COORDINATION OF
CORE TO SHORE AND MAPS
The Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City works closely with the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, MAPS and the City of OKC to better coordinate land, incentives and economic tools that make Oklahoma City profitable and attractive to companies and developers. Below are some key projects that the Alliance coordinated, advanced and brought to life in Oklahoma City.
SCISSORTAIL PARK
Scissortail Park, Oklahoma City’s new urban oasis, had a successful opening weekend. Crowds enjoyed concerts, fireworks, food trucks, family activities and strolling through the great lawn. The park is the centerpiece that connects downtown to the shore of the Oklahoma River and brings residents, visitors and downtown workers to relax, grab a bite to eat, connect and enjoy our city.
Besides being a key gathering, recreational, entertainment and outdoor space, Scissortail Park is also a transformational economic development asset. One of the final MAPS 3 projects, it’s the catalyst for a nearly $1 billion investment in private and public development projects all coming online within a two-year window around the park.
The park and surrounding developments will have several food and beverage options. Social Capital just opened on the west side of the park and more dining options are close behind. The Omni Oklahoma City hotel will include seven food and beverage destinations.
OKLAHOMA CITY
CONVENTION CENTER
With the adjoining Omni Oklahoma City hotel (read more below), the convention center will meet many of the demands of today’s conventions and the diverse needs of their attendees. The convention center will potentially increase the Omni hotel's demand by more than 25 percent in the two years after it is built.
This will create a great demand for a full-service hotel, with amenities that will promote the overall convention experience. Also, we must keep in mind that the overall Oklahoma City experience for convention attendees will hinge on their visit to the convention center and their stay in a downtown hotel.
This hotel will take on a large part of these demands, and will directly affect how Oklahoma City captures the convention market. Conventions and conferences typically do not want to spread their attendees across several hotels. Keeping them on or near the premises means more people visiting the convention space and attending sessions and meetings.
OMNI HOTEL
The beautiful 605-room Omni Oklahoma City hotel opened in early 2021. The increased room capacity will bring thousands of people who will add new dollars to our economy through lodging, food, entertainment and shopping. Omni’s unique designs, known luxury brand and commitment to quality customer service are well known. Omni is investing more that $150 million into the total cost of building the hotel. This is one of the largest private investments in Oklahoma, with the hotel assuming the construction and operating risks. Often, after large hotels are built, they are sold to a group of investors who hire a management company to operate the hotel.
The increased room capacity will bring thousands of people who will add new dollars to our economy through lodging, food, entertainment and shopping. The hotel and motel industry in Oklahoma City overall will also see an increase in room demand. In cities where Omni has built a signature hotel such as Nashville and most recently in Louisville, the occupancy rate for other hotels in the area has increased by as much as 30%.
BOULEVARD PLACE
Boulevard Place will be an eight-story, mixed-use development on the southwest corner of Oklahoma City Boulevard and Shields Boulevard. It will feature 241 residential units, including an affordable housing component. The development will also have ground-floor retail space and a day care, important for working families and the growing demand for child care in the urban core. Additionally, the project includes a day care center and a playground, retail and restaurant space, high-end finishes and a multi-level rooftop amenity deck with a pool. This project will transform that corner, which is the gateway to downtown from the Boulevard.
This is one piece of the other transformational projects in the downtown core. Scroll down to read more about projects in the Oklahoma City downtown core including the Omni Hotel, the convention center, and Scissortail park.