Tulsa World: Negotiations begin for land across from BOK Center

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Negotiations begin for land across from BOK Center

Architect's rendering of aerial view of One Place development showing proximity to BOK Center.

By P.J. LASSEK World Staff Writer
Published: 5/7/2009 2:10 PM
Last Modified: 6/26/2009 3:12 PM

The Tulsa Development Authority on Thursday agreed to enter into negotiations on the sale of its land for a proposed mixed-use project across from the BOK Center.

The $38 million development, called One Place, would include a hotel, residential units, retail space and entertainment venues.

It is proposed by Bob Eggleston, principal of One Development, a limited liability company.

Prior to the authority approving the 21-day negotiation period, it was disclosed that Hank Pellegrini, the son-in-law of Bill Lobeck, the mayor’s husband, has a financial interest in the project.

Pellegrini and Eggleston, under Cheyenne Development LLC, bought the former Vision Builder’s building, which would be the site of the project’s hotel.

Eggleston said the project is dependent on acquiring the entire city block, three-quarters of which is owned by the authority.

The block is from Second to Third streets between Denver and Cheyenne avenue. Pellegrini’s portion is about one-eighth of the block.

The other one-eighth is the former Towerview apartments property. Eggleston said the owners of that property have agreed to either sell or participate in the project.

Eggleston said Thursday that instead of turning the Vision Builders building into office space, he encouraged Pellegrini to let him develop the entire block because he could put together a team with the finances to do it.

Eggleston is the former construction director for the BOK Center.

Authority Chairman

Carl Bracy read a disclosure letter of a potential conflict of interest that Mayor Kathy Taylor filed with the City Clerk’s office in late April.

The letter states that in the “abundance of caution” she has delegated future matters requiring the mayor’s involvement in the project to her Chief of Staff Amy Polonchek.

Also disclosed was the relationships between authority members Paula Bryant-Ellis and John Clayman to the Bank of Oklahoma, just in case the bank is sought to finance portions of the project.

Ellis is employed with the bank, and the law firm that employs Clayman provides counsel for the bank.

The authority’s interim attorney, Jot Hartley, said no conflict of interest currently exists with Ellis or Clayman, but that could change.

The negotiation period is non-exclusive and can be terminated by either side at any time, Hartley said. If an agreement is reached, it will be brought back to the authority for consideration.

One Development has offered the authority $1.5 million for its property.

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Reader comments for this story have been moved to the most updated version of the story, now under the headline "Talks on land for project OK'd," which was published on 5/8/2009. So far, 42 comments have been made.