Streetcar, parking system will mesh in downtown Oklahoma City

Changes in the downtown parking landscape may work to the city of Oklahoma City's benefit as it develops a new municipal garage at the MAPS 3 convention center complex.

The new, $40 million garage is to have 865 spaces, providing parking for the convention center, Chesapeake Energy Arena, the MAPS 3 downtown park, the convention center hotel, and a new residential building.

Here are the latest changes:

• Omni hotels, developer of the 605-room convention center hotel, has added basement parking to the project, cutting its commitment in the new garage from 450 to 230 spaces.

• Boulevard Place, a mixed-use development to be built adjacent to the convention center garage, could take up the slack. A financial projection allots 240 spaces to the project.

• The city council authorized sale of the Santa Fe garage, at 1,518 spaces the largest of the downtown municipal parking garages, for $22.5 million. The cash could relieve pressure on capacity to issue debt.

Sale of the 45-year-old Santa Fe garage is set to close Dec. 10.

The city projects total annual revenue of $698,670 for 470 reserved spots, 230 for Omni's hotel and 240 for Boulevard Place, in the convention center garage.

That exceeds the original revenue estimate when only the hotel had reserved spots.

Looking ahead, redevelopment of the First National Center will include additional downtown parking.

The anticipated redevelopment of the Cox convention center after the MAPS 3 convention center opens will eliminate 947 underground spaces, though new construction could include parking.

A proposed west Bricktown garage would add 865 spaces.

The MAPS 3 streetcar route provides access to the municipal garages, which should make getting around downtown easier. Streetcar service begins in December.