BRICKTOWN TOWER?
In Bricktown near the ballpark,
a proposed 10-story Cummins Building would replace a small building and parking lot at the southeast corner of Sheridan Avenue and
Mickey Mantle Drive.
Acorner of Bricktown home to a familyrun business for the past three decades is set to be developed into a 10-story office building that will include groundfloor and roof-top restaurants.
Unlike other properties in Bricktown, 202 E Sheridan Ave. has not had any inflated sale flips that usually make such developments challenging in the entertainment district. Andrew Cummins bought the corner in 1978, two years before Neal Horton began redeveloping the area and rechristened it as Bricktown.
Cummins operated his business enterprises and paid parking at the corner until he died in April. His family, with experience in real estate and development, is now preparing to add to Bricktown’s latest burst of development.
“It’s a real deal,” son Clark Cummins said. “We’ve been in Oklahoma since it was Oklahoma territory. We’ve been through these oil cycles. We’re not naive to not realize this deal is easier at $50 a barrel and north where it’s not doable at $25.”
Cummins said planning is at “the first phase,” with architects Larry Blackledge and Chrisshell Ricard of Blackledge & Associates making a presentation Wednesday to the Bricktown Urban Design Committee.
“We’ve put a lot of thought and planning into what the footprint would look like,” Cummins said. “Our order to Mr. Blackledge was this corner in Bricktown needs to be what they’re looking for — no stucco.”
Cummins said equity and financing is in place for the project with a
requirement that a percentage of the space be pre-leased before construction can start. Cummins said leasing interest is strong with some “big companies” looking at leasing the entire building.
Such infill development follows efforts by developers Andy Burnett, Zach Martin, and others who say the entertainment district has too many surface parking lots that detract from the district’s vibrancy. Burnett said he is eager to see the project proceed, noting the Rock Island Plow building is set to open this fall as office and restaurant space after being boarded up for more than 40 years.
Burnett’s own Mideke Building, redeveloped with Martin and Jeff Johnson, is set to open fully leased to Tapstone Energy and All About Cha coffee and tea house.
“The office market in Bricktown is quite strong,” Burnett said. “Currently, occupancy is over 95 percent. Bringing the Plow building online and this one will reveal the depth of the office market in Bricktown. I’m optimistic that even in the face of lower oil prices, the Bricktown office market will be fine.”
Burnett added the district is undergoing a rapid transformation with development on the east side with the Steelyard apartments, hotels, restaurants and retail, and the Criterion Music Hall.
“Bricktown is evolving, and that evolution is beginning to pick up pace,” Burnett said. “With the Plow, this tower, the Steelyard and other new developments, you’re seeing Bricktown become a more diverse 24/7 community with offices, housing, bars and restaurants.”