Edmond developers may build multi-use 'Summit'

Journal Record Article by Kelly Chambers

Interstate 35 in Edmond will be changing intersection by intersection in the coming years as developers bring new projects to what was for years a lonely stretch of interstate.

One development group has a project in the works near I-35 and Second Street that would include office, retail and mini-storage space as well as single and multifamily housing.

The project, called The Summit, is still in the development stages and awaiting the blessing of the city, but if all goes well, one of the developers said work could begin before the end of the year.

Garland Bell, owner of The Bell Companies, said a major focus of the development will be on office space, both Class A and Class B.

Retail will be another focus with mixed-retail and a potential bank on about 10 acres. Two retail centers are planned at a cost of about $20 to $30 million. The main entrance will be along Second Street north of Life Church.

Bell said about 20 acres will be developed for several hundred multifamily units, which are currently under negotiation with a potential buyer.

The single-family portion of the land will be developed by Caleb McCaleb of McCaleb Homes.

McCaleb bought 44 acres out of more than 100 acres originally purchased for the total project. His plan is to build about 160 homes over the next five years. The single-family housing addition will be called Arbor Creek at the Summit.

McCaleb, known for building high-end homes that run many hundreds of thousands of dollars, is designing the Summit homes in a unique style and starting at under $200,000.

"It's called our bungalow series," he said. "They're small but very well thought out with a great use of space."

The smallest homes have about 1,600 square feet of space and homes will go up to 2,200 square feet with the potential for added amenities such as a media room.

McCaleb said the design and layout will also complement the local landscape with old growth trees aplenty, and several natural water features.

"We don't want to be that cookie-cutter builder out there," McCaleb said. "We still want to stay with the high style and design we do now but just in a little smaller footprint and at a more affordable price."

Construction on the homes is set to begin in February next year.

Bell said when homes start coming out of the ground it will encourage retailers to move to the area.

"The retailers want rooftops and we've got rooftops coming," he said.

Bell and partners Michael Galiga, Roddy Bates and Mike Dillard purchased the land more than a year ago for more than $3 million.

"We were fortunate that we got it before all the frenzy started along I-35," Bell said.

Galiga is also the developer for a project up the interstate at Covell Road that eventually may include large-scale retail, a hotel, a convention center and office space.

Mercy Health System of Oklahoma also recently bought nearby property at 2017 S. I-35 Service Rd. and will announce what it will build on the land in coming months.

Bell said the increased interest east of the main section of Edmond along the interstate will also speed up the process of getting water, sewer, and more roads to the area.

"With all the activity around us it's taken this from a seven- to eight-year project to a three- to four-year project," he said. "The whole area is evolving rather quickly."

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