Health Center projects part of building boom in OKC (Oklahoma City: loans, unemployment)

[happytown]

Health Center projects part of building boom in Oklahoma City
GROWTH FIVE STRUCTURES UNDER WAY CARRY TOTAL PRICE TAG OF $534 MILLION
http://www.newsok.com/health-center-...ad_story_photo

"Imagine if someone announced that more than $500 million of construction and up to seven new buildings would rise up practically all at once on the edge of downtown Oklahoma City.

Cranes are popping up throughout the 325-acre complex with five buildings under construction and two more expected to start this fall.

"This is incredible,” said Hershel Lamirand, chief executive officer of the Oklahoma Health Center Foundation.

"The past 18 months have marked an incredible growth period for us. It only compares to what we saw in the early 1970s with the ‘HERO’ bond.”

Meanwhile, JoeVan Bullard, director of the Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority, confirms that construction is set to start on a $25 million Embassy Suites and a $4 million headquarters for the Oklahoma Independent Petroleum Association on land the agency controls in the health center district.
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Lamirand said the Oklahoma Health Center intentionally limits commercial development, preferring that employees and visitors cross Interstate 235 and patronize businesses and restaurants downtown.

[lasomeday]

And there are three more buildings in the works, and it sounds like 8th Street will start to have development in the next year.

[happytown]

I am very impressed with the OMRF research tower.

"The 185,000-square-foot tower will feature 24 wind turbines designed like the double-helixes of DNA, solar panels and expanses of natural light. Together, they are expected to decrease electricity usage by up to one-third."

"This tower will be the first medical research facility anywhere to harness the wind to help power its labs,” said Dr. Stephen Prescott, president of OMRF. "It will be a model of energy efficiency and resource preservation.”

[Synopsis]

Dang. It's impressive that they are building so much, especially in this economy.

[happytown]

Originally Posted by Synopsis

Dang. It's impressive that they are building so much, especially in this economy.

No kidding. I wonder when the economy will catch up with Oklahoma.

[lasomeday]

It has some, I don't see the economy in Oklahoma taking too big of a hit. We don't have a lot of manufacturing compared to 20 years ago, and the financial sector in Oklahoma is very conservative. They didn't do any high risk or shady loans.

As long as oil can stay high we will do fine. If natural gas can get over $5/mcf we will be doing better. I know that Devon and Chesapeake are laying off people at a rate of 5 to 10 a week to slip under the layoff radar.

[Synopsis]

Originally Posted by happytown

No kidding. I wonder when the economy will catch up with Oklahoma.

Hopefully sooner rather than later. We're down to our last bit of savings because I've been out of work most of the last eight months and since I was a consultant, I haven't received a dime of unemployment to offset the loss of salary.

[happytown]

Originally Posted by Synopsis

Hopefully sooner rather than later. We're down to our last bit of savings because I've been out of work most of the last eight months and since I was a consultant, I haven't received a dime of unemployment to offset the loss of salary.

Hate to hear that Synopsis. I wish you the best as always. Hang in there my friend.

[lasomeday]

Originally Posted by Synopsis

Hopefully sooner rather than later. We're down to our last bit of savings because I've been out of work most of the last eight months and since I was a consultant, I haven't received a dime of unemployment to offset the loss of salary.

Have you been looking for jobs in Oklahoma?

[Synopsis]

Originally Posted by lasomeday

Have you been looking for jobs in Oklahoma?

I've been looking for jobs all over the United States lasomeday. Employers are being flooded with so many resumes for every single job that the vast majority of resumes are never even read.