OKC 2nd Tallest Skyscraper in the USA

[Garrett]

I will go ahead and say it.

OKC has already had too much destruction with the bombing in the 90's. They do not need to build another target that could be a focal point at some point in time for the wrong reasons.

to be fair, they shouldn't have built the Freedom tower in NYC either then. That being said, I don't think they should build this because it will look stupid.

I get what you are saying, but to me, anyway, there is a little difference. In NYC, it is one of many. Sure, they can be targets, but the environment is different.

In OKC, it would stand out like a sore thumb and be in an environment that I would speculate is less monitored also.


EDIT:
I too do not think it will ever be built.

I don’t think a historically one off terrorist attack decades ago should influence urban planning decisions.

[iamjacobm]

https://www.dezeen.com/2024/03/11/legen ... g-secured/

Funding has been secured and construction may begin in September on the Legends Tower in Oklahoma City, which is planned to be the tallest in USA, says developer Scot Matteson.

Designed by Californian architecture studio AO, the Legends Tower supertall skyscraper planned for Oklahoma City is fully funded as of early March, according to reporting in local news outlet The Oklahoman.

Matteson said that he has secured the $1.5 billion required for the skyscraper, along with three smaller towers around it, collectively known as the Boardwalk at Bricktown.

If completed, the skyscraper will rise 1,907 feet (581 metres) in the air, making it the tallest in the United States and the fifth tallest in the world.

Construction may begin in early autumn

Matteson said that preparations on the site could begin as early as June.

"We will be first getting a grading and infrastructure permit," said Matteson, who has reportedly partnered with local construction consultants Thinkbox and engineering firm Thornton Tomasetti for the tower.

"And then we will get a building permit in September. The entire project is financed, including the tower — if the tower gets approved."

[almighty_tuna]

Well, more power to 'em, I guess.

[CBJason]

Didn’t see this mentioned in the article but I believe the only other hurdle would be getting the zoning ordinance changed by the city council. I thought I had previously seen a date or time frame for when that was expected when the developer upped his plans to make it the world’s tallest but I couldn’t find anything. I want to say it was April or May.

[Louie]

Lol even the name is terrible.

[skinzfan23]

Still think this is a pretty stupid idea and will look out of place.

[Busguy2010]

I still think if we had this on the table here or in CB, it'd be a different story. I don't think anybodys pointing and laughing at OKC if this actually happens. I say good for them, swing for the fences.

[CBJason]

I still think if we had this on the table here or in CB, it'd be a different story. I don't think anybodys pointing and laughing at OKC if this actually happens. I say good for them, swing for the fences.

I agree, and I doubt the city will stand in the way of this. For Oklahoma, any way they can stick it to Texas they will do it. I’m sure they’ll be happy with all the attention.

[skinzfan23]

I still think if we had this on the table here or in CB, it'd be a different story. I don't think anybodys pointing and laughing at OKC if this actually happens. I say good for them, swing for the fences.

I and most on here love taller buildings, but this thing is out of place. Obviously, if the market can sustain it, good for them, but I would rather see several 20-40 story buildings than this.

[Louie]

I still think if we had this on the table here or in CB, it'd be a different story. I don't think anybodys pointing and laughing at OKC if this actually happens. I say good for them, swing for the fences.

I and most on here love taller buildings, but this thing is out of place. Obviously, if the market can sustain it, good for them, but I would rather see several 20-40 story buildings than this.

I would be embarrassed if this was proposed here.

[skinzfan23]

I would be embarrassed if this was proposed here.

I mean, that is kinda what I was thinking as well. It would be like living in a Celebrity homes neighborhood and building a $5 Million home next door. Its just out of place.

[Louie]

I would be embarrassed if this was proposed here.

I mean, that is kinda what I was thinking as well. It would be like living in a Celebrity homes neighborhood and building a $5 Million home next door. Its just out of place.

That's pretty good lol

[ita]

If you try to find info about the developer, Scot Matteson, there is very little out there. There is this article (https://therealdeal.com/national/2024/0 ... -matteson/) that tried and there is some stuff out there about him being part of some other projects, but nothing even remotely to this scale. I would love to see the financing behind this and the pro forma. It's odd because as large a project as this I am not seeing it on the partner websites, like AO (architect) and Thinkbox Construction. Anyway, it's obviously out of place, but I would love Omaha take bigger chances with some of our urban development sites. This site is a mere 3 acres. We have several developable lots in the urban core that are two to four times that and there is nothing even remotely close to this kind of density currently proposed or even contemplate for those properties, that we know of. If we managed to get three mixed-use residential 300+ towers (the base of this project) on Lot B, for example, I would be super thrilled.

[Linkin5]

I wonder if they secured financing through Jason Townsend.

[Busguy2010]

I would love Omaha take bigger chances with some of our urban development sites. This site is a mere 3 acres. We have several developable lots in the urban core that are two to four times that and there is nothing even remotely close to this kind of density currently proposed or even contemplate for those properties, that we know of.

I like how you put that. Yes, maybe a 1,900 foot tower would be out of place even here, but it wouldn't be a bad thing. I say If you can do it, do it. I wouldn't be opposing it if some developer wanted to do that here. I figure it would be pretty dang exciting.

[Nosebot]

If I were the city I most certainly wouldn't pass this unless they could get at least 65% pre sold. Taking the chance that this thing sits mostly empty wouldn't be worth the risk and selling this monster off would be almost impossible.

[NEDodger]

I wonder if they secured financing through Jason Townsend.

[riceweb]

Not to knock what OKC is doing, but I'd really like Omaha to focus on 4- to 8-story buildings everywhere within the 680 loop, even in the downtown core. I don't think supertall buildings offer much to daily life.

[nativeomahan]

If you build it they will come.
To laugh and laugh and laugh.

[CBJason]

If you build it they will come.
To laugh and laugh and laugh.

But, you still came….and spent money in the city/state!

[nativeomahan]

I won’t have to go to OKC. I’ll be able to see it out the right side of the plane window on my way to Dallas.

[PotatoeEatsFish]

There is no way they secured funding
In a year the developer is going to be exposed for money laundering or fraud. This whole this seems so sketchy.

[riceweb]

There is no way they secured funding
In a year the developer is going to be exposed for money laundering or fraud. This whole this seems so sketchy.

Alternatively it highlights how inexpensive and low-risk it is to build these new skinny megatall towers like we've seen popping up in Chicago and NYC. There's clearly a model here that seems to work in those cities, really no reason it couldn't be repeated elsewhere.

Whether they should is another matter.

[Renovator2559]

On our driving tour of mid west, southwest cities on our path to see the Total eclipse. We arrived in OKC last night.

I swear OKC has much more to work on on their skyline, it looks random and does not look as good as Tulsa, which is one of the best skylines for its size.

Even the Omaha skyline, coming from Broadway, onto i480; looks dominating by the stepped "chandelier" buildings that surround the dominant FNBO. Say what you will of the i480 elevated highway but this fast smooth drive showcases the downtown from above well.

Also that proposed 2nd tallest tower will look very far apart from the downtown skyline, that it won't add much but to look like a tall stick by itself.

Devon tower doesn't really look tall in person and could easily be mistaken as the height of FNBO due to optical illusion. Devon tower looks like a skyscrape island surrounded by parking garages, there's very few reasons to visit the surrounding area of the tower.

Also sprawl and stroads are so close to the downtown OKC that it almost feels suburban. Stroad and surface parkinglot galoreright next to Bricktown...







OKC has the same horse carriages, moving bars as Omaha, though imagine riding a horse carriage in the middle of the stroud with fast moving traffic

Also near Bricktown, there's this stroad intersection with seas of surface parking in all 4 corners, that it feels like the suburbs.



Bricktown is lit and vibrant, so many entertainment options; so many people past 11 am, in the bars, boats and other entertainment options.











However what I'll say, is that there are beg buttons everywhere and all crossings have, do not cross by default, so many people jaywalking as it takes long to get a cross request.

I even saw a line of 4 cars cross as we were midway through crosswalk with the cross sign on, on our side.

I saw so many oversized "monster" trucks (compensating for something?), who practically will be impatient to drive through you as you cross the beg button crosswalk.We had practically 3 trucks attempt to make crossings unsafe.

Lime scooters are a hit here, instead of bikes, for whatever reasons the locals constantly like to screach the scooter brakes all over.







If it's one thing I highly praise OKC, are the flawless wide sidewalk throughout downtown, There's not a single sidewalk in the downtown core that I would say, looks dull and grey.

Every side walk is well crafted by the same Texas firm OJB Landscape Architecture, that worked on the Omaha Riverfront.
Every crosswalk lines on the street are double the width of Omaha crosswalks, proper pedestrian design!

[CBJason]

This is now planned to be the tallest building in the US if you’ve been paying attention.

Create a separate thread for your soapbox ramblings.

[GreenOZ]

However what I'll say, is that there are beg buttons everywhere and all crossings have, do not cross by default, so many people jaywalking as it takes long to get a cross request.

I even saw a line of 4 cars cross as we were midway through crosswalk with the cross sign on, on our side.

I saw so many oversized "monster" trucks (compensating for something?), who practically will be impatient to drive through you as you cross the beg button crosswalk.We had practically 3 trucks attempt to make crossings unsafe.

If it's one thing I highly praise OKC, are the flawless wide sidewalk throughout downtown, There's not a single sidewalk in the downtown core that I would say, looks dull and grey.

Every side walk is well crafted by the same Texas firm OJB Landscape Architecture, that worked on the Omaha Riverfront.
Every crosswalk lines on the street are double the width of Omaha crosswalks, proper pedestrian design!

I really like the observations you made about these similar sized cities. I read that Tulsa thread and I thought it was fair and balanced but I don't know what's up with the jason guy being butt hurt about Tulsa everytime. I do agree though, this OKC deep dive belongs in a separate thread.

I don't mind when people talk about how bad my state of California is. It's so third world these days

[Garrett]

*laughs nervously* what the |expletive|

[CBJason]

I really like the observations you made about these similar sized cities. I read that Tulsa thread and I thought it was fair and balanced but I don't know what's up with the jason guy being butt hurt about Tulsa everytime. I do agree though, this OKC deep dive belongs in a separate thread.

I don't mind when people talk about how bad my state of California is. It's so third world these days

Uhh, I’d say you’re boy is the one that gets butt hurt about Tulsa, that’s why it’s a running joke for the rest of us…

[Athomsfere]

Apparently the city has approved at least the height of this.

[CBJason]

Apparently the city has approved at least the height of this.

Yep, here it is. Next step is a vote by the city council possibly next month and a final ok by the FAA!
https://www.news9.com/story/66186fe021d ... skyscraper

[Garrett]

So recent news out of NYC gives me even more pause. A brand new luxury supertall residential building in Brooklyn is being foreclosed on because it hasn’t sold enough units

https://www.curbed.com/article/9-dekalb ... stern.html

[Athomsfere]

So recent news out of NYC gives me even more pause. A brand new luxury supertall residential building in Brooklyn is being foreclosed on because it hasn’t sold enough units

https://www.curbed.com/article/9-dekalb ... stern.html

I really like that building.

But man, if any of the boroughs of NY have a hard time making that work, that is surely an ominous sign for any investor trying to build a super tall in a city with zero density.

[riceweb]

The difference between OKC and NYC is that the Texas urban megaregions are still exploding in population while NYC is still not back from the pandemic. OKC could very well end up exploding in population like Austin did.

Of course it might not, maybe OKC is too far removed from the boom in Texas.

[Flyer14]

So recent news out of NYC gives me even more pause. A brand new luxury supertall residential building in Brooklyn is being foreclosed on because it hasn’t sold enough units

https://www.curbed.com/article/9-dekalb ... stern.html

There is a lot more to it than just not selling units. They are way behind schedule, and people were moving in with promises the amenities would be complete. Months and months of delay have led to everyone involved being upset and the developer is suing etc etc. I would imagine it would have better sales if fully completed, but I still believe you’re right, there has been a slow down in that market.

[thenewguy]

So recent news out of NYC gives me even more pause. A brand new luxury supertall residential building in Brooklyn is being foreclosed on because it hasn’t sold enough units

https://www.curbed.com/article/9-dekalb ... stern.html

that building is great looking

[Garrett]

The difference between OKC and NYC is that the Texas urban megaregions are still exploding in population while NYC is still not back from the pandemic. OKC could very well end up exploding in population like Austin did.

Of course it might not, maybe OKC is too far removed from the boom in Texas.

NYC has stabilized from the pandemic, and continues to be a place for the ultra wealthy who would buy a place in a tower like this. Manhattan actually grew in the last two census estimates. Billionaire's row units still sell for $6,000 per square foot, and Brooklyn Tower has struggled to even get $2,000 per square foot. Does OKC have the demand to be able to sell at even $1,000 per square foot? I doubt it.

[Athomsfere]

The difference between OKC and NYC is that the Texas urban megaregions are still exploding in population while NYC is still not back from the pandemic. OKC could very well end up exploding in population like Austin did.

Of course it might not, maybe OKC is too far removed from the boom in Texas.

NYC has stabilized from the pandemic, and continues to be a place for the ultra wealthy who would buy a place in a tower like this. Manhattan actually grew in the last two census estimates. Billionaire's row units still sell for $6,000 per square foot, and Brooklyn Tower has struggled to even get $2,000 per square foot. Does OKC have the demand to be able to sell at even $1,000 per square foot? I doubt it.

Agreed.

I think you'd expect there to be some sort of upward pressure from the economy / demographics to make this work. And also enough people with enough money.

I mean, this is the lot looking south so the pressure to drive upward growth is obviously not there. Does OKC have a secret huge supply of millionaires? Not that I can see, there are at least 10 cities with more per capita and more total.

[Athomsfere]

It looks like this project is still somehow inching forward.

[Bob from Omaha]

It's not just the tower. There is a lot more to this. $2.5 Billion. OKC is on a roll.

OKC development

[Louie]

Looks like they are planning to build the three shorter buildings first. Wouldn't be surprised if it stalls after that.