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The state of Oklahoma is set to be home to the next tallest building in the USA. The building dubbed, “The Legends Tower” will be built in Oklahoma City as part of the ongoing US$ 1.6 billion Boardwalk at Bricktown mixed-use development.
Initially, the tower was set to be 1,750 feet tall, which would make it the second tallest building in the country after the 1,776 feet One World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan, New York City. However, the project’s developer Matteson Capital and the architect AO requested a variance from the City of Oklahoma City to increase the height of the building to 1,907 feet.
This new height signifies or other honours the year (1907) that Oklahoma was admitted as the 46th state of the United States.
The Legends Tower requires a change of zoning in addition to the request for a variance
Reportedly plans for the construction of the new tallest building in the USA might require more than just approval for the “request for variance.” According to the Oklahoma City Free Press, the change of plan would also require a change of zoning, which could prove much harder to obtain.
Quoting Kristy Yager, Public Information officer of the City of Oklahoma, a staff member of zoning, the press said that the developers would need to rezone, not just seek a variance.
“Their existing SPUD (Simplified Planned Unit Development) was specifically negotiated, including the building height (‘Maximum height of any building shall be 300 feet with the exception that height will be limited to 80 feet within 20 feet of the northern SPUD boundary’),” said Kristy Yager.
“We understand however that the applicant’s representative is preparing a new SPUD application. This will go to the Planning Commission for a recommendation and City Council for a final decision before they can embark on construction of the tower,” continued Yager.
Features of the New tallest building in the USA and the cost of constructionIf all goes well and The Legends Tower is built, it will not only become the tallest building in the U.S. but also the fifth tallest of its kind in the world. It will include a Hyatt hotel with a total of 350 rooms and 100 serviced condos. In addition, the tower will contain a public observatory, a restaurant, and a bar where visitors can enjoy views of the city.
The cost of construction of the tower is estimated to be US$ 770 million. The city council has reportedly approved US$ 200 million in tax incremental financing for the project which will be a giant leap for Oklahoma. Currently, the tallest building in the state is the Devon Energy Center, which stretches for a comparatively piddly 844 feet. |
