Great news, Oklahoma City!
Despite missing our self-imposed construction deadline, failing to secure any actual financing and making no visible progress beyond releasing a few ridiculous renderings, plans for the $6.9-billion TLO Tower of Excellence – our 2,500-foot skyscraper project that we first announced in June 2024 – are still moving forward!
Well, at least that’s what we’re going with after The Oklahoman provided another encouraging update on Legends Tower – the equally obnoxious 1,907-foot Bricktown skyscraper that has been, according to the local media, on the verge of construction for approximately three years now.
According to famed OKC Brick Lover Steve Lackmeyer, Oklahoma City officials are still working with California developer Scot Matteson on the project, even though he missed a December 2025 deadline to begin construction and apparently still hasn’t actually finalized financing for the "fully financed" development.
Via The Oklahoman:
Oklahoma City is continuing to work with California developer Scot Matteson on his plans to build multiple towers in Bricktown despite the project not meeting a 2025 deadline to start construction.
The developer, however, hasn’t given up on the $2.5 billion mix of hotels, luxury apartments and retail and is hinting he is looking to expand his promised investment in Oklahoma City…
Yep, that’s right.
Whenever your wildly ambitious multibillion-dollar development fails to attract financing, meet deadlines or show any tangible signs of becoming real, simply make it larger and more expensive. That should calm everyone’s concerns!
So, what does this bold expansion entail?
Matteson did not return calls and emails from The Oklahoman. But his website indicates he is still planning to build the country’s tallest skyscraper as part of the development. The website indicates he is also actively developing a “Legends Smart City” with coordinates showing it will be built near the Boardwalk at Bricktown…
A rendering of the project on Matteson’s website shows the development surrounded by palm trees with mountains in the background.
Yep, Matteson is going to bring palm trees and mountains to Oklahoma City! Here’s the rendering:
You know what’s wild. Even with the mountains and palm trees, that seems more feasible than building a 1,907-foot tower!
Despite the missed deadlines, murky financing and geographically confused renderings, the city is apparently still treating Matteson’s plans seriously.
Kenton Tsoodle, president of The Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City, and Joanna McSpadden, who oversees the city’s economic development programs office, both told The Oklahoman they are in ongoing talks with Matteson but do not have an estimate on when construction might begin.
“It's the same story ― they claim to be working on financing, they say they’re working on the land deal, so we keep in touch with them,” Tsoodle said. “They're asking about easements and title issues. All we can do is monitor and assist.”
Geez, that’s weird.
Whenever I call the city to vaguely inquire about easements and title issues for the TLO Tower of Excellence, they tell me to stop wasting everyone’s time, hang up the phone and remind me that the restraining order prohibits me from getting within 500 feet of City Hall.
I guess it’s just another example of the TLO Tower of Excellence getting no respect!
If only I were a wealthy out-of-state developer from California who’s suspiciously good at securing publicity for projects that still need financing, maybe they’d take us seriously!
Stay with The Lost Ogle. We’ll keep you advised.
