It's well known that plans are underway for a mall at I-35 and Covell in Edmond. A major upscale mall. It just seems that there's never a lot of information about the project. This is the most detailed article I have found about this project so far.
This project would be incredible for the city of Edmond. It would bring in tax dollars, improve quality of life, and probably bring new upscale retailers to the metro. So with all those positives, we can all bet that Edmond residents will hate the idea of the mall.
Covell rising
OKCBusiness Staff
7/24/2006
There are lifestyle malls in Oklahoma City and Tulsa.
Think bigger.
There are upscale multi-use projects like the one underway in Norman.
Think better.
For As One Group Chief Executive Officer Mike Galiga and his investors, their current development of some 300 acres situated at Interstate 35 and Covell Road promises to be unlike anything this state has ever seen.
With little information, the project has only grown larger by word of mouth. In his first public interview, Galiga did confirm rumors that developers are in discussions with a major multiplex theater group.
Galiga all but stopped short of naming several high-end national retailers that are in negotiations for spots in the development.
As One Group’s expertise is in anchor tenant commercial property development. The company boasts it is responsible for some 5 million square feet of gross leasable area since 2004.
The As One Group’s Web site lists Lowe’s and a grocer as being likely anchors in the project as well as a firm contract with Walgreen’s for a corner lot. The project should provide some 400,000 square feet of gross leasable area, along with some 150 apartments, 150 homes as well as mixed office and medical space.
For the past year, Galiga and partner Harry Birdwell, have played their cards very close to the vest. Zoning issues have dominated much of their time on the project but a recent 5-0 vote helped greenlight the project with multiple “E” designations – the most desirable for planned retail and office development – all the way down to residential.
“It’s now only a very, very, very large project but it’s a high-quality project,” Galiga said. “I think it will be the nicest in Oklahoma.”
National retail stores are expected to anchor the development, which will spur a widening of Covell Road to four lanes and likely a tax increment financing district before anything comes out of the ground in the spring or fall of 2009.
“If you’re a real estate developer and have done this for 20 years, it won’t be surprising. It’s very logical,” Galiga said. “If you don’t do this for a living, it will be a nice surprise” – one that will draw people from all four corners of the state, according to Birdwell.
Before his career as athletics director at Oklahoma State University, Birdwell served as the executive director of the Edmond Chamber. He helped the city plan for the position it’s in now.
“I think everybody over time has really expected Edmond to be a growth community,” he says. “It’s high-quality growth. I think for the most part the community has followed that plan.”
Galiga said the time has come.
“It’s time,” said Galiga, an Edmond resident. “We have the incomes, we have the people and the desire for this type of project. I think it’s inevitable there will be high quality developments in this community.”
Edmond Mayor Saundra Naifeh said she hasn’t had a full presentation on the specifics of the project but likes the overall concept of a multi-use development that combines upscale retail, impeccable landscaping and an overall quality-of-life concept.
“I think the whole central area is on many people’s radar,” Naifeh said. “I think our economic development authority gets many, many hits per day from people that have heard great things about the state and the central part of the state. I think we stand out as the pivotal place that has a good education system, a good quality of life and we’re probably more innovative than other places so it makes us recognizable faster.”
Galiga and Birdwell both blush at the question of whether a convention center might be situated in a center that will include high-end retail and hopefully a full-service hotel.
“We would hope this is one of the sites the city of Edmond would consider,” Galiga said.
Birdwell estimates “thousands” of jobs will be created by this venture.
“A project of this magnitude will generate considerable economic activity from not only construction but in the long haul will bring revenue and tax dollars to the Edmond area as well as generate living opportunities and shopping opportunities that do not exist in Edmond.
“This will be a magnet around which other developments will occur. This will be a stimulus for tremendous growth.”
The As One Group also has developments underway at 2nd Street and I-35 in Edmond, Broadway Extension and NW 122 Street, Czech Hall Road and I-40, as well as others in Texas, Montana and Arizona.
This project would be incredible for the city of Edmond. It would bring in tax dollars, improve quality of life, and probably bring new upscale retailers to the metro. So with all those positives, we can all bet that Edmond residents will hate the idea of the mall.
Covell rising
OKCBusiness Staff
7/24/2006
There are lifestyle malls in Oklahoma City and Tulsa.
Think bigger.
There are upscale multi-use projects like the one underway in Norman.
Think better.
For As One Group Chief Executive Officer Mike Galiga and his investors, their current development of some 300 acres situated at Interstate 35 and Covell Road promises to be unlike anything this state has ever seen.
With little information, the project has only grown larger by word of mouth. In his first public interview, Galiga did confirm rumors that developers are in discussions with a major multiplex theater group.
Galiga all but stopped short of naming several high-end national retailers that are in negotiations for spots in the development.
As One Group’s expertise is in anchor tenant commercial property development. The company boasts it is responsible for some 5 million square feet of gross leasable area since 2004.
The As One Group’s Web site lists Lowe’s and a grocer as being likely anchors in the project as well as a firm contract with Walgreen’s for a corner lot. The project should provide some 400,000 square feet of gross leasable area, along with some 150 apartments, 150 homes as well as mixed office and medical space.
For the past year, Galiga and partner Harry Birdwell, have played their cards very close to the vest. Zoning issues have dominated much of their time on the project but a recent 5-0 vote helped greenlight the project with multiple “E” designations – the most desirable for planned retail and office development – all the way down to residential.
“It’s now only a very, very, very large project but it’s a high-quality project,” Galiga said. “I think it will be the nicest in Oklahoma.”
National retail stores are expected to anchor the development, which will spur a widening of Covell Road to four lanes and likely a tax increment financing district before anything comes out of the ground in the spring or fall of 2009.
“If you’re a real estate developer and have done this for 20 years, it won’t be surprising. It’s very logical,” Galiga said. “If you don’t do this for a living, it will be a nice surprise” – one that will draw people from all four corners of the state, according to Birdwell.
Before his career as athletics director at Oklahoma State University, Birdwell served as the executive director of the Edmond Chamber. He helped the city plan for the position it’s in now.
“I think everybody over time has really expected Edmond to be a growth community,” he says. “It’s high-quality growth. I think for the most part the community has followed that plan.”
Galiga said the time has come.
“It’s time,” said Galiga, an Edmond resident. “We have the incomes, we have the people and the desire for this type of project. I think it’s inevitable there will be high quality developments in this community.”
Edmond Mayor Saundra Naifeh said she hasn’t had a full presentation on the specifics of the project but likes the overall concept of a multi-use development that combines upscale retail, impeccable landscaping and an overall quality-of-life concept.
“I think the whole central area is on many people’s radar,” Naifeh said. “I think our economic development authority gets many, many hits per day from people that have heard great things about the state and the central part of the state. I think we stand out as the pivotal place that has a good education system, a good quality of life and we’re probably more innovative than other places so it makes us recognizable faster.”
Galiga and Birdwell both blush at the question of whether a convention center might be situated in a center that will include high-end retail and hopefully a full-service hotel.
“We would hope this is one of the sites the city of Edmond would consider,” Galiga said.
Birdwell estimates “thousands” of jobs will be created by this venture.
“A project of this magnitude will generate considerable economic activity from not only construction but in the long haul will bring revenue and tax dollars to the Edmond area as well as generate living opportunities and shopping opportunities that do not exist in Edmond.
“This will be a magnet around which other developments will occur. This will be a stimulus for tremendous growth.”
The As One Group also has developments underway at 2nd Street and I-35 in Edmond, Broadway Extension and NW 122 Street, Czech Hall Road and I-40, as well as others in Texas, Montana and Arizona.