Information: Proposed Entertainment District

UPDATE, 6/6/24: A press event, organized through the University of Oklahoma, was hosted on campus on 6/5/24 and served to give a general update on the plan. Access a copy of the event press release here.

 

UPDATE, 5/24/24: A University North Park Entertainment District Project Statutory Review Committee meeting was held 5/23/24 and the committee unanimously approved (voted for adoption) Item #3 on the agenda: "Consideration and possible adoption, rejection, and/or amendment of a resolution making statutory finds and a recommendation for the Rock Creek Entertainment District Project Plan and related increment districts to the Norman City Council." The plan is now expected to appear before the Norman Planning Commission in June 2024.

 

UPDATE, 5/17/24: A University North Park Entertainment District Project Statutory Review Committee meeting was held 5/16/24. Materials distributed or discussed included the following:

  • Meeting Packet, 5/16/24
    • GENERAL DESCRIPTION & Information of Project, as seen on page 9 of the 5/16/24 packet: 

      "The Rock Creek Entertainment District Project Plan is a project plan as defined under the Oklahoma Local Development Act, 62 O.S. § 850, et seq. (“Act”), and is referred to here as the “Project Plan.” The Project is being undertaken by the City of Norman, Oklahoma (“City”) to develop an area of town that has remained largely undeveloped. By developing the property with uses including office, retail, hotel, and residential, anchored by a multi-purpose arena and public plaza (“Project”), the City’s hope is to incentivize private investment in this area of the City, which abuts Interstate 35. The development will help achieve some of the City’s development objectives, improve the quality of life for its citizens, stimulate private investment, and enhance the tax base. The Project includes the development of a multipurpose arena to be used by the University Oklahoma basketball and gymnastics teams and as the venue for high school and other sports activities as well as concerts and other performances. The development also includes commercial and retail uses with restaurants and bars and a public festival plaza street, a public parking garage, as well as over 1000 residential units.

      In 2006, the City approved a project plan and created an increment district for an area that includes the property where the Project is contemplated, as well as property immediately to the south (respectively, “Original UNP Project Plan” and “Original UNP Project” or “TIF No. 2”). The Original UNP Project resulted in a large retail development, one that generates more visits than any other retail center in central Oklahoma and $13,400,000 in estimated annual sales tax revenue. Certain components of the Original UNP Project were left unrealized. In 2018, the City explored an amendment to the Original UNP Project to provide public financial assistance towards an arena and entertainment district. That amendment did not move forward; the proposal was tabled. At that time, the City, by approval of Ordinance O-1920-24, also terminated the apportionment of new incremental tax revenues for TIF No. 2, which was created in the adoption of the Original UNP Project Plan and amended the authorized projects for which incremental tax revenues could be used.

      The opportunity for an arena and entertainment district has presented itself again, along with significant residential development. The City is positioned to pursue its development objectives, capitalize on the retail development immediately adjacent, and complete the development of the area through the approval and implementation of the Project. This Project Plan is a critical element in fostering public-private partnerships to make the Project happen and can be achieved by means of the financing tools available under the Act, including the establishment of an increment district. An increment district provides funding for public sector costs to stimulate the development and provide public improvements to the area. The Project will be financed from a combination of public and private sources.

      The Project Area is the area in which Project activities will take place and Project expenditures may be made and can be generally described as the area between Interstate 35 on the west, the western edge of the Westheimer Airport on the east, Tecumseh Road on the north, and just south of Rock Creek Road on the south."

  • 5/16/24 Review Committee Role Presentation

 

UPDATE, 5/14/24: A University North Park Entertainment District Project Statutory Review Committee Meeting was held 5/13/24. Additional materials were made available for review and discussion:

 

UPDATE, 5/9/24: The applicant has requested a continuance of items 6 & 7 of the 5/9/24 Norman Planning Commission Meeting to the 6/13/24 Planning Commission meeting.

 

UPDATE, 4/25/24: The University North Park Entertainment District Project Statutory Review Committee held a meeting on 4/25/24. An Entertainment District presentation given at the meeting can be reviewed here.

RELEVANT REPORTS

 

POSTED 4/5/24: A Special Meeting of the University North Park (UNP) Entertainment District Project Statutory Review Committee was held at 10:30 a.m. at City Hall on 4/5/24 as an immediate next step regarding a newly proposed Entertainment District in Norman. Ideas regarding this Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district were first unveiled at a major community event in September 2023 led collaboratively by Team Norman. In November 2023, Norman City Council approved Resolution 2324-89. See an overview presentation regarding implementing a TIF District as given at a City Council Conference here (beginning at :33).

The agenda on 4/5/24 included an item for three At-Large Members to the UNP Entertainment District Statutory Review Committee to be considered and approved. These members included: Shelley Cox, Chuck Thompson and Dr. Vytautas Ringus.

In weeks to come, it is expected that a detailed plan regarding the district will go back to the review committee and then to the UNP TIF Oversight Committee. With continued forward movement, the plan would go to the City of Norman Planning Commission, undergo two public hearings, and then be voted upon by Norman City Council. Interested parties can frequent the City of Norman Meeting Calendar at Normanok.gov to view applicable agendas as posted and follow movement on this matter.

Access information on City of Norman boards, committees and commissions by clicking here. Access general information about how TIF Districts work, as communicated by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, here.

View a 2018 sentiment survey regarding UNP TIF District creation, as provided from the Norman Economic Development Coalition by clicking here.

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