Community Meeting Planned for I-40 Realignment Area – Core to Shore

(November 20, 2006) – Citizens are invited to provide input on the future of a 590-acre area impacted by the realignment of Interstate 40, south of downtown Oklahoma City. The area stretches from the core of downtown Oklahoma City to the shore of the Oklahoma River.

A community meeting will be held at 6 p.m. December 13 on the second floor of the Cox Business Services Convention Center in Downtown Oklahoma City.

The first phase of the Core to Shore plan focuses on the planning of a three-quarter mile long, world-class boulevard, stretching from about Oklahoma Avenue to Walker Avenue. The boulevard will function both as a pristine gateway into downtown and an economic catalyst for Oklahoma City.

With the development of the gateway comes a host of public and private sector opportunities to invest in downtown housing, parks, tourist attractions and new businesses.

Construction of the boulevard will take about 18 months and is targeted to start in 2009.

“Everyone’s ideas play an important role in crafting the Core to Shore vision,” said Mayor Mick Cornett. “Redevelopment of the area will provide new ways for all citizens to further enjoy Oklahoma City.”

The meeting will focus on the area from Reno to South 10th and much of the area east and west between Interstate 235 and Shartel. A major aspect is the planning of a world-class Boulevard, hoped to be a venue for more major economic development and provide an attractive gateway into downtown. The boulevard will extend from Walker to Oklahoma, where the current Interstate 40 will be brought to grade.

Project manager Russell Claus said, “Oklahoma City has matured tremendously as a city in the last ten years. We now have the opportunity, through appropriate high-quality redevelopment between the downtown core and the Oklahoma River, to elevate Oklahoma City to the next level. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and the potential economic and quality of life benefits for all City residents are enormous.”

A second public meeting will be held in the early spring.

The estimated completion date for the I-40 realignment is the fall of 2008.

Next summer, the City will consider the future of an additional 785-acres from Agnew to Interstate 235 and from the Oklahoma River to the current Interstate 40.

A steering committee made up of 35 stakeholders and community leaders have been meeting monthly since October to discuss their vision for the area.

For more information, go to www.okc.gov or email ideas to coretoshore@okc.gov.