Plans for Midtown tower are axed
A pair of aspiring Midtown developers have scrapped plans for an eight-story condo tower and recently submitted to the city plans that show a Spanish style three-story apartment complex taking its place.
Developers Grant Willoughby and John Ridley first announced plans for developing the vacant land at 1305 Classen Drive in 2019 after purchasing it the prior year. At the time they unveiled the project they indicated it was financed.
The modern tower was approved by the Downtown Design Review Committee over objections by developer Marva Ellard who argued it would be detrimental to her restoration of the Villa Teresa campus into
apartments and a hotel. That approval expired on March 21.
Willoughby and Ridley did not return calls and emails from The Oklahoman.
But their application to the Downtown Design Review Committee, to be presented next week, reports they’ve switched from architect Rand Elliott to architect Sam Gresham.
When designs were first unveiled by developers Willoughby and Ridley, they said they tried to be sensitive to Villa Teresa. Elliott said he designed the 41-condominium tower so that a modern, glass façade faced the downtown skyline, while a more traditional brick façade faced the neighborhood, including Villa Teresa.
The project also had a garage that fronted much of Classen Drive within view of a boutique hotel planned in the main former convent buildings at Villa Teresa.
The new designs do not include a garage but instead propose covered parking and angled spaces along Classen Drive. The project calls for 27 apartments built in two- and threestory complexes with a fountain and covered patio in the heart of the development.
The look of the complex resembles a handful of structures in Midtown and adjoining Heritage Hills.
The 32,000-square-foot townhomes will have a stucco façade with rustic heavy timber details, balconies and clay tile roofs.
Staff writer Steve Lackmeyer is a 31year reporter, columnist and author who covers downtown Oklahoma City, related urban development and economics for The Oklahoman. Contact him at slackmeyer@oklahoman.com. Please support his work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.