Old Tulsa City Hall Building For Sale

By Emory Bryan, News On 6

TULSA, OK -- The City of Tulsa wants ideas for re-developing the site of the old city hall. The building is for sale now that city government is at One Technology Center.

So what's happening at the old building now?

It's on the market with no set price. That depends on what the city hears back from developers about the potential for the 2-and-a-half acres.

Wires hang from the ceiling and in places, mold is growing on the carpet. The dusty, damp smell of the building is even stronger.

The only people in the building are movers clearing out old furniture.

The city plans to mothball the old city hall and could demolish it to sell the land.

"They really feel like in order to make the best use of the land, they would demolish the building," said Mike Bunney, City Economic Development.

Mike Bunney is talking with several people, he says, who are capable of building a convention hotel, which is what the city wants.

"It would be fair to say we've had some nibbles and significant interest," said Bunney.

The dark and closed in spaces of the old city hall could not be in greater contrast with the new city hall. It has so many windows, when the mayor wants to show off the city to a developer all they have to do is look out the window.

"It's just a completely different work environment than we had here," said John Durkee, City of Tulsa.

Now employees can enjoy natural light and several say the allergies they had at the old building have disappeared.

"Where we are now is so much better. Not just for employees, but for the community. When developers come in from out of town, One Technology Center is absolutely fabulous," said Durkee.

The old building is quickly becoming worse than it was.

While it's on the market, the city plans to spend as little as possible on upkeep with the expectation that what's next for the old city hall is the wrecking ball.

The city raised $75,000 in the furniture auction.

See what the city is asking developers.