(PROJECT) Langston University - Tulsa (Phase 1)

[Admin]

High-res version

Langston University will begin expanding their Tulsa presence, and move from their current rental space at OSU-Tulsa. They expect enrollment to double to 2,000 a year with the new facility and graduates to also double to 500 a year.

Estimated Cost: $8M is paid for by Vision2025
Size: 35,000 sqft building on 17.9 acres
Groundbreaking: May 10, 2007
Completion: Scheduled for August 2008
Location: Intersection of Greenwood & King Street

If you have project details or images you want posted to the forum, you can email admin (at) tulsanow.org and we will post it.

[perspicuity85]

According to the Vision 2025 website, they've been waiting on their building permit since May.  What's the hold-up?

[sgrizzle]

I'm hoping the hold up is with site updates and not the permit.

[pmcalk]

TMAPC just heard the preliminary plat for the building in August.  Once they get the final plat, they'll get the building permit.  It may be moving slowly, but it is progressing.

[Chris]

Is anyone else disappointed with the way this building is going to look?

[sgrizzle]

Looks kinda like an arena to me, but as I understand it, this is just one end of a whole complex so maybe it looks better when you see thow whole plan.

[Double A]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact: State Rep. Mike Shelton

Capitol: (405) 557-7367

Shelton Says Board of Regents Interfering with Langston-Tulsa Project and Project Funding

OKLAHOMA CITY - (October 12, 2007)--Money earmarked for Langston University-Tulsa to build a new campus building has been overextended by the Board of Regents for the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical Colleges and needs to be repaid immediately with interest, state Rep.Mike Shelton said today.

"Some actions of the A&M Board of Regents are absolutely despicable and have greatly placed Langston University-Tulsa at a position of disadvantage relative to the position of OSU-Tulsa," said Shelton, D-Oklahoma City. "Conflicts of interest on the part of the board have led to purposeful and blatant decision making that has damaged Langston University. It needs to be made right immediately, and those who are

culpable need to resign from the board of regents."

In 2004, Langston University-Tulsa was given $8 million to build a 100,000-square-foot building on the corner of historic Greenwood Street and King Street in Tulsa. The money was generated from the successful 2003 tax increase campaign called the "Vision 2025: Foresight 4 Greater Tulsa" plan. Voters of Tulsa County approved a one penny, 13-year increase in the Tulsa County Sales Tax for regional economic development and capital improvements.

Today, that $8 million sum has been reduced to approximately $4 million and is losing roughly $100,000 each month through required procedures by the A&M Board of Regents that have increased the costs of construction and planning, said Shelton. As a result, construction plans have also been scaled down and now call for a much smaller 35,000-square-foot building.

Shelton also said he believes A&M Board of Regents member Jay Helm has a conflict of interest that has resulted in millions of dollars being lost in the project.

Helm is also a member of both the OSU-Tulsa Board of Trustees and the Tulsa Development Authority, according to Shelton. Shelton said all three boards have been instrumental in obstructing progress at Langston University-Tulsa in the past, including the Tulsa Development Authority's authorization of a walking trail that was constructed in the very spot on which Langston University-Tulsa intended to build.

"There are too many obvious conflicts of interest here to write off as coincidental," said Shelton. "Jay Helm's conflicts of interest are a big part of the problem. I am calling on him to resign from each of these boards immediately. He has neither the temperament nor the aptitude to make decisions in the best interest of those whom he has been entrusted to serve."

Shelton has long been critical of the makeup of the A&M Board of Regents, saying the board's decisions are often biased toward benefitting Oklahoma State University and its affiliated colleges because, until recently, all nine members were OSU graduates.

In September, Gov. Brad Henry appointed Andrew Lester, a non-OSU graduate, to fill a vacant position on the board, leaving eight OSU graduates as members.

"That was a step in the right direction, obviously, but more needs to be done," said Shelton. "This board has been tasked with making decisions on behalf of many colleges, yet all their decisions are weighted in favor of OSU. That is unfair and leaves the non-OSU affiliated schools with neither recourse nor representation."

[Rico]

One correction AA... Jay Helm is with American Residential Group, Tulsa Metro Chamber, and in the past has been on the BOD of F&M Bank... As well as the developer involved in the Tribune Lofts.

However... I don't think he is with TDA.

[Vision 2025]

The truth is:

Absolutely NO Vision 2025 funds have been cut or in anyway redirected from the Langston Tulsa project, or any other project for that matter.

Langston Tulsa is identified to receive $8,000,000 in vision 2025 funds.

Langston Tulsa is presently funded to 95 % for a total of $7,600,000.00 which comes from two different bond sales and related Capital Improvements Agreements (the first $700,000 being dated November 30, 2004 with those funds only recently being fully expended and the additional $6,840,000 being provided by agreement dated April 16, 2007.  It should be noted that both agreements were issued to the University well in advance of the signature date.  The final 5% ($400,000) is scheduled for release in the spring to summer of 2008.

OSU-Tulsa is presently funded to the 95% level with their remainder funds forthcoming for use in equipping the facility.  This same exact methodology has been utilized across the board with the universities with the remaining 5% being released late in the projects which promoted budget conscious construction and provides needed funds for equipping the facilities which come from sales tax proceeds.  The only difference is that NSU, TCC and OU promptly addressed their projects and have already received full funding.  OSU who encountered some delay during the design process of the building is now essentially complete and ready to be equipped.
 
Langston's agreement with the Architect, dated July 11, 2005, identifies a 30,000 square foot building.  The building program developed by the University was for 45,000sf facility.  This discrepancy was reviewed by the Architect and presented at a January 31 2006 Conference Report where the Architect presented various items related to the project, including their preliminary cost estimate indicated that the University could afford a 31,150 SF building within the allotted funds.  It should also be noted this meeting was conducted in Langston Oklahoma and attended by (then new) University President Haysbert and the senior staff who had been involved in the project since inception.

The actual building being constructed is, I believe approximately, 33,000 sf. But I'll have to pull the permit and verify that.

[Vision 2025]

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

I'm hoping the hold up is with site updates and not the permit.

The university and it's consultants failed to follow up on the plat work started previously and did not submit the final plat.

No Plat no permit!

In order to get the project moving we (PMg), stepped in and worked with the City to get a limited permit released so that construction could begin while the final plat worked through the process.  

It has been reported that the final plat was scheduled for acceptance by the City Council 2 weeks ago and that the full permit had been issued however, I need to verify it happened given all the problems to date.

[Rico]

quote:Originally posted by Vision 2025

The truth is:

Absolutely NO Vision 2025 funds have been cut or in anyway redirected from the Langston Tulsa project, or any other project for that matter.

Langston Tulsa is identified to receive $8,000,000 in vision 2025 funds.

Langston Tulsa is presently funded to 95 % for a total of $7,600,000.00 which comes from two different bond sales and related Capital Improvements Agreements (the first $700,000 being dated November 30, 2004 with those funds only recently being fully expended and the additional $6,840,000 being provided by agreement dated April 16, 2007.  It should be noted that both agreements were issued to the University well in advance of the signature date.  The final 5% ($400,000) is scheduled for release in the spring to summer of 2008.

OSU-Tulsa is presently funded to the 95% level with their remainder funds forthcoming for use in equipping the facility.  This same exact methodology has been utilized across the board with the universities with the remaining 5% being released late in the projects which promoted budget conscious construction and provides needed funds for equipping the facilities which come from sales tax proceeds.  The only difference is that NSU, TCC and OU promptly addressed their projects and have already received full funding.  OSU who encountered some delay during the design process of the building is now essentially complete and ready to be equipped.
 
Langston's agreement with the Architect, dated July 11, 2005, identifies a 30,000 square foot building.  The building program developed by the University was for 45,000sf facility.  This discrepancy was reviewed by the Architect and presented at a January 31 2006 Conference Report where the Architect presented various items related to the project, including their preliminary cost estimate indicated that the University could afford a 31,150 SF building within the allotted funds.  It should also be noted this meeting was conducted in Langston Oklahoma and attended by (then new) University President Haysbert and the senior staff who had been involved in the project since inception.

The actual building being constructed is, I believe approximately, 33,000 sf. But I'll have to pull the permit and verify that.

Thank You for the clarification.. Mister Crowe.

Looking through Rep. Shelton's statement I knew there had to be some info missing.

Beck Design Group, the architectural group on this project, do very good work.

I think Rep. Shelton had an attack of Don Quixote syndrome or something....?

[perspicuity85]

Does anyone have a project update, or some photos?  The V2025 site is being updated, and there are no pictures for Langston.

[Vision 2025]

quote:Originally posted by perspicuity85

Does anyone have a project update, or some photos?  The V2025 site is being updated, and there are no pictures for Langston.

Update and photos forthcoming, current reported completion schedule is November 2008 with classes in the spring semester.

Sorry for no new pictures but the outward appearence is not changing very rapidly.

As of 5/6/08 The primary work underway is exterior brick work and window frame/glass work.

[perspicuity85]

Construction pictures from Vision web site:

[sgrizzle]

Really glad to see something happening.