14 major projects planned for downtown OKC that we're following, and where they stand

In an era of rising construction costs and interest rates, downtown Oklahoma City continues to see new developments attempted while others seemingly go dark years after they were first announced.

A roundup of developments announced over the past few years shows some are still alive, some are moving forward in the near future and some are long dead.

The Oklahoman surveyed 14 such projects and looked at zoning, design and building permits, all of which can help tell whether a project is truly moving forward.

1. Boardwalk at Bricktown, Legends Tower

The Boardwalk at Bricktown project has drawn worldwide attention due to a promised second phase consisting of the tallest skyscraper in the United States.

Developer Scot Matteson tells The Oklahoman a groundbreaking is set for October followed by site work for the first phase of the $1.2 billion development, which will consist of two towers, named Ruby and Emerald, that will be 23 stories above a parking and retail podium.

The towers are to consist of 576 market rate apartments and 140 work force apartments. The first phase also includes a 22-story Hyatt Dream Hotel, consisting of 480 rooms and 85 residential condominiums.

The second phase is the 1,907-foot-tall residential and hotel skyscraper that if built would be more than twice the height of the state’s current tallest building, the 50-story Devon Energy Center.

Zoning and design review permits were approved earlier this year and the Oklahoma City Council last year approved $200 million in rebate-style tax increment financing for the project. Matteson has not yet filed for building permits.

2. Unnamed apartments in Midtown

Developer Richard McKown is moving forward with plans to build about 300 apartments on the block between NW 8, NW 9, Hudson and Walker Avenues. The development will not include the southeast corner of the block, which is home to Jimmy’s Egg and Riviere Modern Banh Mi.

McKown filed for demolition permits for an abandoned halfway house apartment complex along NW 8 and was approved by the Downtown Design Review Committee to tear down two homes facing NW 9. McKown is hoping to present development plans to the review committee in August.

3. Alley’s End

Rose Rock Development Partners has a building permit to proceed with construction of two six-story buildings consisting of 214 apartments at the intersection of NW 4 and Broadway. Rose Rock CEO Steven Watts said construction will begin by this autumn.

More: Oldest continuing business in Bricktown set to move out of the former industrial district

4. Church of Christ-Scientist

The last vacant, historic church downtown was purchased in 2018 by Travis W. Watkins Tax Resolution and Accounting with plans to renovate it into the firm’s headquarters. Those efforts stalled, but when contacted this week by The Oklahoman, Watkins said he is formulating “an exciting plan” to move forward.

The church at 1200 N Robinson Ave. was built in phases between 1914 and 1918 and dedicated in 1920. It stood empty for 40 years passing through a string of owners, most with no real plans to bring it back to life. In recent months vandals broke several of the church windows.

5. Berry Rock Building

Developer Andy Burnett reports design work and financing is in the final stages for the four-story office building to built at NE 5 and Walnut. The Berry Rock Building will be home to Prism Bank and Berry Rock, a residential financing and development company. Burnett said construction and design documents must first be submitted to the Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority before moving forward with a building permit application.

6. Villa Teresa

Marva Ellard and partner Billy Woodring purchased the former Villa Teresa school campus at 1216 Classen Drive in September for $5.51 million, ending years of uncertainty about a campus that had been eyed for demolition by developers who sought to build apartments on the block.

The pair are completing construction of the last three of 17 condominiums built along the east edge of the campus. The pair have sold 13 of the condominiums over the past couple of years. Ellard reports renovation of the historic school buildings and conversion into a hotel is awaiting final financing approval and that she hopes to start construction this fall. Building permits were issued in May.

7. ParcFirst@Bricktown Garage

Don Karchmer started construction of the garage earlier this month in conjunction with BancFirst consolidating its operations into one headquarters at 100 N Broadway.

The six-story garage at 21 E Main is being built on what was a surface parking lot and will result in a net increase of 651 spots that will include public spaces. The City of Oklahoma City, meanwhile, recently authorized a study on the costs and feasibility of building a pedestrian bridge from the garage across the BNSF Railway and E.K. Gaylord.

8. Boulevard Place

Boulevard Place , set to be built next to the Omni Hotel and across from Paycom Center , was first announced in 2018 but ran into a series of delays due to site contamination cleanup, pandemic-related slowdowns and inflationary costs that led to a series of changes aimed at keeping the project on track.

The project is set to be eight stories high with 265 apartments, 5,000 square feet of ground floor retail and with connections to the 1,100-space convention center garage.

Developer Steven Watts previously told city officials he hoped to start construction by summer 2023 after getting approved for an increase in tax increment financing to $21.5 million. Watts told The Oklahoman this week he hopes to start construction by mid-2025.

9. Industry

Utah development firm Qfactor announced in June, 2023 it was going to start construction this year on a $49 million redevelopment an an old industrial block bounded by SW 2, SW 3, Shartel Avenue and Classen Boulevard. The plan was to replicate similar developments the company did in Colorado, Michigan, Utah and Montana involving a mix of community-style office space, apartments and restaurants.

Those plans fell apart as the firm and its construction division were hit with lawsuits over unpaid bills and claims it used untreated lumber instead of fire-treated wood on its projects. Jonathan Dodson, CEO of Pivot Project, confirmed this week the development in Oklahoma City is dead.

10. The Armory

Coop Ale Works, one of Oklahoma City’s oldest full operation breweries, was selected by the Oklahoma Office of Management and Enterprise Services to buy and redevelop the former National Guard armory at 200 NE 23. Coop Ale executives announced plans to convert the armory into a boutique hotel, brewery, retail, restaurants and event space.

The brewery bought the building from the state in 2022 and indicated construction would begin in 2023 and completion would take place in 2025. The building has seen no activity since and the doors are now boarded shut. Coop Ale CEO Daniel Murcer told The Oklahoman this week he hopes to provide an update on the project later this year.

11. The Hub

A development group led by attorney Richard LaBarthe first announced in 2018 their plans to build an $80 million mix of apartments, offices and restaurant space at the northwest corner of NW 13 and Broadway.

Plans for the project, which includes a new headquarters for Core Bank, were approved last year by the Downtown Design Review Committee. LaBarthe and David Darby with Core Bank did not return calls for this update.

12. Alley North

The Pivot Project announced earlier this year plans for a new mixed-use development at the northeast corner of NW 13 and Broadway that will include a new headquarters for Guernsey, a 165-employee engineering and design firm. Jonathan Dodson, CEO of Pivot Project, said design work is underway with some construction to start next year. The project is also to include apartments, restaurants and retail.

13. Medley Marketplace

Medley Marketplace, previously named Nova, is resuming under a new developer, Pivot Project, and revised plans that focus more on apartments, micro market tenants and offices. The project no longer includes a brewery, an Urban Agrarian grocery or rooftop greenhouse.

Dodson said building permits are already in place and interior demolition starts in August with construction to start by early winter. Six pickleball courts are set to built in place of the greenhouse.

14. Classen Marquette

Developer Clay Farha tore down the former EMSA headquarters at 1111 Classen Drive in 2023 with plans to build a four-story building consisting of 16,000 square feet of ground floor retail space with 60 apartments on the upper three floors.

That project stalled amidst rising construction costs and interest rates, but Fahra reports he is back on track with a potential new partner and thanks to the city creating a new tax increment finance district, construction might begin by later 2025.

Staff writer Steve Lackmeyer has covered Oklahoma City's development for The Oklahoman since 1990. Contact him at slackmeyer@oklahoman.com. Please support his work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: 14 major projects planned for downtown OKC that we're following, and where they stand