If one little girl has her way, the MAPS 3 f park planned for Downtown Oklahoma City will include a castle surrounded by a moat. That, a carousel and a boardwalk along the Oklahoma River were just a few of the suggestions brought forth by members of the public who attended a Sept. 13 meeting about the park. Read more

American Fidelity Assurance Company is making its biggest move in decades. Read more

In an episode of the web series Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, Jerry Seinfeld picks up fellow comedian Brian Regan for coffee, conversation and a drive around Los Angeles. Both are well-known comedians, but Seinfeld had one of the most popular sitcoms ever, while Regan is known for his stand-up act and televised comedy specials. Both draw crowds, but, not surprisingly, Seinfeld commands more money and performs in larger venues than Regan. Read more

BRICKTOWN

Major League Baseball’s Houston Astros extended its Player Development Contract with the Oklahoma City RedHawks for two more years, through the 2014 season. The 2013 season will be the third year of the current partnership.

As the Houston Colt .45s, and later the Astros, the team was the MLB affiliate for the Oklahoma City 89ers from 1962 to 1972. Since then, the Oklahoma City team has been the Triple-A franchise for the Cleveland Indians, the Philadelphia Phillies and the Texas Rangers. In 1998, the team was renamed the RedHawks, and began playing its home games at the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.

“The Astros are in the middle of a new and exciting chapter in their franchise’s storied history, and we’re proud to be a part of it,” says RedHawks president and general manager Michael Byrnes.

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On Oct. 24, Oklahoma City University's board of trustees unanimously voted to move the school into the former Central High School, 800 N. Harvey. A price was not disclosed, although marketing materials for the property by Price Edwards & Co. showed it is listed for sale at $11.5 million. Read more

Devon Energy officials were joined by government officials to cut a blue, ceremonial ribbon in the glass rotunda of the company’s world headquarters Oct. 23 to officially celebrate its opening. In attendance were community and business leaders, including the CEOs of Chesapeake Energy and SandRidge Energy. Read more

Developer Randy Hogan returned to the Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority Oct. 18 with revised plans for a building in Lower Bricktown. The original design was criticized by OCURA commissioners last month for the front of it being oriented toward a parking lot, rather than facing the Bricktown Canal, and for a narrow walkway between the proposed building and its neighbor to the east, Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar and Grill. Read more

After a competitive process to redevelop a city block in MidTown, developer Gary Brooks broke ground Oct. 18 at the Edge. Read more

The Made in Oklahoma Coalition, a group that promotes food and agricultural items from Oklahoma, has added two new names to its roster of more than 40 companies in the state. Read more

At the September Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Meeting, developer Randy Hogan’s plans for a restaurant building along the Bricktown Canal faced opposition, and he was asked to reexamine the project. Read more

Devon Energy Corp. plans to close its office in Houston and move those employees to its world headquarters in Oklahoma City, the company announced Oct. 11. The Houston office has 500 employees who oversee assets in south Texas, east Texas and Louisiana. Read more

Chris Johnson’s multi-building development and parking lot along the Bricktown Canal is on hold, but he is moving forward with plans to renovate an empty building on E. Sheridan. Read more

Those interested in the look of the future Downtown park will have something to see Oct. 25 at the second of three community input meetings. The consultant, Hargreaves Associates, plans to present conceptual drawings for viewing, and further discussion. Read more

It may be too soon to pop open the champagne and sing “Happy Days are Here Again,” but Oklahoma City’s sales tax returns have almost reached pre-recession expectations, said City Manager Jim Couch at the Oct. 2 City Council meeting. Despite that news, Couch talked about one unusual factor that led to the increase in collections this summer, and unknowns on the national level that could spell trouble for the local economy. Read more

The northwest corner of N.W. 23^rd Street and Walker Avenue is set for its biggest change in decades. Johnathan Russell, president of Land Run Commercial Real Estate, plans to purchase the nearly 22,000-square-foot retail building at 511 N.W. 23^rd that has been home to a hotel and motel liquidation store for more than 20 years. Read more