Currently at the Memorial & Museum

More Development Possible Near Memorial

January 07, 2013

The Oklahoma City Cultural and Industrial and Cultural Facilities Trust received proposals today for the purchase and redevelopment of the west end of the Journal Record Building and the parking at 5th and Robinson. This is a portion of the building that houses the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. The building sustained major damage in the April 19, 1995, bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Building, after which the exterior was restored and the building was divided into two separate ownership units. The Prospective for Redevelopers stated the Commercial Unit of more than 105,000 square feet must be compatible with the existing use of the Memorial unit (Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum) owned and operated by the Oklahoma City National Memorial Foundation.

“We are thrilled to finally see the property redeveloped and look forward to working with the prospective developer to get the work done prior to 2015, the 20th anniversary of the bombing,” said Kari Watkins, Executive Director of the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. “It would be tragic to get to this milestone anniversary and still not have redeveloped this critical area near the site when so much other wonderful development is going on in Oklahoma City. We are confident we will have a completed redeveloped building and a strong showing of resilience and rebirth by the time 2015 rolls around.”

The Museum is also in the design phase of a complete makeover and will begin construction and remodeling by the end of 2013. “We are hopeful, the construction can be coordinated between us and the new developer which will minimize inconvenience to our visitors during our peak season,” Watkins said. “We look forward to working with the city of Oklahoma City and the named developer in advancing the rebirth of the heart of our city.”

« Back to Currently at the Memorial & Museum | Archived Currently at the Memorial & Museum »