Oklahoma City Plans to Build Tallest Skyscraper in the US
Oklahoma City has plans to construct a skyscraper that could potentially surpass the height of One World Trade Center in New York City.
Legends Tower: A New Tallest Building in the US
Scot Matteson, a California developer, has announced plans to build a 1,907-foot-tall tower called the Legends Tower in Oklahoma City.
Originally, the tower was planned to be 1,750 feet tall, but Matteson raised the height to 1,907 feet as a tribute to Oklahoma, which became a state in 1907.
If completed, the Legends Tower would surpass One World Trade Center as the tallest building in the US and become the fifth tallest building in the world.
An Iconic Destination for Oklahoma City
Matteson believes that the Legends Tower will be an iconic destination for Oklahoma City and will contribute to the city's economic expansion and diversification.
The tower will be part of the Boardwalk At Bricktown development, which is planned to include residential, retail, and entertainment spaces, along with two Hyatt hotels and a new NBA arena.
The top floors of the tower will feature a public observatory, restaurant, and bar, offering visitors sweeping views of the city.
Doubts and Challenges
Despite the ambitious plans, there are doubts about whether the tower will actually be built in Oklahoma City.
Some critics question the city's ability to support such a tall tower and express concerns about the prevalence of tornadoes in the region.
The developers will also need to navigate the process of obtaining a zoning variance or rezoning for the project, as the current maximum allowed height is 300 feet.
Optimism and Local Support
Despite the challenges, there is local support for the project in Oklahoma City.
The city council has approved $200 million in tax increment financing for the development, showing their enthusiasm for the project.
Local realtors also see the potential of adding nearly 2,000 urban residential housing units to Oklahoma City's housing mix.
