Towerview Apartments

[akupetsky]

I am not saying that this guy isn't a creep, but I don't think its surprising that he hadn't done much to the place.  He bought the property (wasn't it part of another deal?), and within a year, the health department shut it down.  Almost immediately after that, LaFortune began pushing to acquire it through 3rd penny.  Then HH showed up, and they negotiated a contract that fell through.  Then ED proceedings began.  Then it burned down.  I am not sure when he was suppose to begin that work on condos.  Developments do take some time.  Take 21st & Riverside--how long has that property sat empty, waiting for the developer to get started?  Maybe the Towerview guy doesn't have a lot of credibility, but the same could be said for many developers.  Should we take their property too?

[waterboy]

quote:Originally posted by akupetsky

I am not saying that this guy isn't a creep, but I don't think its surprising that he hadn't done much to the place.  He bought the property (wasn't it part of another deal?), and within a year, the health department shut it down.  Almost immediately after that, LaFortune began pushing to acquire it through 3rd penny.  Then HH showed up, and they negotiated a contract that fell through.  Then ED proceedings began.  Then it burned down.  I am not sure when he was suppose to begin that work on condos.  Developments do take some time.  Take 21st & Riverside--how long has that property sat empty, waiting for the developer to get started?  Maybe the Towerview guy doesn't have a lot of credibility, but the same could be said for many developers.  Should we take their property too?

My feeling as well. Be careful what you wish for in the taking of this property. Even if the owner wants to drop the building, sprinkle grass seed and put in bird feeders it is his to do so. NOTE: Many downtown land owners have elected to not develop their property in hopes it would be valuable and someone else, even the govt., would buy it at an inflated price and make them rich(er). How is this guy any different? Is it because he is not in the "club"? I don't care if he is more duplicitous than the others, if the rules are set for the game, he gets to play under those rules.

[TheArtist]

quote:Originally posted by Rico

quote:Originally posted by TheArtist

and.... who else?

That is a question for you to wonder about and "Himelfarb" to know the answer to....

To say that HH was the only potential investor is like saying IVI is the only company that would be willing to build a bridge in south Tulsa... Aint So......

I was the first to say that HH was not even a "potential" investor.  I was the first to lay out how phony and unprofessional their website was and that it was unlikely anything would happen from them. I liked the development, and would have liked for it to have happened, but knew it likely wouldn't.  Even if the city had done everything they requested, I don't believe they had what it took to get the job done. Hows their development in Owasso going?

[Wrinkle]

quote:Originally posted by TheArtist
I was the first to say that HH was not even a "potential" investor.  I was the first to lay out how phony and unprofessional their website was and that it was unlikely anything would happen from them. I liked the development, and would have liked for it to have happened, but knew it likely wouldn't.  Even if the city had done everything they requested, I don't believe they had what it took to get the job done. Hows their development in Owasso going?

Yeah, the headline would've been, "Owasso Developer to Reshape Tulsa's Future".

There's a whole 'nuther set of characters behind all this who have yet to come out of the crawl space.

HH was mostly a distraction, the 'real' plan is forthcoming.

IAC, the TV guy needs to be treated like he actually owns the parcel. There is nothing urgent, public or otherwise of interest to the City with regard to his property once the safety issue is resolved.

BTW, what is, and who owns, the building attached to the north side of TowerView?

[Leah]

quote:Originally posted by akupetsky

I am not saying that this guy isn't a creep, but I don't think its surprising that he hadn't done much to the place.  He bought the property (wasn't it part of another deal?), and within a year, the health department shut it down.  Almost immediately after that, LaFortune began pushing to acquire it through 3rd penny.  Then HH showed up, and they negotiated a contract that fell through.  Then ED proceedings began.  Then it burned down.  I am not sure when he was suppose to begin that work on condos.  Developments do take some time.  Take 21st & Riverside--how long has that property sat empty, waiting for the developer to get started?  Maybe the Towerview guy doesn't have a lot of credibility, but the same could be said for many developers.  Should we take their property too?

I Agree!

Towerview timeline

1922: The Towerview opens next door to the Tulsa Carnegie Library.

1965: The Carnegie Library is torn down.

September 2003: Tulsa County voters approve the construction of an 18,000-seat arena within a block of the Towerview site.

March 2004: Oregon investor Luay Aljamal buys the property.

Sept. 26-28, 2004: Tulsa World publishes a three-day series about life inside the Towerview.

Oct. 4, 2004: City inspectors converge on the building for a mass inspection, finding numerous code violations.

Oct. 19, 2004: Last residents move out as health officials enforce an "order to vacate."

February 2005: Police clear squatters from the building before officials board up the windows and doors.

December 2005: Aljamal announces a plan to renovate the building into "upscale, trendy" condominiums.

Dec. 12, 2006: Tulsa Development Authority approves resolution to use the power of eminent domain to buy the property.

The Towerview has always been a Tulsa Eye sore.  In 1989, Towerview was in the same condition as it is today.



Staff Reports
10/04/2004
Tulsa World (Final Home Edition), Page A2 of Opinion
Apartments in a time warp
Regarding your article on the Towerview Apartments, I came here from Florida in 1987 and I moved into the Towerview Apartments. I figured that coming to a big town like Tulsa you live downtown. I stayed there two weeks, heard the roaches and saw those long tails running across the floor also. What he has written in the article is the same thing that was going on in 1987.


And Luay Aljamal from Oregon Purchased the buiding in a group deal sight unseen.

MICHAEL OVERALL World Staff Writer
10/20/2004
Tulsa World (Final Home Edition), Page A1 of News
The building is owned by Concord Development, a company controlled by Oregon resident Luay Aljamal. He bought the Towerview through an Internet sale in March, when he had not seen the building and did not realize it was in such bad shape, Williams said.

"You can't realistically ask us, in a few months, to fix problems that took years to create," she said. "My boss is an honorable man, a father of two, a good husband. He's not trying to rip anybody off."

The city gave him 10 days to fix the building or close it down.  Knowing that that this was a loosing battle and the city wanted(the city owns the parking lot next to the building and has an agreement with the geodata building)  Luay closed Towerview down.

Towerview's tenants gone
MICHAEL OVERALL World Staff Writer
10/20/2004
Tulsa World (Final Home Edition), Page A1 of News  

Fire marshals and police officers arrived about 10:30 a.m. to enforce an "order to vacate" that had been posted on the front door 10 days earlier.

After a barrage of inspections in early October, the Tulsa City-County Health Department gave the building's owner an ultimatum -- fix several code violations that made the Towerview unsafe and unhealthy, or get all the residents out.

At first, the owner -- Luay Aljamal, an Oregon businessman -- seemed to fight to keep the building open. He hired new guards, painted and cleaned up the hallways, removed broken heaters and installed new electrical hardware.

But late last week, with just three full days left before the Health Department's deadline, the management posted a handwritten note telling residents to find other places to live.[/i]

Then trying to reestablish his investment, announced that he was going to build condos in December of 2005.

Mayor sees Towerview as hotel site
BRIAN BARBER World Staff Writer
12/29/2005
Tulsa World (Final Home Edition), Page A1 of News  

The owner of the old apartments has other plans for the property.
Money to buy the dilapidated Towerview Apartments so a new downtown hotel can be built across from the BOK Center is included in the mayor's third-penny sales tax proposal.
However, the owner of the property wants to convert the building into high-end lofts.

"We would certainly listen to any reasonable, solid offer that might be made," said the owner, Oregon businessman Luay Aljamal, who controls Concorde Development of Oklahoma. "But right now, this is the plan."

Then HH comes along in April of 2006 with a contract to purchase towerview for $200,500.00.  Then later this contract is canceled in April of 2006.  So for one year this man was thinking that he "is" working with "the city" and "the people of Tulsa."  
Then the city uses eminent domain to take the building saying the the building is "blighted"  BUT now that the owner is going to tear Towerview down and continue on with his investment.  Does everyone think that the city is right in continuing on with the eminent domain process?  I definetly think the city does have a hotel up its sleeve and going to continue with the eminent domain process.  I dont think that Mr. Luay Aljamal knew what he was getting into purchasing Towerview in the beginning.  He certainly didn't make Towerview the way it is now...he just aquiered it in the very end.  Maybe we should rethink who this guy from Oregon really is....and give him a chance.

[Leah]

quote:BTW, what is, and who owns, the building attached to the north side of TowerView?

GeoData....they have a contract with the city.

[Leah]

A few changes to my quote above...The Heavenly Hospitality Contract was canceled in October of 2006.  And the price was $2,000,050.00.

[perspicuity85]

quote:Originally posted by Leah
He certainly didn't make Towerview the way it is now...he just aquiered it in the very end.  Maybe we should rethink who this guy from Oregon really is....and give him a chance.[/b][/size=2][/red]

Earlier in this discussion, I was pro eminent domain because it seemed to me that otherwise nothing positive would ever be done with the property.  After reading into this more deeply, I have changed my mind.  If the city wants to develop the land as a mixed hotel/condo project, why can't they let the current owner be a part of the condo development?  Leah made a good point, the owner bought the property after it was already in poor condition.  Surely he did truly want to redevelop the property, why else would he have purchased it in the first place?  This guy sounds like a much easier developer to do business with than Heavenly Hospitality.

Furthermore, it seems that the hotel portion of the project is unneccessary considering the current supply of downtown hotel rooms, renovations of Crowne Plaza, and three possible new hotels in the East End.

[bacjz00]

Yeah when DO those East End hotels open up?

[Wrinkle]

quote:Originally posted by bacjz00

Yeah when DO those East End hotels open up?

Free Market forces will determine the date based upon potential for customers, upon site/market evaluations, a proforma and the developers ability to persuade lenders he has the ability to make his dream happen.

Where are the customers for the arena?

[Wrinkle]

quote:Originally posted by Leah

quote:BTW, what is, and who owns, the building attached to the north side of TowerView?

GeoData....they have a contract with the city.

Where might one obtain a copy of this contract?
It is public information/domain.

[carltonplace]

quote:Originally posted by perspicuity85

quote:Originally posted by Leah
He certainly didn't make Towerview the way it is now...he just aquiered it in the very end.  Maybe we should rethink who this guy from Oregon really is....and give him a chance.[/b][/size=2][/red]

Earlier in this discussion, I was pro eminent domain because it seemed to me that otherwise nothing positive would ever be done with the property.  After reading into this more deeply, I have changed my mind.  If the city wants to develop the land as a mixed hotel/condo project, why can't they let the current owner be a part of the condo development?  Leah made a good point, the owner bought the property after it was already in poor condition.  Surely he did truly want to redevelop the property, why else would he have purchased it in the first place?  This guy sounds like a much easier developer to do business with than Heavenly Hospitality.

Furthermore, it seems that the hotel portion of the project is unneccessary considering the current supply of downtown hotel rooms, renovations of Crowne Plaza, and three possible new hotels in the East End.

I can't see any reason not to let this guy have a chance to develop his property.
If he wants to play he should stop speculating and get a plan in front of the TDA so they can move forward knowing how much land they will be able to offer to the next potential.

[bacjz00]

quote:Originally posted by Wrinkle

quote:Originally posted by bacjz00

Yeah when DO those East End hotels open up?

Where are the customers for the arena?

Wrinkle...maybe you don't know this.  The Arena isn't open for business.  When it does open, you'll hear all about the events through local media outlets and you can fight the 1.2 million people living within 80 miles of Tulsa who will be glad to pony up money for tickets to concerts, shows, and sporting events.  

The east end hotels are nothing but a drawing.  I WANT them to happen, I really do, but until something bigger and bolder than the Jenks Riverwalk gets privately financed inside of Tulsa County, I continue to wonder if anyone will EVER sack up and privately invest in this city.

[RecycleMichael]

I think we need one higher end hotel and three or more mid-range hotels downtown. I am sure we are missing out on lots of small and medium conventions by not having enough hotel rooms downtown.

I am certainly not an expert on the Tulsa marketplace, but I stay in a downtown hotel in at least twelve different American cities in year. I know how a downtown hotel attracts business and I know that they will spur downtown life.

These kind of visitors need a variety of dining options, convenient retail options for sundry items, meeting space, cabs, etc. Most downtown hotels have nice restaurants and bars as well.

A nice hotel across from the arena would be a great place to book a company party, meet other professionals, even conduct job interviews.

Hotel lobbys are a very popular place to hang out, almost being the discos or bookstore of the new millenium.

[MichaelC]

I believe the hotel is a good thing too.  However, if the old Towerview property is truly going to be developed by this company from Oregon, then I'd kind of like to see the City back off on ED and maybe begin negotiations for the BOK drive thru.  It would be more expensive, but there are other projects that could go on the TDA property next to Towerview.

On the other hand, until this guy actually begins construction, the city has no reason to stop ED. Whether the project is real or fictional, it's kind of a race now.