Revitalizing Midwest City’s “Original Mile” has become a top priority for city planning officials, but project funding has created a stumbling block.

The original mile was laid out and platted by W.P. “Bill” Atkinson during the 1940s before Midwest City became a chartered city. The original mile, which is located from Midwest Boulevard to Air Depot, and from SE 15th to SE 29th , allowed for schools, churches, streets, businesses and homes.

Over the decades, the area has become run down and less than attractive to developers and business leaders. Development of Town Center Plaza was the first step to revitalize the south end of the project, but more work remains, said Ana Starr, the city’s comprehensive planner.

Homes in the area are small and are situated on small lots, but city planners believe they can help residents make improvements. Most of the homes were built in the 1940s, and are 800 to 900 square feet.

In 2010, city officials commissioned a study on the revitalization project. Now complete, the recommendations include housing improvements with updated appearances and facades, new garages, streetscapes, more modern parks and new walking trails, an outdoor amphitheater and attractive neighborhood entry ways that will transform the original mile into a “distinctive area,” Starr said.

In addition, planners also recommend new commercial development along Air Depot, north of the Town Center shopping area.

“We would like to make it a publicprivate partnership, although we haven’t figured out how to do that yet,” Starr said. “Our goal is to make it the great neighborhood it started off to be. We want to make it a sought-after place to live. It’s our front door. It’s older and it needs help in getting back the charms and reasons why people enjoyed living there.”

City officials have met with area residents about the project, and they appeared to favor the concept.

“The neighbors were excited about it.

The former City Hall site, located at the north end of Mid-Ameria Boulevard, is considered an ideal location for an outdoor civic space, which would provide residents and visitors with an outdoor amphitheater for concerts or special performances. The northern portion of the block could be used for a much-desired municipal substation, as well as other community services.

This design shows how monuments can establish an identity within a neighborhood. Original Mile logo medallions would be used to reinforce the identify. Traditional materials such as brick, cast stone and ironwork would be used so that the monuments complement their surroundings.

“Our goal is to make it the great neighborhood it started off to be. We want to make it a sought-after place to live. It needs help in getting back the charms and reasons why people enjoyed living there.”

Ana Starr

They love it there and want to see it get better,” Starr said.

City officials also have said they have no plans to use eminent domain laws in connection with the proposed project.

“There will be no massive taking of homes,” Starr said. “We just want to improve what’s already there.”

However, Starr acknowledged that a private developer might buy “a few lots” and build more modern homes with “more modern amenities.” The new homes could serve as models for the project, she said.

“We really need to brand the Original Mile neighborhood with entry ways and markers that look the same,” Starr said.

At this time, however, no private developer has committed to working on the original mile redevelopment.

“We’re working on getting it started this year,” Starr said. “Part of the problem is funding.”

Most of the funding options include city, state and federal grants. The estimated cost of the project is $6 million.

tfarley@eastwordnews.com

New home facades could include a variety of building materials, window configurations, colors and architectural elements. Front porches and patios could be added, as well as increasing the number of bedrooms. Cathedral ceilings could be introduced and fireplaces added to the homes. Other alternatives include increasing and modernizing bedrooms and adding larger and walkin closets. (Design courtesy of City of Midwest City)