Property once home to egg-shaped First Christian Church will get new life as housing

Developer Ron Bradshaw is under contract to buy the former First Christian Church campus and is planning to convert the property into housing.

Bradshaw began looking at buying the 32 acres at NW 36 and Walker Avenue in early 2023. The church with its distinctive egg-shaped roof was torn down without notice in September 2022 despite pleas that it be sold to a party that could preserve the landmark.

Bradshaw, best known for his redevelopment of the historic Page Woodson campus east of downtown, initially wasn’t sure he was interested in taking a shot at the First Christian Church property.

Much of his work in recent years has involved multi-family housing. But his past work with son and partner Jason Bradshaw included construction of Grand Circle — 34 homes — on the former Fred Jones estate in Nichols Hills.

“These are fun to do,” Bradshaw said. “I’m excited about the opportunity and what we can do to preserve this property and make it feel like it is part of the existing neighborhoods.”

Architect Bruce Bockus is one of 17 homeowners who live along Edgemere Creek that separates their Edgemere Heights neighborhood from the church property. Bockus has lived in the neighborhood for 42 years. He said the church was a great neighbor.

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The Rev. William "Bill" Alexander led construction of the church, which he called the "Church of Tomorrow." The church opened in 1956 to a crowd of about 5,000 people.

The congregation also built a separate theater, family life center and outdoor amphitheater.

“When the bell tower would play songs on Saturday evening, it was a reminder they were there,” Bockus said. “My whole family was in a play, "Li’l Abner," at Jewel Box Theatre. My son played baseball on a team that practiced on their field.”

The congregation put the property up for sale in 2016 and then moved out of the building in 2020. Bockus was alarmed when at least one potential buyer looked at tearing out trees that have grown for decades along Edgemere Creek.

“Growing up, we were creek walkers,” Bockus said. “There is a lot of wildlife out here. We’ve seen foxes, deer, beavers, possums and turtles.”

Another potential buyer proposed a dense, mixed-use development that might have included a Starbucks or other retailers at the corner of NW 36 and Walker Avenue.

“There was a big concern about it going commercial,” Bockus said. “The OnCue rumor was rampant in the neighborhood. We weren’t very excited about that. We were interested in preserving the beauty of the creek.”

Bockus joined Bradshaw’s design team when the developer expressed interest in building a neighborhood with ample greenspace and preservation of most of the property’s trees and streams.

“My ears perked up when he said ‘I want to save the trees along the creek. They are as much an asset for me and this development as they are for you,’” Bockus said. “I know Ron, and his integrity is impeccable. He is delightful to work with.”

Plans for the property include greenspace, 129 residential lots

Initial plans, set to be submitted next week to the Oklahoma City Planning Department, show 14 of the 32 acres will be reserved for common areas and greenspace. Amenities will include trails that will connect the future residents to Edgemere and Crown Heights parks.

Bradshaw said he is proposing 129 residential lots on the property, including some townhomes at the corner of NW 36 and Walker Avenue. The proposed designs include creating alleys to move garage entrances and trash pick-up away from residential streets.

“The density is higher, but the lot sizes aren’t as big,” Bockus said. “It's a contemporary idea to get the housing a bit denser but to also create a lot of green space.”

Bradshaw said he intends to create design guidelines as part of new zoning for the property. He also wants to respond to some neighbors’ requests that the development includes a nod to the church.

“I think the history of the property will be memorialized,” Bradshaw said. “This will be a neighborhood discussion just as in other projects we’ve done.”

Bockus said his neighbors with homes along the creek indicated at a meeting recently they support the plans pitched by Bradshaw. Bockus said the opportunity to be a designer on a project adjoining his neighborhood is a double-edged sword.

“There is a risk,” Bockus said. “With the first hurdle, the risk was all good,” Bockus said. “The feedback was good, the questions were honest and genuine. It was a calm discussion among neighbors. But there will be those who say we need a Starbucks or gas station on the corner.”

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Housing set for site of former egg-shaped First Christian Church in OKC