Oklahoma City to study interest in unified Interstate 240 redevelopment plan

The chamber will interview stakeholders along the freeway between Interstates 35 and 44 to learn about their interest in Envision 240, an Urban Land Institute study conducted this year with the city, South Oklahoma City Chamber and the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber.

The study recommended the city and businesses begin to redevelop the area through code changes, beautification projects and infrastructure improvements.

The city's $20,000 investment in the South Oklahoma City Chamber's effort to gauge interest in I-240 corridor businesses and other groups could help formulate a more specific plan based on their capabilities and desires.

“We need to be looking at that to figure out how we need to move forward, how to make it vibrant here, how to keep the neighbors here and how to keep people shopping here,” South Oklahoma City Chamber President Elaine Lyons said.

Councilman David Greenwell, who often highlights the area as a potential focus for business redevelopment in Oklahoma City, said he hopes the long-term benefits of reinvesting in the corridor can help the city's bottom line.