Open-air mall planned for north OKC
by Kelley Chambers
The Journal Record
1/26/2007

OKLAHOMA CITY – An Oklahoma City developer has secured more than 230 acres of land to build a $500 million to $800 million development for retail, office and residential use.

Larry Owsley, of RCL Mortgage Corp., said plans have been in the works for more than a year to build an open-air lifestyle center just north of Quail Springs Mall.

“I am fortunate to have been able to purchase this unique tract of land located in the heart of the growth area of north Oklahoma City and surrounding communities,” Owsley said. “I intend to create an environment that we all can be proud of and enjoy – a true destination point in an upscale, urban mixed-use environment.”

Owsley said the concept is similar to the open-air shopping center The Shops at Legacy in Plano, Texas. The new project has been dubbed the Village at Quail Springs.

Plans call for luring upscale retailers including boutique-style stores, possible high-end department stores, a specialty grocery store and possibly an art house theater. A hotel and conference center is planned for the center of the site. Owsley said he has been working with Oklahoma City, Edmond and General Growth Properties, the owners of Quail Springs Mall, to work out a plan that would benefit all of the parties.

One concern in the area is traffic flow. The area in front of Quail Springs along Memorial Road is often clogged with traffic at the intersections of Pennsylvania and May avenues.

Owsley said a traffic study has been completed as well as work with the Oklahoma City Planning Department to find ways to handle the increased traffic in the area and ensure smoother flowing traffic on and off Memorial Road and north toward the new development.

On the land surrounding the proposed retail core, Owsley said there will be space for office complexes as well as multi-level mixed-use buildings that can offer retail, office and condo space all in the same building.

While the master design is still being tweaked, Owsley said a final design should be completed in the next three to four months and work on the project could begin in the next six to 12 months.

Owsley said he has been in talks with potential retailers and hopes to conclude deals in coming months so that he can announce the names of the new retail tenants.