News

Shall we gather at the River

4.30.2007

An artist's rendering depicts what a planned river development in Jenks might look like.

Thousands of people are drawn to the ambiance of Bricktown each year with its water taxis that drift along a man made canal.

Randy Hogan, president of Stonegate-Hogan, a real estate management and leasing firm, said that magic can happen here, too, with an actual waterway -- the Arkansas River -- helped along to fullness with a low-water dam that is in the works.

"We love what we see. It has massive potential," Hogan said of the 200-acre cow pasture that is now his blank slate. "I think you have a natural setting on the river -- you play off that."

Hogan said he will spend the next 30 to 60 days devising a concept and configuration for the site that will feature mixed-use development with an entertainment twist. A 25-acre lake is also planned.

Office, residential, retail, restaurant and hotel uses will be explored, but there won't be a full-blown amusement park or a discount chain. Hogan said he will try to assemble the best mix of tenants.

"We won't feel like we've done
our job unless we've got a true destination point when it's all said and done," he said.

The site in Jenks' entertainment/tourism district was purchased last year by Lynn Mitchell, Jerry Ledford Jr. and Julius Puma of the River District Development Group LLC.

Mitchell said Hogan's successful Oklahoma City projects that incorporate water were a big selling point, as was the fact that Hogan is a fellow Oklahoman. In fact, Mitchell said, they plan to finance and construct the project locally.

What happened in Bricktown speaks for itself, Jenks Mayor Vic Vreeland said.

"We're very excited to see the person responsible for much of Bricktown come to this area. During the river study and all the public input we had, the one thing we kept hearing was, 'Look at everything they did in Oklahoma City with Bricktown.'

"So here they come."

Mitchell said they may approach Jenks regarding some type of rebate on costs incurred to construct roads and sewer lines, but that the overall project will not be part of any sales tax or bond issue package.

"We won't request to hit the citizens for any type of assistance -- it will be privately financed," Mitchell said.

The property borders the Arkansas River to the east, the Midland Valley Railroad to the west, the Creek Turnpike to the north and the vicinity of 106th Street to the south.

Mitchell said they looked at other sites throughout the Tulsa area, but the tract in Jenks was the largest that was ready for development. In addition, it extends south from other developments -- RiverWalk Crossing and the Oklahoma Aquarium -- which already attract 500,000 visitors a year. It also has great visibility from the Creek Turnpike and access from Aquarium Drive.

Vreeland said the project is very exciting for Jenks and all of Tulsa County.

"This will be something we have not seen in the Tulsa area," the Jenks mayor said. "We think it's just one more piece to the whole puzzle. The (Oklahoma) Aquarium started it all and RiverWalk Crossing and Sharon King Davis' development across the river (King's Landing). The whole area is pretty exciting - it's standing room on ly every night."

Hogan's work in Oklahoma City is wrapping up. The urban lofts in Centennial on the Canal are 90 percent sold and he said he's ready to focus on Tulsa.

"It's perfect timing," he said. "Jenks has been great. Everybody was been real enthusiastic about it."

Tulsa businessman Lynn Mitchell and Oklahoma City developer Randy Hogan stand near 200 acres of land in Jenks that they hope to turn into a mixed-use development with an entertainment twist.

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