Chick-fil-A has filed permits to build its sixth Norman location on a prominent site in University North Park.
The Atlanta-based fast-food giant submitted a $4.5 million permit application for a new restaurant at the southwest corner of Rock Creek Road and 24th Avenue Northwest. The project includes construction of the building and associated site improvements for the 1.25-acre parcel.
County records show the land is owned by UTC II LLC, an entity tied to North Carolina-based Collette Real Estate. Collette partnered with Sooner Investments to develop the southern portion of UNP.
No sale or lease documents for the site have been filed and the permit has yet to be approved by the city at the time of reporting.
The proposed site is located directly south of a planned $1 billion Rock Creek Entertainment District. That project is currently stalled as the Oklahoma Supreme Court weighs a challenge regarding a citizen-led initiative petition. The court must decide if the “gist” of the petition — which sought to put the project’s Tax Increment Financing, or TIF, to a public vote — was legally sufficient.
If the financing districts, known as TIF 4 and TIF 5, go into effect, 100% of the property and sales tax increments generated by the new Chick-fil-A would be diverted for up to 25 years. Those funds would be used to pay for the construction and financing of a new arena and parking garage.
The chicken chain currently operates two stand-alone restaurants at Main Street and 24th Avenue Northwest, and Alameda Street and 12th Avenue Northeast. It also has a location in Sooner Mall and two sites on the University of Oklahoma campus: one in the Oklahoma Memorial Union and another in Couch Restaurants.
Chick-fil-A operates more than 3,000 locations internationally.