Neighborhoods of Oklahoma City - Downtown

Downtown

Downtown Oklahoma City itself is currently undergoing a renaissance, one of the largest in the nation. Between the mid-1980s and 1990s, downtown was unchanged and largely vacant. It was the scene of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building on 5th Street between Robinson and Harvey Avenues, caused by convicted domestic terrorist Timothy McVeigh; most buildings within a 1-mile (1.6 km) radius were structurally damaged by the explosion, including the old Journal Record Building (now home to the National Memorial museum). Many other buildings, such as the unique international style YMCA building, supposedly one of few remaining in the United States were damaged or destroyed.

White flight during the 1950s and 1960s left much of the inner city abandoned. During the Urban Renewal days of the early 1980s, controversial urban planning allowed for the destruction of almost 50 historic buildings and skyscrapers. Examples include the Biltmore Hotel, which was imploded to make way for the I. M. Pei-designed Myriad Botanical Gardens, the only major Urban Renewal project completed as planned. Many of the buildings which were not destroyed in the Central Business District were covered by new façades or left to Class-C office space. The removal of historic structures left downtown without much retail presence.

In stark contrast to the promise of Urban Renewal, Downtown had not seen a new skyscraper or any sort of major construction project for many years. The last major skyscraper built downtown was the First Oklahoma Tower in 1982 and the Leadership Square complex built in 1984. Leadership Square was originally intended to be a single 60+ floor skyscraper but was later scaled down to two connected towers due to economic downturn.

Downtown and surrounding areas such as Bricktown and Midtown have seen a significant revival in the wake of the MAPS program, which created new venues and attractions in the downtown area. Today, as Downtown and the Central Business District continue in their economic revival, there are numerous condo and apartment developments being built around downtown, along with older buildings that are being converted into apartments and hotels. Leading this charge is the renovation of the historic Skirvin Hotel, where numerous presidents and dignitaries have stayed. The historic Colcord Building, Oklahoma City's first skyscraper, was also converted from office space to a boutique hotel in 2006.

Devon Energy, currently occupying space in 5 separate downtown buildings, revealed plans in August 2008 for a new 1,900,000-square-foot (180,000 m2), 925-foot (282 m)-tall skyscraper at the corner of Sheridan and Hudson, a space originally planned for a "Galleria" mall under the Pei urban renewal plan. The building is expected to bring new life to the west side of downtown, which has seen less growth compared to Bricktown on the eastern edge and Midtown to the north.

Other development projects include:

• $100 million in proposed improvements to the Ford Center were approved by voters in March, 2008. The improvements will allow for offices and new locker rooms for OKC's new NBA team, new restaurants and bars, rooftop terraces, a new grand entrance, and a family fun center.
• Block 42 is a high-end condominium project offering luxury condos with a modern, urban aesthetic. The project was completed summer 2008.
• The Hill is a project with almost 200 town homes being built on a hill overlooking the Deep Deuce district and Bricktown. The project is currently under construction.
• The Triangle (encompassing the Flatiron District and some of Deep Deuce) is a project by TAP Architecture that will include 700 loft units, office and retail space.
• The Central Avenue Villas which has 30 loft units.
• A new Hampton Inn and Suites in Bricktown.

The area due south of the Ford Center is anticipated to become OKC's latest downtown district once the long overdue move of the I-40 Crosstown bridge takes place by 2011. The master plan for the "Core to Shore" area shows a boulevard running through downtown - where the current alignment of the Crosstown bridge is today, as well as a large new city park stretching from the Myriad Botanical Gardens down to the Oklahoma River. It is also assumed that the Central Business District would be extended south, and new highrise construction will take place there.