Norman Officials Claim Development Is On Track, But Residents Expect More

By Gan Matthews, NEWS 9

NORMAN, Oklahoma -- After three years of development, Norman city officials said the University North Park shopping area is on track, but not everyone agrees.

There are currently more than 30 retail stores in the University North Park development, including restaurants, a hotel and a sporting goods store that is under construction.

Norman's city manager believes, despite an economic slowdown, the North Park Development is doing fine.

"What I believe is, based upon the projections that were made back in 2006 when the TIF was approved, we are frankly a little bit ahead of schedule," said Steven Lewis, Norman City Manager.

But some residents said they want to see more high-end stores.

"I would really like it if there were like a Nordstroms and maybe a Nieman-Marcus in here, because I like a lot of like designer clothes and stuff like that," said Norman resident Aaliyah Gordon.

With the economic slowdown, Lewis said those kind of stores probably won't arrive in Norman until about 2016.

Not all city officials are in agreeance with the development's progress.

Norman City Council member Tom Kovach said he wasn't happy when funding was delayed last month by the City Council and University North Park partners for the Legacy Park portion of the development. He said that decision was not keeping faith with the Norman public.

Kovach also said he thinks one of the development's partners, the OU Foundation, is getting cold feet about its participation.

Meanwhile, north of the Embassy Suites Hotel, plans for an $85 million corporate park development are in the works.

The new park would have access to Norman's airport. The Norman Economic Development Coalition has one client signed up but needs a second one before breaking ground.

"We would anticipate once we get this second sale, the building would be up and the project would be fully developed within 14 to 16 months," said Don Wood, Norman Economic Development Coalition.

Norman officials said the University Park development has already attracted shoppers from surrounding cities and towns.