Earlier this year, a real estate development group announced plans to build what will be the country’s tallest skyscraper in an unlikely location. But the project is now facing delays and warnings about its potential risks to air travel.
Matteson Capital partnered with architecture firm AO on a project that would place a more than 1,900-foot tower in Oklahoma City, far away from the towering peaks associated with the skylines of New York City, Los Angeles and Chicago. Work on the development was tentatively scheduled to begin in October but now it’s pushed back to 2025.
However, according to the Oklahoman, the project is currently facing pushback from the FAA. Julie Morgan, manager of the FAA’s Obstruction Evaluation Group in Fort Worth, told the developers that the tower, at its current planned height, would be a “hazard to air navigation.” The agency added that its determination will become final early next year unless a petition is filed.
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The FAA’s decision comes after Oklahoma City Airport Trust Airports Director Jeff Mulder last month wrote a letter to the agency, describing how the Boardwalk at Bricktown development poses risks to OKC Will Rogers International Airport, Wiley Post Airport and Tinker Air Force Base. He said the tower could end up forcing pilots to spend more time circling before landing. In a separate letter obtained by the publication, another opponent to the project pointed out that tight circling approaches are inherently more dangerous than a straight shot to the runway.
Mulder also said the tower could create “adverse changes to standard departure procedures” and “flight safety” issues that could impact air travel for everyone in the Oklahoma City area.
Developer Scot Matteson, in response to the FAA’s decision, said his company is still figuring out any adjustments it might need to make to its plans. But he added, “We're still going to have a build there no matter what.”
The development is highlighted by the “Legends Tower” that will top out at 1,907 feet, a height picked to coincide with the year that Oklahoma was admitted as the 46th state of the United States.
If the project is completed as planned, it would make the Legends Tower the tallest skyscraper in the U.S. That title currently belongs to the One World Trade Center in New York City, which tops out at 1,776 feet.
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WEBVTT
X-TIMESTAMP-MAP=LOCAL:00:00:00.000,MPEGTS:0
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Earlier this year, a real estate development
group announced plans to build what will be the
00:04.480 --> 00:08.109
country's tallest skyscraper in an unlikely
location.
00:08.390 --> 00:13.569
But the project is now facing delays and
warnings about its potential risks to air
00:13.579 --> 00:16.659
travel.
Madison Capital, partnered with architecture
00:16.670 --> 00:22.979
firm A O on a project that would place a more
than 1900 ft tower in Oklahoma City far from
00:22.989 --> 00:26.719
the towering peaks associated with the skylines
of New York City,
00:26.729 --> 00:30.479
Los Angeles and Chicago.
Work on the development was tentatively
00:30.489 --> 00:34.875
scheduled to begin in October, but now it's
pushed back to 2025.
00:34.886 --> 00:40.335
However, according to the Oklahoman, the
project currently faces pushback from the FAA
00:40.346 --> 00:45.605
Julie Morgan manager at the Fa A's obstruction
evaluation group in Fort Worth told the
00:45.616 --> 00:50.826
developers that the tower at its current
planned height would be a quote hazard to air
00:50.835 --> 00:53.855
navigation.
The agency added that its determination will
00:53.866 --> 00:57.145
become final early next year unless a petition
is filed.
00:57.155 --> 01:02.551
The F A's decision comes after Oklahoma City
Airport Trust Airports Director Jeff Mulder
01:02.562 --> 01:06.872
last month wrote a letter to the agency
describing how the boardwalk at Bricktown
01:06.882 --> 01:13.141
development poses risks to OKC will Rogers
International Airport Wiley Post Airport and
01:13.152 --> 01:17.111
the Tinker Air Force Base.
He said the tower could end up forcing pilots
01:17.122 --> 01:21.311
to spend more time circling before landing.
In a separate letter obtained by the
01:21.321 --> 01:24.650
publication.
Another opponent to the project pointed out
01:24.660 --> 01:29.139
that tight circling approaches are inherently
more dangerous than a straight shot to the
01:29.150 --> 01:32.209
runway.
Mulder also said the tower could create quote
01:32.300 --> 01:37.319
adverse changes to standard departure
procedures and flight safety issues that could
01:37.330 --> 01:41.879
impact air travel for everyone.
In the Oklahoma City area developer Scott
01:41.889 --> 01:45.519
Madison.
In response to the FAA S decision said his
01:45.529 --> 01:50.040
company is still figuring out if any
adjustments might be needed to its plans.
01:50.050 --> 01:54.834
But he added, we're still going to have to
build there no matter what the development is
01:54.845 --> 02:01.224
highlighted by the Legends Tower that will top
out at 1907 ft a height pick to
02:01.235 --> 02:06.815
coincide with the year that Oklahoma was
admitted as the 46th state of the United States.
02:06.824 --> 02:10.904
If the project is completed as planned, it
would make the Legends Tower the tallest
02:10.914 --> 02:14.714
skyscraper in the US.
That title currently belongs to the one World
02:14.725 --> 02:19.664
Trade Center in New York City which tops out at
1776 ft.
02:20.000 --> 02:22.220
I'm Ben Munson and this is manufacturing now.
