old city hall... sell sell sell!

[dbacks fan]

I want to see the May Rooms restored to their original purpose.  That ought to "stimulate" tourism downtown. 

Interesting artilce from Tulsa TV Memories http://tulsatvmemories.com/mayrooms.html towards the bottom of the page as well as a discussion of 743-3749.

[Conan71]

And I know nothing about some crazy high schoolers driving through the Main & Haskell area with air-charged water fire extinguishers...

Good article.

[carltonplace]

I thought we were talking about the Snyders...why does Mr Bunney think they would not complete the plan?

Can the city not act as its own real estate agent? Isn't a hotel right next the the convention center exactly what we were hoping for when we vacated/consolidated city hall? The council bandied about the idea of selling parks to make ends meet and suddenly we can turn up our nose to a pile of money offered for an unused building?

Quote
Bunney said the city could make the sale through two processes — a direct sale, which would require sealed bids, or by deeding the property to a city authority, such as the Tulsa Industrial Authority or the Tulsa Development Authority, to negotiate the sale.

He said he would push for using an authority because it could put together a contract to ensure that the developer completes the plan.

[RecycleMichael]

I want to see the May Rooms restored to their original purpose.  That ought to "stimulate" tourism downtown. 

Just for tourists?

[Rico]

Sorry.... Thought this was the comment section of the Tulsa World**?

[Conan71]

I thought we were talking about the Snyders...why does Mr Bunney think they would not complete the plan?

Can the city not act as its own real estate agent? Isn't a hotel right next the the convention center exactly what we were hoping for when we vacated/consolidated city hall? The council bandied about the idea of selling parks to make ends meet and suddenly we can turn up our nose to a pile of money offered for an unused building?

For some odd reason, Carlton, the city seems to want to keep the TDA relevant even though they've obviously delayed several deals and managed to play guard dog for key properties around the new ball park.  Why do I have the odd feeling this could even wind up back on the desk of someone at Jones Lang LaSalle.

[Townsend]

http://www.kjrh.com/news/local/story/Offer-to-buy-old-city-hall-turn-into-hotel/h_pRWSnTWEiLQVrT4nGA-g.cspx

Per this story everything's getting snapped right up...

The move to the new city hall also left three other buildings vacant, such as one at 7th and Houston.

City leaders say now there's interest from the OSU medical facility to buy it.

Another city building on the market is at 1st and Greenwood.

A development group is in negotiations with the city to house its company there.

And then there's the old fire station headquarters.

"There's a well-known, well-established, long-tenured Tulsa non-profit, who I'd rather not disclose just at this moment, who's interested in the old fire department headquarters," said Mike Bunney, the Economic Development Director for the City of Tulsa.

The city council has to okay the sale of city hall first.

[Patrick]

Where is the old fire department headquarters they are speaking of?

[SXSW]

Where is the old fire department headquarters they are speaking of?

Frankfort between 4th and 5th I believe.

That would be great if the city can complete all of these sales.

[Townsend]

http://www.newson6.com/global/story.asp?s=12126543

Am I misreading this?  Is this saying the sale is going through or are we still waiting on all the hoops to be set up?

TULSA, OK -- Tulsa has finally found a buyer for its old City Hall. The property has sat vacant since the city moved into One Technology Center in 2008.

The Snyder family, who recently renovated the Mayo Hotel, has offered $1 million for this property. It may mean the end of what has become an eyesore in downtown Tulsa.

Old City Hall has stuck out like a sore thumb for several years now.

The City of Tulsa put it on the market when it relocated at One Technology Center, but no buyers have stepped up to the plate until now.

The Snyders, who run Brickhugger LLC, see potential where most others don't.

"To get downtown redeveloped and vibrant again, we have to have all the buildings filled," said Tori Snyder of Brickhugger, LLC.

The family has already redone the Mayo Hotel, a building that sat vacant for two decades. Encouraged by that project, they are prepared to spend upwards of $30 million on this one.

City Hall will not be demolished, but instead converted into a 200-room hotel.

"It will help all of downtown. It'll help the BOK Center, and will definitely help the Convention Center. They need more hotel rooms," Tori Snyder said.

Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett says he was a bit surprised by the Snyders' interest. After all, this is the first and only offer the city has received.

As for the $1 million, Bartlett says it's a one-time infusion of cash and won't be used to rehire anyone.

"We would not turn around and hire a whole bunch of people. I don't think that would be a very prudent use of the money," he said.

The Synders expect to complete the renovation and have the hotel open within two years. They say despite its looks, old City Hall can be converted into a vibrant part of downtown revitalization.

"A lot of people just look at a building from the outside, and don't really understand what you can do with a building," said Tori Snyder of Brickhugger LLC, the company that has made on offer on Tulsa's old City Hall.

Also included in the deal is the Francis Campbell City Council building. The city says the sale will also generate additional savings.

Even though the building is unoccupied, the utility bill for old City Hall was still nearly $600,000 last year.

[sgrizzle]

Frankfort between 4th and 5th I believe.

That would be great if the city can complete all of these sales.

The non-profit wanting to buy the fire dept building is currently on brookside and looking to expand their operations. It's a win for downtown but not as big as a major retail or housing buyer.

[SXSW]

This will be an interesting development and the Snyder's have shown with the Mayo that they have the will (and money) to get things done.  I think it would be really cool if they really focus on the mid-century modern design aspect of old City Hall with more contemporary features.  Replacing the tinted glass with something more transparent, like the Quincy Hotel below, would be a good start..  

The main building would be renovated into the hotel, while the council chamber would become the hotel's restaurant.




http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=334&articleid=20100414_11_A11_Cityco659899&archive=yes

[Townsend]

Aren't members of the council talking themselves out of the sale?

[sgrizzle]

Aren't members of the council talking themselves out of the sale?

I read an article saying there was a "controversy" about us not getting enough money for it. Everyone in the article quoted was in favor of the sale.

[fotd]

It's an ongoing liability...I had heard $600,000 a year to be mothballed which seems to me to be a wild exageration but with the mismanagement still in place that preceeded the decay it's no wonder the city wants to dump it.

Next up for Rooney, or his shills, TIF!

Something else will come along in addition for asking a $5,000,000 or %80 cut in market value.

They just better have an understanding of storm water management fees with the city before we give it to them....  Guess the Areema hasn't helped market values at all.