The 1.75 acre tract at 800 S. Broadway may end up being the only real estate not to be acquired by the City of Oklahoma City in what is known as the “East Park” area adjacent to the new MAPS 3 downtown park. The property was sold by the owners of B and B Discount Sales which has now ceased business.
After much deliberation and a failed attempt to acquire another site, East Park was recently selected as the future home for the new convention center. East Park is bounded by the old I-40 (soon to be a new boulevard) to the north, the new I-40 to the south, Shields to the east and Robinson to the west.
The City is attempting to not only acquire land for the convention center and proposed convention hotel, but almost everything else in that immediate area in order to control the type of development. The City uses the Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority (OCURA) for such acquisitions, and has already purchased the property directly west.
The City's efforts almost certainly will spell the end of the plans for two proposed hotels in East Park, a Best Western and a Fairfield Inn.
Mazaheri and Patel have teamed up on other developments and property acquisitions, including the former Bodyworks site in East Bricktown and the former lumberyard directly south of Bricktown.
Patel is a prolific developer of local hotels and led the way towards securing a Canopy by Hilton franchise for the former Bodyworks site.
Maraheri has developed several shopping centers and commercial projects in Oklahoma City, including the Shoppes at McAuley and Shoppes at Quail Springs. He also owns the Power Alley parking structure in Bricktown.
The pair has also acquired a good deal of prime real estate on the west side of the MAPS park. Construction has recently commenced on the massive park and the first phase should be finished by next year.