Friday, December 05, 2008


Eastgate Metroplex Metamorphosis

I'm sure lots of you wish I'd get off my Eastland Mall kick, but I'm still getting a thrill out of watching this dead mall go through a $55 million metamorphosis, springing back into a living, breathing space again. This week, as they near completion of the external renovation of the former Mervyn's, they put up the new University of Phoenix signage. I had to drop by and take some new pics.

Then
Now

The OK Dept of Public Safety's drivers license testing facility has successfully made their transfer from Jenks to the new location downstairs in the former food court / arcade area. Workforce OK is moving forward quickly with their new space next to UoP. Community Action Project has settled in well with their Early Childhood Education Center. Alorica is building out plenty of workstations for their new $2 million 45,000 sf call center, which will soon be home to about 700 employees currently working in the Citiplex towers. Coca-Cola Enterprises keeps filling their parking lots up more and more. There's even a cafe/coffee shop in the former Helzberg Diamonds space, if you're in the mood for some java and a bite to eat (free WiFi too). IBC Bank is building out a space, as is Weststar Mortgage and there's positive word on talks with a national food operation to lease there as well.

Then
Now

At just over 30% capacity, the developers are expecting to have close to 1000 employees working at Eastgate Metroplex by the end of this year. It will be interesting to watch as the number of employees working at this mixed-use facility finally reaches the point that new retail is desired. So far, I've been very impressed with Director of Development, Gerry Chauvin and Rob Phillips' ability to quickly bring his vision for this facility into reality. I'm sure that Tulsa (and Eastside in particular) will certainly appreciate the economic impact that this should have for the city.

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Comments:
thank you for sending postcards to those far from home.

we appreciate it.
# posted by Blogger g13 : 12/06/2008 5:41 AM
 
I really enjoy your website. whatever happened to the Wagonwheel shopping center on Admiral? I think it was by the theater.
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : 12/06/2008 3:42 PM
 
The Wagonwheel Shopping Center remains there next to the old Safeway at Admiral and Garnett.

Pretty low occupancy, but the structure is still in O.K. shape.

Here's a pic I took a few years back.
# posted by Blogger Tom : 12/06/2008 5:50 PM
 
Thank you so much for showing pics of the renovation. I've been a fan of your site for a long time, and it's always a kick to see the new updates. During the long dry period last year in which you didn't post updates, I began to worry that you had given up on the site. It's great to see that was not the case.

The Eastland renovation looks really impressive; in fact, I might have to stop by there and try out that coffee shoppe someday. The other day, my wife and I drove around the building just to take in the external changes, and it was rather bittersweet. I think part of a younger me is still in there, running around from Camelot music to Kay-Bee toys to the arcade downstairs. It still stuns me that the mall (as it was) and the Target across the street are both gone. Oh, well... such is progress.

Anyway, thank you very much for keeping LostTulsa going. It's an important site and one of my favourite places online these days.

- Badger
# posted by Anonymous DJ Badger : 1/04/2009 12:44 PM
 
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