Tallest Building in America Gains Planning Commission Approval

Sign up for our free newsletters, created for the culture by the culture!

• The Block A weekly roundup of Greenwood, Tulsa and Oklahoma news.
• The Daily Holler Local, state and national news in your inbox Monday through Friday.

Sign up

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla.– On April 11, the city Planning Commission heard from developers of AO Architecture firm about their latest project. Stretching up to 1,907 feet into the sky, the Boardwalk at Bricktown seeks to be the tallest building in America. 

Located between the Paycom Center and the Dodgers Stadium, developers hope to create an activity hub in one of America’s most rapidly growing economies. 

Presently, the tallest building in America is the One World Trade Center in New York. If AO gets the green light, OKC’s skyscraper with surpass NYC by 131 feet.

The project would consist of four main buildings and occupy just under 4 acres. Moreover, the massive tower, combined with its smaller counterparts, will offer 2 million square feet of mixed-use development. Currently, they have set aside space for residential and hotel services, entertainment, restaurants, and retail. 

The tallest building, the Legend Tower, would have upwards of 1,000 apartments and several hundred hotel rooms. Two of the smaller buildings, Emerald and Ruby, are to be used as residential housing. Finally, the Dream Tower will offer hotel space and condominiums. A retail center will lie at the base of all four towers. 

Parking garages are to be included in the construction of all four main buildings. Those who travel to the complex for shopping and dining would have access to 980 below-ground parking spots. Residential and hospitality parking will be above ground. 

If We Build It, Will They Come?

Project construction would be no easy feat and developers expect it to take at least four years to complete. 

Commissioner for Ward 7 Camal Pennington asked AO if it’s a matter of “if you build it, they will come.”

“There was a study done and I think from a hotel standpoint they said you guys were short maybe 3,500 rooms,” said lead architect Rob Budetti. “They do believe there is a demand.”

Related Stories

• Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro Gets Wi-Fi Service For Climbers
• Video game industry needs a reset for Black developers
• Maryland Black teens facing police brutality won’t take this sh*t anymore
• Biden, Obama, Clinton mark 9/11 in NYC with display of unity
• PartnerTulsa addresses community at tense Greenwood meeting

One aspect of the proposal that has residents on edge is the intention of placing LED billboards on the side of the Legend Tower. Reminiscent of New York City’s Times Square, these large electronic signs would add significant light to the OKC skyline. Thursday’s meeting saw heavy debate of the topic. 

Citizens Voice Concerns

“Over in Del City, I currently can’t see the Devon tower,” said Michael Dean during public comment. “I am definitely going to be able to see this building from my backyard.” He goes on to say that residents would need blackout curtains to escape the light pollution. “Out on Lake Draper at night, [there’s] going to be orange and blue flashing through.”

Another OKC local, Cynthia Ciancarelli spoke during the public comment portion calling the city a playground for investors. “My question is why do they want to build the tallest building in [America]?” She addresses shared concerns that Oklahoma is nestled in Tornado Alley and often sees damaging storms. One of the developers said they are working with a structural engineer to calculate wind forces to ensure the structure can withstand severe weather and seismic events. 

Ciancarelli is also concerned that having a nearly 2,000-foot tower would be an easy target for a terrorist attack. “With the prestigious Legend Tower, aren’t we just daring someone to do something?”

Affordable Housing

Like many populated urban areas in 2024, affordable housing is few and far between. A 2021 study by the city found that 42% of renter households are housing cost-burdened. Almost half of OKC renters spend 30% or more of their monthly income on housing costs. Additionally, more than 1,400 people in OKC experience homelessness. 

The Boardwalk at Bricktown proposal promises to set aside 48 affordable housing units. However, at Thursday’s meeting, developers did not attach a price tag to the prospective apartment units. 

Newer apartment complexes continue to pop up in desirable areas across the city. Finding tenets to fill these new additions isn’t always as easy as developers hope. In 2023, the rate of unoccupied units nationwide stood around 6%. At the same time in OKC, 9.4% of rental homes were unoccupied. 

Currently, the Devon Tower is the tallest building to call OKC home. Since 2020, it has lost over $87 million of its value. Unlike the Boardwalk at Bricktown, the Devon Tower is strictly commercial use aside from Vast restaurant located on the upper floors. 

The planning commission passed the Boardwalk proposal but asked AO to reconsider the size of the LED billboards. To obtain full confirmation the city council also has to approve the project. The council is expected to vote on the matter sometime in May.