Two empty lots that bookend the core of Oklahoma City could soon see massive quality-of-life projects take shape.
Developer Neal McGee, who bought the dozen-plus acres along Interstate 35 at NE 50th Street, plans to sign a deal with Holiday Inn to build a 180-room, $22 million hotel. The destination hotel would serve the area the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation refers to as the "Adventure District," with the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden, the ASA Hall-of-Fame softball stadium, and the Remington Park horse track all nearby.
"There aren't many hotels right there right now, and certainly not any nice ones. Nothing you'd call a destination," said Journal Record managing editor Adam Brooks. "So when people come for events, they stay in Bricktown or even in Edmond."
Oklahoma City Convention and Visitors Bureau President Mike Carriertold The Journal Record's Molly Flemingthere aren't many hotels between NE 63rd and 122nd streets, and the ones that are there cater to truck drivers or Frontier City guests.
“The challenge is that hotels operate 365 days a year,” Carrier said. “You have two distinct racing seasons at Remington Park. There are 30 to 35 weeks of softball at the ASA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium, and there are events at the zoo, the science museum, and the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. There are downtimes when the zoo is not an attractive place to go. Right now, with everything happening (at the attractions), this is their busy time. But a developer has to look at what happens 12 months a year, seven days a week.” At the softball stadium, Director of Championships Chris Sebren said before construction started in 2013, the 2012 Women’s College World Series had 75,000 people in attendance. During 2012, 700 teams played at the complex, bringing in more than 140,000 people. The city will host the WCWS until 2035. In 2017, the Division III softball championship will be played at the complex. Sebren said he often hears from teams that they would prefer to stay closer to the venue. The stadium’s website boasts of hotel partnerships 15 minutes from the facility.
Brooks says even though the huge complex could pull people away from Bricktown, there's room for growth because all parts of the city are developing.
"Nobody's standing pat," Brooks said. "Downtown, we may have a brand-new convention center in a few years. There's always growth in Bricktown. People are looking to do new things on the west side of downtown. So I think there's kind of a larger pie that everybody's trying to get a slice of."
Surplus Land Switch
In west Oklahoma City, there's a plan to de-annex 250 acres at State Highway 66 and Frisco Road and give it to Yukon. It's not really land Oklahoma City has any use for - there's no water or sewer service, and it takes police and fire 10-20 minutes to respond to calls that far away. There's nothing to lose.
Senior planner Ken Bryan says Oklahoma City has zoned the area for agricultural or light industrial uses, while Yukon's land across the street is zoned for urban developed. Annexation would allow for consistency on the site just south of Main Street, according to The Journal Record's Brian Brus:
Mike Segler, an attorney representing Yukon, said the city has already engaged Olsson Associates engineering and design firm to help create a public park in the area. “We’ve already spoken with the soccer groups and baseball groups,” he said. “Our plan is to put in a significant sports complex with approximately 14 soccer fields – one of which will be a championship field, lighted. … We’re also reserving space for an aquatic center.”
"[The] Oklahoma City Council has to have a public hearing on July 7," Brooks said. "They have to wait at least two weeks to vote on July 21, and if it's approved, the land could officially change hands as early as August 22."
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