Drive along Interstate 40 through downtown Oklahoma City, and you’ll be hard-pressed not to see the giant ferris wheel looming south of the interstate off of Western Ave.
The Wheeler Park is nearby, and just south of the ferris wheel is a new community that is designed to be thoughtfully planned, walkable, a mix of residential and commercial and one of the hottest new neighborhoods in Oklahoma City.
Construction in Wheeler District began in 2017 after the old Oklahoma City Downtown Airpark was bought out of foreclosure in 2006. In the decade between the two events, a dream was being created. When the Ferris wheel was purchased and installed on July 4, 2016, near Wheeler Park, the excitement started to build for areas south of the Oklahoma River.
In 2014, a public charrette was held to find out what people were seeking from a new urban
neighborhood.
“We just invited people. Hey, why don't you come south of the river to the former downtown airpark and check out this place and we're planning to build this community,” said Ashley Terry, vice president of development at Wheeler District.
“We broke ground in late 2017 and started building houses in 2018 and had our first residents move in April of 2019. We're just actively building out phase one.”
With 150 acres to work with, the developers of the Wheeler District have a community plan in mind that includes small-lot, modern housing, walkable communities, restaurants, retail and more. Phase One covers 14 acres and Phase Two will be 22 acres.
Phase One is almost complete, with more than 50 homes under construction or occupied. Once the project is complete, there will be 600+ homes spread across 10 phases of development.
Homes range in size and price point. Sizes range from 670 square feet to more than 2,900 square feet.
“Going back to 2014 as we got input from the community about what they wanted to see, we had people referencing brownstones in Chicago and New York City,” said Terry.
“They loved kind of some of the denser development they might've seen in Denver or Austin. It really became apparent though that people who lived in Oklahoma City wanted to see that type of development happening in their own city. All of the homes are geothermal as well.”
In addition to the “brownstone” type of homes, the Wheeler District continues to receive interest from businesses large and small. The Big Friendly Brewery & Taproom and historic airpark terminal, which is restored to an all-day café, are among some of the businesses that will anchor the community.
The result is a unique site directly adjacent to Downtown Oklahoma City, with direct auto access to I-40 and direct pedestrian and bike access to the Oklahoma River Trail network. The site boasts spectacular views of the skyline and is envisioned as new urban village, growing over time that takes advantage of the long-range planning and history of Oklahoma City. Ultimately, the final shape and size of Wheeler will depend on the proprietors, neighbors, and partners who bring the vision to life.
In addition, the Western Gateway Elementary School will be located at Southwest 15th Street and South Douglas Avenue and is set to open August 2021. The school will serve 380 students in south Oklahoma City, pre-K through fourth grade, and will serve Spanish-language dominant and non-Spanish language-dominant students.
The school will provide a dual-immersion program for students, giving them the opportunity to read and write in their native language while gaining bilingual capabilities in the secondary language.
For more information, visit wheelerdistrict.com.