A Step Forward for Downtown Edmond
Opinion Column by Edmond Resident Mark Nash
Opinion pieces are reflective of the individual authors views and opinion. They are not reflective of the views of The Edmond Way, staff, nor affiliates, nor are they considered factual news articles.
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Mark Nash
Last May, the city council approved a lease agreement with Lap 7 Development to erect a new building in the Festival Marketplace area, displacing an existing storage facility. This decision followed extensive dialogue and collaboration among various stakeholders. Initially proposed by Lap 7 to city staff in early 2022, the idea was further refined through collaboration with the Edmond Economic Development Authority (EEDA) to assess its feasibility and implementation.
City staff presented the concept to the council in September 2022, gaining approval to release a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to gauge interest from potential developers. Despite efforts by the EEDA to promote the project both locally and within the wider OKC metropolitan area, only Lap 7 Development and Spearman Investments submitted proposals by the RFQ deadline of December 15th, 2022.
The process adhered strictly to legal requirements: the concept was proposed, city needs and constraints were outlined, staff endorsed the direction (aimed at generating revenue from underutilized City-owned space), EEDA facilitated promotion, and the RFQ was executed lawfully.
Then in May 2023, the city council ratified the lease agreement with Lap 7 Development for a structure intended to house Prairie Artisans Ale. However, escalating construction costs jeopardized Lap 7's profitability. As the lease deadline approached with no progress, stakeholders reconvened to explore solutions.
Lap 7 proposed adding a second floor to ensure financial viability, prompting city staff to draft an amendment ensuring immediate lease payments. This amendment was approved by the council on April 8th.
While the council could have chosen not to amend the contract and start the entire process over again, instead they approved the amendment to avoid further delays. While some downtown business owners have expressed discontent, not all share this sentiment. Throughout, city staff adhered to legal protocols.
Though the process could have been more transparent and unbiased, such imperfections are common in government proceedings. Therefore, rather than dwelling on grievances, why not embrace the prospect of a commercial developer enhancing downtown Edmond's economic landscape—a desire we have all been working towards for decades.