UT on CBD

[MichaelC]

More at Urban Tulsa

quote:With downtown in the news recently as the city seeks bids to sell a bit of prime real estate across the street from the construction site of the BOk Arena, some of the prime movers in downtown redevelopment--longtime property owners--weigh in on the subject and provide a little background for things to come . . .

Michael Sager, along with David Sharp, are larger property owners who have played a large role in the slow but sure re-development of the city's old, warehouse district—parceled up these days and renamed The Blue Dome and Brady Districts, respectively.

The two have almost single-handedly supported the re-birth of downtown's northern fringe by working with small-scale, local entrepreneurs' modest needs for adequate, hip space—on the groundfloor and above.

Sager has a special connection with downtown Tulsa. His grandfather had his office in downtown when it was the heart of Tulsa activity--a true urban hub. He recalls where some of the city's small hotels were located; he can even tell you were some of the city's brothels were located on First Street.

Today, Sager doesn't see the downtown of yesterday. He sees office space, and lots of it.