Tuscana Lifestyle Center

[beshy]

There has been some ground leveling on the northeast part of tuscana on 150th, looks like a water reservoir. Any body has any updates.
The apartment look nice and there seems that there are alot of tennants who moved in already.

[bchris02]

Probably because the upscale term gets thrown around way too often. Every new shopping center built in the last decade called themselves upscale. Come to think of it I'm not sure there is an okc shopping center that is truly upscale.

For an "upscale" lifestyle center to truly work, there has to be committed upscale retailers BEFORE construction begins. This wasn't a problem prior to December 2007, but since the recession began, many upscale retailers aren't expanding like they were and many of these projects that were started or planned back then were completed but then leased to much lower quality retailers. Also due to the recession many grand-scale projects have had to be scaled down. Shackleford Crossings in Little Rock, Ark comes to mind. It was a huge ambitious project that was supposed to have Dillard's, Macy's, Belk, as well as traditional mid-upper level mall retailers (think Penn Square) but after the crash in late 2007, it was built but sat empty for years. Now it has Wal-Mart, Dollar Tree, TJ Maxx, Payless, an at&t store, and a few other low quality retailers.

[bchris02]

There is a lot of dirt turning right now in the site where Tuscana was supposed to be developed. Most people who follow OKCTalk are aware that it was originally supposed to be a very ambitious Chisholm Creek-like lifestyle center but when the recession of 2008 hit the developer had a massive change of plans and built a standard apartment complex instead, scrapping all of the retail and lifestyle components that were originally supposed to be included. The lifestyle center was going to be massive but the apartment complex as it sits is pretty small comparatively. Does anybody know what is currently happening there? Do the developers have plans for the site beyond the standard complex that has thus far been built?

[Pete]

More apartments.

[bchris02]

Do you know if there any plans for retail or restaurants at all, even if its not on the grand scale that was originally planned?

[Pete]

Not that I'm aware of.

[Spartan]

Tuscana is dead and especially so now that Chisholm and NW 63rd are going to deliver two legit lifestyle centers at once.

It's for the best, too. Chisholm is closer into the city and actually helps fill the gap between OKC and Edmond, while Tuscana would've over-stimulated Memorial's westward sprawl.

[bchris02]

Tuscana is dead and especially so now that Chisholm and NW 63rd are going to deliver two legit lifestyle centers at once.

It's for the best, too. Chisholm is closer into the city and actually helps fill the gap between OKC and Edmond, while Tuscana would've over-stimulated Memorial's westward sprawl.

True.

Tuscana would have certainly been the end of Quail Springs Mall also. I think the mall and Chisholm Creek can co-exist, especially with Von Maur and H&M in the mall. Chisholm Creek also has turnpike access. Reading some of the earlier posts about Tuscana a lot of people were concerned about it not being right on Memorial.

[Plutonic Panda]

Lack of highway access????? Seriously!? Who said that? There is literally a medium sized turnpike within 1/4 mile and a future freeway within 2-3 miles West.

Also, if you want a place like what Tuscana would offer, why would you be concerned about highway access in the first place when these kinds of lifestyle centers are generally geared towards less car and more walking?

[Spartan]

Future freeway?

Um no.

[OKCDrummer77]

Future freeway?

Um no.

I took it as a reference to the extension of the Hefner Parkway, which would be 1.5 miles to the west.

[Plutonic Panda]

Future freeway?

Um no.

Whether you like or not, Hefner parkway is currently being expanded.

[Plutonic Panda]

Pete, are we sure this is completely dead? I went by last night and I'm actually going to go there tonight to double check, but they are building what looks like to be some urban housing right up against the streets. The existing development within Tuscana doesn't appear to be in the development area.


This is the original plan



This is where new construction is taking plan that looks to be in line with original plans



Here is a smaller piece for reference



I'm going to go work out at Golds right now and I'll swing by; if it's bright enough I'll get some pictures & I'll get some tomorrow as well. These apartments are being built right to the street. Parallel parking already exists. I will try and see tonight if they are building out new roads. Also, I know the existing construction was nothing near the urban development they had planned, but if you notice, it's not specified was going to go where they are located now.

[Plutonic Panda]

The more I look at it, the more it looks like those apartments were built so they could continue the original plan if they wanted to.

[Plutonic Panda]

When I get back home I'll update the map I outlined in blue. Unfortunately it does not appear that they are building a parking garage and it looks to be suburban apartments with a clubhouse.

Does anyone have any renderings or plans for the current development?

[hfry]

Its on the OKCgov website somewhere but I'm having trouble finding it but I know the phase they are building to the south is all apartments and what they just got approved on or have been pushing on the east side is all duplexs, tri and quadplexs I believe. From the original PUD they specified exactly how much housing they could have in this development and planning was giving them a more difficult time because they are already pretty close to that number since all they have done is housing there.

[hfry]

Alright Plu Pan here is what I was able to find.
and here was their december application that I'm sure they have changed a little. http://www.okc.gov/agendapub/cache/2...5090749412.PDF
And then the area thats being built farther south which is what you were asking about to begin with is this proposal http://www.okc.gov/agendapub/cache/2...5091451576.PDF

[rlewis]

Apparently development on this land is getting ready to go full tilt. I live in one of the neighborhoods north of the development, and our HOA has been approached by the lawyers of the developer(s) to discuss the development. It looks like all of the land is going to be developed, but I can't tell from the materials that have been distributed if it is going to have the Tuscana theme. The layout of the development does not look at all like what Is shown above.

It looks like there are going to be at least 3 apartment complexes on the property (that includes the one already completed), homes/garden homes/duplexes (it is not very clear), office buildings, and retail. I don't see anything that resembles a big box retailer or a fast food-type building in the plans. Our HOA has called a meeting this Thursday to talk about the plans. I'll share anything that I find out.

[bchris02]

It will be interesting to see what becomes of this and if there will in fact be any mixed use components. There are developments all over suburban DFW that are primarily residential but have retail/restaurants on the first floor. It would be nice to see a few of these in OKC.

[Dustin]

I highly doubt it will be as ambitious as originally planned, but one can hope.

[bchris02]

I highly doubt it will be as ambitious as originally planned, but one can hope.

Agreed. However, the fact that it is getting developed at all is a pleasant surprise at this point.