A project planned for Bricktown in Oklahoma City has drawn worldwide attention, thanks to the promised inclusion of what would be the tallest skyscraper in the United States.
The four-tower development, the Boardwalk at Bricktown, was briefly mentioned in Greater Oklahoma City Chamber Chair Teresa Rose’s opening remarks at the State of the City, as she touted what a future in Oklahoma City could look like. Construction on the first phase — consisting of two apartment towers sitting atop a parking and retail podium, and a 22-story Hyatt Dream Hotel — could begin later this year, developer Scot Matteson told The Oklahoman.
However, it’s the planned second phase that has attracted the excitement: Legends Tower, a 1,907-foot-tall skyscraper that would be the tallest building in the nation. There has been plenty of skepticism on whether or not the tower will actually be built, along with criticism from the Federal Aviation Administration, but Matteson said he is “working through the issues” to mitigate concerns about the building’s height.
But, Matteson also said there has been talk about “doing more” and expanding the project.
“There’s more to come, that’s all I can say,” Matteson told The Oklahoman Thursday.
What is Legends Tower?
If built as planned, the 1,907-foot-tall Legends Tower would be the fourth tower at the Boardwalk at Bricktown, and the tallest in the country, surpassing the One World Trade Center’s 1,776 feet.
First announced in 2023, the tower would consist of apartments and a hotel.
Is Legends Tower still being built in OKC?
Matteson has yet to file building permits with the city, but he told The Oklahoman at the end of 2024 that the project is fully financed. He confirmed Thursday that all financial commitments have been signed.
As for permits, he said he has received the disturbance permit which is the first step towards building the underground parking garage and installing utilities.
Matteson said there are a few more conditions he needs to satisfy before being ready to apply for building permits, such as completing a parking study, but he said he still plans to begin construction later this year.
Will Legends Tower pose an air hazard?
Boardwalk at Bricktown. Provided by AO Architecture
Despite the excitement from many about the prospect of the tower, others have expressed concerns about its safety.
The Federal Aviation Administration opposes the tower’s height, after local airports, pilots and at least one airline warned it would jeopardize flight operations in the area.
Julie Morgan, manager of the FAA’s Obstruction Evaluation Group in Fort Worth, notified Matteson in a Dec. 4, 2024 letter that if the building is built at 1,907 feet high it will be a “hazard to air navigation.”
“The study disclosed that the described structure would have a substantial adverse effect on air navigation,” Morgan wrote. “This determination becomes final on January 13, 2025, unless a petition is timely filed.”
Matteson told The Oklahoman he is “working through the issues” with the FAA and local and state authorities to mitigate concerns. With the tallest tower being part of phase 2, Matteson said “we have time to work through those issues.”
As for the planned height of the tower, Matteson said “we haven’t changed anything, not yet anyway.”
Contributing: Steve Lackmeyer, The Oklahoman
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: What’s going on with OKC Legends Tower? Developer says ‘more to come’