Tulsa by Debi Turley • OKC by Kimberly Burk
The BMX Headquarters
Tulsa
For everything “bike,” head to the newly-opened BMX Headquarters in Tulsa’s Greenwood District. A combined national headquarters and BMX museum, the facility will hold national BMX competitions and will be open for use to Oklahomans for recreational programs and races for young riders. The project was funded through the Economic Development Infrastructure Fund and Vision Tulsa.
Bar K
OKC
“We like to say it’s a dog park, bar, restaurant and event space, in that order,” says David Hensley, owner of Bar K, which is coming to the Boathouse District in Oklahoma City with a planned December opening date. “It really celebrates that special bond that we have with our dogs.” Dogs won’t be allowed inside the full-service bar and restaurant, but leashed canines and their owners can enjoy meals on all the patio space, with a dog food menu in addition to human food and drink. The property will be surrounded by an off-leash and fully staffed dog park, plus a stage for live music and speaking events, two bars built from shipping containers and unique play features for the pups. As a nod to sometimes-fierce Oklahoma weather, the park will include a 10,000-square-foot indoor play space. Bar K has been a big hit since it launched in 2018 in Kansas City, and it branched out to St. Louis in November. Oklahoma is the first location outside Missouri.
Santa Fe Square
Tulsa
This monumental mixed-use project, spearheaded by Elliot Nelson, will cost $125 million and include office, retail, residential and parking space when it is completed in the next year. Located in downtown Tulsa’s Blue Dome District, the new development is sure to stand out with its 12-story tower, 30,000 square feet of retail space, and close access to the Tulsa Arts District and Greenwood. The project is led by local architecture firm Selser Schaefer.
First National Center
OKC
Developers are calling it “an oasis of luxury, elegance and historic flair.” What was previously known as the First National Bank building in downtown Oklahoma City has been transformed into apartments, restaurants and retail spaces and a full-service upscale hotel. The Art Deco skyscraper is now known as the First National Center and is located on the corner of Park Avenue and Robinson Street, at the epicenter of the Central Business District. The restoration included repairs to the murals, decorative painted ceilings, stone columns and metal finishes in the 1931 building, which is on the Historic Register and was once the largest building in Oklahoma. The First Residences at First National offer 193 units including studio, one- and two-bedroom apartment homes and penthouses. First Residences amenities include a fitness center, 14-story parking garage, rooftop deck with heated infinity pool and valet and concierge services.
The Sinclair Building
Tulsa
Historic preservation is the name of the game for this building that was one of the first skyscrapers to grace Tulsa’s skyline. With a planned opening in the spring of 2023, the building will house 60 multi-family apartment units. Owned by The Ross Group, tenants will enjoy all the perks of the downtown culture and atmosphere.
The Cheairs Furniture Co. Building
Tulsa
New plans for this historic building at the eastern edge of the Inner Dispersal Loop (IDL) will have the building dispensing cold beverages instead of the furniture it was once known for. The ice-house type bar will feature tall ceilings and an abundant open space. Added recently to the National Register of Historic Places, the Kenosha Street building will again draw people – and up to 100 different types of beer. The East Village structure was once a piece of NORDAM’s headquarters.
OKANA Resort and Indoor Waterpark
OKC
In October, Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby unveiled plans for a resort-style development adjacent to the First Americans Museum, which opened in September with joyous ceremony after a decades-long wait. “With this world-class First Americans Museum now in operation, we are ready to turn our focus to what we believe will be another significant tourism and hospitality venue,” said Anoatubby. Situated along the Oklahoma River near downtown Oklahoma City, the $300 million OKANA Resort and Indoor Waterpark will include a riverfront hotel, spa, outdoor adventure lagoon, restaurants and retail outlets, according to the Chickasaw Nation Media Relations Office. Site work got underway in March, with completion scheduled for late spring of 2024. The first phase of the project is to develop about 40 acres of the total 140 acres held by AICCM Land Development, a subsidiary of the Chickasaw Nation. A Native American market and amphitheater will augment museum programming with local artist performances, festivals and lectures.
The Annex – Downtown
Tulsa
Parking won’t be a problem for those seeking to shop for groceries at a new mixed-use area associated with the Tulsa Performing Arts Center. The Annex – spearheaded by Indiana-based Flaherty and Collins Properties – will house a grocery store and 636 parking spaces in a multi-story garage. Enjoy an event and pick up groceries as you leave? Perfect! Those who shop can park free by showing a receipt from the store.
Davenport Urban Lofts
Tulsa
If you enjoy truly urban living with food, night life and the Arts District just paces away, Davenport Urban Lofts might be your kind of home. Luxury living with a contemporary feel, the lofts feature floor-to-ceiling views, state-of-the-art kitchens and master suites that remind one of a spa. Private balconies and a shared rooftop terrace add to the attractions found here.
The Midland
Tulsa
Once again, the Ross Group steps in to give an historic Tulsa property new life. Formerly another storage facility for NORDAM, the structure is slated to become the home of creative office spaces. The building will be named The Midland after the railroad that operated near the structure. Historic tax credits will be used to complete the $8 million project.
Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden
OKC
Boomer and Pete, the 5-year-old cheetah brothers, are among the stars of Predator Pass, the 61,000-square-feet habitat for cheetahs and African painted dogs that opened in October at the Oklahoma City Zoo. The $1.9 million habitat consists of four distinct habitat spaces, two indoor climate-controlled spaces and panoramic viewing opportunities for guests. Construction is underway on Expedition Africa, the zoo’s latest and largest habitat expansion project to date. Located in the heart of the zoo and slated to open in the spring of 2023, the 14-acre project will provide zoo guests with more immersive wildlife experiences and larger habitat for animals native to Africa including giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, ostriches, meerkat, lemurs and honey badgers.
The View
Tulsa
Aptly named by developers of American Residential Group, The View will have amazing vistas of the skyline of Tulsa and ONEOK Field. Featuring two swimming pools (including one that will sit six stories up on the rooftop), this 198-unit complex is a sister property to The Edge, which opened its doors in 2016 in the East Village. ARG also developed Tribune Lofts and Renaissance Uptown, among others.
The Reunion Apartments
Tulsa
Standing proudly on East 4th Street in downtown Tulsa, the Reunion Apartments give new life to a 1917 structure that started out as the First National Bank of Tulsa. With 10 stories stretching into the skyline and 79 apartments, the building now offers tenants a dog park, a gym and a breathtaking rooftop lounge.
The Chicken Shack
Arcadia
“I just want people to eat chicken,” says Eddie Gochenour, owner of The Shacks Family Restaurants. “It’s always about chicken. I can turn any conversation into chicken.” Gochenour is bringing his broasted chicken to Arcadia, with a goal of opening on April 23, the sixth anniversary of launching his restaurant chain in nearby Luther. The venue on Route 66 in Arcadia will feature indoor and outdoor dining and a recreation area with volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, cornhole, bocce ball and a sand feature. Visitors can stretch their legs on a walking path around the perimeter of the property.
A second restaurant at the complex will be called Arcadia Pizza. The Luther restaurant will be rebranded as The Shack on 66 with a new food concept, Gochenour says. “Luther was the beginning,” he says. “I don’t want to lose the home base.” Gochenour also has restaurants in Guthrie and Harrah.
Universal Ford Building
Tulsa
The George Kaiser Family Foundation brought two historic buildings in the Tulsa Arts/Greenwood District back into the spotlight in the form of affordable living space for service workers, teachers and artists. Built in 1917, the Ford building sold Ford and Model T vehicles. The project was funded with the hope of attracting businesses and residents to this prominent northside neighborhood. At 37,000 square feet, the renovation resulted in 23 apartment units, 6,5000 square feet of restaurant space and 11,000 square feet of office space, including 36 Degrees North, according to Erin Conrad, the Community Engagement Lead at Tulsa-based Lilly Architects, which handled the project.
