OSU-Tulsa Releases Plans To Develop Campus, Community

Monday, October 12th 2015, 11:13 pm

By: News On 6

There is rising interest in more than 14 acres of empty land just north of the IDL in Tulsa, and OSU-Tulsa just released its hopes for the property to developers.

The university wants to see a little bit of everything out there, and not just for OSU students, but for the community.

The request for proposals just went out to prospective commercial developers, and they have until November 10th to submit their ideas for what to do.

The land is owned by a city trust that supports OSU, and it is ready to hand it over to the best applicant with the best ideas.

After years of discussion, OSU Tulsa President, Howard Barnett, said they are finally getting serious about their plan.

One component is a new technology facility which would allow private sector companies to work with OSU researchers in more of a lab and testing environment.

“To be able to have this, sort of related facility for the private sector will help us get the most out of the research in that building that taxpayers already built,” Barnett said.

But, it’s the rest of the project that could turn the space into a community of its own - with apartments, restaurants, hotels, coffee shops and a focus on more developmental opportunities outside of the IDL.

“We've been saying for many years, if we describe downtown as inside the IDL, it ought to be as broad as it can be. My one liner is that the IDL is a road, not a wall," Barnett said.

Jeremy Grodhaus lives in Brady Heights - the neighborhood sitting right next to all of the land.

“To see development move this direction is fantastic. It is fantastic for north Tulsa, and I hope this focuses a little more attention on other developments in north Tulsa that I think are needed," he said.

Some re-zoning will be required, and the Salvation Army building would be relocated, but the goal right now is to pick the developer and get to work.

"Commercial development can go forward on whatever timeline developers say. If they say they're ready to go, we’re ready to go," Barnett said.

So now we wait to see what kind of ideas they come up with on land that has sat empty for so long and could serve as a catalyst for an unlimited amount of development outside of downtown.

“We need to jump the IDL,” Barnett said. “Once it is jumped, you will see more and more development projects."

OSU is asking for $15 million for the technology center through the extension of Vision 2025, along with donations or possible bonds.

The commercial component will all be paid for by the commercial developers and not a cent of taxpayer money.