Just another parking lot?

[Rico]

Was told this was going to be a parking lot. Which could make Kaiser some good money in the short run.

Do hope he or someone has better plans than that.

[sgrizzle]

Supposedly the only reason it's still a bank is because no-one had made a decent offer on it.

Sounds like someone made an offer.

[swake]

Supposedly the only reason it's still a bank is because no-one had made a decent offer on it.

Sounds like someone made an offer.

I always hoped that Kaiser would build himself a nice vanity skyscraper there to combine all the BOK and Kaiser-Francis Oil offices from all over town. Let Williams have the name of their tower back. But I don't think he's like that.

[SXSW]

I always hoped that Kaiser would build himself a nice vanity skyscraper there to combine all the BOK and Kaiser-Francis Oil offices from all over town. Let Williams have the name of their tower back. But I don't think he's like that.

If there was ever a company to build a new office tower downtown it would be BOK Financial/Kaiser-Francis.  BOKF is the largest bank and financial services company in Oklahoma and owns growing banks in Texas, Colorado, Arizona, Arkansas, and Missouri.  If Williams were to see more growth they might need a new home downtown. 

Maybe the One Place development could use that parcel for Phase II (if Phase I ever gets off the ground), or the federal government could move the federal building there so Page Belcher could be imploded.

[Conan71]

I always hoped that Kaiser would build himself a nice vanity skyscraper there to combine all the BOK and Kaiser-Francis Oil offices from all over town. Let Williams have the name of their tower back. But I don't think he's like that.

Obviously we've learned that doesn't make good fiscal sense, so instead, he helped subsidize the city's move to the Borg Cube. 

Of course, Mr. Kaiser would actually get rid of properities he didn't need anymore instead of deeding them over to an ineffective bureaucracy and paying $600K per year for their upkeep.  Was anyone else aware that in lieu of the original plan to move the city M & E offices from the west side of the 21st St. bridge to the old Tulsa Airpark that the Airpark was sold to the Osage Tribe?  I would assume for a token amount.  That was very under-publicized.

/drift

[rdj]

They've been quietly marketing this site for sometime.  They've done traffic studies to determine where their customers come from to use this facility.  The last I heard they were going to build a drive thru branch on an empty lot in the Brady Distrcit.

[Kenosha]

Unlike Larry Nichols and Devon, both of whom I predict will regret building that huge skyscraper down in OKC in the long run (Reading and Bates anyone?), Kaiser doesn't possess the ego to build a monument to himself...or he likes his money to much.

[TheTed]

They've been quietly marketing this site for sometime.  They've done traffic studies to determine where their customers come from to use this facility.  The last I heard they were going to build a drive thru branch on an empty lot in the Brady Distrcit.

Anybody got an in with BOK? Please, please, please persuade them to build an ATM for pedestrians. It's somewhat unsettling at night to get money out of that ATM at the autobank when an assortment of shady characters up to a block away can see you getting money. Lots of cities, even those much smaller than Tulsa, have a secured indoor ATM area accessible by swiping your card. It's far, far more pleasant as a pedestrian than trying to use a drive-through ATM.

[TheArtist]

Unlike Larry Nichols and Devon, both of whom I predict will regret building that huge skyscraper down in OKC in the long run (Reading and Bates anyone?), Kaiser doesn't possess the ego to build a monument to himself...or he likes his money to much.

I would much rather have a dozen new, 5 story, pedestrian friendly, buildings in our downtown than another tower.  For a city our size, we got plenty of tall already lol.   And I would much rather Kaiser spend his money on things like education, parks, museums, business incubation, etc.  than building another tower downtown.

[Conan71]

Anybody got an in with BOK? Please, please, please persuade them to build an ATM for pedestrians. It's somewhat unsettling at night to get money out of that ATM at the autobank when an assortment of shady characters up to a block away can see you getting money. Lots of cities, even those much smaller than Tulsa, have a secured indoor ATM area accessible by swiping your card. It's far, far more pleasant as a pedestrian than trying to use a drive-through ATM.

Both those options give me the heebies.

[Hoss]

Both those options give me the heebies.

How about QT?  ALL of their ATMs are BOK.

BTW, just went to the new QT at 51st/129th.  This was the new QT Kitchen design that they had talked about last year.  Pretty spiffy.  Kind of reminded me of a mini-truck stop, with a coffee bar in the back.  I liked it.  Had 49 cent fountain drinks, so got me a Coke Zero.

[custosnox]

How about QT?  ALL of their ATMs are BOK.

BTW, just went to the new QT at 51st/129th.  This was the new QT Kitchen design that they had talked about last year.  Pretty spiffy.  Kind of reminded me of a mini-truck stop, with a coffee bar in the back.  I liked it.  Had 49 cent fountain drinks, so got me a Coke Zero.

I drive by that one regularly, and had noticed it had finally opened.  Had wondered what it was like, but not enough to actually take the time to find out.

[Patrick]

And I would much rather Kaiser spend his money on things like education, parks, museums, business incubation, etc.  than building another tower downtown.

I agree, but just to clarify - Williams owns the building. 

[dsjeffries]

I got some unclassified, inside information on this the other day. According to my BOK teller, the autobank is being demolished to make way for--wait for it--a parking lot. They have located a drive-up ATM on the west side, and they're doing concrete work now.

I've just about had enough of the surface parking brigade.

Am I glad to see the autobank go? Yes. But I'm not sure a parking lot is any more useful than a drive-thru-only bank.

This is a step in the wrong direction.

[SXSW]

I got some unclassified, inside information on this the other day. According to my BOK teller, the autobank is being demolished to make way for--wait for it--a parking lot. They have located a drive-up ATM on the west side, and they're doing concrete work now.

I've just about had enough of the surface parking brigade.

Am I glad to see the autobank go? Yes. But I'm not sure a parking lot is any more useful than a drive-thru-only bank.

This is a step in the wrong direction.

Or a temporary solution until a building is built there.  But it's an odd location.  Yes it's next to the BOK Center but then you have office towers just to the east and the tracks/jail to the north.  It doesn't seem all that condusive to residential development but who knows if One Place ever gets off the ground and is successful.  I think it's more likely to remain surface parking for awhile and maybe eventually could be where the federal building is relocated so that eyesore Page Belcher can be demolished.