Jameson Direct Inc., a real estate development company represented by James Moore, purchased the building at 6355 E. Skelly Drive, said Dave Hall of Imperial Properties.

"It's an awesome facility with great exposure off the highway," Moore said Friday. "It's been a landmark for years, and we see a lot of potential for a number of projects we're considering."

Moore said he and his developers haven't decided on a use for the building but plan to do so within two weeks.

Jameson Direct has developed many residential, commercial and industrial projects, including the Waterstone subdivision at 91st Street and Delaware Avenue and the Southern Woods office building at 91st and Yale Avenue.

The Scottish Rite building will be a completely new type of project for the company, Moore said. "This will be outside the realm of what we've done before."

Tulsa Scottish Rite actively marketed the building for sale since the first of the year, Hall said. Keith Madden, general secretary of the fraternity, said the organization decided to seek a smaller headquarters.

"We felt like it would be better for us to downsize in the long term," he said.

Hall said Tulsa Scottish Rite is in the process of completing a lease for a new headquarters location, though he did not reveal where.

Still, Scottish Rite will continue to offer the same services to its members, Madden said. The fraternity's building was used for Masonic reunions, meetings, weddings, receptions and other events.

The building is also the home of the RiteCare Clinic, a speech pathology facility that works with children age 18 months to 12 years with speaking or reading problems. The clinic will continue its operations at the fraternity's new location.

"It's not just for members, it's free to any child we're able to help," Madden said.

Built in 1970 with an auditorium added in 1972, the Scottish Rite building includes seating for more than 600, a formal dining area with a commercial kitchen, lounge areas, administration space and a board room.

Madden said he and other members of Scottish Rite have fond memories of the facility and mixed feelings about departing.

"Most of our members will miss the building since it's been a Tulsa landmark for some time," he said. "But the majority understand the reasons for the change. We view this as progress."

The sale was brokered by Hall and Kate Thorp with McGraw Realtors.

Robert Evatt 581-8447
robert.evatt@tulsaworld.com