South Side Update
Gaining momentum: I-240 is heart of south Oklahoma City redevelopment effort
By Steven E. Wedel
When compared to the north side of the metro, south Oklahoma City has long been seen as a late bloomer -- if not just downright backward. With new businesses moving into the area and existing businesses jockeying for better locations, Oklahoma City’s south side is now coming into its own and perhaps on the cusp of a boom.
“It’s going really well,” said Elaine Lyons, president of the South Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce, on recruiting new business. “Most of the big-box locations have been sold and are scheduled to be remodeled or torn down.”
Currently there are four “big-box” buildings unoccupied in the city’s south side. Of those four properties, one is a former Wal-Mart at the corner of S.W. 74th and Pennsylvania and one is at S.W. 74th and Walker, formerly housing Pratt’s. The others are located at S.W. 104th and Western and S.W. 74th and Shields and used to be home to an Albertson’s and K-Mart, respectively.
Of the four big boxes, three have been sold. Lyons said only the old K-Mart is still available. Lyons said the south chamber has led a grass-roots effort to bring in new businesses but that “the developers are really making it happen.”
Local developer P.B. Odom III is a leader in the effort, overseeing projects at two of the three, sold big-box locations, including the old Wal-Mart store. He cited the retail giant as responsible for so much property being available on the south side.
“Wal-Mart is the reason these big-box properties are existing,” Odom said. “These vacancies are a result of Wal-Mart’s influence on the marketplace. Sometimes Wal-Mart will come in and stay at a location for 10 years, then move to a bigger store in the same area, leaving the first store empty.”
He continued, “Also, grocery stores are having a hard time competing with Wal-Mart Supercenters. Wal-Mart is responsible for the demise of the Pratt’s and the Albertson’s, and of course K-Mart was [its] major retail competition.”
Odom is quick to point out he is not opposed to Wal-Mart, though.
“I’ve developed for and sold to Wal-Mart,” he said. And, because of the Wal-Mart influence, he said he is continuing to profit from those empty big-box buildings.
His company, P.B. Odom III Construction, Inc., is in the process of doing a “major, major, major remodel” on the old Albertson’s store to make way for a new shopping center called Palagio.
“It’ll be a Class A, high quality retail shopping center,” he said. “It’s a very difficult remodel because we’re going to make it front on two sides, facing Western and 104th.”
When it’s finished, he said the revamped building will offer a total of 44,000 square feet of usable space. About 29,000 square feet will be dedicated to retail, with the remaining 15,000 square feet being flex space.
“These big-box stores are so deep,” he said. “Your typical retail store doesn’t go so deep, so the back area will be what we call flex space. It would be good for a dance studio, a gym, or office space – anything that doesn’t need a store front. A lot of these spaces go to churches.”
Odom said the flex space is much less expensive, about half the price, of the retail space.
The old Wal-Mart store currently is being torn to the ground to make room for what Odom called a “power center.” This will be another multi-store, retail area offering 300,000 square feet of space. Odom was pleased to report the majority of the space already is leased.
“There will be some new stores coming into south Oklahoma City, but some others will be relocating to this power center from other south locations.” he said.
Those relocating include Mardel’s, Circuit City and PetSmart. New businesses to south Oklahoma City setting up shop in the power center include Old Navy, Michael’s and Ross.
Odom said Interstate 240, which runs parallel to S.W. 74th St., is “the engine that drives south Oklahoma City commerce.” With success at the sites being redeveloped, he believed other businesses in the area should prosper, too.
Such has been the case with Crossroads Mall, which stands on the northeast corner of I-240 and I-35 and has long been a shopping mecca on the city’s south side. Those involved with south Oklahoma City development hope the first month’s success of Steve and Barry’s University Sportswear in the mall is a beacon for those businesses considering a move to the south metro.
“South Oklahoma City has proven to be a perfect place for us to do our thing,” said store Manager Charles Harris, who added business had been “excellent” for the store since it opened the day before Thanksgiving.
The store, which sells licensed sportswear, anchors an area of the mall once occupied by Montgomery Ward.
“We’ve had excellent sales. Crossroads Mall has provided a great environment and has done an excellent job of doing things right. We’ve been well taken care of.”
Originally Posted by oklacity75
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