I-240 strip gets the business with chamber's help
By Ja'Rena Lunsford
The Oklahoman
It was the late '70s and Dee Downard was knocking on door after door, asking friends and residents for $5 here and $10 there to contribute to a building fund for the South Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce.
Construction continues Wednesday on the 240 Penn Park Shopping Center, foreground, on Interstate 240 between Western and Pennsylvania avenues. Photo by Paul B. Southerland
The landscape is changing
Residential growth is booming in far south Oklahoma City, erasing pasture land that separated the city from other municipalities. The Southwest Showcase of Homes — which starts Saturday — for the first time will include homes in nearby Moore.
Decades later, Downard still is supporting the chamber and celebrating with the rest of south Oklahoma City as the agency commemorates 100 years. It's a milestone that doesn't surprise Downard.
"We are a community within itself," she said.
The South Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce began in 1905 and was the city's first chamber. Known then as the Greater Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce, the agency began its mission of enhancing the community by supporting various projects, such as the city's first airport, Southwest Medical Center — which now has the Integris name — and South Oklahoma City Junior College, now Oklahoma City Community College.
Elaine Lyons, the chamber's president and chief executive officer, said many people do not know how far both the chamber and the south side have come.
"People need to stop asking 'Why south Oklahoma City?' and start asking 'Why not south Oklahoma City?'" Lyons said.
Current and planned development along Interstate 240 are evidence that south Oklahoma City is once again on the rise, she said.
"It's filling in," Lyons said. "That's probably the most exciting part."
Current projects include a Starbucks, 240 Penn Park and a 65,000 square-foot YMCA — the largest in the city — at SW 119 and May Avenue.
Dwayne and Burk Collins, in conjunction with P.B. Odom III, are developing 240 Penn Park, a retail shopping center that will include a PETsMart, Pier 1 and a Sally's Beauty Supply. Odom's company also is adding 14,500 square feet to Chatenay Square Shopping Plaza, at SW 104 and Pennsylvania, and is now leasing for Palagio, a shopping center that will include a Marble Slab Creamery and an L.A. Weight Loss center.
Odom said businesses finally have realized that south Oklahoma City, complete with quality schools and residential development, is a profitable investment.
"What's driving this huge growth is the quality of life in south Oklahoma City," Odom said.
Lyons said the agency is preparing for another 100 years by building a stronger chamber and community.
Goals for the chamber and the south side include embracing the Hispanic community, landing a major bookstore, such as a Barnes & Noble or Borders, and building community leadership.
"We want to put Oklahoma City on the radar screen for businesses," she said. "We want to attract businesses and with that, we want to promote south Oklahoma City."
Dwayne Collins said south Oklahoma City is the fastest-growing part of the city, reason enough to develop in that area.
"It's a very hot spot, and it's going to be better," Collins said.
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