New RFPs issued for 3 properties in OKC

The Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority recently issued three new requests for proposal for development of empty land that will have a significant impact on the continued development of Oklahoma City. The proposal process is an important way to attract the types of intentional development that will enhance the economic development of the entire city.

Two of the RFPs are for land located in the John F. Kennedy Urban Renewal Project Area and proposals are due by Oct. 14. The first site is a vacant 1.9-acre tract of land located near 16th and Martin Luther King. We are seeking proposals for mixed-use or commercial redevelopment that will contribute to the continued efforts to revitalize the JFK project area and surrounding Culbertson’s East Highland neighborhood, positively enhance surrounding property and street life and include mixed-income housing with residential opportunities accessible to a range of household incomes.

The second site is approximately a half-acre of land, located on the southeast corner of NE 23rd and Prospect. Its location along the NE 23rd Street commercial corridor is noteworthy, since there is strong interest in opportunities for private and nonprofit investment and public/private partnerships. Approximately three blocks to the east is EastPoint, an approximately 41,000 square feet of office and retail space currently occupied by health services, offices, restaurants and a market.

Both sites, located in a TIF district, represent a tremendous market opportunity given their close proximity to our regional highway network, the Innovation District, the Oklahoma Health Center, OSU Discovery – a research, development and education facility with partnership between Baker Hughes and Oklahoma State University – the city’s central business district and the state Capitol.

Finally, the Oklahoma Industries Authority acquired and combined adjacent vacant lots into a 577-acre site at I-240 and Eastern. The site has many advantages; located immediately south of I-240 and just 1 mile from I-35, its sheer size will attract industrial businesses looking for a very large site. An empty field now, it can be developed into any configuration of warehouse, loading docks, storage, office or lab space and parking. Its proximity to Tinker Air Force Base, only 4 miles away, would be attractive to aerospace, defense and engineering businesses.

We look forward to proposals for these transformational projects across our city.