yet.

  4. #4

    Default Re: OKC Public Schools Headquarters

    In their Sept. 16th meeting, the Alliance for Economic Development will vote on an action to award the OKC Public Schools $1.073 million in TIF funds for their this new headquarters project.

    In March of this year, the district purchased the building from Chip Fudge for $2.3 million after a failed bid to acquire the old Central High School at 800 N. Hudson, as OCU Law School became the winning bidder for that property.

    The TIF allocation has already been approved by City Council and the estimated $2.5 million renovation should start soon.

    Some quick calculations: $2.3 purchase price plus $2.5 million investment equals $4.8 million total cost. The district is using $3.3 million of MAPS money plus this $1 million TIF allocation, leaving a small gap of less than $500,000.

  5. #5

    Default Re: OKC Public Schools Headquarters

    It will be good to see them vacate the current location but the new building is SMALL. It will be interesting to see how it works out.

  6. #6

    Default Re: OKC Public Schools Headquarters

    Yes, this new building is only 28,141 square feet while their existing structure is 102,000 SF. However, there are big parts of that old building that are unoccupied.

    Hopefully, 900 N. Klein will sell to a responsible redeveloper. Such a great old structure and perfect for housing.

    BTW, this building was the original Roosevelt Junior High until it moved to it's new location in the late 1950's. When that move was made, the admin offices took over this structure after being previously located at 400 N. Walnut. 400 is the building that was just sold in Deep Deuce for redevelopment.


  7. #7

    Default Re: OKC Public Schools Headquarters

    Do you think that would be too far away for a downtown middle or high school in the future?

  8. #8
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    Default Re: OKC Public Schools Headquarters

    Quote Originally Posted by warreng88 View Post
    Do you think that would be too far away for a downtown middle or high school in the future?

    The neighborhood has changed along with the boundaries for schools. I doubt if a new high school to serve the area could be built on Klein because there isn't enough land area to hold what's required of today's high schools. A site like Emerson Alternative (Middle & High) School could be built on that site.

    "Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.

  9. #9
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    Thumbs up Re: OKC Public Schools Headquarters

    Great News!

    Dr. Dave Lopez got a lot of things achieved while he was interim superintendent. The building at 900 N. Klein use to be the old Roosevelt Jr. High School before the Administrative Offices for OCPS was placed there. I worked there as a student and later as a teacher and an administrator.

    Oklahoma City Public Schools was long overdue for an administrative building way back in the early 70s.

    Definitely remember the problems of leaks, wood floors buckling, the old balcony to the auditorium was enclosed and used for storage as was the pool area. The old exterior of the building on Klein was the pits...

    _
    __________________________________________________ __________Current OCPS Adm., Bldg...

    New OCPS Administration Bldg., before renovations


    Thank God for technology; they will not need a lot of storage space, they still have the maintenance facility (bus barn area) on N.E. 23rd & Miramar Blvd.

    The bank appears to be a good structure to relocate the OCPS administrative offices.

    "Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.

  10. #10

    Default Re: OKC Public Schools Headquarters

    They are finally starting work on this project -- note the construction fence (thanks to shawnw for the photo):


  11. #11
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    Default Re: OKC Public Schools Headquarters

    Well, we should finally see movement on this site...

    https://freepressokc.com/okcps-gets-...lion-building/

  12. #12

    Default Re: OKC Public Schools Headquarters

    Here are some key slides from the presentation to city council:



















  13. #13

    Default Re: OKC Public Schools Headquarters

    Thanks for posting the floorplans. Very interesting.

  14. #14

    Default Re: OKC Public Schools Headquarters

    Requesting $10,000,000 in TIF money? So the TIF is basically going to pay for about everything? Geez

    On edit, I see that city council actually approved their request? So they have an $11 million and change project and the city is paying $10,000,000 of it? Sounds absurd.

  15. #15

    Default Re: OKC Public Schools Headquarters

    Quote Originally Posted by onthestrip View Post
    Requesting $10,000,000 in TIF money? So the TIF is basically going to pay for about everything? Geez

    On edit, I see that city council actually approved their request? So they have an $11 million and change project and the city is paying $10,000,000 of it? Sounds absurd.
    Keep in mind the lion's share of that TIF money came from the pockets of OKCPS in the first place...

  16. #16

    Default Re: OKC Public Schools Headquarters

    I also just realized, being a public school building, this will pay no ad valorem taxes. So to me, this is even a worse deal for OKC to shell out $10mil, which is essentially paying for 90$ of the project.

  17. #17

    Default Re: OKC Public Schools Headquarters

    From the Oklahoma Gazette:


    Banking on education
    Oklahoma City Public Schools will renovate Central National Bank building for its new administration headquarters.
    BY MIGUEL RIOS




    Oklahoma City Public Schools will move their administration office to a building better-suited for its needs and services.

    The school district is going forward with plans to renovate the old Central National Bank building on 615 N. Classen Ave. into its new headquarters.

    “The past nine to 12 months, we've been working on plans to make sure it can house the 180 employees we need to move in there and still accommodate our needs as far as a board meeting space,” said Scott Randall, OKCPS chief operations officer.

    The project’s bid will open late November or early December. It will then present it to the Board of Education Dec. 10 and make a recommendation on who should receive the construction contract, Randall said.

    “From there, we’re looking at about a 12-month construction period, so our goal is to be in the building in the winter of 2019,” he said. “Ideally by December 2019, but maybe more like January 2020.”

    The three-story office will be called The Clara Luper Center for Educational Services, named after the civic leader who conducted sit-in protests that helped end segregation laws and policies in Oklahoma.

    It will mark the first time the school district will have a building designed as an office space for its administrative services. Its previous building was a former school that was modified but never went through a full-scale renovation.

    “For us to actually go into a building designed as an office building and is built for those purposes will make us more efficient and create a more collaborative environment for our team to work together,” Randall said. “We’re really excited for that.”

    The district also plans to build an addition to the north of the office to better serve the city.

    “The new building will have a large auditorium that will serve our board for board meetings and will have a couple of conference rooms in it,” Randall said. “We hope to be able to use that for not just board meetings but for professional development trainings in the district or other events where we need to bring together a large group.”

    The former bank’s drive-thru structure still stands south of the building, across NW Fifth Street. It has gained some architectural acclaim for its mid-century design and unique wavy roof. The district hopes to avoid demolition, so Randall said it’s looking for interested parties to acquire the structure or move the roof.

    “We would like to see it preserved, but we also realize we can't have that as an ongoing maintenance issue and we do need the area for parking,” he said. “We’ll have to make a decision on that in the next four to six months. We'll need to bring that to some sort of conclusion, but a final decision has not been made about that.”

    The school district is also working with Oklahoma City Redevelopment Authority to find new use for their old office on 900 N. Klein Ave. The organization has conducted community meetings on the future of the building.

    “They’re working to put together packages so firms can begin to bid on that particular building, so we hope in the very near future the sale of the building will be completed and it begins to be used in a way that becomes a vital part of that community,” he said.

    The 96-year-old building was a former middle school. It served as the district’s offices since 1955.

    The Dec. 10 board meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. in the auditorium of Northeast Academy, 3100 N. Kelley Ave.








  18. #18

    Default Re: OKC Public Schools Headquarters

    Love the name.

  19. #19
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    Default Re: OKC Public Schools Headquarters

    are there any timelines?

  20. #20

    Default Re: OKC Public Schools Headquarters

    Quote Originally Posted by shawnw View Post
    are there any timelines?
    From the article:

    The project’s bid will open late November or early December. It will then present it to the Board of Education Dec. 10 and make a recommendation on who should receive the construction contract, Randall said.

    “From there, we’re looking at about a 12-month construction period, so our goal is to be in the building in the winter of 2019,” he said. “Ideally by December 2019, but maybe more like January 2020.”

  21. #21

    Default Re: OKC Public Schools Headquarters

    Nice! I drive between these two buildings on my commute every day and was wondering what the plan was for them this morning.
    I hope the cool wavy roof is preserved somehow.

  22. #22
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    Default Re: OKC Public Schools Headquarters

    Long overdue move from the old school building at 900 North Klein. Great tribute to Clara Luper Clark, a local civil rights pioneer.

  23. #23
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    Default Re: OKC Public Schools Headquarters

    Oops sorry I missed that, but I see it now.

    Wasn't $10M given to the district by the city to buy this building? I don't remember exactly. Was mostly wondering how that factored in with the addition, or if that is over and above.

  24. #24

    Default Re: OKC Public Schools Headquarters

    The property was purchased for $2.3MM in MAPS funds.

    The remainder of the $11MM budget to expand and renovate is from TIF funds.

  25. #25

    Default Re: OKC Public Schools Headquarters

    Quote Originally Posted by Pete View Post
    The property was purchased for $2.3MM in MAPS funds.

    The remainder of the $11MM budget to expand and renovate is from TIF funds.
    Why again is about 80% of this project's cost coming from TIF funds? Seems like a higher number percentage-wise than we have ever seen.

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