Tulsa, Oklahoma’s ongoing transformation into the premier cultural capital of the southern Midwest region may about to get a useful new addition as local news outlets are reporting that Palm Spring-based architect Chris Pardo will design a $51 million mixed-use development located on a blacktop space in the city’s burgeoning Arts District.

“We really do specialize in urban-core redevelopment projects,” a spokesperson for developer Pivot Project recently told the Tulsa World newspaper. “We saw this opportunity for this site right in the middle of the Arts District. … We like to try to effect positive change on the buildings that we renovate, the blocks that we develop on, the neighborhoods we develop in. This site just fit right in our core values as a company.”

Tulsa is in the process of redefining its historic downtown area with a host of major arts and cultural projects that includes a wonderful forthcoming expansion of the Gilcrease Museum, new Greenwood Rising history center from Selser Schaefer, and a renovation of the Greenwood Cultural Center led by Moody Nolan. 

Under the monicker ARRIVE Tulsa, the program will feature a new four-star hotel, apartment complex, and new car park structure. A total of 20,000-square-feet of new retail space is said to be included as well. The 88 multifamily apartment units will be placed above the garage podium, with retail space between the garage and the proposed 90-room hotel. 

“Multifamily also makes sense in this district. People want to live here. And it was really important to anchor all three sides of the site with ground-floor retail to activate the street,” Prado said of the project's scope and intention. “We really wanted to bring a really vibrant mix to what is a crucial intersection of the district. We believe a small boutique hotel made sense right there, as well, especially with the Cain’s (Ballroom) close and the OKPOP museum opening up.”