He said on the original plan there were trash cans, benches and bike racks.

“Because we got started a little later because of some accounting issues, and there was a little hurricane down in New Orleans, there was a pretty strong jump in construction costs.”

He said they spent $117,000 on design for the district.

“We’re working on the planning phase right now,” Powell said. “We’d like to start the next phase right after Jan. 1. … There are still things that needed to be done as part of the original project. … Parking was on that list and it hasn’t even been touched.”

He said with the diversity of ownership — 100 percent local ownership, but different owners — it would be difficult to achieve any uniformity in the look of the district without the city’s help.

Powell said they hoped to schedule the balance of the work just after the holiday rush and the University of Oklahoma’s home football season conclude.

Norman recently started implementing its second TIF District, the $54.75 million University North Park TIF No. 2. The TIF District is between Robinson Street and Tecumseh Road, east of Interstate-35.

Norman city councilmembers approved the UNP TIF on May 2006.

So far the City of Norman has spent about $180,000 in TIF funds, mostly for design and legal fees to create the TIF project plan.

“There has been quite a bit more upfronted by the developer,” Francisco said, about $1.6 million in funds primarily used to widen the intersection at Robinson Street and 24th Avenue NW and begin building the frontage road on the east side of I-35 between Mount Williams Road and Conference Center Drive.

Francisco said he expects the City to issue about $16 million in revenue bonds some time this fall to reimburse the developer and create Legacy Park.

Carol L. Cole

366-3538

ccole@normantranscript.com