A long-delayed development in downtown Oklahoma City, the Bricktown boardwalk, is finally moving toward construction. The project's developer, Scott Madison, says he believes he can deliver it, and that the first phase is still on track to break ground later this summer. After years of waiting, the plan is now edging closer to becoming a reality on the ground.
The boardwalk has been years in the making, with much of the delay tied to its proposed centerpiece. That centerpiece is the Legends Tower, a skyscraper that was pitched at a striking 1907 feet, a height that would have made it one of the tallest buildings in the country and drew intense attention to the wider project.
That ambition ran into regulatory concerns. A 2024 report from the Federal Aviation Administration called the tower a hazard to air navigation. Madison, however, argues that the development sits outside the zone that the FAA and the airport monitor around the airfield, comparing its position to that of the existing Devon Tower in the city.
According to Madison, the bigger question now may not be the FAA at all, but demand. He notes that the development includes residential units for sale and for rent, along with two hotels that are already committed. The plan, he says, is to see how the market plays out before committing to construction on the tallest element of the project.
For now, the scope of the first phase has been set out in detail. Phase one calls for an underground parking garage, retail and entertainment space, apartments, and a dual-branded Hyatt hotel. Madison describes this initial building as one that stands under 500 feet, a far more modest profile than the headline tower.
Madison is also counting on the changing character of the surrounding area to help sell the project. He points to new developments such as the future Thunder Arena and a planned MAPS soccer stadium as key selling points, arguing that the district is now more of a sports and entertainment hub than it was before and that his buildings could benefit from those synergies.
With phase one slated to break ground later this summer, the focus shifts to execution. Developers have also indicated that the overall project could eventually be rebranded with a new name. For a development whose progress has long been measured in delays, the coming months are set to test whether the boardwalk can finally move from plans to construction.