NewsWest 9
MIDLAND - The Tall City will be getting a whole lot taller. On Thursday, residents gathered at Centennial Plaza for a brand new and detailed look at the Energy Tower at City Center. Both the developers and city leaders are relying on this high rise to help grow downtown Midland.
"We believe in the oil industry and we believe in Midland, and we ask you to believe in the notion that great cities can get even better as they get bigger," Scooter Parks, said.
The project is meant to show Midland's importance in the oil industry.
"It's a rejuvenation of the community, rejuvenation of downtown and a rejuvenation of national perception that Midland is in face the oil capital of America," Parks said.
The tower is expected to be completed in 2015 and will stand 58 stories tall.
"Structures define communities," developer, Bill Meyer, said.
Meyer says that he hopes this tower can become Midland's staple, like the Empire State Building in New York City.
The Energy Tower will be right in the middle of downtown, where the county courthouse currently stands.
"We're going to replace the courthouse with a building that's will increase our downtown by three times it's value," Midland Mayor, Wes Perry, said.
Shopping, entertainment, residential areas, hotels and office space will all occupy the tower.
"We would do them all as one, and make an iconic structure that would really serve as a catalyst to revitalize the downtown of Midland," developer, Joe Jacobs, said.
The main focus of Thursday night's shin-dig was to attract potential leasers.
