The second-of-three projects to enhance Route 66 at Cry Baby Hill was selected to move forward this week following the City’s search for qualified developers to construct a new commercial development at 815 Riverside Dr.

The conceptual development named Palmera Motor Court features a retro-inspired 45-50 room hotel, with an approximately 4,000 square-foot restaurant, along with a pool and poolside bar – all designed to reflect the unique spirit and history of Route 66, featuring tributes to the road’s storied past and Cry Baby Hill.

The local developer, Sharp Development, engaged local architecture firm Studio 45 Architects to create a new “Must Stop” for Route 66 travelers, local neighbors, and users of River Parks trails and Zink Lake. The hotel’s amenities will be accessible to Tulsans, as well as a lure for Route 66 tourists.

“Development at this site has been more than a decade in the making, and I’m thankful for the persistence from our team and the Tulsa community in helping bring it one step closer to reality,” Mayor G.T. Bynum said. “I want to thank all of the talented local developers who responded to this RFP, and I look forward to seeing the new opportunities this development will bring to Tulsa’s riverfront and our beloved Mother Road.”

David Sharp of Sharp Development has been investing in real estate and developing real estate in Tulsa for decades, with $4.5 million in investments along Route 66, and more than $20 million invested in the neighborhood where Palmera Motor Court will be constructed. Some of Sharp Development's more recent projects include the Brut Hotel, Rosa Cantina, 21-1/2 Boutique, and Fairfield Inn & Suites in Downtown Tulsa.

 “We are grateful for the opportunity to further invest along Route 66, Zink Lake and in the Riverview Neighborhood," Sharp Development's Brian Elliott said. "The City's commitment to Route 66 and Zink Lake is what attracted our investment to those areas individually, so we're certainly thrilled by the prospect of investing at the confluence of those two great assets in Tulsa."

Sharp Development’s Phase 1 schematic design process is underway. Construction is expected to be complete by the Route 66 Centennial in November of 2026. The City of Tulsa is providing Sharp Development up to $4.5 million in public funds and a long-term land lease to complete the project, along with up to $2.9 million of investments in the site.

“As the Capital of Route 66®, Tulsa is already a must-see destination on the Route, but this new development at Cry Baby Hill will be another tremendous tourism asset for our city," said Renee McKenney, Senior VP of Tourism for the Tulsa Regional Chamber and President of Tulsa Regional Tourism. "Sharp Development’s design for Palmera Motor Court is incredibly exciting. Just in time for the 2026 centennial, this is the latest transformative project celebrating Route 66. It will be wonderful space residents and visitors alike can enjoy for years to come, and it pays homage to the Route's storied history while looking toward a vibrant future down the road as well.”

Project Background & Process

For more than 10 years, the City of Tulsa has eyed redevelopment opportunities at 815 S. Riverside Drive, or Cry Baby Hill as many know it. Most recently in 2022, Sharp Development was selected to construct a mixed-use project at the site, which ultimately had to change direction based on project scope and needs. In response, the City split the project into three parts – the commercial development being one of those parts.

Earlier this year, the City of Tulsa released two other Request for Proposals (RFPs) ahead of the Route 66 Centennial. The first was for a new Route 66 Roadside Attraction at the same site as the new commercial development. Harkening to the same spirit as Catoosa’s Blue Whale or Amarillo’s Cadillac Ranch, Ken Kelleher Sculpture was the artist selected for this Roadside Attraction, which will be located in the vicinity of the commercial development. The second RFP was for an Interactive Experience where the City is seeking a technology consultant team to create a digital storytelling and extended reality product that allows its users to access an “outdoor museum” focused on Route 66 and the area.

More information about the Route 66 Interactive Experience will be released when a selection is made this fall.

Proposal Background & Process

In 2023, the City of Tulsa engaged local stakeholders regarding the future 815 S. Riverside Drive, including six stakeholder organizations, five elected officials, and a Riverview neighborhood block party. In December of last year, two public meetings were held with more than 60 attendees. In May of this year, the City released an RFP for a new commercial development, with responses due in August. The selection of Sharp Development comes after two review sessions were held with a local panel of community representatives that consisted of elected officials and City leaders, real estate experts, a member from the Tulsa Arts Commission, a member from the Route 66 Commission, and neighborhood leaders.

The panel reviewed submissions from four local developers. Ultimately, panelists recommended Sharp Development’s proposal in large part due to its architectural vision, publicly accessible amenities, financial feasibility, and ability to bring private investment to the site.

--###--

 

About Route 66 Revitalization

To date, there have been more than $4 million in capital investments anchoring extensive commercial revitalization efforts along Route 66 through Vision 2025. To see a more complete list of projects, and for more information on Route 66 in Tulsa, including efforts being made at Cry Baby Hill, visit www.ciytoftulsa.org/Route66.