Tulsa World: Downtown interest up

MAKE US YOUR HOMEPAGE | Saturday, November 21, 2009 | WIRELESS

Home > Business

Newspaper View Print this story

Comment

RSS

Bookmark

Downtown interest up

The former site of the Towerview Apartments, now merely an open lot on Third Street between Cheyenne and Denver avenues, has potential for development as the nearby BOK Center gets ready to open. DARYL WILSON/Tulsa World

By ROBERT EVATT World Staff Writer
Published: 8/24/2008 2:17 AM
Last Modified: 8/24/2008 3:20 AM

For many Tulsans, the BOK Center isn't just a place to host large events. It's also a beacon of hope for a long-desired influx of shops, restaurants and nightlife to the downtown area.

That influx still hasn't arrived as the arena prepares for opening night, but some projects are under way and real estate brokers such as Monty Berry with NAI Commercial Properties say there could be more coming soon.

"I've seen a pronounced renewal of interest in downtown from a lot of different groups," he said. "People who wouldn't consider downtown have now put it back on the radar."

Clint Baronowski, vice president of Kanbar Properties, a management company that oversees the 15 downtown buildings owned by California inventor and philanthropist Maurice Kanbar, said commercial representatives weren't ready to commit to the area when the first few girders for the BOK Center went into the ground. But now that the arena is almost finished, developers are much more excited.

"We have people approaching us now, where in the past we had to ask people to take a look," he said.

Berry said he has talked to real estate brokers and developers from other states who have ideas for mixed-use retail, hospitality and loft apartment developments.

Mike Bunney, economic development director for the city of Tulsa, said the push to market the former City Hall property as a hotel and retail site has attracted several interested parties.

"We've gotten calls from at least four hotel developers," he

said.

Still, to date none of these outside developers has moved beyond talk. Many of the lots around the BOK Center remain undeveloped or under-occupied.

A former motel that houses the Coney Island restaurant at Fourth Street and Cheyenne Avenue remains vacant and for sale. The former site of the Towerview Apartments, which were condemned and torn down nearly two years ago, is now just a parking lot.

But some local entrepreneurs have already taken action. Guillerimo Rojas believed strongly enough in the area to move the Casa Lorado restaurant from midtown, where it had flourished for 35 years, to the Adams Building at Fourth and Cheyenne.

"From certain seats, you have a great view of the arena," he said.

Rojas said he feels the area is on the cusp of a grand revival, thanks partly to the BOK Center. His new location, now known as Casa Lorado Latin Grill and Tequila Bar, has added new dishes and spirits to its traditional menu.

The next restaurant to follow, Brickhuggers Bar and Grill, plans to open by this fall at Third Street and Cheyenne Avenue within sight of the arena. Led by Jared Jordan and Trevor Tack, the masterminds behind the nearby So Chey Jazz Cafe, Brickhuggers will be a casual bar and grill.

Jordan said development complications as well as the success of So Chey have delayed Brickhuggers' opening until after the BOK Center's inaugural concert, though he hopes to make it up to attendees.

"The night of the arena opening, we'll have a party in its parking lot in celebration," he said.

Dedicated fans could soon have the option of living near the arena, as the $40 million renovation of the historic Mayo Hotel is well under way.

Resident manager Macy Snyder said the 72 luxury lofts, 100 hotel rooms and an upscale restaurant will all be finished by October 2009, though developers hope to have people living there before then.

The arena's impact may reach beyond the blocks immediately surrounding it. When Missouri-based developer SJS Hospitality announced it had purchased the Atlas Life Building at 415 S. Boston Ave. for conversion into a 120-room Courtyard by Marriott hotel, operating partner Jeff Hartman said the BOK Center helped inspire the company's decision to open a hotel downtown. The hotel, which could cost as much as $15 million, is slated to be finished in 18 months.

Other restaurants have opened or are in development a little farther away from the arena, including Boston Avenue Grille and Catering at 15 E. Fifth St. and Joe Momma's Pizza at 112 S. Elgin Ave.

Though future development might not be as easy to pin on the arena alone, Berry said plans to build a downtown stadium for the Tulsa Drillers is also exciting to business owners in the area.

"The smaller investors are seeing more opportunity around the Drillers Stadium than the BOK Center," he said.

Robert Evatt 581-8447
robert.evatt@tulsaworld.com By ROBERT EVATT World Staff Writer

Newspaper View Print this story

Comment

RSS

Bookmark

Reader Comments

Show: Most Recent Comment First

Add your comment

6 comments have been made on this story so far. Tell us what you think below!

Reporting Comments

If you see a comment that violates our terms and conditions, please help us by clicking the "Report this Comment" link next to a comment. That will alert the web staff to review the comment. Thank you. -- Web Editor Jason Collington

	Report Comment Dazed and confused, tulsa (8/24/2008 11:29:13 AM) "Berry said he has talked to real estate brokers and developers from other states who have ideas for mixed-use retail, hospitality and loft apartment developments. Still, to date none of these outside developers has moved beyond talk. " maybe they're scared they'll get screwed over like Novus?
	Report Comment Aggie, (8/24/2008 3:15:44 PM) Yeah, right. I call "baloney" on this story. Check back in 6 months, a year, and 5 years, and then tell us how blowing all this taxpayer $ somehow benefits the average citizen. Find a book on Economics 101 and look up the term "opportunity cost". This money would have been spent much more productively in the private sector.
	Report Comment okie ridgerunner, small town (8/24/2008 9:45:04 PM) The average citizen will not benefit from any of this. it is not planned that way.think about it how many taxpayers and citizens will all this benefit. out of all the people in tulsa county what percentage do we really think will ever go down town for any reason other than mabe to the court house unless we just have to. and really how much will it really help tulsa from the people we get coming in from out of town. keep paying more taxes, but how has it helped the quality of tulsa citzens life.
	Report Comment Made it Out!, (8/25/2008 1:04:18 AM) Ask the people of OKC how Bricktown has improved their life. The vast majority would tell you its had a very positive influenc.e. If you are content sitting at home and watching Wheel of Fortune, then maybe you won't go downtown to enjoy any of the revitalization. However, even you will see the difference in increased sale tax revenue, increased tourism, etc. Increased money spent in Tulsa helps all Tulsans.
	Report Comment C.R. Delough, Tulsa (8/25/2008 11:35:49 AM) I call shenanigans on the "Made it Out!" nickname. It is an obvious shill. Thanks for playing, Come back when you want to back up your anonymous screen name and debate the issues in the open.
	Report Comment zrs, (8/25/2008 5:52:21 PM) If aanyone is reading these comments, know that not all Tulsans are like Aggie, okie ridgerunner, and R.C. Delough. Many of us like to take pride in our city and we know that starts with our downtown area. And we know that improving it improves everything else.

Add Your Comment
In order to post a comment on this article, you must sign in to Tulsaworld.com. If you do not have a site account, you can create an account for free.