Some Good News regarding Downtown!

[Rico]

Yesterday's World contained an article, that not for the "River" and WalMart, would have been sure to have be "Hot Talk"...

This is one case that I would come out in favor of "Imenent Domain"............


"Tulsa Club may get a new lease on life!

[]

[sgrizzle]

I read that, it's an overt push to get the owner to get off his butt. Don't know that it'll work though.

[TheArtist]

Todays TW had a similar article but mentioned that the city was going to work on around 60 different vacant properties.  Its hard to get much momentum downtown when there are so many property owners who have no intention of doing anything other than waiting to sell. Supposedly when downtown revitalizes and property becomes expensive so they can make a handy profit. Problem is with so many properties sitting around vacant, with the owners having no intention of doing anything, it actually stagnates growth.

NEWSFLASH!

1.There isnt going to be another oil boom downtown revival.

2.Businesses can just as easily locate in the suburbs. No need to locate downtown.

Course even with the Petroleum Club building. The property owner paid 125,000 for it. To him its nothing but a tiny bet. Bout like owning a single small home. He can sit on it 20, 30, 40 years or more, pass it on to his kids, whatever, and if nothing happens,,, no big deal to him it was a tiny investment to begin with.

[Wrinkle]

Pushing a little hard, wouldn't you say?

I thought this bunch was high on incentives. I guess that's not for out of state owners, though.

Reminds me of one of Bob Poe's favorite quotes.
Something about "bootjack".

A comment on the World's article suggested the same treatment for parking lot owners. That would be equality, but none-the-less wrong.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by TheArtist

Todays TW had a similar article but mentioned that the city was going to work on around 60 different vacant properties.  Its hard to get much momentum downtown when there are so many property owners who have no intention of doing anything other than waiting to sell. Supposedly when downtown revitalizes and property becomes expensive so they can make a handy profit. Problem is with so many properties sitting around vacant, with the owners having no intention of doing anything, it actually stagnates growth.

NEWSFLASH!

1.There isnt going to be another oil boom downtown revival.

2.Businesses can just as easily locate in the suburbs. No need to locate downtown.

Course even with the Petroleum Club building. The property owner paid 125,000 for it. To him its nothing but a tiny bet. Bout like owning a single small home. He can sit on it 20, 30, 40 years or more, pass it on to his kids, whatever, and if nothing happens,,, no big deal to him it was a tiny investment to begin with.

Tulsa club, not petroleum.

[Double A]

quote:Originally posted by Rico

Yesterday's World contained an article, that not for the "River" and WalMart, would have been sure to have be "Hot Talk"...

This is one case that I would come out in favor of "Imenent Domain"............


"Tulsa Club may get a new lease on life!              

[]

                                            Use the Tulsa Club building as a permanent home for Tulsa School for Arts and Sciences as suggested in another thread. That would be a legitimate use of eminent domain IMO. Make it a feeder school for students living in the IDL. Watch the demand for Downtown residential skyrocket and the other buildings get redeveloped by private developers to meet that demand with commercial retail to follow. A great school like TSAS downtown would be a valuable tool for downtown residential/retail revitalization.

[TheArtist]

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

quote:Originally posted by TheArtist

Todays TW had a similar article but mentioned that the city was going to work on around 60 different vacant properties.  Its hard to get much momentum downtown when there are so many property owners who have no intention of doing anything other than waiting to sell. Supposedly when downtown revitalizes and property becomes expensive so they can make a handy profit. Problem is with so many properties sitting around vacant, with the owners having no intention of doing anything, it actually stagnates growth.

NEWSFLASH!

1.There isnt going to be another oil boom downtown revival.

2.Businesses can just as easily locate in the suburbs. No need to locate downtown.

Course even with the Petroleum Club building. The property owner paid 125,000 for it. To him its nothing but a tiny bet. Bout like owning a single small home. He can sit on it 20, 30, 40 years or more, pass it on to his kids, whatever, and if nothing happens,,, no big deal to him it was a tiny investment to begin with.

Tulsa club, not petroleum.

My bad, I was picturing the Tulsa Club in my mind, everyone was supposed to see that. [8D]

[TheArtist]

quote:Originally posted by Wrinkle

Pushing a little hard, wouldn't you say?

I thought this bunch was high on incentives. I guess that's not for out of state owners, though.

Reminds me of one of Bob Poe's favorite quotes.
Something about "bootjack".

A comment on the World's article suggested the same treatment for parking lot owners. That would be equality, but none-the-less wrong.

Speaking of incentives....

Why does the cement factory property on the west bank cost so much? If the demographics, booming population growth and money making potential are much greater in the suburbs and the land cheaper. Why would a developer want to pay 10 times as much for less property with a poor demographic, in the inner city?

Does the city buying property artificially raise the value by creating a demand that wouldnt otherwise exist?

Why does 300 acres of prime property in Jenks cost 5 mill, yet 100 acres of lousy property in the inner city costs 50 mill?

[cannon_fodder]

You answered your own question Artist... its in the inner city.  Not that the cost shouldnt be questioned, but...

Around Jenks you can get 300 acres many different places.  In Tulsa, a 100 acres tract is hard to come by.

[Rico]

quote:Originally posted by Double A

quote:Originally posted by Rico

Yesterday's World contained an article, that not for the "River" and WalMart, would have been sure to have be "Hot Talk"...

This is one case that I would come out in favor of "Imenent Domain"............


"Tulsa Club may get a new lease on life!              

[]

                                            Use the Tulsa Club building as a permanent home for Tulsa School for Arts and Sciences as suggested in another thread. That would be a legitimate use of eminent domain IMO. Make it a feeder school for students living in the IDL. Watch the demand for Downtown residential skyrocket and the other buildings get redeveloped by private developers to meet that demand with commercial retail to follow. A great school like TSAS downtown would be a valuable tool for downtown residential/retail revitalization.

Excellent idea...

How many people can remember when George Bush senior ate lunch at the Tulsa Club during his Presidency...?

That is a wonderful building... Filled with History.

[Wrinkle]

I'm for any reasonable plan which puts this building back to use AND involves the buildings' current owner to the degree he wishes to be involved. (i.e., win-win for us and the owner).

If the City proceeds to attempt to take his property, without giving him benefit or opportunity to make it not be a public problem, then I'll be opposed in a major way. (i.e., "TowerView").

I'd even support incentives to the owner to participate in a project of some kind (Arts college).

Demolition should be avoided by any/every means. In fact, this building should be placed on the National Historic Places list.

Where's the press on comments from the buildings' owner?

I drove by this building yesterday. It's actually in more disrepair externally than I had thought/imagined. All appears to have been caused by vandals from the inside out. Broken windows up high. Graffiti mostly along the top edge of the 2nd floor balcony (easily cleaned).

But, it wouldn't take much to clean up, replace windows and secure the access, thereby removing any public issue and allowing it to stand free of City intervention whether used or not.

[carltonplace]

It needs to be used. What's the point of sitting and speculating that someday this building will be worth something and letting it fall down around you. If you lived next to a rent house with an absentee land lord you would want them to take responsibility for their property and keep it in good repair. You certainly wouldn't want your property value to be depressed, or to deal with the vandalism or crime that it brings. You wouldn't want a fire on that property to spread to yours.