The Eddie to bring apartments, retail and green space to Midtown

Momentum continues to build in Midtown as “The Eddie,” a new mixed-use development, moves toward construction in 2026. The project, located on the former EMSA headquarters site at 1111 Classen Drive, will feature apartments, retail space and a public park with an amphitheater, adding a new layer of vibrancy to one of Oklahoma City’s most walkable districts. 

The development, a partnership between Midtown Renaissance and local developer Clay Farha, is seeking $2.5 million in tax increment financing (TIF) to support the $19.8 million project. Plans include closing a block of Classen Drive between Walker Avenue and Dewey Avenue to create a green space designed for festivals, pop-up markets and community events. 

Formerly known as “Classen Marquette,” the project has been renamed The Eddie in honor of B.D. Eddie, an early OKC businessman, civic leader and philanthropist—and the patriarch of Farha’s family-owned business. 

The Eddie family originally purchased the block in 1980, a site once home to the Boulevard Cafeteria, a beloved OKC dining staple that operated from 1956 to 2015. 

A modern addition to a revitalized district 

Midtown Renaissance—the development group led by Chris Fleming, Bob Howard and Mickey Clagg—has been instrumental in transforming Midtown over the past two decades. Their portfolio includes projects such as The Guardian, The Sentinel, Fassler Hall and the Phillips Murrah building, all of which have helped establish Midtown as a thriving urban neighborhood. 

The Eddie will include 48 apartments and approximately 13,000 square feet of ground-level retail space, complemented by around 80 parking spaces tucked behind the development. The five-story project aims to blend residential, commercial and public-use space to further activate the area’s street life. 

Driving revitalization along Classen 

The project’s proposed TIF assistance comes from the newly formed Classen Corridor TIF district, an economic development tool designed to encourage investment and revitalization along Classen Boulevard and Classen Drive. 

If approved, construction could begin in early 2026, with completion expected within 12 to 14 months. The development will add to a series of recent infill projects surrounding Midtown’s central roundabout near NW 10th and NW 11th streets, further transforming the district into a hub of living, dining and community life.