Kanbar Properties Keeps Projects Going Downtown

By Jennifer Loren, The News On 6

TULSA, OK - Progress is being made on a downtown redesign.  Several years ago, a California millionaire came to Tulsa and bought up 20 buildings downtown.  Now, three years after making his investments in the Tulsa skyline, Maurice Kanbar's company says they're finally making some progress.

Construction crews are ripping up the old concrete on the Plaza of the First Place Tower downtown to build something better.

"There will be seats, benches, chairs.  Hopefully some umbrellas for some shade," said Victor Wandres with Kanbar Properties.

Kanbar Properties is redesigning the plaza, hoping to help modernize downtown Tulsa.  They're even adding free Wi-Fi.

"I think that when Bartlett Square was removed a lot of people felt like they don't have a place to eat outside. This is going to be smaller than that area. But, still provide a nice area for people to eat lunch outside," said Victor Wandres with Kanbar Properties.

A spokesman for Kanbar Properties says this is just one of many projects they're working on.    

They've also updated the Adams Building across the street from the BOK Center and added a popular restaurant, Casa Laredo.  Plus, they sold the Atlas Building, which will become a Courtyard Marriott Boutique Hotel.

"I think all of these types of events is building interest in downtown with new restaurants, new bars, new galleries.  Has really contributed to people in the office market coming down and saying, ‘hey we want to be a part of this,'" said Victor Wandres with Kanbar Properties.

After all, office space is Kanbar Properties' bread and butter.         

The company owns about a third of downtown Tulsa's office space and has taken new measures to actively market 2.3 million square feet of it.

"This is exciting.  This is a win. Tulsa is really building itself. And, us talking about what's next is kind of the exciting part for Kanbar Properties," said Victor Wandres with Kanbar Properties.

So far, Kanbar Properties has only sold one of their buildings and they say they have no plans to sell anymore.  Maurice Kanbar made most of his fortune with the Skyy Vodka company.

By the way, Kanbar is a big proponent of the downtown ballpark.