Downtown development recap

[Teatownclown]

Hey Artist...I heard the Tulsa Club bldg. was out of contract two weeks ago. Not sure, but the buyer may have decided to bail.

Just fyi in case you want to grab some government funding and run with it.....

[TheArtist]

  If we were further along, perhaps lol.  However, we are trying to do everything on private donations only.  So we shall see.

[Townsend]

From Tulsa World:

Three downtown housing projects selected to receive tax funds

The former YMCA, Vandever store and Bill White Chevorlet site were selected Thursday to enter into contract negotiations with Tulsa Development Authority for a portion of $3 million in sales tax funds for downtown housing.

The three projects and funding amounts were recommended by the authority's Downtown Housing Task Force. Thirteen proposals were received.

The funding available comes from the 2001 third-penny sales tax for downtown housing and is allocated in 10-year interest free loans, which allows the funds to be repaid and then recirculated for other downtown housing projects.

The three projects selected will all refurbish existing vacant downtown buildings.

Tulsa Downtown Living Now, a group led by John Snyder, are behind two of the selected projects -- the YMCA and Vandever building.

Snyder, along with his wife and daughter, have successfully redeveloped the historic Mayor Hotel, completed the Detroit Lofts in the Greenwood area and are redeveloping the former City Hall.

The authority allocated $1.75 million for the YMCA, on the corner of Sixth Street and Denver Avenue, to construct 82 lofts apartments.

Tulsa Downtown Living Now also received $250,000 for the Vandever, 202 S. Fifth Street, to construct 80 rental units.

The third project, the East End Village, is led by developers Mark Larson and Travis Skaggs. The project received $1 million for 50 rental units and commercial space on the former Bill White Chervolet site at Fourth Street and Elgin Avenue.

All of the funding allocations are subject to successful contract negoitiations.

[sgrizzle]

[DowntownDan]

Does that mean that all three projects are going to happen?  Or does it mean that these projects are going to take the award into consideration to see if maybe sometime in the future it might possible lead to negotiations to someday break ground on a project for future construction depending on economic indicators in existence at a time in which construction contractors are in preliminary negotiations for certain project possibilities?  It seems alot of downtown projects get talked about.  I'd like to see some action in my lifetime.

[RecycleMichael]

South Fifth?

[swake]

Does that mean that all three projects are going to happen?  Or does it mean that these projects are going to take the award into consideration to see if maybe sometime in the future it might possible lead to negotiations to someday break ground on a project for future construction depending on economic indicators in existence at a time in which construction contractors are in preliminary negotiations for certain project possibilities?  It seems alot of downtown projects get talked about.  I'd like to see some action in my lifetime.

Most projects that get these awards are completed, only one was never started.  Two of the three awards are to the Snyder family that has completed both previous awards.

Done:
Mayo Hotel
Mayo Building
Philtower
Tribune Building
Detroit Lofts

Currently Under Construction:
Tribune II

Not Done:
Sagar's 1st Street Lofts (half built and in foreclosure)

Never started:
Kanbar's Transok Building (money returned and reused)

[carltonplace]

Anyone have any details on the Bill White project? Is this new construction?

[carltonplace]

Scratch that, I suppose the Bill White project is a refurb of this building

[rdj]

Anyone have any details on the Bill White project? Is this new construction?

Mark Larson owns most of the buildings that comprise what was commonly referred to as the "Bill White buildings" in the "East Village".  Prior to selecting the Greenwood site the donors to what become ONEOK field had this land under contract.  Larson bought it in 2009.  He is originally from Edmond and owns several companies there and in Tulsa.  He has family ties that have extensive experience in history re-purposing on the east coast.  The building they received money for is a two story building that is about 28,000 sq ft on the corner of 4th & Elgin.  The cool thing about it is the ceilings are 16 foot.  It has the potential to be one of the only "lofts" (like people see lofts in the moves/TV) in downtown.

[swake]

Mark Larson owns most of the buildings that comprise what was commonly referred to as the "Bill White buildings" in the "East Village".  Prior to selecting the Greenwood site the donors to what become ONEOK field had this land under contract.  Larson bought it in 2009.  He is originally from Edmond and owns several companies there and in Tulsa.  He has family ties that have extensive experience in history re-purposing on the east coast.  The building they received money for is a two story building that is about 28,000 sq ft on the corner of 4th & Elgin.  The cool thing about it is the ceilings are 16 foot.  It has the potential to be one of the only "lofts" (like people see lofts in the moves/TV) in downtown.

How in earth are they going to fit 50 units AND commercial space in that little building? FWIW how are they going to get 80 units into the Vandever Building?

[sgrizzle]

Scratch that, I suppose the Bill White project is a refurb of this building

No, that's the Tulsa Opera building

[ZYX]

Wow, I'm actually very pleased with their decisions here. All of them are restoring vacant buildings which is a plus since we have so many of them left, and it will provide us with a combined total of 210 new units downtown. Honestly, I think the TDA actually got the best bang for their buck here. I'm impressed!

[ZYX]

Also, where is the Vandever Building?

[BKDotCom]

Also, where is the Vandever Building?

per the article: 202 S 5th St... not sure of actual address - it's on 5th between Main & Boston