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Wheeler District

Oklahoma City, OK

May 2025
Wheeler District
Wheeler District is a vibrant, walkable urban community located on the south bank of the Oklahoma River in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Built on the site of a former downtown airpark, the vision for Wheeler is to create a dynamic place where people can live, work, and connect. It’s a place designed for human scale—where front porches encourage neighborly conversations, businesses are within walking distance, and public spaces foster a strong sense of community.
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Wheeler District
Wheeler District spans 150 acres in total, with approximately 45 acres currently developed as part of a multi-decade, phased master plan. The boundaries of the district are the Oklahoma River to the north, Douglas Avenue to the west, and Twin Creek to the south and the east. Wheeler District is rooted in the principles of New Urbanism, with a strong focus on walkability, mixed-use development, and community connection. The site includes a balanced mix of housing types—ranging from single-family homes to multifamily units—as well as integrated commercial, retail, and office spaces. This thoughtful blend creates a dynamic, self-sustaining neighborhood where residents can easily access daily necessities, dine, or work just steps from home.
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Wheeler District
The district blends thoughtful urban planning with architectural character that feels both fresh and timeless. Visitors can enjoy award-winning restaurants and breweries, locally owned artisan shops, lively events, and the iconic Ferris Wheel—all part of Wheeler’s long-term vision for a dynamic, connected community.
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Wheeler District
The site’s transformation started with the opening of the Wheeler Ferris Wheel in the summer of 2016. Infrastructure construction for the neighborhood began in 2018, and the first residents moved into their homes in 2019. There wasn't a single "grand opening" moment—instead, the district has been coming to life incrementally, with each new home, business, and community space adding another layer to the neighborhood's character.
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Wheeler District
Wheeler's amenities reflect the focus on creating a neighborhood where daily life unfolds easily and joyfully. At its heart is the Wheeler Ferris Wheel—a beloved landmark originally from the Santa Monica Pier—now a central gathering place that embodies the district’s spirit of creativity. The Wheeler Ferris Wheel has a diameter of roughly 83 feet and soars over 100 feet above the Oklahoma River. The Wheel features 20 gondolas each of which can accommodate six riders.
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Wheeler District
In 2005, the historic Downtown Airpark near the Oklahoma River went bankrupt, and it was purchased through an open auction in 2006. In 2014, a public charrette was initiated to better understand the community’s needs and desires, especially as it related to other efforts to activate the shore of the Oklahoma River following Oklahoma City’s transformative MAPS program. Blair Humphreys and his team at Wheeler District, LLC, oversee the development.
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Wheeler District
Art can be found throughout the community including OKC’s most “selfied” spot — Hugh Meade’s “O-K-C” sculpture. The metal “O-K-C” letters stand at over 12 feet tall, providing the perfect backdrop for memorable photos. Other art includes murals like this one by artists Erin Cooper and Amanda Bradway, who used a canvas of shipping containers to create a playful and whimsical hand-painted mural featuring a colorful OKC skyline adorned with festive kites. Constructed as a wind block for the development, the shipping container creates a dreamy backdrop for the Wheeler District Ferris Wheel Plaza. If you look at the mural closely, you will find a 2-D bison, sun, fish and a girl on a flying motorbike.
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Wheeler District
The park around the Wheel invites residents and visitors to stop and stay a while. They can ride the wheel, relax in on-site hammocks, and play lawn games.
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Wheeler District
The shade structure provides a great place to play games or have a picnic.
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Wheeler District
Wheeler District is home to the historic Santa Monica Pier Ferris Wheel. After being purchased on eBay in 2008, over $1 million was invested to refresh and refurbish the Wheel. During its time at Pacific Park in Santa Monica, the Wheel served as a backdrop for countless photo shoots and was featured in numerous commercials.
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Wheeler District

Dover, Kohl & Partners served as the master planners for Wheeler District. Their thoughtful approach to creating authentic, walkable neighborhoods helped translate the team’s aspirations into a viable framework for development. The DK&P influence is evident throughout Wheeler – from the intentional street network that prioritizes pedestrians to the careful balance of density and open space.

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Wheeler District
Wheeler District features over 50,000 square feet of commercial space, home to a growing collection of more than 20 small businesses. From an award-winning brewery and newly opened sushi restaurant to a medspa and a bodega-style market, these small businesses provide everyday essentials and local flavor just steps from residents’ front doors.
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Wheeler District

Construction of the 14-acre Phase One of Wheeler District began in 2018 and is complete. It includes 83 single family homes, 10 live/work shophomes, as well as The Big Friendly Brewery & Taproom.

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Wheeler District
Phase Two construction of 22 acres began in 2020, which will add over 120 new single-family homes and townhomes, and more retail, restaurant, and other commercial spaces.
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Wheeler District
The district includes a range of businesses including the Big Friendly (seen here). This family friendly brewery and tap room offers a wide variety of beer and organic wine. Residents and visitors alike can stop by for a craft beer and pair it with one of the nearby dining options, like Taco Nation and Clarity Coffee. This family-friendly event space also offers a large playground for kids and a big patio space with shade to give space to hang outside.
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Wheeler District
There are currently 10 planned phases of development, eventually reaching a full buildout of the 150 acres to make up the district. Although a strategic vision for the Wheeler District exists, the team remains flexible regarding community needs and desires, which will affect later parts of the development.
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Wheeler District
This term “walkable” is commonly used to describe the mixed-use district, but what does it take for a place to be considered “walkable”? Theoretically, can’t any neighborhood be described this way? Not exactly. Walkability refers not only to the space residents have to walk, the accessibility to walkways, or the number of crosswalks on a street, but it also takes into consideration how the environment encourages walking.
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Wheeler District
The Spoke Street Shophomes are a unique offering located around the same square as the Big Friendly and Taco Nation. These 10 unique townhomes, developed by Dryline, deliver micro-retail and attainable housing for an entrepreneurial subset of buyers. In each three-story house, the ground floor can be used for retail, office, marketplace, workshop, and more, while the upper floors serve as the living space.
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Wheeler District
Open spaces like parks, plazas, and pedestrian-friendly streets are intentionally woven throughout, encouraging active lifestyles and social interaction. The result is a vibrant, livable community designed for both convenience and sustainability.
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Wheeler District
Runway Boulevard is a main thoroughfare for the community. The street is split by a long greenbelt with a trail, so that residents and cars alike can travel along the boulevard to visit friends, go to school, or grab a bite to eat.
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Wheeler District
Wheeler District embraces the walkable city lifestyle, but also has more traditional community amenities like the pool (seen here). Plenty of deck space and shaded cabanas provide space for residents to lounge and hang out with friends while the kids (or adults) play in the pool.
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Wheeler District
Wheeler's architectural approach balances modern Scandinavian-inspired design with warmth and materials that resonate with Oklahoma's built heritage. Clean lines and thoughtful proportions define the homes, with specialized architects from across the country bringing distinctive perspectives while maintaining a cohesive neighborhood character.
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Wheeler District
Wheeler District developers aimed to create every space for people – every space in human-scale. The term human-scale refers to a method used in drawing, “scaling”, when true size is made smaller to better illustrate a design on paper. Wide sidewalks, narrow streets, expansive front porches, terraces, pedestrian streets, parks, patios and shareable spaces, a community mailroom—each encourages time spent outdoors and around neighbors. Walking the streets of Wheeler District on any given evening will prove the efforts successful.
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Wheeler District
Parks offer more than just a typical playground, one which invites kids to explore and adventure. Playing pirates in the treehouse seen here or being brave and climb around using the rope bridges. Play spaces like these are scattered around the community, so open space or a park is easily walked to from any of the homes.
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Wheeler District
One signature element you'll notice throughout Wheeler: garages are consistently tucked behind homes, accessed via alleys rather than dominating street frontages. This seemingly simple decision dramatically changes the neighborhood experience, allowing architecture to shine and creating streetscapes that encourage interaction through front porches and walkable streetscapes.
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Wheeler District
Another unique feature about the Wheeler District is that it is one of the few fully geothermal neighborhoods in the state, reinforcing its commitment to sustainability. Energy efficiency is the Wheeler standard, with spray foam insulation, 2×6 framing, and Geothermal HVAC units in every home. Homebuyers also have the option of adding solar roof panels for maximum energy savings.
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Wheeler District
In 2021, the district continued to grow with the opening of an elementary school and Phase Two construction. The elementary school is a dual-language public charter school, available to families through an application-based enrollment process, services both residents and the surrounding area.
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Wheeler District
In 2019, Wheeler District sold their first house with over a hundred more homeowners since then.
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Wheeler District
As architect Aase Eriksen said, “Architecture is the art we live in.” This is certainly true for the homes, shops and commercial spaces in Wheeler District, most notably the colorful Wheeler Street Terrace Homes. Designed by local architect Sam Day and built by Wheeler Home, the chromatic collection of six colorful homes sits just off S. Western Avenue. Often referred to by visitors as the “rainbow homes,” the Terrace Homes are three-story residential properties, each around 1,800 square feet with three bedrooms and three bathrooms. Featuring a second-floor living space connected to a terrace, the dwellings were designed for perfect indoor-outdoor living.
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Wheeler District
The unique, front-porch-centric architecture and thoughtfully planned community layout help to bring residents together. They can greet each other while walking the dog, having a sweet team on the front porch, or when they meet up at the local park. Walkability isn’t just a concept here. The Wheeler District is designed to bring people together and it does just that.
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Wheeler District
The Wheeler District also supports a vibrant lifestyle with events including a popular farmers market, bike races, and even outdoor yoga classes. The Wheeler Farmers Market is more than a place to shop—it’s a weekly ritual that brings local to life. Every Friday evening, the streets of the district fill with homegrown produce, handmade goods, and artisan creations from across Oklahoma.
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Wheeler District
Shoppers can browse fresh fruits and vegetables, baked goods, pantry staples, and more—all in a family-friendly, open-air setting. The market is a celebration of community, connection, and local flavor.
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Wheeler District
One of the most anticipated traditions is the Wheeler Criterium, a weekly spring and summer bike race series that transforms the neighborhood into a buzzing hub of energy. Spectators line the streets to cheer on cyclists while enjoying food trucks, drinks, and live music.
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Wheeler District
These community events not only activate the neighborhood but help foster a deep sense of connection among residents, business owners, and visitors alike—making Wheeler feel like home even to those just passing through.
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Wheeler District

Product type
Masterplan

Consultants

Builders

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Architects

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Interior designers

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Landscape Architects

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Developers

JBREC Consultant

Ken Perlman
Managing Principal
San Diego, CA
kperlman@jbrec.com

Location

1801 Wheeler St.
Phone number (405) 697-0206
Region Midwest
State Oklahoma
City Oklahoma City
Zip Code 73108