QuikTrip, new hotels, and an aquarium: Here's what to know about Oklahoma City's plans for 2022

Here's what you need to know about Oklahoma City's growth plans for 2022 and how the last year has shaped the community.

— Steve Lackmeyer, Business writer

West downtown development could skyrocket with relocation of Oklahoma County jail: Work is well underway at 700 West and yet another new apartment complex is being planned across the street in an area once unthinkable for such development (near the jail). Why is this happening? How far will it go?

Urban Renewal being asked to use $5 million in MAPS 4 funds to acquire blighted NE OKC corner: Plans by Susan and Hank Binkowski to anchor the corner at NE 23 and Martin Luther King Avenue to replace a worn-out Buy For Less with an Uptown Grocery drew cheers from the predominantly Black eastside, which was in an area deemed a food desert. 

'We have to think differently.' OKC vies for $55M grant to grow biosciences industry: The Oklahoma City team is one of 60 finalists announced in December. Those finalists each got a $500,000 planning grant, and up to 30 of the finalists will be chosen for final awards this fall. 

Reopenings, and delays, in OKC

Ellison Hotel, damaged by 5-alarm fire at neighboring apartments, reopening: The hotel and its upscale Milo restaurant opened a few weeks before the blaze, which destroyed the neighboring 326-unit Canton apartments. All guests and employees were safely evacuated. The Ellison and Milo held a “grand re-opening" on May 19. 

Offices replacing hotel as stalled Midtown development resumes: The Pivot Project previously restored and expanded a stretch of decades-old buildings along the 1200 block of N Hudson Avenue with plans to turn it into a mix of retail, offices, a food market and brewery. Resolution Legal Group and Elk Valley Brewery opened before the start of the pandemic, but plans for the food market and a new six-story hotel fell through. 

Riversport OKC to host world-class events amid questions about white water facility's vitality: The wave of announcements coincides with questions raised about city subsidies for operations of the course, which opened in 2016. The $45.2 million rapids, part of MAPS 3, includes a lower flow channel offering family rafting and tubing experiences, and an Olympic-style course designed to challenge elite athletes from around the world for both training and competition. 

12-story tower announced for corner across from Oklahoma City National Memorial: Construction is set to start this fall on a $70 million, 12-story office tower at NW 5 and Robinson across from the Oklahoma City National Memorial.

First National open to the public, starting with The National Hotel: The opening of the hotel on the remaining floors marks the first time the building has been fully occupied in more than 30 years when it lost its anchor, First National Bank, during the depth of the 1980s oil bust. 

Could an aquarium come to OKC?

An aquarium in Oklahoma City? Chickasaw Nation eyes aquarium, stadium near OKANA Resort: The Chickasaw Nation is in talks with the Oklahoma City Zoo about building an aquarium and the tribe also is interested in whether a future phase of the OKANA resort could include a MAPS 4 funded multi-purpose stadium. Both potential projects are outside of the planned $342.2 million OKANA resort being built next to the First Americans Museum along the south shore of the Oklahoma River.

QuikTrip to build a travel center in Moore: QuikTrip is set to build a second travel center in Moore after announcing in September it was going to build it's first Oklahoma City store at I-35 and Hefner Road.