Oklahoma City is one step closer to building the country's tallest skyscraper, even though some city officials raised concerns about the building's structure during a planning meeting earlier this week.
Developers are looking to put a 1,907-foot tower dubbed "The Boardwalk at Bricktown" in Oklahoma's capital, which would give the city the sixth tallest building in the world. The current tallest skyscraper in the United States is the One World Trade Center in Manhattan, which reaches 1,776 feet and also holds the title for tallest building in the western hemisphere.
The Oklahoma City Planning Commission recommended at a meeting on Thursday that the city council approve zoning for the structure, but some commissioners raised concerns about the size and scope of the tower—namely, the large LED signage that is proposed to be placed on the development as well.
The project, led by developer Scot Matteson, is set to be built in the Bricktown neighborhood of downtown Oklahoma City and would include three towers in total that span around 5 million square feet.
During public comments on Thursday, Oklahoma City resident Cynthia Ciancarelli raised concerns about the use of electronic signage as is shown on renderings of the project, saying that the billboards "are a bit tacky for Oklahoma City."
"We're not Las Vegas, we're not Times Square," she said, according to The Oklahoman newspaper. "Too much light can trigger those with sensory issues."
Currently, the tallest building in Oklahoma City is the Devon Energy Center, which reaches 50 stories. According to a report by The Oklahoman, renderings of the new building, which is planned to have 134 stories, show some signage that appears to be the same size as the Devon tower.
"I live in Oklahoma City, very close to downtown Oklahoma City," Camal Pennington, the chairman of the city's planning commission, told developers during Thursday's meeting, per The Oklahoman. "I can very clearly see the Devon tower from my porch every day. So, this is very important. What I see right now on signage, I couldn't vote for."
Another planning commissioner reportedly said during the meeting that Oklahoma City is "not New York City or Vegas. At least, not yet, anyway."
The commission ultimately decided to change the language of a zoning request that would have set a maximum on the size of signage allowed on the building. Developers will now have to obtain additional approval from the planning commission and the Oklahoma City council before building signs at the site.
Developers told the City Planning Commission during Thursday's meeting that they plan to start work later this summer on the first two towers—Ruby and Emerald—which will reach 23 stories. In total, they estimate the smaller towers will be built in 24 to 30 months.
The new development will be home to retail, hotel and residential spaces, as well as a parking structure on the ground floor. The tallest structure, the Legends Tower, will include luxury residences, hotel rooms and affordable income apartments. There are also plans to put a public observatory and restaurant at the top of the tower.
Oklahoma City, which is home to nearly 700,000 residents, has several projects coming in the next few years, including a $71 million multipurpose stadium that will be home to high school, collegiate and professional sporting events. That stadium, according to City of Oklahoma City Public Information Director Kristy Yager, is being built near by the site of the 1907 tower.
Residents also voted in December to approve a one percent sales tax for the next six years to help fund a new stadium for the city's NBA team, the Oklahoma City Thunder, which is expected to cost at least $900 million.
Yager told Newsweek in an emailon Friday that Oklahoma City is "used to cranes and construction downtown."
In a January statement about the plans for The Boardwalk at Bricktown, Matteson said Oklahoma City "is experiencing a significant period of growth and transformation, making it well-positioned to support large-scale projects like the one envisioned for Bricktown."
"We believe that this development will be an iconic destination for the city, further driving the expansion and diversification of the growing economy, drawing in investment, new businesses, and jobs," he added.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Kaitlin Lewis is a Newsweek reporter on the Night Team based in Boston, Massachusetts. Her focus is reporting on national ... Read more
To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.
