Southwest OKC's Capitol Hill District Anticipates Festival Plaza, More Development

A new community venue in southwest Oklahoma City seeks to bring more cultural events to an up-and-coming district. 

City planners want to turn one block of S Harvey Avenue near Commerce Street into a festival plaza to honor the growing Hispanic and Latinx population in this part of the Capitol Hill area. 

“The community that does not have a business here or that does not own property here is very excited to have a place that they feel like they can call their own,” said Gloria Torres, Historic Capitol Hill District executive director. 

District organizers wanted a community gathering place within walking distance to neighborhoods. 

Torres hopes it will drive business. 

“The community members or the property owners or the businesses that are here are excited for the potential economic impact,” Torres said. 

Elements of the design will celebrate the communities cultural ties. 

"The design was intended to give a feel for those Latin countries that many of our residents come from. Their hometowns, their countries, every town has that plaza,” she said. 

The project is largely grant funded through the city’s Strong Neighborhoods Initiative with planning in its final stages. 

This comes as the area anticipates another possible development that would mean big things for the district and its residents — a Mexican consulate. 

“It's not a reality yet. We’re working hard, organizing the community, getting people involved who can be key partners in making this happen. So, we’re in the process, we’re really pushing for this,” said Luis Hidalgo, Scissortail Community Development Corporation economic development director. 

Development groups hope the momentum continues to build.

“A lot of projects are really moving forward here in Capitol Hill, because we’re seeing more and more organizations, more and more individuals, more and more businesses wanting to invest in this area,” said Robert Ruiz, Scissortail Community Development Corporation executive director.