Local Nonprofit Could See Building Used For 5 Years Auctioned Off

Two Tulsa fire stations are hitting the auction block. Anyone can bid on them, but a nonprofit director said she'd use it, and has been using it, to serve the disabled in Tulsa.

President and CEO of the Bridges Foundation, Karie Jordan, said she wishes the city let the organization buy the property outright.

The Bridges Foundation has helped disabled people get jobs in Tulsa for 50 years. The nonprofit has rented the fire house for five years, but could lose it Thursday at auction.

The former fire station must be sold as is, and it needs some work; and the fire house's neighbor is willing to put in the work.

"Just really clean and keep it manageable," Jordan said.

She has rented the station for five years and during that time, she and other volunteers cleaned and painted the building, even made it wheelchair accessible.

Bridges transformed the fire house into a training ground to teach employment skills.

"We could continue to expand our work adjustment program and just expand those offices and those opportunities to teach more students," Jordan said.

The City of Tulsa, however, has decided to sell the 2,200 square foot station, and Bridges doesn't get to buy it outright.

It goes up for auction Thursday.

Jordan said she understands, but wishes her nonprofit - that's been in Tulsa for half a century - got some kind of preference.

“So we could continue utilizing it and continue the remodeling and renovation," she said.

It's not just the fire house at Pine & Lewis that's being sold Thursday; another old fire station next to OSU Medical Center is also being auctioned off.

City of Tulsa Real Estate Appraiser Ray Meldrum showed us where the old canvas fire hoses used to hang, to prevent mildew.

The station near OSU Medical Center has stood since the late 50s.

Both stations need improvements, but could make great office buildings, or even homes.

Jordan hopes the fire house she's rented the last five years will remain a home for Bridges.

The first auction for the fire house near OSU Medical Center is at 10:00 Thursday morning. The second, at Pine and Lewis, is at 3:00.

There is no minimum, so bidding can start at any price.