By RHETT MORGAN
World Staff Writer
1/12/2009

A sign in Claremore touts Oklahoma Plaza as a "remarkable place to live, work and play." Work on the $110 million mixed-use development has been slow since the project's announcement in January 2008.
- RHETT MORGAN/ Tulsa World

CLAREMORE — With great fanfare in January 2008, officials announced plans for Oklahoma Plaza, a $110 million mixed-use development on the southwest side of town.

But progress on the 129-acre project has been slow, leaving residents wondering about its fate.

Rickey Hayes is a contracted retail consultant for the city. He said Claremore, like the rest of the country, has been a victim of "the whole economic downturn," which has affected retail significantly.

"Claremore is a city with a lot of retail potential, very defined traffic flow and a very significant number of people who shop Claremore or have the potential to shop Claremore," said Hayes, who founded Owasso-based Retail Attractions LLC a year ago.

"But you don't have to be a rocket scientist to see what has gone on," he said. "Some economist from Boston last week predicted that in 2008-09, 2,000 to 3,000 retail shopping centers and malls would close in the United States. It's been Murphy's Law. Everything that could go wrong has."

Bulldozers have leveled the site in Claremore, but no structures are under way on the property, which sits near Oklahoma 66 and Country Club Road.

Resource Development Inc., the Springfield, Mo.-based developer of the plaza, said last year that it envisioned an open-air layout on the land, featuring restaurants, 225 single-family homes, hotels, a movie theater and lofts above retail and office centers.

Phone messages left last week with RDI officials weren't immediately returned.

Cassie Sowers, Claremore's marketing and public relations coordinator, said the city has received word from RDI that construction on two hotels will begin on the property in April.

In the meantime, the municipality is working toward erecting a fifth electric substation that will serve retail and other development in that area.

Bids on the $2.4 million substation will be released next week, and the project is expected to be completed by the end of July, Sowers said.

Hayes works to boost economic development for a number of Oklahoma cities. He predicts Oklahoma Plaza will be a "terrific mixed-use development" when the market turns the corner.

"There is progress being made, and it's just about to kick off," he said. "It's just been an uphill battle."