Enable Midstream considering move to the new BOK Park Plaza
Enable Midstream, which employs about 480 people downtown, is considering a move from Leadership Square to the recently opened 27-story BOK Park Plaza.
Hines, which developed and manages the tower, distributed an email to Bank of Oklahoma employees at 499 W Sheridan Ave. advising them a Mexican restaurant and deli are set to open on the first floor of the north garage at Hudson Avenue and Main Street by early 2019. The email also reported a Starbucks will open in one of the retail spaces by early 2019.
Discussion of a move by Enable was spurred by the email's notice that 500 spaces in the BOK Park Plaza garages would be reserved for Enable within the next two weeks. The company's employees currently park at Santa Fe garage.
Representatives of Hines would not comment on the email or the leasing activity on Monday. The company, however, confirmed it is considering a move but would not confirm or deny the pending parking changes.
“Enable’s current lease at Leadership Square expires next year, and we have been thoroughly evaluating all options available to us in downtown Oklahoma City, including remaining at Leadership Square,” said spokesman David Klaassen. “One of those options is BOK Park Plaza. Additionally, we are evaluating our employee parking options, to see which is best for Enable.”
Enable is an anchor tenant of the Leadership Square north tower, occupying eight floors. The company employs 1,800 statewide, which includes some workers whose offices are in other metro locations.
The BOK Park Plaza tower was the first speculative office space built downtown since Leadership Square opened in 1984.
BOK Park Plaza was originally built as the new Oklahoma City headquarters for Bank of Oklahoma and with a lease by Devon Energy Corp. for 250,000 square feet. The bank consolidated operations around the city and moved with 250 employees into the tower in January.
The bank occupies the top four floors and operates a
branch on the ground floor, leaving 22 floors plus retail space on the ground floors of two garages empty.
The building connects to Devon Energy Center via skywalk to the east, and includes two garages. Devon, however, has yet to occupy its space after a downturn in energy prices followed by a change in workforce requirements. The company has been looking to sublease its 250,000 square feet.