Wagoner EDA approves agreement to build ‘the Junction’ public event space at 111 South Main

The City of Wagoner Economic Development Authority on Oct. 6 voted to enter an agreement with the City of Wagoner and the Wagoner County Economic Development Authority to develop a public event space called the Junction at 111 South Main Street.

Members discussed project financing and risk before the vote. The contract presented to the authority is $1,200,000 with a $200,000 contingency, meaning the project could cost up to $1.4 million if contingency funds are used. The Chandler family has pledged $300,000 and Wagoner County increased its offer to $400,000; the city was being asked to provide $500,000. The transcript notes hope that the remaining $200,000 could come from P3 grants or other sources but that the P3 program has been suspended.

Unidentified Speaker 2 highlighted the Chandler family’s commitment: "The Chandler family is going to give $300,000 to this project." The authority discussed alternatives if outside funding is not available, including scaling back features. Unidentified Speaker 6 warned of funding uncertainty, saying the P3 program is currently suspended and "we hope it'll come back," and noted banks had been approached for P3-style participation.

A separate, immediate concern is a structurally compromised building directly south of the Junction site. Speaker 6 recounted structural-engineering reports from 2019 and a midyear inspection that concluded the wall "needs to be replaced," noting exposed and failing mortar and the potential that repair costs could exceed the building’s value. An estimate from 2019 to rebuild that wall was $183,000, and staff said they need the building owner’s permission to access the property for updated assessment.

Officials described several options for addressing the south building: encouraging the owner to repair with tax incentives tied to sales-tax rebate programs over several years; negotiating a swap of properties (for example, involving the Harris Building); or building a protective barrier wall using steel girders, an option Scott Graham has priced out. Speaker 6 cautioned the barrier would be a partial solution that might not resolve all liabilities.

Project timing was discussed: PDG, the project architect/engineer, would move to 65% engineering drawings within two to three months and to 100% drawings by year’s end. After a probable 90-day bidding period, officials estimated groundbreaking in March–April and roughly nine months of construction, putting completion in 2026 if the schedule holds.

Unidentified Speaker 7 moved to enter the agreement; the motion was seconded and passed on a roll-call vote by the members present. The final roll call recorded affirmative votes from the members listed in the transcript and no recorded nays or abstentions on this motion.

Next steps noted in discussion included obtaining the owner’s cooperation to inspect the neighboring building and returning to the authority with options for addressing the structural issue and any necessary adjustments to project scope.