Wayne Gretzky famously said, “Skate to where the puck is going to be, not to where it has been.” That phrase rings true in business, investing and many other life endeavors. In the Oklahoma City metro, the puck is clearly heading to the north and east of I-35, as corridors collide to create an exciting yet tranquil lifestyle that takes you to a new world of peaceful, country living. If you haven’t ventured up the interstate to see what’s happening as of late, the area has tapped into the desires of those wanting acreage, privacy, nature and amenities. Edmond, the once sleepy community that became known mostly for its traffic, has become a world class suburban area for families of all lifestyles and sizes to call home.
Starting at Memorial Road, venturing north toward Waterloo and both east and west of I-35, is a trifecta of residential development, commercial growth and infrastructure that creates OKC Metro’s newest hot spot. Leading Edmond and OKC Realtor Wyatt Poindexter, has seen the trend for several years. “After COVID, buyers started looking for more land, privacy and areas where neighbors aren’t stacked on top of each other with crowded amenities.” The surging demand is made visible by recent land prices. Poindexter sold a 2 acre lot in the sublime residential area of Sugar Hill, just off Route 66 and east of I-35, for $500,000. The same lot that sold for $200,000 just a few years earlier. In addition to Sugar Hill, numerous luxury estates are being built in Sweetwater, Shoreline, The Falls, Quo Vadis and other areas that offer much to buyers in search of luxury real estate away from the city. There are plenty of options below a million dollars, offering choices for young families as well.
With increased housing comes previously unimaginable commercial development, including the announcement that Whole Foods Market is coming to Edmond’s Legacy at Covell, along with Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurant, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Shake Shack and Dick’s Sporting Goods. If Whole Foods isn’t your thing, Crest Foods just opened a massive new location in the same area. Legacy at Covell is being developed by Dallas based Raptor Properties as a mixed-use, walkable destination with restaurants, shopping and community focused spaces. This “lifestyle hub” will make East Edmond even more appealing and create more development in every direction.
“This area feels like nothing done in Oklahoma before,” states John Matteson, a renowned custom home builder whose properties typically range from $1 million to $5 million. “It will just create more growth and opportunity that compares to development previously associated with major markets like Dallas or Atlanta.”
A further example of this growth is the recent opening of Blockman’s Chophouse, an “all wagyu” steakhouse on Route 66, located next to Chicken Shack. Future additions to the area include a state of the art Edmond YMCA and Uncommon Ground Sculpture Park, which will exist alongside numerous healthcare facilities, new church locations and some of OKC’s best public and private schools. All this, with still large plots of land available for investment and future development, including two large parcels located west of I-35 and 33rd Street.
Growing pains will include a need to upgrade city infrastructure and roads, and that’s where it gets complicated. Edmond Mayor Mark Nash recently stated, “Every single house that we add, new homes built in Edmond, the city loses money. It costs us more because of trying to provide police, fire, street maintenance, water, all the utility connections, all the things you do to keep it running.” It will take economic development to sustain this infrastructure, as Edmond voters rejected a large proposed property tax increase in last year’s election.
Edmond is growing a suburban lifestyle culture that any city would be proud of. This includes more niche development along 2nd street around the University of Central Oklahoma and all the way into Downtown Edmond, which is emerging as a new hub of activity that appeals to students, artists, hipsters, retirees and urban lifestyle seekers alike. Next year’s centennial anniversary of Route 66 and the buildup toward OKC being a host city for the 2028 Olympic Games make the future very bright and promising for all.
Drew Williamson is managing partner of Red Center Media, LLC, publisher of the Oklahoma Gazette.
This article appears in Dec 24-2025.