Hey Pete,any new updates???

Hey Pete,any new updates???

You have to remember that this is an extremely complicated development, and there are certain aspects of it where the Developers would benefit from discretion.

We may not hear any meaningful news for some time.

Hey Pete, anything new???

Hey Pete, anything new???

It's on the agenda for tomorrow's Planning Commission meeting.

There are a few protest letters from surrounding neighbors.

Ambitious mixed-use project moves forward near Penn Square (https://www.okctalk.com/content.php?r=623-Ambitious-mixed-use-project-moves-forward-near-Penn-Square)

After years of planning, an ambitious project proposed for the southwest corner of NW Expressway and Pennsylvania has taken a big step forward.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/penncentral032019f.jpg


Thursday, the Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend rezoning for the nearly 12 acres at one of Oklahoma City's busiest commercial intersections.

Dubbed Penn Central, preliminary plans show a hotel, cinema, apartments, 3 parking structures and space for office, retail and restaurants.

NW 50th Street would be reworked to run through the middle of the development and would allow for improved traffic flow, particularly at the Penn intersection. OKCTalk was first to report (http://www.okctalk.com/content.php?r=527-Plans-underway-for-large-scale-development-at-Penn-and-NW-Expressway) on this story last summer.

Developer Ryan McNeil and his Veritas Development group spent several years acquiring the required property and obtaining signatures from surrounding neighborhoods to remove existing covenants. Multiple meetings were held to receive feedback from people in the area.

At the planning meeting, several citizens spoke against the project, concerned about increased neighborhood traffic, increased density and how the project would tower over surrounding homes.

Ultimately, the commissioners agreed the corner was prime for this type of development and that it would well serve the community as a whole.

McNeil told the group he has been working with several national retailers who would be new to Oklahoma City. When questioned about timing, McNeil said they would only demolish existing buildings when financing was in place and they were ready to build the project, which he hoped would happen in about one year.

The point was also made that Penn Square is virtually full as are their outlying land parcels, which now include the Container Store, the Cheesecake Factory and Whiskey Cake restaurant.

City Council will have a final vote on the project in about a month, but typically follow the recommendations of the Planning Commission.


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/penncentral061519b.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/penncentral061519c.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/penncentral061519a.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/penncentral032019i.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/penncentral032019h.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/penncentral032019g.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/penncentral032019fe.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/penncentral032019d.jpg


http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/penncentral032019c.jpg

Pete, is the picture directly above the site plan outdated? Just curious which is the most up to date.

And I truly hope this gets off the ground! Hopefully they have been working to get financing secured so once it gets approved by the CC, development can start in earnest. Great work in covering this project, Pete!

The site plan in the article has changed slightly since all those other renderings were done, that's why they don't completely match.

But that particular site plan is what was approved.

The site plan in the article has changed slightly since all those other renderings were done, that's why they don't completely match.

But that particular site plan is what was approved.

Ah, ok. Cool! It looks awesome, either way!

Given those 'pedestrian circulation' lines, does that mean we're actually going to get a little bit of sidewalk along NW Expressway?

I'm really pumped for this project. Combine this with some walking and biking improvements along the Expressway from Villa to Classen and the BRT - we're looking at a real game changer for this area.

My pie in the sky dream is to bury I-44 from SH-74 to I-235.

Definitely a game changer for the area. This is the type of development that really moves the needle for the city. The area is already prime with the housing stock, location, and amenities. A great mixed use development in a great area. Doesn’t get much better than this.

Definitely a game changer for the area. This is the type of development that really moves the needle for the city. The area is already prime with the housing stock, location, and amenities. A great mixed use development in a great area. Doesn’t get much better than this.

Exactly. This is going to be way better than CC.

Definitely a game changer for the area. This is the type of development that really moves the needle for the city. The area is already prime with the housing stock, location, and amenities. A great mixed use development in a great area. Doesn’t get much better than this.

Yeah, this looks like a really good development. This looks like more of what I had in mind for CC.

It'd be cool if one of those daily office/cubical rental companies moved into one of the upper floors.

My pie in the sky dream is to bury I-44 from SH-74 to I-235.

Check this out. OkDOT is going to rebuild that freeway and expand it to 8 lanes in the coming decade. It isn’t a pie in the Sky hope and one that could partially achieved. It likely won’t be built above grade. OkDOT will hold public participation soon. Make sure to stay updated and give them your input.

I’d like to see mostly below grade with areas for a park cap or at least over sized bridges with buildings around them.

I'm really pumped for this project. Combine this with some walking and biking improvements along the Expressway from Villa to Classen and the BRT - we're looking at a real game changer for this area.

My pie in the sky dream is to bury I-44 from SH-74 to I-235.

When you say “bury” what do you mean by that? A few ways I’m taking that and I don’t mean to across dense when I ask that question.

Check this out. OkDOT is going to rebuild that freeway and expand it to 8 lanes in the coming decade. It isn’t a pie in the Sky hope and one that could partially achieved. It likely won’t be built above grade. OkDOT will hold public participation soon. Make sure to stay updated and give them your input.

I’d like to see mostly below grade with areas for a park cap or at least over sized bridges with buildings around them.

Awesome. Thank you for the info.


When you say “bury” what do you mean by that? A few ways I’m taking that and I don’t mean to across dense when I ask that question.

Ideally, I would like to see it become a tunnel. But if we could at least get it below grade like US-75 just north of downtown Dallas, that would be a huge win.

I also hope they remove the I-44 eastbound to NW expressway entrance and exit in between Penn and Western. Those are totally unnecessary and are a barrier to any future sidewalks put in that area.

15339

Wait, so is indicative of something to come?

15339

Wait, so is indicative of something to come?

No.

Every conceptual drawing has placeholders like that, typically takeoffs on popular restaurants and retail outlets.

For example, if you look closely at the latest renderings for Chisholm Creek you see a fast food place labeled "Out 'n In".

And on the other Penn Central renderings, the theater name is 'Cinemix' which is just made up.

Check this out. OkDOT is going to rebuild that freeway and expand it to 8 lanes in the coming decade. It isn’t a pie in the Sky hope and one that could partially achieved. It likely won’t be built above grade. OkDOT will hold public participation soon. Make sure to stay updated and give them your input.

I’d like to see mostly below grade with areas for a park cap or at least over sized bridges with buildings around them.

Unless I am mistaking the I-44 segment you are referring to, they would have a very hard time burying the east 1/2 of the segment (Penn Ave and to the east) because it runs next to Deep Fork Creek. I don't think they could bury it next to a natural creek without great risk and expense. I am all for widening it and improving the SH74, NW Expressway interchanges though.

Unless I am mistaking the I-44 segment you are referring to, they would have a very hard time burying the east 1/2 of the segment (Penn Ave and to the east) because it runs next to Deep Fork Creek. I don't think they could bury it next to a natural creek without great risk and expense. I am all for widening it and improving the SH74, NW Expressway interchanges though.
I am not an engineer but I have heard the circumstances regarding the reasons for the elevated freeway have changed and there is no longer a need to have it elevated. Elevated freeways(my preferred freeway style over at grade) are more expensive to build and I wouldn’t expect OKDOT to reconstruct it as is unless necessary.

I am not sure if the SH-74 interchange will be included. I believe project extents are from I-235/Broadway Ext. to May Ave. Currently a study is being funded. I suspect we'll hear more in the upcoming years. Maybe we’ll get a surprise or two with the new 8yr plan which will be released in a few months. I hope this project and the I-44/I-40 interchange are the next OKC area projects OkDOT tackles.

Apparently this is now being called Oaks (probably not the official final name, but whatevs)

https://oklahoman.com/article/5636296/mixed-use-development-set-for-presentation-to-okc-council

I like adding floors to the office building... the name not so much

I'd be happy if it even comes close to what you see in the renderings.

I was hoping they would retain the existing live oaks and it sounds like they're going to.

I like adding floors to the office building... the name not so much

Anytime I hear oak on a development I just hear The Oaks at Mesa Vista.

This is exciting, obviously they have a letter of intent from a company to lease space in the new development, hence them adding floors to the office mid-rise.

What about this project says "Midwestern values"? What does that even mean in this context? (Putting aside my usual digression about OKC not being the Midwest...) :rolleyes:

What about this project says "Midwestern values"? What does that even mean in this context? (Putting aside my usual digression about OKC not being the Midwest...) :rolleyes:

They're keeping the Southern Live Oaks on the property while labeling OKC as the Midwest. I love the irony.

But I respect the developers so much for not tearing these trees out; they're in great shape and really add a lot to the property.

This group has already spent a ton of money on the property and seems committed to doing very high-quality work.

They specifically hired this Atlanta architecture firm because they have done several of the best-in-class mixed-use projects in the U.S.

Really anxious to see this move forward. Especially because it will be within walking distance for me!

Pete, do you have the newest renderings on this? That picture in the Oklahoman article looks a bit more substantial then what we have seen up to this point.

This is BLC. Based on the renderings, this is one of the better NEW projects I’ve seen since I moved here from Atlanta in 2017. I’m hoping this turns out right.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/penncentral071619d.jpg

Press Release:

************

Introducing OAK
New details revealed for walkable, mixed-use community coming to Oklahoma City

OKLAHOMA CITY (July 16, 2019) – After studying the best mixed-use concepts in the nation, engaging
with the surrounding community and enlisting a world-class team of local and national talent, OKC-area
native Ryan McNeill today unveiled the project’s official name, team and new insight into the vision.

Welcome to OAK - a departure from typical shopping, dining, working and living. OAK’s walkable,
experiential design is the first of its kind in the region. More than two miles of sidewalks weave together
retailers, restaurants, offices, residences, a hotel and a central greenspace that represents the heart of a
new district in Oklahoma City. Iconic 60-year-old Oak trees that anchor the property near the
intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Northwest Expressway inspired the project’s name. The
programmable open space will serve as a public realm, playing host to both spontaneous and planned
social gatherings such as outdoor concerts, wellness activities and seasonal events.

“We saw the value in the indigenous Live Oaks and drew our master plan around them,” said McNeill,
Principal of Veritas. “We are taking a sensory approach to design and focusing on the street-level
experience – the sights, smells, tastes, sounds and touchpoints that come together to create an
exceptional pedestrian environment that elevates the quality of life in OKC.”

The idea for OAK started in 2009 when McNeill began assembling the land in what he calls, “the most
important retail intersection in the State of Oklahoma.” Formerly referred to as Penn Central, OAK will
rise on nearly 20 acres at 5101 North Pennsylvania Ave., just south of Nichols Hills. The mix of uses
includes a boutique hotel, shops and restaurants with rooftop dining, Class A office space and luxury
apartments. OAK is expected to create 1,200 jobs and generate $130 million in revenue for the city.

“The location of the project affords the unique ability to vertically integrate the mix of uses in a way that
they all thrive and create value for one another,” said McNeill. “Our team is applying the lessons we
learned by touring the country’s premier mixed-use developments and by meeting with the surrounding
neighborhoods to create a community destination that is special and unique to Oklahoma City.”

The national design tour featured projects such as The Grove and Americana at Brand in Los Angeles,
Santana Row in San Jose, Kierland Commons in Scottsdale and Avalon in Metro Atlanta. The OAK team
includes Wakefield Beasley & Associates, an architecture firm known for its approach to designing
immersive mixed-use destinations; Site Solutions, a landscape architecture and land planning firm that
specializes in placemaking; and liquidfish, a digital marketing firm based in Oklahoma City.

Retail and office leasing for OAK is well underway. The team is curating a merchandise mix of local,
regional and national brands, many of which are first-to-market. Veritas is represented locally by CBRE
brokers Stuart Graham and Mark Inman for retail leasing while Amy Maclaren, Michael Nagy and
Elizabeth Herman work national retail accounts. Vicki and Ben Knotts with Newmark | Levy Strange
Beffort handle the office leasing for the project.

“OAK knits together Midwestern values with best-in-class design,” said Everett Dobson, representing the
Dobson family, partner with Veritas in the project. “It will be a transformative, regional draw, bringing
new businesses and unique retail concepts that are seeking to expand in dense, open-air, mixed-use
environments with public spaces and an active street.”

On June 13, the planning commission unanimously approved the plan for OAK, noting the close
coordination Veritas maintained with the surrounding neighborhood.

“In all my years on the planning commission, I’ve never known a development group to work so closely
with the neighborhood,” said Planning Commission Chairperson Janis Powers.

McNeill added, “Our team has hosted dozens of formal and informal neighborhood meetings over eight
years. The neighborhood has as many fingerprints on our plans as we do.”

The project will be presented to city council later this summer. A new project rendering is available here
(credit: Wakefield Beasley & Associates).

A website and social media pages have been launched to engage the community and keep the public
updated on progress. Visit oakokc.com and follow the project on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to
learn more.

###
About Veritas Development:
Veritas Development is a commercial real estate firm that has developed and/or acquired over 425,000-
square-feet of Class A retail, office and hospitality space with a value of more than $100 million. Ryan
McNeill, founder of Veritas, is credited for spearheading these efforts, and is currently applying a
community-driven approach to OAK, a 20-acre experiential mixed-use development in Oklahoma City.
The McNeill family has been part of the Oklahoma community for generations, and has interests in oil
and gas, banking and other real estate investments.

About OAK:
Nestled within a city on the rise, OAK is a new type of community unlike anything in the region, destined
to change the way life is lived in Oklahoma. OAK is Oklahoma City’s comfortable, walkable mixed-use
development where more than two miles of sidewalks weave together first-to-market retailers,
restaurants with rooftop dining, Class A office, luxury residences, a boutique hotel, and a central
greenspace that is the heart of a district unfurling with opportunity. Here, sprawling live oak trees
stretch upward to invite a region, a city and a community to an invigorating weekday-to-weekend
destination where living, creating, playing and working in one connected environment is always in full
bloom. To learn more about OAK, visit www.oakokc.com and follow on Twitter, Facebook and
Instagram.

Love this development, especially the increase in density/height!!

Loved Penn Central as the name much better, OAK is going to be a bit weird to get used to. Cheers!

btw, it doesn't look like the main building is higher number of floors per say but that the office building is incorporated on top of the garage.

Anyway, I'll still take it and wish downtown developers would build like this!!!

btw, it doesn't look like the main building is higher number of floors per say but that the office building is incorporated on top of the garage.

Anyway, I'll still take it and wish downtown developers would build like this!!!

Density for density's sake is not always worth it. But yes, this project is awesome, and if built as planned, will be a huge addition to OKC's retail and office scene.

The good news is they have to build densely in order to justify the big investment already made in the property.


I live in the neighborhood to the south and it's already seeing quite a few renovations, as it's mainly mid-century homes with some really nice streets.

I need to do a photo essay of the area bounded by Penn, May, 50th and I-44. I'd stack that square mile up as one of the most unique in all of OKC, as there are a bunch of different housing styles, sizes and eras represented. In my 3 years we've seen good appreciation and I think this project will help tremendously, similar to the neighborhood next to Classen Curve.

My only complaint about my neighborhood is that there is very little within walking distance. I've walked to Penn Square but it was a rather death-defying act. I hope the pedestrian connectivity will be vastly improved with this new development.

Reminds me of a lot of the developments in Charlotte surrounding Southpark Mall. OKC has needed something like this for a long time. Glad to see the odds of this happening so good.

The good news is they have to build densely in order to justify the big investment already made in the property.


I live in the neighborhood to the south and it's already seeing quite a few renovations, as it's mainly mid-century homes with some really nice streets.

I need to do a photo essay of the area bounded by Penn, May, 50th and I-44. I'd stack that square mile up as one of the most unique in all of OKC, as there are a bunch of different housing styles, sizes and eras represented. In my 3 years we've seen good appreciation and I think this project will help tremendously, similar to the neighborhood next to Classen Curve.

My only complaint about my neighborhood is that there is very little within walking distance. I've walked to Penn Square but it was a rather death-defying act. I hope the pedestrian connectivity will be vastly improved with this new development.

Are most of the neighbors in favor of this?

Are most of the neighbors in favor of this?

I'm several blocks south and just outside the notice area. I honestly don't think any of my immediate neighbors have any clue.

There were some protests from the people closest to the development, but not many.

One big bonus: We just got tons of new sidewalks all through the hood, no doubt because there is an elementary school right in the middle. Will make it super easy to stroll over for the residents.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/penncentral071619d.jpg

Hot damn, that looks awesome.

They're keeping the Southern Live Oaks on the property while labeling OKC as the Midwest. I love the irony.

But I respect the developers so much for not tearing these trees out; they're in great shape and really add a lot to the property.

SOOO pleased to hear the trees are staying. I drive by them twice a day and appreciate them each time. Love 'em.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/penncentral071619d.jpg

Love. It.

I hope it ends up looking like this.

I was hoping they would retain the existing live oaks and it sounds like they're going to.

Yes indeed! Not to derail this thread to much, however, would love to see the developer plant some more mature live oaks as part of this development! Never understood why OKC has such few of these "live oaks"? They keep their leaves in the winter time and they can survive in the OKC climate. We have tons of them in DFW. This development looks top notch and unique for OKC. I hope this raises the bar for future development like this in OKC. I guess time and the market place will determine it?

This looks amazing, and I’m sure Ryan wouldn’t build it if he felt the market wouldn’t support it. But ultimately this ain’t Texas, and you have to seriously wonder about the continued viability of some of the lesser districts if this gets built as planned.

This looks amazing, and I’m sure Ryan wouldn’t build it if he felt the market wouldn’t support it. But ultimately this ain’t Texas, and you have to seriously wonder about the continued viability of some of the lesser districts if this gets built as planned.

Darwinism is still a thing. But kind of a weird negative flex.

OKC metro will likely have grown by about 150k between 2010 and 2020 when all is said and done, which helps support the increased restaurant and retail options that we've seen over the last few years. Weaker places will always die off due to additional competition but as long as the metro keeps trending upwards the overall standard of our restaurant and retail choices should continue to improve.

http://www.okctalk.com/images/pete/penncentral071619d.jpg

Pete, can you describe which direction we are looking on this?

Pete, can you describe which direction we are looking on this?

Looking due south.

The taller office structure is facing north with the realigned NW 50th street running e/w right in front of the building in that rendering. Penn would be just to the left of the frame.

Yes indeed! Not to derail this thread to much, however, would love to see the developer plant some more mature live oaks as part of this development! Never understood why OKC has such few of these "live oaks"? They keep their leaves in the winter time and they can survive in the OKC climate. We have tons of them in DFW. This development looks top notch and unique for OKC. I hope this raises the bar for future development like this in OKC. I guess time and the market place will determine it?

Check a Hardiness Zone Map. . .OKC is 7 b. . a little cold for Live Oaks. . .DFW is in 8a. We are just on the northern border of what they can tolerate. You absolutely will find Live Oaks in OKC, but they probably are in a little bit of a micro climate. I have a friend who maintains an oleander outdoors. but it is in a very special place!!

Love the project. HATE the name (but I do love that they are keeping the trees). OKC is one of America’s only cities in which monuments of thanks are bestowed for simply improving landscaping.

On social media, they have said they will have a 4-star hotel, 12 bars and restaurants and 250,000 square feet of retail space in addition to office.

Now they are over the big approval hurdles, I'm sure they are busy trying to make deals.

On social media, they have said they will have a 4-star hotel, 12 bars and restaurants and 250,000 square feet of retail space in addition to office.

Now they are over the big approval hurdles, I'm sure they are busy trying to make deals.

When is it going before City Council for approval again?

When is it going before City Council for approval again?

They have already approved.

They have already approved.

Oh, sweet! I must have missed that. My bad, Pete! I am hoping they have some highly likely tenants already lined up to be advertising facts like those.

On social media, they have said they will have a 4-star hotel, 12 bars and restaurants and 250,000 square feet of retail space in addition to office.

Now they are over the big approval hurdles, I'm sure they are busy trying to make deals.

Curious, how many SF is PSM for comparison?

^

Just over 1 million.

^

Just over 1 million.

Great thanks. And to me thats good news, it shouldn’t pilfer much or kill PSM. Rather it will add to area and feed off each other.

Oh, sweet! I must have missed that. My bad, Pete! I am hoping they have some highly likely tenants already lined up to be advertising facts like those.

I was mistaken.

City Council won't vote until August 13th.

But it's very rare they go against the recommendation of the Planning Commission, which was unanimous.

Pete, would it be possible to link their Facebook and/or Twitter pages?